Sports betting is fun, everyone is doing it, and with a few useful tips under your belt, you’ll be placing bets like a real pro in no time. With that in mind, I took the liberty to come up with this simple but thorough guide to sports betting in Canada to make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into and how to make lady luck work for you.
To make sure you have tons of fun while reading, here’s what I have in store for you:
This is the most exciting time to learn about sports betting in Canada as sports gambling has reached the Golden age in the land of the maple. Let’s get down to business.
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Canada has a history no older than 600 years, but sports betting is among its most popular hobbies of old.
I’ve found out that Canadians would literally bet on anything. But, they do prefer sports and the best thing about it is: their laws are flexible enough to let them have their say.
Canada has a strong and prosperous betting industry that’s thriving, so I will lead you through the most exciting things and events with a focus on history and development.
The Beginning
Canada is a land with a rich sports betting history. Even before the Europeans came, natives had placed their wagers on a wide range of sports activities.
There were probably ancient bookmakers who offered odds for running, archery events, canoe racing, and who knows what. All these sports betting activities were established with two main goals:
- Entertainment for the public
- Improving the skills of sports participants
Things really started getting interesting with the first European settlements in Canada. Europeans brought with them their own forms of betting and gambling with no shortcomings on the laws that regulated those wagers. 1774 was the year when the first official gambling-related laws were firmly set.
These laws were done according to the French and British gambling laws. Of course, Canadians, as rebellious as they were, refused to follow these laws and because most of the population was scattered all over the land. It was impossible for the authorities to try and actually enforce those laws.
The Development
All gambling activities were finally legislated in 1867 when the Canadian authorities accepted the British gambling regulations.
In 1892, Canadians added a Criminal Code as the very first anti-gambling measure and the Government made any form of gambling, betting or wagering illegal with the only exception being private sports betting.
This is probably the very reason why sports betting has become extremely popular among Canadians. The only condition was to wager without a bookmaker. There was one sport that was excluded from the whole illegal charade: horse racing.
Racecourses and lotteries
Horse racing remained the only legal form of sports betting in Canada. But, the Government allowed federal and provincial governments to run lotteries as part of the support for events involving charities such as the Montreal Olympics.
That was the moment when the authorities finally realised the potential for profit that gambling offered and they became increasingly flexible on that matter. Before you knew it, there were gaming devices and slot machines all over the country, but sports betting was left behind until 1985.
Pro-Line and online gambling
Sports betting in the form of the lottery was finally allowed in 1985 but placing bets on a single sports event still wasn’t legal. That changed with the introduction of Pro-Line machines. These machines offered only parlay betting options. It all began in Ontario where Pro-Line betting offered only one option – betting on a team to win.
Then came the point spread betting which generated a whole new betting market, and the wheels of the Canadian betting industry started rolling. Things really started happening with the introduction of the first online betting sites in 1990.
At that moment, the Canadian law claimed sports betting illegal unless a few requirements were fulfilled. But, Canadians could continue betting on sports through online betting sites because the sites weren’t Canadian-based.
Present-day
Nowadays, sports betting is still illegal in Canada. The only way to place your bets is through online betting sites but let me clear your doubt right away – Canada has some of the best online betting sites the internet has to offer.
You no longer have to go to Las Vegas to feel the heat of sports gambling. Modern technology has placed reputable online bookmakers within your reach, and you can choose from a pool of sports betting 24/7/365. Today, Canada has top-quality wagering options.
What’s really great about this is that Canada is home to the best sports betting sites on the net. In my experience, this is essential information as your odds greatly depend on where you bet.
These sites offer the best promotions, hottest contests, and bonus offers. Let me take you swiftly through some of the most important things you need to know about online betting in Canada.
How to bet online in Canada
The best way to become an experienced online bettor in Canada is to pay a visit to Canada Sports Betting, one of the most valuable resources for sports betting. This is a gateway to poker play, casino, live entertainment, and sports wagering that offers guidance to bettors.
To become a regular online sports gambler, you need to fulfill the following requirements:
- You need a funded online wallet, credit card or a bank account
- You need to be 18 or above
- You need cash that you can spend outside of your living expenses
- General knowledge of at least amateur or preferably professional sports league
- An email address and internet access to sign up and register your account
The process of registration is simple and takes only seconds to complete. After you finish your sign up, there are deposit options to choose from to fund your bankroll, which is a great feature, in my opinion.
All the money moves safely and fast, with deposit options being backed by high-end security features. Now, what I really liked about Canadian online sports betting sites is that they offer live wagering options 24/7.
On top of all that, sports betting is legal in Canada, and many of the most recommended sportsbooks are legal and certified by the Quebec-based Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Despite the Criminal Code prohibiting online gambling services within Canada, it’s legal to place bets through online sportsbooks because they aren’t located in Canada.
The matter of safety
I can assure you that it’s absolutely safe to bet online through sportsbooks. Of course, there are good and bad sports betting vendors. But that’s the exact reason why I came up with the guide on making safe bets in Canada.
As an avid sports gambler myself, I felt the obligation to recommend sportsbooks that I would play myself. The most important thing about these online betting sites is that they use cutting edge security features to make sure the client’s data is safe and protected.
Sports betting resources online
If cashing winning tickets is your thing, it’s crucial to know where to bet. Then, you need sites that offer extensive betting options and a secure playing environment. That aside, the sites I have in mind offer seasonal promotions, contests, and deposit bonuses, with a wide variety of resources that will help you make educated sports betting decisions.
