In online betting market there are hundreds of different Canadian betting sites that are available for players to choose from. It can be an overwhelming process to try to sort through them all just to find one that you like. There are several different sites that seem to be great no matter what type of bettor you are but it is always a good idea to find one that is a perfect fit for you. A lot of people don’t know where to start and that it ok because there are so many factors that come into play when making this decision. Here are some things to look for in good betting sites.
Best Betting Sites in Canada
- Ontario
- SIA (Sports Interaction)
SIA for Ontario residentsCLAIMKey Terms:New customers only. T&Cs Apply. 19+ Play Responsibly. Ontario only. 19+. - OntarioEligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario.Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
- Betway
Ontario Sports betting from BetwayCLAIMKey Terms:New customers only from Ontario (CA). 19+. Full Terms apply. Play Responsibly - 888sport
888Sport for Ontario playersCLAIMKey Terms:#Ad Full Terms and Conditions Apply. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. 19+ - Canada (excl. Ontario)Offers not available for Ontario residents.Offers not available for Ontario residents.
18+ only.
Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly.
If you, or someone you know, has a gambling problem and wants help, please visit https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en - SIA (Sports Interaction)First Deposit Match Bonus up to $250CLAIMKey Terms:New customers only. Bonus equal to 125% of your 1st deposit up to $250. 6x rollover on deposit + bonus. T&Cs Apply. 19+ Play Responsibly
- ComeOn
Bet $25 and get $100 in Free BetsCLAIMKey Terms:18+ Begambleaware.org Min. deposit: $20. Wagering requirements (min odds 1.75) must be fulfilled within 30 days before a withdrawal. Accepted payment methods for the welcome offer are: Credit or Debit cards, MuchBetter, Local Bank Transfers, Interact. Any fraudulent or unethical behaviour be suspected in the Player’s Gameplay, the company has the right to reject the withdrawal and confiscate winnings. - Betway100% Deposit Bonus up to $200CLAIMKey Terms:New Canada customers only. Opt-in required. Bonus based on 1st deposit of $10+. 10x bonus wagering at odds of 1.75+. Terms apply
- 888sport100% bonus up to $300 + $10 casino bonusCLAIMKey Terms:$10 min deposit • The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least once with cumulative odds of 1.5 or greater • Wagering must be cleared within 60 days • Casino Bonus must be claimed within 7 days • To withdraw bonus/related wins, wager the bonus amount40 times within 14 days • Casino Bonus expires after 60 days • Wagering limit of $50 per bet Applies • Withdrawal restrictions, payment methods, country & Full T&C’s apply
- Ontario
- bet365
Bet £10 & Get £50 in Free Bets – Registration RequiredCLAIMKey Terms:#Ad. 18+ New Customers only. Registration Required. Bet £10* & Get £50* in Free Bets. Sign up, deposit between £5* and £10* to your account and bet365 will give you three times that value in Free Bets when you place qualifying bets to the same value and they are settled. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits. Min odds/bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. T&Cs, time limits & exclusions apply.
Significant Terms and Conditions
• Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5* or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 500% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £50* in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable.
• To release your Bet Credits for use, you must place qualifying bets to the value of your qualifying deposit (capped at £10*) and they must settle within 30 days of claiming the offer. Only qualifying bets placed and settled after claiming the offer will count towards this requirement.
• Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, paysafecard and all other prepaid credit and debit cards, where available, cannot be used for either your qualifying deposit or any subsequent withdrawal of returns from Bet Credits stakes unless we have successfully verified an accepted form of your Identity Documents and you have entered a Postal Verification Code (PVC), or we have successfully verified two accepted forms of your Identity Documents. See full Terms and Conditions for details.
• Bets placed must meet certain conditions to count towards the release of your Bet Credits:
– Must contain at least one selection at odds of 1/5 (1.20) or greater.
– In market/fixture combinations that only have two or three potential outcomes (for example Soccer Full Time Result), where you have placed bets on more than one potential outcome, either pre-match or In-Play, only the outcome with your highest cumulative stake will count.
– Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, only the remaining active stake will count.
