Ontario Sports Betting: Ontario’s Top Legal Sportsbooks - 2024

Canada’s most populated province has been the hub for sports betting in Canada since it became the first province to legalize the industry. While sports betting was previously legal in Canada, tight regulations only allowed certain types of bets that were difficult to win. With the new law, bettors now have a full range of bet types available along with regulated and safe sportsbook options.

In this guide, usalegalbetting.com will be providing you with the ultimate guide to Ontario sports betting, including the rules in the province, how to sign up, the sports available, the best sportsbooks, and everything else you need to get started.

Let’s start by looking at the legality of Ontario sports betting.

In June of 2021, the Senate passed Bill C-218 to open the door to expand sports betting in Canada. The new law allowed for Canadian online sports betting on single-game wagers.

This gave provinces the option to legalize and opened the door for online sportsbooks to apply for licenses.

The industry has quickly expanded since then, beginning with the Ontario sports betting launch in April 2022.

Previously, provinces were only able to offer parlay or pari-mutuel bets that were run by their respective lottery system. Bill C-218 added single-game betting and allowed online sportsbooks to operate in the country.

Things happened quickly in Canada’s most populous province, but we have a timeline to break it all down.

Ontario Sports Betting Timeline

After bill C-218 was passed, things happened quickly in Canada’s most populous province.

The so-called “grey market” was already a big draw in the province, boosted by the presence of the casino industry in Windsor. The province would take less than a year to become a hub for online sports betting in Canada. 

Here is a quick timeline showing just how fast Ontario sports betting has grown:

📰 October 26, 2023

The NHL suspends Shane Pinto of the Ottawa Senators to a 41-game suspension for violating their sports betting rules. The suspension is the first gambling penalty in the league since the 1940's.

📰 April 2022

Ontario Sports betting officially launched with over 20 Canadian betting sites available

📰 December 2021

The Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission announces that any operator registered with iGaming Ontario can begin to offer their products to residents.

📰 August 2021

The Ontario lottery opens its new Proline platform, allowing residents to begin single-game betting. This marked the first time Canadians were able to legally place single-game bets.

📰 June 2021

The Canadian Senate passed Bill C-218, opening the door for single-game sports betting for residents 19+ years old.

Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission created iGaming Ontario to run sports betting within the province.

What’s Next for Ontario Sports Betting Regulations

While there is some talk about expanding Ontario sports betting sites, iGaming Ontario is currently focused on illegal sportsbooks operating in the province. The biggest Ontario sports betting sites had a great first year, but some of the smaller ones have already bowed out of the market.

One recent example was Coolbet Sportsbook, which announced last month that it would be leaving the regulated market.

It’s not unexpected considering the rising number of sportsbooks, but it is also a result of illegal sportsbooks continuing to operate within the province.

While iGaming hasn’t unveiled any specific plans, chair Dave Forestell made it clear this will be a top priority in 2023.

Things to Consider before choosing a legal sportsbook

While Ontario Sportsbooks must meet certain standards to be approved by iGaming Ontario, that doesn’t mean they are all created equal.

Some Ontario Sports betting sites are more reliable than others, have better odds, or provide better security.

Before you choose a new Ontario sportsbook, we recommend doing your research to answer the following questions:

1. What do the user reviews say?
2. What payment methods does the sportsbook accept?
3. Do they offer a mobile app?
4. What security measures do they have in place to keep you safe?
5. What are deposit and withdrawal times?
6. Are easy customer service options available?
7. Are they regulated by iGaming Ontario?
8. How do their odds compare to other Ontario sportsbooks?
9. How do their promotions and welcome bonus compare to other Ontario sportsbooks
10. What sports and leagues are available to bet?

While the industry is still relatively new, there is no shortage of options for Ontario sports betting. Residents can choose from land-based Ontario sportsbooks or from over 30 online Canadian betting sites.

Getting started with sports betting in Ontario is easy, especially for residents of Windsor, Toronto, and Ottawa residents. You can simply walk into your local casino or create an account with one of the regulated sportsbooks in the province.

Popular markets and betting types

After one year of legal Ontario sports betting, we have been able to learn which markets and bet types are the most popular among residents of the Great White North.

Unsurprisingly, the major North American sports leagues have drawn the most bets. Fans have focused mainly on the NFL, NBA, and NHL as their go-to. The MLB has drawn plenty of action, but those three leagues stand out from the rest.

The most interesting takeaway from the first year is that bettors are choosing to wager on major sports events more so than regular season single-game wagers. Instead, they are focusing on future bets for events like March Madness and the NHL Playoffs.

