Canada

Canadian betting law is fundamentally sub-national: the federal Criminal Code (amended by Bill C-218, in force August 2021) decriminalized single-event sports betting but left each province to decide the model. Ontario operates the country's only mature open market — nearly 50 licensed private operators under iGaming Ontario and the AGCO since April 2022 — and Alberta became the second competitive market on 13 July 2026.

All remaining provinces channel legal online sports betting through provincial Crown monopolies (PlayNow, Mise-o-jeu+, Atlantic Lottery's Proline). Horse-race pari-mutuel betting is the long-standing exception, regulated federally and uniformly by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA). Prediction markets remain restrictive: the CSA treats most yes/no event contracts as prohibited binary options and the OSC penalized Polymarket's operator in 2025; the only legal access — Wealthsimple Predict with Kalshi (June 2026, under CIRO) — is capped at economic, financial and climate contracts, with sports and politics expressly excluded.

Minimum age is 19 in most provinces but 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.

Online gambling in Canada has grown in record numbers along with the rest of the world. Canadian bettors make up a considerable segment of the world’s 50-billion-dollar online gambling market.

A handful of federal laws address gambling at the national level, but provinces take the lead in determining exactly which forms of online gambling and betting are available. This means legal Canadian betting sites vary by province. Read on for the full story of what’s legal and where.

Canadian Betting Sites

19+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. ‘’

The vast majority of international gambling sites accept Canadian bettors. The country’s reasonable laws and first world economy make it a prime market for casino operators.

One of the primary things we look for in any online betting site in Canada is its ability to process withdrawals. After all, the ultimate goal of any single bet is to win money. If you have to wait around forever to get paid, there’s no point in placing that bet in the first place. There are enough Canadian betting sites out there that you can afford to be selective.

Outside of payments, other things we look for in Canadian betting sites includes:

• A large real money game selection.

• Competent and quick customer support.

• Games with fair payout odds.

• Established reputation for safety.

• Canada-friendly deposit methods.

Legal Online Betting Options by Province and Territory

Broadly speaking, online gambling in Canada is managed at the provincial level. The Criminal Code of Canada prohibits businesses that offer gambling unless they are authorized by a provincial government.

Until August 2021, the Criminal Code of Canada prohibited the authorization of single-game sports wagers; the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act removed that restriction. Before the 2021 amendment, provinces with legal mobile betting could only accept wagers that included two or more selections, also known as parlays; today they offer single-game wagers as well. Online sports betting and gambling are offered in most provinces and territories, usually under the control of a single monopoly provider — Ontario and Alberta are the exceptions, with open competitive markets.

Alberta

• Regulatory Body: Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis

• Key Laws and Regulations: Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act and Additional Regulations

Alberta was one of the last holdout provinces to embrace the concept of online gambling. Things began to change in 2019 when the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis office issues a request for proposals (RFP) to companies that would like to offer online gaming in a regulated environment.

The RFP was met with enthusiasm, and Alberta ultimately went much further: on July 13, 2026 the province opened a regulated iGaming market served by private operators.

Other forms of legal gambling in Alberta include casinos, bingo halls, horse racing betting, lottery kiosks and VLT lounges, and charitable gaming.

British Columbia

• Regulatory Body: Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO)

• Provincial Operator: British Columbia Lottery Corporation

• Key Laws and Regulations: Gaming Control Act

Gaming laws in BC allow for a wide range of gaming options, including online sports betting and casino games. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) manages and operates all commercial gambling on behalf of the province.

PlayNow.com serves as the only authorized gambling and betting site in British Columba. Residents 19 or older can visit PlayNow to bet on sports, buy lottery tickets online and much more. The full range of legal online gambling options offered by PlayNow includes sports betting, lottery drawings, keno, casino games, poker and bingo.

In addition to online gambling, other legal forms of gaming in British Columbia include casinos, bingo halls, racetracks and lottery.

Manitoba

• Regulatory Body: Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority

• Provincial Operator: Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries

• Key Laws and Regulations: Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act and Additional Regulations

Manitoba gambling laws allow in-person and online gambling through authorized providers. PlayNow.com is the official provider of online sports betting, casino games and lotteries. Other forms of legal gambling in Manitoba include charitable events, casinos, VLTs and the lottery.

