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How We Find the Best Canadian Betting Sites
Our team of experts rates and reviews every sports betting site that accepts Canadians to make sure that we only recommend the top sites for you.
We have a long list of criteria that each site must satisfy to receive our seal of approval. We look at everything from the site’s reputation amongst punters to how competitive the odds are, and even how responsive the customer support agents are. In other words, we leave no stone unturned.
What Deposit Options Are Available at Canadian Betting Sites?
Most online sports betting sites in Canada accept a wide variety of deposit options. Two of the most popular choices amongst Canadian punters are InstaDebit and Skrill (formerly Moneybookers).
Skrill is a popular e-wallet used by millions of gamblers across the globe. No wonder considering how you only need to enter the email address associated with your account to complete a transaction. You can easily fund your Skrill wallet via credit card, bank transfer, or one of the many other options. As with most other e-wallets, you can withdraw winnings to the Skrill account you deposited with it.
InstaDebit is another popular e-wallet. However, unlike Skrill which accepts international customers, InstaDebit can only be used by Canadian citizens. It is tied to the Canadian banking system and permits Canadians to fund their e-wallet via their bank accounts and credit cards. Once funds are available in your digital wallet, you can then deposit and withdraw at the best sports betting sites.
Other deposit options commonly accepted by the best betting sites in Canada include using credit cards, bank transfers, and person-to-person transfers. Credit cards have a decent success rate and can be used at many Canadian bookmakers.
Bank transfers move funds from your personal bank account to the betting site and normally take 1-2 business days. This is a fine alternative if you don’t want to use Skrill or InstaDebit, though in most cases it will cost considerably more. A person-to-person transfer using MoneyGram – or another money transferring service – costs the most and is somewhat of a hassle, but it’s still another alternative.
Wondering why we haven’t mentioned NETELLER? This e-wallet is no longer accepted at Canadian betting sites because it decided to stop serving Americans in 2006, and Canadians shortly thereafter. NETELLER’s decision to withdraw from Canada followed the US government’s crackdown on online gambling.
Popular Sports at Betting Sites in Canada
Ice hockey leads the way when it comes to online sports betting in Canada. Seven of the 31 teams that compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) are Canadian, with the other 24 based in the United States.
If you’re a fan of the Toronto Maple Leaf or Montreal Canadiens, you may consider putting your money on them to lift the Stanley Cup. In addition to outright markets, the best Canadian sports betting sites offer a comprehensive number of markets for every game. You’ll find odds on which team will win, the number of goals scored, puck line handicaps, and dozens of other interesting markets.
The Canadian Football League (CFL) is also extremely popular amongst punters. Nine teams compete for the prestigious Grey Cup every year: four teams in the East Division and five teams in the West Division. The most recent winner was Winnipeg Blue Bombers. However, the Edmonton Eskimos are the most successful team in the league’s history, with 11 titles to their name.
Canada is also a hotbed for mixed martial arts. UFC legend Georges St. Pierre was a two-division champion in the organisation. He defeated Matt Serra to win back his welterweight title at UFC 83, the first event ever held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Canada. Rory MacDonald, Patrick Côté and Carlos Newton are a few other Canadians that have stepped inside the Octagon over the years.
Another couple of sports are also worthy of mention. Canadians love to bet on basketball. Especially the Toronto Raptors, the third Canadian NBA team in the professional basketball league’s history. Lacrosse and curling are also popular in Canada, with all major events covered by the best Canadian betting sites.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Canada?
The legality of online sports betting in Canada is a little more complicated than betting laws in other countries around the world. While some provinces have First Nation tribes that regulate internet gaming bodies there is no formal law allowing online sports betting, nor is there one criminalizing it.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, a regulatory body established by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, was one of the first to license and regulate online gambling sites in Canada.
Most online bookmakers and other online gaming sites accept Canadian citizens as customers. The Canadian government also allows provinces to accept advertisements promoting online poker rooms and online bookmakers.
Furthermore, no Canadian citizen has ever been charged for betting sports online or for any other form of online gaming. In conclusion, the legality of online sports betting in Canada is a grey area. However, it is not actively policed by the government, so it is perfectly safe for Canadians to bet online.
Canada Betting FAQs
Of course! There is no shortage of online betting sites in Canada. To save you spending hours researching and comparing sites, we’ve done all the hard work for you. Simply join one of our recommended betting sites, make your first deposit, and then bet on your favourite sports.
As a Canadian, you must only pay income tax on gambling winnings if you have declared yourself to be a professional gambler. If you don’t make a living from betting on sports, then the government will class you as a hobbyist. As a hobbyist, you are not required to pay taxes on any form of gambling winnings.
Absolutely! The best Canadian betting sites offer free bets to new customers as an incentive for signing up. Claiming free bet offers is a great excuse to try new betting sites. You can bet on your favourite sports without depositing, and winnings from free bets are paid in cash to fund your next bet.
Canadians love to bet on ice hockey games, whether it be individual NHL games or the outright winner of the Stanley Cup. The CFL and NFL are also popular with Canadian punters. Basketball and MMA attract plenty of action, and you may be surprised by how many punters bet on lacrosse and curling.
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