Those include outright bets placed on the winner of a tournament (i.e., Super Bowl Champion), and group betting on the winner of a group or regions (i.e., NCAA Tournament West Region).

There is already an expectation that this will change as more players are beginning to look at more obscure sports leagues, such as curling. While those sports won’t overtake the NBA, NFL, or NHL, expect to see the market continuously grow over the next few years.

Single-game betting and parlays

While April 2022 is viewed as the launch of all Ontario sports betting, that isn’t the case. Before the new law, Ontario bettors were able to place parlay and pari-mutuel bets with the Lottery.

Parlay bets refer to bets with multiple picks made for one large bet. Payouts are large, but they are notoriously difficult to hit.

They are still legal and a popular bet type, especially with better odds and looser restrictions than what Ontario bettors had through the lottery.

Pari-mutuel betting is a common bet type for horse race beting. This bet involves going against other players, with the winners getting paid from the wagers of players who lost.

This type of bet is still available for horse racing but isn’t as popular as single-game or parlay bets.

Bill C-218 completely changed this by allowing Ontario Bettors to place single-game wagers. These are bets placed on a single game or event, something that was previously illegal. This was a massive change, as this is by far the most popular bet type.

How to read and understand the odds

Reading odds can look like a foreign language for new sports bettors, but they are easy to understand once you know how to read them. It’s important to always understand the odds before placing a bet, as they will influence the amount you can win.

The most crucial thing to learn is the difference between the plus and minus signs in front of the odds. A plus sign usually indicates the team or pick is viewed as the “underdog”.

After the plus sign, the number is the amount you will win when betting $100. For example, if you bet $100 on the Heat to beat the Bucks at +220, you will win $220 if the Heat win.

The minus usually indicates the favored team or pick. The number after the minus symbol shows how much you must bet to win $100. For example, if you bet on the Bucks to beat the Heat at -250, you would need to bet $250 in order to win $100.

While the plus and minus usually indicate the underdog and favorite, that is not always the case. In close matchups or with many over/under bets, you may see both teams or picks with a minus in front of their odds.

When this happens, the larger number after the minus symbol shows who the bookmaker favors.

After one year of legal betting in the province, we have seen bettors focus on a few popular leagues when placing their bets. Overall, the major North American sports were the most popular as bettors have yet to focus on the smaller sports.

Here are the sports that drew in the most bets in Ontario over the last year.

Basketball

NBA betting was incredibly popular in its first year in part because the province is home to the Toronto Raptors, Canada’s lone NBA team. While plenty of action has been on single-game bets, many have focused on betting futures.

Like with other major sports, bettors have flocked to basketball betting sites with the playoffs underway. Bets are being placed on series and conference winners as the playoffs' first round ends.

The NBA playoffs draw a lot of bets, but nothing close to what NBA Finals betting. The NBA’s championship series offers a lot of different bets available and is a marquee event that bettors in Canada have been focusing on.

Football

Though Canada does not have a team, NFL betting has been incredibly popular. The Super Bowl and NFL playoffs were hugely popular as bettors, especially for prop bets.

Given the league’s popularity, you can expect the NFL to continue to be a top betting option in the province and Canada as a whole.

While not nearly as popular, the Canadian Football League is the next most-bet football league. Ontario has two teams in the league, the Ottawa Redblacks and the Toronto Argonauts.

We expect this market to grow, especially since its season runs over the summer. That means football bettors have options during the NFL offseason, making football one of the most popular betting sports in the country.

Hockey

While Hockey betting is much more difficult than basketball and football, it has been very popular in the province.

The province is home to both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators, meaning Ontario is filled with fans looking for NHL betting. Most hockey bets have been single-game wagers, though futures have also been popular.

Group bets are also a popular option as the Stanley Cup Finals approach. Bettors can pick conference winners and the eventual champion for their group bet.

This is the top event of the NHL season as they award a team with the most storied trophy in North American sports. This also correlates with the NBA playoffs, making this a very busy time of year for Ontario sportsbooks.

Baseball

MLB betting hasn’t been as popular across Canada, but it has had more action in Ontario. That is thanks to the province being home to the MLB’s lone Canadian team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

Like hockey, baseball betting is considered more difficult than basketball or football betting.

Given the trend of Ontario bettors focusing on future bets and major tournaments, you can expect the MLB playoff and World Series betting to be a major draw.

That is especially true if the Blue Jays can make the playoffs, as the team's fanbase stretches throughout the province and Canada.

Losing is inevitable in Ontario sports betting, but there are certain things you can do to raise your chances.