New Brunswick

• Regulatory Body: Gaming, Liquor and Security Licensing Branch

• Provincial Operator: New Brunswick Lotteries & Gaming Corporation

• Key Laws and Regulations: Gaming Control Act & Regulations

New Brunswick regulates several forms of gambling that are operated by licensed providers. Two land-based casinos plus video lottery terminals, charitable gaming, the lottery, and harness racing comprise the province’s legal gambling options.

Residents 19 and older can order lottery tickets online through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC), which operates lotteries on behalf of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

The ALC also offers sports betting, fantasy sports, and futures under the Pro-Line brand. All customers must be 19 or older to bet online with PRO-Line.

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Regulatory Body: Government of NL

• Provincial Operator: Atlantic Lottery Corporation

Gambling options in Newfoundland and Labrador are somewhat limited compared to other provinces. Online lottery games and retail sports betting are available through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation website and its associated Pro-Line sports product. Charitable and nonprofit organizations may also apply for a license from Service NL to hold fundraising lotteries.

Northwest Territories

• Regulatory Body: NWT & Nunavut Lotteries

• Provincial Operator: Western Canada Lottery Corporation

The Northwest Territories are not a major gambling destination, but residents do have a few options. The Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) operates lotteries in several provinces and territories, including a partnership with the NWT & Nunavut Lotteries.

Sports betting is also legal in the Northwest Territories through Sport Select under the NWT & Nunavut Lotteries.

Nova Scotia

• Regulatory Body: Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division of Service Nova Scotia

• Provincial Operator: Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation

• Key Laws and Regulations: Gaming Control Act and Atlantic Lottery Regulations

Nova Scotia is a largely pro-gaming province whose residents have access to a state lottery, casinos, video lottery terminals, charitable bingo, and online gambling. The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation manages regulated gaming on behalf of the province through Casino Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Lottery. Residents 19 and older can visit the Atlantic Lottery website to buy lottery tickets online and bet on sports through Pro-Line.

Nunavut

• Regulatory Body: NWT & Nunavut Lotteries

• Territory Operator: Western Canada Lottery Corporation

The sparsely populated territory of Nunavut is not a gambling destination by any stretch but does offer a few options for locals. Nunavut gambling options consist of charitable gaming, lottery products offered by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) and Pro-Line sports betting offered under the Sport Select brand through WCLC.

Ontario Sports Betting Sites

• Regulatory Body: Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario

• Key Laws and Regulations: Ontario Gaming Acts and Regulations| Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming

Ontario is home to a competitive online sports betting and gambling market served by numerous operators who have undergone extensive vetting conducted by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

OLG.ca once held a monopoly over online betting in Ontario, but the province opened its market to competition in early 2022. Today, players can choose from multiple online sportsbooks, casinos, and poker sites.

Legal online betting sites in Ontario must adhere to a litany of consumer protection regulations to support responsible gambling, fair games, and proper safekeeping of customers' funds.

Prince Edward Island

• Regulatory Body: Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission

• Provincial Operator: Atlantic Lottery Corporation

• Key Laws and Regulations: Lotteries Commission Act and Atlantic Lottery Regulations

Prince Edward Island is home to a limited number of gambling and sports betting options. Casinos, harness racing, lottery games and sports betting are all legal and regulated in PEI. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation offers online lottery games and sports betting at ALC.ca.

Quebec

• Regulatory Body: Régie des Alcools, des Courses et des Jeux

• Provincial Operator: Loto-Québec

• Key Laws and Regulations: List of Laws and Regulations Here

Quebec hosts a thriving gambling industry that includes retail and online options. Online sports betting and gambling are offered by Loto-Québec, which offers lottery games, casino games, sports betting, instant-win scratchers, poker and bingo.