– Where a bet has been edited using our Edit Bet feature, only the new stake on the new bet will count.
– Fully Cashed Out, Instant Games, Gaming, void bets or In-Play bets which are settled as a push will not count.
• Your Bet Credits are non-withdrawable, and Bet Credits stakes are not included in any returns. Any returns from Bet Credits placed will be added to your Withdrawable Balance. Bet Credits cannot be used on certain products, offers/promotions and bet types. See full Terms and Conditions for details.
• Your Bet Credits will be forfeit and removed if your account is inactive for 90 consecutive days.
*or currency equivalent
T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. See full Terms. Registration required. Please gamble responsibly! www.begambleaware.org - Betfred
BETFRED50 – Get £50 in Free BetsCLAIMKey Terms:New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply; 18+ www.begambleaware.org #ad - 10bet
100% up to £50 welcome bonus. Code: SPORTCLAIMKey Terms:New bettors; Code SPORT; Wager deposit & bonus 8x; Max qualifying bet stake=initial bonus; Valid 60 days; Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply; T&C apply; 18+. See full Terms apply; 18+ www.begambleaware.org #ad - BetwayGet up to £90 in Free BetsCLAIMKey Terms:Opt-in required. Upon weekly qualification, customers will be credited with £/€10 in Free Bets in two £/€5 installments on Saturday and Monday. From 24th September until 18th November 2022, an extra £/€5 Free Bet will be added to Quest to Qatar pot, which half will be credited on 19th November 2022, and the other half credited on 3rd December 2022. £30 Acca Offer New UK customers only. Min Deposit: £5. Maximum Free Bet: £30. Debit card deposits only. Valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+. BeGambleAware.org. Full terms apply.
- 888sport100% up to £250 w/ code 250BONUSCLAIMKey Terms:#Ad. 18+. £10 min deposit using promo code 250BONUS • The bonus will be applied once the full deposit amount has been wagered at least twice with cumulative odds of 1.50 or greater • To withdraw any winnings from your bonus, you must wager the bonus amount at least 5 times • All deposit and bonus wagering requirements must be completed within 60 days • This offer may not be combined with any other offer • Wagering limit of £50 per bet Applies • Restrictions apply to withdrawals, payment methods and countries & full T&Cs apply. Please gamble responsibly – www.begambleaware.org
- Mr Play
Bet £10 Get £15CLAIMKey Terms:18+, Welcome Bonus: New Players only, 1st Deposit, Min Deposit,: £10, max £15 free bet valid for 14 days, bets must be placed at odds of 1/1 or greater and be settled within 14 days of placement. System bets no eligible. T&Cs apply. www.begambleaware.org #ad - Grosvenor
Double the OddsCLAIMKey Terms:New customers. Max £10(Exc PayPal). 100% Odds Boost token. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. www.begambleaware.org #ad - LV BET
Bet £10 Get £10CLAIMKey Terms:18+ | New UK players after 31.03.2021 | Valid on first Sports bet | Min. dep. £10 req. | Min. £10 wag. on the first bet with min. total odds of 1/1 to qualify | Bet must be settled | Bonus Wag. req.1x on min. 2-fold Acca bets (min. 1/4 odds each selection) with min. final odds of 1/ 1| Virtual and cashed out bets do not qualify | One-time offer | Bonuses credited following working day | T&Cs apply | BeGambleAware.org #ad - Ontario
- LV BET100% up to €50CLAIMKey Terms:18+. New Customers Only. 100% Welcome Bonus up to €50. Minimum deposit: €10. Maximum Bonus: €50. Wagering Requirements: 12x (Deposit+Bonus). Minimum 2 selections with total odds of 2.00. Payment method and country restrictions apply. The offer is valid until 31.12.2021. Bets placed on different selections within the same market or bets placed on equivalent markets are not eligible for this offer. Gamble Responsibly.