There is no shortage of sports betting tips and tricks out there, but nothing can boost your chances more than doing your homework on the event or game in question.

Even taking 20 minutes to research a game or event before placing your bet can drastically improve your chances.

Before you bet on any game or event, we recommend you answer the following questions before deciding your bet:

1. Why are the odds set where they are?
2. Where is the game being played?
3. Are there any key injuries?
4. How have both teams performed from a betting perspective (i.e., against the spread, over/under, etc.)?
5. Have these teams played each other before?

Finding answers to these questions is easy, but so many bettors choose to go with their gut instead of doing either homework. This is what we call “emotional betting”, and it is a great way to blow through your bankroll.

Answering the five questions above will increase your chances of winning and help you avoid making bad bets

Knowing Which Sportsbooks to Avoid

As we mentioned above, not all online Ontario sportsbooks are created equal. Even regulated sportsbooks can still provide vastly different experiences that could affect not just your overall experience but also your bankroll.

The first thing to do when choosing a new sportsbook is to verify all your options are legal and regulated by iGaming Ontario.

Those sites will all have a badge or marking showing they are legal within the province. If you don’t see that, avoid the sportsbook and choose another option.

Illegal and unregulated sportsbooks don’t have to follow the rules set forward by Canada and its provinces, meaning there is no recourse if they fail to pay out your funds.

Once you have verified your list of Ontario gambling sites is legal, it is time to look at reviews.

Check for things like payment methods, withdrawal/deposit times, promotions, and odds. Each of those varies from sportsbook to sportsbook, so be sure to compare before making your final selection.

That is especially true for promotions and odds, as those can end up greatly affecting your bankroll.

Now that we have covered the basics, it’s time to find the right Ontario sports betting site for you.

The number of legal betting sites continues to grow in the providence, but they are led by a group of eight that stand out from the rest. Each has its unique features and strengths that put them above the rest, making them a reliable option for your Ontario sports betting needs.

We have poured through the options to help determine which are the best sports betting sites in Ontario. We looked at several factors when evaluating, which we will discuss below.

Here is our official list of our top eight sportsbooks in the province. We have included a brief introduction to each and their current odds for the winner of this year’s Stanley Cup. Even if you aren’t looking to bet on the winner, this will give you an idea of how the odds for each sportsbook stack up.

Bet365

Bet365 Sportsbook is a name many Canadians know as they have been in Canada’s “grey market” for years. They are now a legal sportsbook in the province, and their extensive betting market has made them a popular choice for bettors.

Odds for Stanley Cup Favorite: Toronto Maple Leafs +800

BetMGM 

The BetMGM Sportsbook Ontario has one of the best sports Ontario sports betting sites thanks to their decades of experience in the casino industry. They have a great platform and one of the best loyalty programs available, as points can be redeemed online or at any MGM property.

Odds for Stanley Cup Favorite: Carlina Hurricanes/Colorado Avalanche +900

BetRivers 

While they don’t have the most recognizable brand, BetRivers Sportsbook Ontario joined with Rush Street Interactive to form one of the most reliable sportsbooks in Canada. They have yet to expand to the rest of Canada, but BetRivers promotions and betting selections make it a top Ontario sports betting site.

Odds for Stanley Cup Favorite: Colorado Avalanche +800

Caesars 

Caesars Sportsbook Ontario is one of Ontario's most recognizable sports betting brands. It has become a top sportsbook in Ontario thanks in part to its retail location in Windsor. This also gives them a big advantage with their loyalty program, where rewards can be used at the Windsor resort.

Odds for Stanley Cup Favorite: Carolina Hurricanes +750

DraftKings

From its humble beginnings as a Daily Fantasy Site, DraftKings Sportsbook Ontario has become one of Ontario's most trusted sports betting names. They feature a great platform, fast and friendly customer service, and the most prop bet options you in Canada.

Odds for Stanley Cup Favorite: Carolina Hurricanes +800

FanDuel

Like DraftKings, FanDuel Sportsbook Ontario is another former DFS site turned Sportsbook. They usually offer good odds, but are also at the forefront of live-streaming games. While not available for all games or events, FanDuel will let you live stream certain games you have bet on.

Odds for Stanley Cup Favorite: Colorado Avalanche +850

PointsBet

PointsBet Sportsbook Ontario is officially live, and they are pushing hard to gain new users. That means they have some incredible promos that you won’t find elsewhere. They set themselves apart with their various options to tease your bet and improve your odds.