These sites focus on about 20 major sports as well as the best sports betting odds from top-class online bookmakers. Since sports betting is an extremely competitive industry, offshore sportsbooks are always looking to offer the best odds at the most affordable prices.
That means that Canadians are no longer required to accept stagnant and inferior lines offered locally. To ensure maximum return on your investments, you need really sharp lines at normal prices and that is where Canadian sports betting sites excel.
Power rankings
No matter what sport you bet on, you need the knowledge to make informed wagering decisions. If you plan on becoming an experienced and professional bettor like me, you need pertinent information that you can leverage to your advantage before you place your bets.
Canadian Power Rankings are essential tools for making the best wagering choices. They are regularly updated each season, telling you which teams are running hot. You can also count on a specifically designed proprietary ranking system to bet only on the top teams in the MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL.
Custom free picks
When it comes to producing betting lines that really pay off, online bookmakers have a wide range of information at their disposal that they use to set money lines against game totals and spread prices. To beat that, you need knowledge and custom free picks are the best source.
Most online betting sites on my list employ a handicapping crew to provide their bettors with game-day predictions on homegrown sports like the Canadian Premier League and Canadian Football League. Bettors can also count on previewing and predicting Championship futures odds like the NFL Super Bowl and NHL Stanley Cup battles. This also covers international events.
Navigating through sports betting in Canada
Thanks to the power of modern technology, it’s now very easy to navigate through top-class live mobile betting entertainment while enjoying extensive lists of sports betting options. From my experience, I can only say that modern bettors need every way they can get to get some edge and learn how to earn.
That includes learning all available information on how odds work, bankroll management, parley wagering, and prop sports betting. With so many sports betting choices, it would be wise to do some research on future, exotic, and standard betting strategies.
Whether it’s how parlay bets and bracket predictions work or the most advanced hockey betting tips, you need knowledge about every available option.
Extra betting cash
Finally, one of the biggest reasons why I’ve chosen Canada Sports Betting is the fact that sportsbook bonuses offer extra betting cash as a reward to bettors.
I’ve already mentioned how staying competitive is crucial in sports betting. Offshore sportsbooks offer online betting bonuses, competitive prices, and odds as well as a plethora of sports betting opportunities.
This extra cash includes everything from no deposit bonuses, cashback on reloads or first deposits or sign-up bonuses. Bettors get nothing but the best of the best.
It’s much easier to get started than many would think, as making a sports bet online involves only a couple of steps. The process is simple and is the same at any online gambling or sports betting site in Canada. Let me take you through it, step by step.
Find a sports betting site you like
To get started, you need to choose a Canadian betting site that you like. This is the hardest part, as there are so many bettings sites online to choose from. I’d recommend that you read the online reviews and check the odds with the featured sportsbook.
Once you’ve found the site that fits your needs, pay attention to the features it offers. Look for a fantastic first-time deposit bonus, secure and quick financial transactions, as well as reliability, to make sure you get what you paid for. Follow the signup procedure and make your deposit.
Pick your sport
Most sportsbooks won’t show the list of available sports until they see that you have a balance. Click on the sportsbook to load up all the sports available. Most of the time, popular sports like hockey, baseball, basketball, and NFL will be listed on the homepage. Choose what sport you want to bet on and follow the instructions.
Know your betting options
This is perhaps the most important step in placing a sports bet. No matter what sport you choose, football or hockey, the best sportsbooks offer you more options to wager on. If it’s hockey you want to bet on, you should have at least two betting options available. If you go with a reputable sportsbook, hockey should give you three wagers:
- The total score over/under
- The money line – bet on a winner
- The Canadian line – a point spread
If it’s NFL you’re betting on, you should be able to choose from prop bets or regular lines. A quick tip – since you don’t have any previous betting experience, start with the simplest form of betting like the money line. It’s much easier for beginners to predict a winner than to get into more complex forms of betting.
Place your bet
Every online sportsbook will provide a button to make a wager. Place your bet by clicking on the button and you’ll be asked to enter the desired amount. To make sure you’re on the right path, you should see the amount of your bet, as well as the amount that is your profit.
If your bet is successful, that’s the amount that you’ll win. Before you place a bet, make sure you review it to avoid betting on more than you can afford. If you’re sure about the amount, finalise your wager by officially placing it.
Good luck
That’s it, you’re done. It’s extremely simple to place a bet online, especially today with all the modern technology we have around. Remember, betting is a hobby, it should be exciting and fun – nothing more, nothing less.
If you use your head and manage your bankroll wisely, you’ll get the knowledge and convenience to do great things. Betting is easy, but it’s the knowledge of sports and betting options that really make you an experienced and knowledgeable betting professional.
So, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this, it’s that sports bets in Canada aren’t just some activity that people do daily. It’s one of the most popular forms of entertainment, a hobby with a long history behind it and an excellent opportunity to earn some extra cash.
Everyone can place bets, from mere rookies to full-time, life-devoted professionals like myself. Canada offers a lot of great opportunities to score big if you know where to look. If safer bets and most excellent betting opportunities are your things, then this little guide of mine should help you to get the most out of your sports betting efforts.
Whether you bet just for fun or you’re after big payouts and the thrill of anticipation of working the odds to your favour, I hope this article will give you a clear picture of what you can expect from sports betting in Canada.
If you have your own betting system, I’d like to hear from you. Do you consider yourself to be a serious bettor or you’re just getting started? Leave a comment and let’s get in touch.
How to register to a Canadian online bookmaker?