- QuinnBet Sports
Bet €10 Get €60 + 10 Free SpinsCLAIMKey Terms:Bet €10 on any sport of your choice at min odds evens (2.00) or greater and QuinnBet will credit your account with 4 x €10 Free Bets (to use on any Sports of your choice), plus €20 QuinnCasino bonus, plus 10 Free Spins on Asgard Warriors. The 3 x €10 Free Bets, €20 Casino Bonus and 10 Free Spins will be credited the day after your qualifying bet settles. T&Cs apply | 18+ New IRE Customers Only | BeGambleAware.org - Ontario
- bet365Get Up To ₹4,000 in Bet CreditsCLAIMKey Terms:15% of your qualifying deposit in Bet Credits (up to ₹4,000). Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Full T&Cs apply. 18+, begambleaware.org.
- Betway100% Matched Free Bet up to ₹4,000 If First Bet LosesCLAIMKey Terms:*New India customers only. Min Stake: ₹250. Max Free Bet: ₹4,000. First bet on any sports with overall odds: 2.00 (1/1) or higher. Free Bets available upon settlement of the qualifying bet. This is offer is valid for 7 days from your new account being registered. 18+ Terms Apply
- Casumo
100% Bonus up to ₹10,000CLAIMKey Terms:18+ New customers only. 100% Bonus: Opt-in required. Min. deposit ₹700 to receive a 100% bonus up to ₹10,000 (within 7 days from reg.). 6x deposit and bonus wagering at odds of 1.6. T&Cs apply. Play Responsibly. begambleaware.org. Full Bonus terms apply. - ComeOn100% Matched Deposit Bonus up to ₹6000CLAIMKey Terms:India 18+ customers only. You will have a total of 30 days to complete the bonus from the activation date. ComeOn! will double your first deposit, up to ₹6,000. Minimum deposit is ₹200. Maximum bonus amount is ₹6,000. Minimum wagering requirements apply. You will need to wager your bonus before you can withdraw as follows: Sportsbook: 10 x deposit and bonus. Each way bets or bets placed on Asian Handicap are excluded. The ₹6,000 Sports Welcome Bonus will be credited to your account within 24 hours after your first qualifying bet has been accepted. Terms and Conditions Apply.
- Bons
₹1000 Free BetCLAIMKey Terms:Cashback up to 20% every month, ₹1000 free bet on sport, Rebate 500% in sports bets, COMBOBOOST up to 100% in combo bet - Ontario
- bet365Bet Now!CLAIMKey Terms:Open an account with bet365 today and bet on a huge range of markets with the world’s favourite online sports betting company. Registration required.
- PlayUp Australia
Login to View PromotionsCLAIMKey Terms:Join PlayUp today and you can bet on all the best Racing and Sports. Whether you’re just after the simple stuff like Win/Place and Head-to-Heads or something a bit more complex such as Exotics and Player Props, we’ve got top odds on all the markets you could ever need! So sign up to Australia’s best fixed odds bookmaker now and make your best bet! - Ontario
- Ontario
How do we Review the Best Betting Sites?
Safe, Secure and Trustworthy: Age and License
More and more players are assessing the question of trust and security when they play online. To make sports bets, you must deposit some money into your account and that means passing on your own financial information. The sportsbook involved simply must have strong security in force and this is one of the criteria that we take into account.
Exact details relating to site security can be found in a number of ways: A sportsbook may have a dedicated page outlining the software that they use or, this information may be placed in the About Us section. Failing that, anyone keen on following this up should check the Privacy Policy which will outline exactly how that personal information is used and safeguarded.
As for licensing, we would not recommend a sportsbook if they were not fully licensed and regulated to provide betting services in Canada. As a very bare minimum, a site must be legally allowed to trade here and we ensure that this is the case.
The question of trust can be harder to quantify but it helps if an operator has been providing sports betting services for some time. In the case of 888Sport, the company has traded since 1997 while Sports Interaction came online in the very same year. Royal Panda set up a little later in 2013 but in all instances, the three operators have had plenty of time to become established and build up trust among their customer base.
Range of Markets
We all like to bet on different sports but what unites us is the quest for choice. In the modern age of betting, it simply isn’t enough for a sportsbook to issue moneyline odds and expect to see their customer base grow: Prop bets can often hold the best value and we therefore need to see a good selection of markets.
