Many new punters don’t look for the best sports to bet on because they start with their favourite game. However, some sports are known to have more lucrative markets and odds than others. Football, in the form of NFL and CFL betting, is a popular sports discipline in Canada.
You can also bet on basketball, hockey, tennis, soccer, baseball, handball, volleyball, golf, MMA, F1, NASCAR, lacrosse, eSports, and several other games. Each sport has unique tournaments, championships and leagues. Here’s an overview of the top sports, leagues, and tournaments:
NFL: Football is a popular sport in North America and has millions of fans. The NFL season is electric, and many amateur players and students hope to participate. Events like the Super Bowl draw millions of global fans through streams.
CFL: Canadian football teams participate in the CFL (Canadian Football League), which is more like the NFL. Toronto Argonauts hold the record for the most Grey Cup championships at 18. NFL betting is more popular than the CFL, but you can find exciting matches, markets, and odds across both leagues.
Basketball (NBA): Basketball is one of the popular sports to bet on, especially in North America, where the NBA is a phenomenon of its own. The National Basketball Association organizes NBA events across teams from Eastern and Western Conferences.
The Toronto Raptors are the only Canadian team to participate in the NBA. They're also recent Championship holders after they won the 2019 NBA Finals. You can bet on various other events in the playoffs, play-in tournaments, and the six divisions within the NBA format. Basketball markets are available in all sportsbooks in Canada.
Baseball (MLB): Major League Baseball (MLB) is the oldest major professional league in the world and features 30 teams divided between the National and American leagues. Only the Toronto Blue Jays come from Canada. The other 29 are from America.
The Blue Jays boast two AL pennants and two World Series titles and carry the pride of many baseball lovers from Canada. You can find various baseball betting markets across Canadian sportsbooks. Teams battle each year for different cups, including the Commissioner’s Trophy, which is MLB’s championship trophy.
Hockey (NHL): Hockey betting is another popular phenomenon in North America. The NHL is the ultimate league, comprising 32 teams, 7 of which come from Canada. Teams can win the prestigious Stanley Cup after the playoff or the President's Trophy for the most points in the season.
NHL betting is perfect for fans of hockey all over the world. You can follow your top Canadian teams, including the Montreal Canadiens, the Vancouver Canucks, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Ice hockey is a popular event in North America, but you can find other hockey betting opportunities, including field hockey and bandy.
UFC Betting: If you fancy betting on mixed martial arts fights, it doesn't get better than the UFC. Ultimate Fighting Championship is an elite pro league featuring top fighters worldwide. UFC betting offers an opportunity to back your favourite fighter in various events.
There are nine unique UFC formats, including numbered events, fight nights, ultimate fighter finale, and events aired on ABC, ESPN, Fox, etc. The UFC organizes many events in Canada, and bookies feature fights from all over the world. You can bet on various preliminary cards and main events as fighters compete for the top prizes in the sport.
Other Sports & Tournaments
There are various other top sports to bet on in Canada. Most bookies offer tennis betting, featuring bets on famous tournaments like the Wimbledon Trophy, ATP, WTA, and other events. You can also enjoy F1 betting if you fancy racing events. Other popular sports include golf, boxing, volleyball, and rugby. Leading bookies offer dozens of sports disciplines to bet on.