Legal online sports betting went live in Ontario in April 2022. Since then, a number of the best sportsbooks from across the globe have joined in all the action. The following review provides a list of the top legal sportsbooks in Ontario at the moment and an overview of the province’s betting landscape.
🙋 How to Bet in Ontario? Legal Sportsbooks and Betting Options
Complete List of Legal Sportsbooks in Ontario
⏲️ Timeline for Betting in Ontario
The betting landscape in Ontario has changed drastically over the past few years. Until 2019, betting was limited to parlay bets via provincial lotteries boards. It wasn’t until April of 2022 that online sports betting was launched in the province. See below a quick timeline with the major developments for betting in Ontario:
June 2021 – The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario established iGaming Ontario and the Senate passed Bill C-218. The Bill allowed sportsbooks to apply for a license to officially begin sports betting across Canada.
August 2021 – The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) opens PROLINE and single-game sports betting launches across Canada on Aug. 27.
April 2022 – Online sports betting was launched on April 4 with almost a dozen sports betting sites joining the Ontario betting market.
🙋 How to Start Betting Online in Ontario?
Online bettors will be required to apply for a gambling account before they can start betting at legal sportsbooks in Ontario. Registering is generally a simple process that will only take a couple of minutes of your time. Read the step-by-step guide below for simple instructions on how to get started.
- Visit the online sportsbook website of your choice and click the ‘SIGN UP’ button or equivalent on the homepage.
- Fill in the registration form that appears on your browser with the needed personal info. Create a Username and Password for your gambling account.
- Enter any registration code you may have into the ‘CODE’ field.
- Accept the terms and conditions of the site and click the button at the end of the form to finish registering.
- Verify your account by providing a valid government ID and a selfie.
- You may now login and make a first deposit at the ‘CASHIER’ and start betting on sports immediately after.
Who can bet on sports in Ontario?
To be eligible to bet on sports in Ontario, bettors must be over the age of 19 and physically located within provincial boundaries. To ensure players are within provincial boundaries, location settings must be enabled on mobile devices and computer browsers when betting. Using a VPN is strictly prohibited when betting in Ontario.
Players will also be required to sign up for a betting account and verify their identity. This will generally be done by sending in a copy of a valid government ID and a selfie. Some online sportsbooks may also require proof of address.
✨ Best Ranked Ontario Sportsbooks
The following table provides a list of our top picks for legal sportsbooks in Ontario for 2022. All sites listed are licensed and registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to provide legal single-sport and parlay betting.
- Canadian-focused betting site
- Global sporting coverage
- A wide range of sports markets
- Provides live streaming and live betting options
- Serving Canadians Since 1997
- Great LIVE Betting Platform
- Great collection of Canadian sports
- A mobile web browser compatible with Android and iOS
- Extensive betting market options
- Exciting news and insights section
- Longstanding global history
- Strong mobile app
- Licensed by the AGCO
- Mobile app for iOS and Android
- Licensed by AGCO
- Mobile app iOS & Android
🙋 How We Review the Best Legal Sportsbooks in Ontario?
To create our list of the best betting sites in Ontario, our experts had to review each of the major sports betting sites in the province. In order to evaluate each betting site, a set of criteria had to be formed that separated sportsbooks with the best betting experience. The criteria are listed below.
- License and Security – A review of the available licenses at each sportsbook to provide legal and regulated sports betting in Ontario.
- Available Betting Markets – Evaluating the number and variety of betting markets and bet types that can be wagered on.
- Betting Odds – Comparing the betting odds of sportsbooks with other top legal sports betting sites in the region.
- Live betting – A review of the live betting section of the site, taking into special account any live streaming and Cash Out button features.
- Mobile Compatibility – Evaluating the mobile friendliness of the platform and any available mobile apps that can be downloaded.
- Payment Options – A review of the available payment options for both deposits and withdrawals, considering any fees, processing times and limits.
- Customer Support – Testing the customer support with response times, available languages and FAQ sections.
Latest Canadian Betting Sites News
Ever since the launch of legal online sports betting in Ontario, the province has been having constant news and developments. Be sure to keep up with the latest in betting in Ontario by checking out the news section of the site from time to time.
Ontario-Based Teams to Bet On
Ontario has a number of major professional sports teams to bet on in popular sports in Canada, such as Basketball, Baseball, Football, and Hockey. Most of the teams come from large cities in the province, such as Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton.
NHL
The two major National Hockey League teams which are native to Ontario are the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators. Both teams carry a massive following in the province and garner loads of bets each year. Check the best NHL betting sites in Ontario to bet on these teams.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs compete in the NHL as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The club is owned and run by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, a company that owns many other major sports teams in Ontario. The Leafs currently play their home games at Scotiabank Arena, which they moved into in February of 1999.
The team has won 13 Stanley Cup championships, which is only bested by the 24 championships of the Montreal Canadiens. Most of the championships come from two major dynasties, from 1947 to 1951; and then from 1962 to 1967. After winning their last NHL championship in 1966-67, the team has been on a 55-year-old drought, one of the longest in NHL history. The Maple Leafs have many big rivalries with other major NHL franchises such as the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, the Montreal Canadiens, and the Ottawa Senators.
The current Leafs team has been making a resurgence in the NHL, making the playoffs with a 54–21–7 record. Unfortunately, the team was not able to make it past the first round, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 7 games. Toronto is considered to be on the uprise and will be looking to have an even stronger season in 2022/23.
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators, officially known as the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club, compete as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been playing their home games at the Canadian Tire Centre, which opened in 1996 as the Palladium.