This is another criteria that we use when we come to judge a sportsbook’s suitability. Beyond that moneyline pick, we want to see a good set of props such as correct score in tennis, both teams to score in soccer and top ten finishes in golf. Having that choice is so important for many sports bettors so we need to assess it.
Competitive Odds
Choice has to be backed up by value and we need to see our sportsbooks providing competitive odds on those available markets. Using decimal odds as an illustration, nobody should keep betting at 4/1 if another sportsbook consistently provides 5/1.
We realise that no single sportsbook will offer the best odds on every single sporting outcome but they have to be consistently high and never out of step with the rest of the industry. Some of the older, more established sports betting providers will be listed on the main odds comparison sites so it’s easy to check them out. With others, it’s a case of having to check a range of prices individually. We think that having competitive odds is one of the most important criteria for any sportsbook to meet and this is something else that we examine very closely.
Types of Wagering Formats
Placing a single bet is the easiest way for most bettors around the world to get involved. In Canada, that isn’t possible as, for the time being, customers here have to place parlay bets with more than one selection.
Any sportsbook, no matter where they are based, should still offer that element of choice when it comes to betting formats. Singles, place and each way bets should be available for those that can access them and it should be made easy for Canadians to make that parlay.
Straight line multiples should be here while other players like to place ‘formula’ or ‘patent’ bets. Typical examples of formula bets include Trixies, Lucky 15s or Goliaths where not every selection has to win for a return to come back to the bettor.
It’s all about extending that element of choice and it’s something else that we need to assess here.
Promotions and Welcome Bonuses
Having competitive odds is important as we have seen but the majority of players like to see sportsbooks giving us a little more. It’s always good to see a welcome bonus provided and some would say that it’s essential for a sportsbook to publish an opening deal.
But what should that offer involve? With many bookmakers, players can expect to get a match on their opening deposit and this can be very generous at times. As we have seen with the Sports Interaction promo which was current at the time of writing in June 2020, new customers can look forward to receiving up to $100.00 in bonus funds when they open an account and make a new deposit.
Other sportsbooks may provide more modest deals such as an offer that provides $20.00 in free bets in return for opening an account and making a $10.00 qualifying stake. The matched deposit promotions may stand to provide more in monetary terms but players should check on the question of rollovers. A rollover is a wagering requirement that asks you to play through your deposit and bonus funds a certain number of times before any profits can be withdrawn. Having assessed the requirements, you may decide that you prefer the quick and easy $20.00 deal.
Moving forward, not every sportsbook provides ongoing promotions but these help to add value through the life of the account. Bet refunds, accumulator boosts and enhanced odds for big tournaments can certainly help to build up positive customer relationships. Some sportsbooks are also starting to introduce loyalty clubs that will issue free bet tokens in return for a certain level of staking during a qualifying period.
Ongoing offers and promotions can change on a regular basis so we cannot list any specific deals here as they may well be out of date by the time you come to read this. However, we do realise that they are very important to many players so this is another point that we check on before making any sportsbook recommendations.
Banking Options and Fast Payout
We’ve covered choice and value and now we come to the question of flexibility. Many of us will stick with the traditional funding methods such as bank cards and bank transfers but others will demand more choice. When it comes to making a deposit or withdrawal, there are lots of ways in which to do this and the more choice that an operator provides the better.
Those regular banking methods should be in place as a bare minimum but they will often extend to include eWallets. PayPal is the world’s biggest eWallet and they will provide their services to a select bunch of sports betting companies while other major providers include Skrill, Neteller and PaySafeCard.
Smaller providers such as Trustly and Zimpler may be useful to have on the roster but they aren’t so widely used.
In Canada, many bettors like to see the presence of local financial institutions such as iDebit and Instadebit. These are easy to use and they can often be picked up by Canadian sportsbooks such as SIA.
Beyond those options, having Bitcoin and other crypto currencies is also a good sign. Not everyone has been quick to welcome the crypto world but this is a sign of a progressive bookmaker and that can only be a good thing.