Odds for Stanley Cup Favorite: Carolina Hurricanes +750

Rivalry

Rivalry Sportsbook Ontario is a great local option that was founded in Toronto. They offer a to make deposits and withdrawals easy for bettors. What sets them apart is their in-depth offering of e-sports betting, with the largest selection in the province.

Odds for Stanley Cup Favorite: N/A

Betting Features

When you are choosing between sportsbooks, you’ll see reviews tout several different betting features that make them great. However, many of these features unique to sportsbooks and are unknown to new bettors.

If you are someone that is new to Ontario sports betting, here are a few of the key features you will see:

• Live Betting: Also known as “in-game betting”, this allows bettors to place wagers on events that are already in progress. They have live odds updating throughout the game, allowing you to place a bet at any time.
• Live Streaming: Live streaming refers to sportsbooks allowing bettors to watch games they have wagered on. This is hardly unique to Ontario sports betting, but it is becoming increasingly popular.
• Cash-Out: This is a nice feature that allows bettors to cash out their parlay bets before the last leg has been completed. The sportsbook will offer you a lower payout as an alternative to risking it all on the final leg. This isn’t always available, but it is becoming increasingly popular among Ontario online casinos.
• Tease: “Teasing a bet” refers to creating an alternative outcome to bet on. For example, let’s say you are looking to bet a Raptors game where they are favored by five points. Some sportsbooks will let you change that spread a few points in either direction and provide corresponding odds.
• Deposit Bonus: refers to bonuses where a sportsbook matches part or all of your initial deposit. It is a common welcome bonus for new players, but determine how much will be matched before choosing an Ontario Sportsbook.
• Bonus Bets and Site Credits: Many sportsbooks will offer bonus bets or site credits for new users, but they usually are usually only available to bet with and are not available to withdraw. Be sure to verify the terms on any bonus bets or credits before choosing an Ontario sportsbook.

How We Rank The Sites

There are many factors we review before recommending any Ontario sportsbook to ensure you can choose the best one to fit your needs. Checking these helps us eliminate the less reliable options and establish the best ones.

Here are some of the factors we consider:

Overall Experience

As we review and test out each sportsbook, we always consider the overall user experience using it. This includes things like ease of use, betting options available, quality of graphics, and the account setup process. If we aren’t enjoying the site or are having issues with its functionality, it will greatly affect our review.

Safety & Reliability

Just because an Ontario Sportsbook is regulated does not mean it is necessarily safe and reliable. You provide a lot of information when signing up for a sportsbook, which makes their ability to protect that information paramount. That’s why we always check for the security they have in place and, read user reviews regarding reliability.

Online Banking

This includes what payment methods are available as well as the time to process deposits and withdrawals.

This is something that new bettors can overlook, but it is imperative to check before opening an account. Some sportsbooks offer deposit methods that you can’t use for withdrawals, making the process tricky if you don’t plan ahead.

Mobile Apps

We have gone through and tested out many of the Ontario sportsbook betting apps, checking to see how well they operate when you are betting on the go. Many bettors prefer to make bets from their phones, so picking a sportsbook with a reliable mobile app makes a big difference.

Customer Service

Customer service is incredibly important in the Ontario sports betting industry. Ontario Sportsbooks are holding onto your money, so it’s important to be able to access help if an issue arises. Customer service options can vary greatly between sportsbooks, so checking for this is always important.

Odds

Finally, we compare odds to evaluate every Ontario sportsbook we review. As you can see in the sportsbooks we discussed above, odds can vary significantly depending on who you use. Picking a sportsbook with the best odds can mean more money in your pocket.

Once you have chosen a new Ontario sportsbook to use, it is time to create an account and get started. While each site has its own unique style, the sign-up process is pretty much universal.

Each sportsbook will provide instructions to help you get started, but here is a general step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Visit the home page of the Ontario Sportsbook you choose
2. Click on the “Join Now” or “Register” button
3. Enter your personal information as requested
4. Create a unique username and password
5. If applicable, enter your promo code
6. Hit the submit button once you have everything entered
7. Make your initial deposit into your new account

Once these steps are completed, you are ready to start betting on sports!

How to make your first deposit

Most Ontario sportsbooks make the deposit process quick and painless. Deposits usually process immediately, so you can start playing right away.

You will have the option to make an initial deposit while creating your sportsbook account, but you can do this at any time through your account page.

To make your first deposit, just follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Find the “Deposit Now” button either on the homepage or in your new account page
2. Select from the available payment methods
3. Enter the amount you wish to deposit
4. Agree to terms and hit submit

Once this is done, you should see the money appear in your Ontario sportsbook account. If you ever run into issues with this, the sportsbook will have customer service options to help you get it resolved.