The old Ottawa Senators were founded in 1883 and have a famed history of winning the Stanley Cup 11 times. Since the reboot of the team in 1992/93, the Sens have not been able to win a Stanley Cup but have made 16 playoff appearances. They have also taken down four division titles and won the 2003 Presidents’ Trophy. The last time the team was able to make it to the Stanley Cup was in 2007, where they lost to the Anaheim Ducks in five games.
The 2021/21 season was a rather disappointing one for the Senators as they finished with a 33–42–7 record, finishing 7th in the Atlantic Division. The team is in a rebuilding phase at the moment but will be looking to make strides in the win column in the upcoming season.
NBA
There is currently only one franchise from Ontario in the NBA–the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have been one of the more successful teams from the province, with much recent success over the past decade. Check the best NBA betting sites in Ontario to bet on the Toronto Raptors.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are a member of the national basketball league’s Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. The team plays their home games at Scotiabank Arena, which the Raptors share with the Toronto Maple Leafs from the NHL. The Raptors were founded in 1995 as part of the NBA’s expansion into Canada, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies. However, since the early 2000s, the Raptors have been the only Canadian-based team in the NBA, as the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis.
In terms of success, the team was able to win the NBA Championship in 2019, after winning their first Eastern Conference title. They have also been able to claim the Atlantic Division titles on seven occasions in 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Last season was a relatively strong one for the Raptors, ending the regular season with a 48–34 record. The team couldn’t, however, make it past the first round, losing to the Philadelphia 76ers in 6 games. With Rookie of the Year, Scott Barnes, and a number of young prospects improving tremendously last season, the 2022 season looks to be one set for a breakout.
MLB
Major League Baseball is the oldest and one of the most popular sports leagues in Ontario. There is currently one major MLB franchise that calls Ontario home–the Toronto Blue Jays. With a longer season than other popular American Leagues, MLB betting can be a great way to place legal bets throughout the year. Check the best MLB betting sites in Ontario to bet on Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the American League (AL) East division. The team was founded as an expansion franchise back in 1977 and was originally based at Exhibition Stadium. The team now plays its home games at the SkyDome, which has now been renamed the Rogers Centre.
The Jays have two World Series titles from the 1992 and 1993 seasons, where the team went back-to-back. Toronto has also won 6 AL East Division titles, the latest of which came in 2015.
The team is currently considered up and coming, expecting to make the playoffs in the 2022 season. With a strong core, the team has the potential to make it very far this postseason, with many even calling for a World Series berth.
Popular Sports Bet Types at Legal Sportsbooks in Ontario
Bettors will have the option of placing bets on a wide range of sports bet types in Ontario. Some of the most common sports bet types you will likely encounter include:
Money Line Bets – Considered the simplest form of sports betting, money lines ask you to bet on which team will win a game or matchup.
Point Spreads – Point spreads even out a game by handicapping the favorite and giving the underdog a lead. This is done by giving a certain number of points. Example: Toronto Raptors -5.5 vs Boston Celtics +5.5.
Over/Unders – With Over/Under bets you wager on whether a certain statistic will be over or under a specific number set by the sportsbook. Example: Total Goals in NHL Game- Over/Under- 4.5
Outrights – Bettors can wager on the overall winner of a tournament or championship with futures or outright bets. Outright betting is generally available well in advance of the commencement of the competition.
Prop Bets – Most Ontario-based sportsbooks offer prop bets which allow you to bet on occurrences in a sports event that do not affect the overall outcome. Example: Will a player score a specific amount of points?
Parlay Betting – Bettors will have the option of combining a number of bets into one accumulator bet. In order for a parlay bet to win, all picks that are part of the bet must win.
❓ Legal Sportsbooks Ontario 2022 FAQ
If you’re in search of quick answers to frequently asked questions about legal sportsbooks in Ontario, check out our FAQ section below.
Yes, online sports betting launched on April 4th of, 2022 in Ontario with a number of top sports betting sites. To provide legal and regulated sports betting, an online sportsbook must be licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Both single-game sports betting and parlays sports betting are available.
To start betting on sports in Ontario, bettors must be over the age of 19 and physically located in the province. To place a bet at online sportsbooks, you will also be required to register for a gambling account and verify your identity.
Yes, most of the top legal sports betting sites in Ontario give bettors the option of placing wagers via mobile app. Mobile apps are generally available for free download on both iOS and Android devices. You will be required to activate location settings when using the mobile app to ensure you are betting from within Ontario provincial boundaries.
Ontario-based bettors will have a wide range of bet types available for both pre-match and live betting. Common bet types include money lines, points spreads, over/unders, handicaps, outrights, props bets and parlays.
If you’re looking to make a deposit at legal sports betting sites in Ontario, you should have a number of safe and convenient options. Some of the most popular options to make a deposit are credit/debit cards, prepaid cards, online bank transfers, eWallets, crypto payments.
Generally, there are no deposit fees on the side of the sportsbook. Minimum and maximum limits may vary based on the payment method used.
Yes, many of the best legal sportsbooks in Ontario also provide casino gaming alongside their sports betting section. Popular casino game types include Slots, Blackjack, Roulette, Table Games, Video Poker, Jackpots and Live Casino Games.
Casinos generally use the same gambling account as sports betting, integrating balances.
Based on our experts’ ratings the best legal sports betting sites in Ontario for 2022 are BetMGM, DraftKings, Caesars, PointsBet, BetRivers (Add Sportsbooks)
If you run into problems registering at a legal sports betting site in Ontario, you may contact customer support for help. Players will usually be able to contact support via live chat or email at most major betting sites.