That flexibility is great but we also want our payments to be quick. Any deposits made should clear instantly but this isn’t always the case with withdrawals. When taking money out of a sportsbook account, customers should be prepared to wait – but not for too long. We think that anything up to 48 hours is acceptable but naturally, we would like to see our funds arrive a little sooner.
These questions relating to funding are also taken into account when we look to provide a list of recommended sportsbooks.
The 888 group first set up their online gambling operation way back in 1997 and that’s given the company time to build up a huge amount of trust. The holding company now owns a number of sites covering many sectors of the business but 888Sport is the destination for sports betting fans.
888Sport now have a license in the US and they have been open to Canadian players for a number of years. They are known for combining a good set of betting markets and, they back that choice up with consistently competitive odds.
As for promotions, this site likes to change its offers around on a frequent basis so the best approach is to check to see what’s available when you come to sign up. There is, however, always some form of deal available to add extra value.
Additional Features
Some useful add ons will also help an operator to make it onto the recommended list and these will include:
Mobile Betting
We don’t always have the time to sit down at a PC or laptop to plan a betting strategy and this is another occasion when the sportsbook’s flexibility is important. Betting on mobile is the solution and there are ways in which each operator can tackle this.
At the very least, there will be a mobile website which can be accessed via your browser. It shrinks to fit the screen and can also be bookmarked for future reference.
But the quickest way to access any sportsbook on a mobile device is via the dedicated app. All good sportsbooks should provide a sports betting app and it should be made available for the two main operating platforms – iOS and Android. We think that it’s a basic requirement to have an app in place and there should be some other benefits included.
The app should be free and it should be quick and easy to locate and download. Once installed on your mobile device, it should be a mirror of the main sports betting website with no loss of speed or functionality. Speed is essential with any betting app as they are frequently used for live betting markets where the odds can change in an instant.
Some sportsbooks also go further to provide special offers for app users. This isn’t really an essential requirement but it could be useful to have.
In summary, mobile betting is crucial and, at the very least, a separate mobile site should be in place. Use the mobile site if you don’t have enough space and memory on your phone but, for the ultimate in a flexible betting experience, it’s important for the sportsbook to provide an app.
Live Betting
Live betting – or betting in play – is a relatively new phenomenon but it’s one that has been largely embraced by the sportsbooks. The concept is a simple one – once an event starts, pre-match markets close and they are then replaced by their live counterparts.
If we take soccer as an example, we would be looking for the moneyline bets to remain in place along with the majority of the regular prop bets including Total Goals, Last Goal Scorer, Next Goal Scorer and more. Soccer, like a number of sports, also has the capacity to bring in new markets so we might be looking for options such as Next Goal Scorer.
This is just an example but live betting can be applied to most available sports and it’s important for a betting operator to offer a comprehensive in-play service. Live betting can be exciting as the odds change quickly in reaction to every goal, point or putt missed. It’s challenging too as it really tests your skills as a sports analyst and these are among the many reasons why live betting is so popular.
To make it onto our list of recommended betting sites, it’s not enough just to publish live markets. The odds have to remain competitive and there should be a wide selection of events, together with moneyline and prop bets. All of these elements are taken into account.
Customer Services
Most, if not all of us will need some assistance from our sportsbook at times and this is another area that we pay close attention to. Effective customer services are important if an operator is going to make it onto our list of recommendations.
We also like to see a choice and for most players, the existence of a live chat operator is a real bonus. Ideally, that live chat should be available 24/7 or, at the very least, during traditional working hours. This is the quickest way to sort out queries and while a live chat operator may not be absolutely essential, it’s a real bonus to see one in place.
From there, account holders like to see a dedicated customer support email. A webform and a telephone number may also be useful to have even if this isn’t considered vital. Additionally, a number of sportsbooks are now providing help through social media and this can also be an excellent way to get some answers.
If an operator does have a series of Frequently Asked Questions, these should be set out in a logical and comprehensive manner.
Choice is important and any customer support that is in place should be efficient and any queries are to be answered in the shortest possible space of time. Nobody should be waiting for answers – they just want to get on and start playing with some of the best sportsbooks around.