Popular Sportsbook Payment Methods

For new users, choosing the best payment method is important. Each has their own processing times, fees, etc. that appeal to some players more than others.

Visa and Mastercard debit cards are the most popular choice among sports bettors. They allow you to deposit and withdraw funds directly from your bank account.

The withdrawal times can be a few days, but the ease makes the wait worth it. However, some banks will not allow you to use your debit cards for legal betting. Also, be sure to check for any fees when using your debit card to make deposits.

PayPal is another option that has become increasingly popular, with more Ontario sports betting sites now offering it for deposits and withdrawals.

PayPal betting sites offer a quick and reliable experience. Plus, it’s easy to implement a solid money management strategy since it is not directly linked to your bank account.

Skrill and PayNearMe are popular alternatives to the above options. They both offer a secure and easy way to deposit and withdraw money from your account.

PayNearMe is the more popular of the two options, as sportsbooks more commonly accept it than Skrill. Plus, PayNearMe allows players to make deposits from participating local convenience and drug stores.

One of the biggest benefits of Ontario sports betting at an online casino is that you can do it from anywhere. There are many Ontario sports betting apps to help make the process as easy as possible.

The major sportsbooks all have apps that function well, allowing you the same experience you would get from their site.

They know that many bettors will be accessing their account through their phone, so they have spent time and money ensuring theirs rank among the best. In such a competitive market, a poor mobile app could be enough to push the sportsbook out of the legal market.

While each Ontario sportsbook app has its own design, they will allow you to do the following:

• Full access to sportsbook with the ability to place bets
• Manage your account
• Make deposits & withdrawals
• View your bets
• Live-stream games (when available)

That is a lot of access you can have right from the palm of your hand.

When choosing a new sportsbook, we always recommend testing out the mobile app before signing up. You can download most Ontario sports betting apps and be able to test them without having to create an account.

When testing out a new sportsbook app, check for things like speed, graphics, and ease-of-use.

This not only ensures the sportsbook’s app is worth using but also verifies that your phone is able to perform well when using it. Older phones may struggle with the graphics of some of these apps, making them not worth downloading.

While the Ontario sports betting laws have created a similar market to the US, there are some key differences. Here are a couple of comparisons to show how the province matches up with two of the US’s biggest sports betting states.

Ontario Sports Betting vs Pennsylvania Sports Betting

The biggest difference between these two states is the gambling age. Ontario allows players 19 and older to legally sports bet, while Pennsylvania players must be at least 21.

The betting market in both locations is similar, with many of the same sports and leagues available.

Another difference involves the number of regulated sportsbooks, as Pennsylvania only has 13 while Ontario has over 30.

However, many of the online casinos also have retail locations available in Pennsylvania, something that the Canadian province has much less of.

Lastly, there is a big difference in taxes. All US sports betting winnings are subjected to taxation by the IRS. That is not the case in Ontario sports betting (or Canada), meaning residents can keep 100% of their winnings.

Ontario Sports Betting vs Michigan Sports Betting

Like with Pennsylvania, Michigan sports betting operates a lot like Ontario. The Wolverine state requires players to be over the age of 21.

They have more sportsbooks available (15) than Pennsylvania, but still significantly less than Canada’s most populated province.

Like Pennsylvania, all Michigan residents must pay taxes on their gambling winnings. This can be a decent chunk of the profits, meaning you will win less playing in the US than in Canada.

While there is a plethora of options for regulated sportsbooks, the “grey market” still is a popular for Ontario sports betting. The “grey market” refers to unlicensed Ontario sports betting sites that operate within Canada.

These unregulated Ontario sports betting sites were allowed to operate before, and the province provided a transition period for those sites to become licensed. That time is now over, making unlicensed sportsbook sites illegal.

While these Ontario sports betting sites may seem similar, there are many reasons licensed sites are the better choice.

The biggest one is overall safety and reliability. If you run into any issues with a licensed sportsbook, you have legal recourse and government assistance to resolve them.

That isn’t the same case with an unlicensed Ontario sports betting site, meaning you are on your own if something goes wrong.

A licensed Ontario sports betting site also must meet the criteria set forward by iGaming Ontario. That includes fair play rules and transparent odds for bettors. Unlicensed sites don’t need to worry about this, meaning you could run into bets that are rigged, bad odds, or incorrect payouts.

Lastly, licensed sportsbooks must have a certain level of security to protect their players' information.

Ontario sportsbooks must demonstrate their security before being approved for licensing within the province. Some unlicensed sites may also offer this, but there is no way to verify it. That means your personal and banking information could be exposed or even sold for profit.