Saskatchewan

• Regulatory Body: Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority

• Provincial Operators: Crown Investments Corporation and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority

• Key Laws and Regulations: Full List Here

Saskatchewan has a strong land-based gaming industry and, since November 2022, state-licensed online gambling through PlayNow.com. Land-based casinos operated by the Crown Investments Corporation and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) offer slots, poker and table games.

Video lottery terminals, horse racing betting, and charitable gaming are also authorized. Sask Lotteries also offers lottery tickets, instant win games, and sports betting through Sport Select.

Yukon

• Regulatory Body: Yukon Lottery Commission

• Territory Operator: Lotteries Yukon

Yukon has a small gaming industry powered by Lotteries Yukon and a single casino located in Dawson City. Lotteries Yukon works in partnership with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation to offer a standard range of lottery games and sports betting through Sport Select. In Dawson City, Diamond Tooth Gerties offers table games, poker and slots.

Canadian Sports Betting Sites

The online sports betting sites we recommend are those that cover both domestic and international sports. This includes the likes of the Canadian Football league (CFL) as well as US-based organizations with Canadian franchises. The NBA, MLB and NHL all come to mind.

On the international side, these books cover soccer, cricket, the Olympic games and more. In short, the more markets there are, the better.

Something else to consider is whether or not the lines are competitive. The big, international books tend to have the best lines thanks to the competitive nature of the international sports betting industry. Canada is no longer served only by government-run betting sites: iGaming Ontario contracts regulated private operators in Ontario, and 22 registered iGaming sites were approved to offer regulated iGaming services in Alberta when that market opened on 13 July 2026, so bettors in those two provinces can compare lines across competing licensed sportsbooks.

Horse Racing Betting

Horse racing itself is overseen provincially, but horse racing betting is regulated federally by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, unlike other forms of gambling. Most provinces host horse races and authorize trackside betting, but mobile racing betting is not as widespread.

The most well-known racing betting site open to Canadians is HPIBet.com, which is legal across Canada and accepts Canadian residents of legal wagering age.

Section 204 of the Canadian Code specifically exempts horse racing betting from the general prohibition against prohibition. Under Section 204, laws against wagering do not apply to legal parimutuel wagering.

Teletheatres, also known as off-track betting facilities (OTBs), are also authorized in numerous provinces:

• Alberta: Horse Racing Alberta Locations

• British Columbia: TBC Teletheatre Locations

• Manitoba: Assiniboia Downs OTB Locations

• New Brunswick: Authorized OTB Locations

• Nova Scotia: Authorized OTB Locations

• Ontario: Authorized OTB Locations

• Prince Edward Island: Teletheatre at Red Shores

• Quebec: Hippodrome Trois-Rivières Locations

• Saskatchewan: Marquis Downs Locations

Candian Online Casinos

Canadians in Ontario and Alberta can choose among competing regulated online casinos, while in the remaining provinces the only authorised site is the provincial Crown operator. There’s a lot to be said for competition.

The main thing is to stick with big-name sites and avoid all those little, unknown operations that also target the Canadian market. There’s no point in even risking playing at some sketchy gambling site when you have so many big-name brands doing everything they can to earn your trust.

Is Online Betting Legal in Canada?

The Canadian central government prohibits sports betting and online gambling activities that are not specifically authorized by provinces or territories. Section 202 of the Criminal Code prohibits engaging in sports betting as a business but does not specifically outlaw the act of placing wagers as a customer.

However, Section 207 states it is lawful for the government of a province to “conduct and manage a lottery scheme in that province…” That section also allows charitable and religious organizations to conduct lottery schemes if authorized by local authorities.

Sports betting is addressed in Section 207 and is defined as an acceptable type of “lottery scheme”; since the 2021 amendment, that includes wagering on single sporting events (horse racing stays under federal pari-mutuel rules). Before the 2021 amendment, lottery schemes were defined by the Criminal Code as follows:

…any proposal, scheme, plan, means, device, contrivance or operation described in any of paragraphs 206(1)(a) to (g), whether or not it involves betting, pool selling or a pool system of betting other than

(a) three-card monte, punch board or coin table;

(b) bookmaking, pool selling or the making or recording of bets, including bets made through the agency of a pool or pari-mutuel system, on any race or fight, or on a single sport event or athletic contest; or

(c) for the purposes of paragraphs (1)(b) to (f), a game or proposal, scheme, plan, means, device, contrivance or operation described in any of paragraphs 206(1)(a) to (g) that is operated on or through a computer, video device, slot machine or a dice game.

Specifically, it was part b) that limited provincial lottery providers to parlay-style wagering until the single-event restriction was removed in August 2021.

Is Single Game Sports Betting Legal in Canada?

Before August 27, 2021, most wagers placed at legal betting sites in Canada had to be placed as a part of parlays. This means fans must add at least two selections to a betting slip and both selections must be correct for the bet to win. In this manner, parlays are more difficult to win than singles but offer higher payouts.

Before the law changed, some types of “singles” skirted by the Criminal Code of Canada by essentially combining two outcomes into a single wager. For example, British Columbia’s PlayNow.com website allowed customers to place single Correct Score wagers because those wagers essentially required making two selections (the correct score of each team). Other types of wagers also fit this definition as explained here.

International gaming sites headquartered and licensed outside of Canada do not follow such restrictions.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) is an online gaming regulator headquartered on Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec and established in 1996. At one point, the KGC was one of the most prominent licensing jurisdictions for international sports betting and gambling sites.

Some of the KGC’s popularity as a regulatory body was due to maintaining high standards and some was due to its willingness to license operators that offered their services to the United States and other jurisdictions that did not regulate online betting.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission has declined in prominence in more recent years amid a trend of countries around the world choosing to legalize and regulate online gambling on their own. The growth of legal online sports betting and gambling in the United States has played a large role in this as well, with increasing numbers of Americans dropping offshore gaming sites in favor of regulated options at home.

An example of the US role in pushing operators away from KGC licensing can be found in an agreement the Commission struck with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJDGE) in 2016. Under the terms of the agreement, the KGC agreed to take regulatory action against licensees who offer their services to New Jersey residents.

Banking Options for Canadians

Canadian gamblers ave a large variety of options available to deposit into online betting sites. Most methods are instant and are either free or close to it.

Instadebit Betting Sites - Instadebit.com is one of the most popular methods for deposit to online gambling sites. The company acts as an online wallet linked to your bank account. You can move funds between your bank account, Instadebit and any gambling site. The service works quickly and has so far proven to be reliable.

Deposits and withdrawals are processed for free and money moves through the system quickly. If you frequently bounce around between Canadian gambling sites, this is your best bet. The only time you pay a fee is when transferring money from Instadebit to your bank account.

Skrill Betting Sites – Skrill left the Canadian market in 2014 thanks to poorly-written banking laws. At the time the government’s stance on internet gambling was unclear and a number of payment processors exited the country out of an abundance of caution; since then Parliament has removed the single-event betting exclusion from paragraph 207(4)(b) of the Criminal Code and Ontario and Alberta have licensed private operators. Skrill has since returned and serves Canadians again, and there are plenty of alternatives as well.

Other Payment Methods - Credit card, bank wire and paper check are other deposit options that may be available for Canadians. Costs for these methods vary, along with availability depending on the online gaming site of your choosing. PayPal says it allows approved gambling merchants to use its service in certain jurisdictions where gambling activities are legal, so whether PayPal can be used for betting depends on the individual operator.

The Last Word

In summary, Canada is a friendly nation for fans of sports betting and online gambling. The availability of wagering varies from province to province and the legality of international betting sites is very much a legal grey area, but generally Canada is a good place to live as a gambler or sports fan.

Today, most provinces offer at least a handful of legal Canada sports betting and options. Whether it’s parlay-style wagers, online casino games or online lottery tickets, most Canadians have choices.

One area in which there is still significant room for improvement is in the sports betting options offered by provincial governments. Outside Ontario and Alberta, every province with legal sports betting is dominated by a single, state-authorized monopoly provider.

Ontario and Alberta have shown the alternative, licensing competing private operators instead of relying on a single provider; elsewhere the Crown provider remains the only licensed route.