Manitoba Sports Betting 2024: Top Sportsbooks & Legal Situation

Punters in Manitoba have access to PlayNow locally and dozens of other legitimate sports betting sites in Canada. Our review team uses comprehensive criteria to determine the best sites.

Here’s an overview of how we rank the sportsbooks:

• Security and Trust - We only rank Manitoba’s sportsbooks with legitimate licenses from Canada, the UK, the US, Malta, and credible sources. Our team looks for SSL Certificates, malware protection, fair play, and strict privacy policies.
• Sports Coverage - We prefer bookmakers with comprehensive sports coverage. The best sites offer football (NHL), hockey (NHL), basketball (NBA), soccer (MLS), and baseball (MLB). They also offer tennis, golf, volleyball, eSports, racing, etc.
• Customer Support - Leading sportsbooks in Manitoba offer multiple customer support channels, including live chat, email, telephone, FAQs, blogs, and social media. We prefer sportsbooks with friendly teams and 24/7 support.
• Bonuses and Promotions - Virtually all bookmakers offer bonuses for new, existing and VIP punters. We look into all deals, including no-risk first bets, no-deposit bonuses, welcome packages, cashback, and free bets.
• Betting Features - The best Manitoba sports betting sites offer exciting features, including live betting, live streaming, cashout, odds boosts, bet builders, and more. We test the features to analyze the experience.
• Deposits & Payouts - Reliable sportsbooks offer standard payment methods like Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, ecoPayz, Jeton, Neteller, Skrill, MuchBetter, InstaDebit, iDebit, Interac, PayPal, etc. They also offer instant deposits and quick withdrawals.

Sports betting in Manitoba began in 1989 with the launching of Sports Select. The launch allowed Manitobans to place bets at casino retail locations throughout the province. A lot has occurred since then to the current situation where punters are free to place bets via online sportsbooks.

Here are some key dates in Manitoba’s betting timeline:

• 1989: Slots Select is launched, allowing land-based sports betting.
• 1993: The Manitoba Lotteries Foundation changes its name to Manitoba Lotteries Commission, which is government-owned.
• 2013: PlayNow.com is launched, offering punters the chance to bet on live sports.
• 2021: Single-game sports betting becomes legal throughout Canada and available at PlayNow and in person.

Punters can use PlayNow, which is the only legitimate online gambling site licensed locally in Manitoba. You can also join hundreds of offshore sportsbooks licensed outside Manitoba. 

The province generates about 75-150 million dollars in gambling revenue, which is reinvested into building a sustainable industry and boosting the local economy, education, healthcare, infrastructure, etc.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Manitoba?

Yes. Sports betting is legal in Manitoba and has been for more than three decades. In Canada, betting oversight is left to the individual provinces. The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation governs the betting industry in Manitoba. Let’s explore the law, regulatory entities, legal games and bets, and outlook:

Manitoba Sports Betting Laws

Punters in Manitoba can legally bet without breaking any law. If you’re 18 or older, you can visit any local betting shop to bet on various sports and markets. You also have unlimited websites online, and no law prohibits you from joining offshore bookmakers.

Online sports betting is also legal via the local PlayNow.com website. Manitoba’s sports betting laws were recently updated in 2021 when single-game betting became legal. Punters now have most bet types and markets available in other global bookmakers.

Which Are the Regulator Entities?

Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation is the legal, regulatory entity overseeing gambling in the province. The corporation, sometimes called the Crown Corporation, is also tasked with licensing operators and maintaining gambling standards.

MLLC has only licensed one website (PlayNow), which offers sports betting, casino betting, racebook betting, live dealer games, lotteries, and more. There are many restrictions at PlayNow, including strict age and residency requirements. The site also logs the time and money spent betting and has deposit restrictions.

Before August 2021, punters in Manitoba couldn’t place single-game sports bets at PlayNow or in person at their local hubs. The laws required punters to bet on parlays or two-plus sporting events, except for horse races.

Although odds from two events increase the total payout, it significantly reduces your chances of winning because you must predict two different outcomes. This changed in 2021 with the legalization of single-game sports betting.

Regulators pointed out that winning customers from offshore and illegitimate platforms was one of the reasons for legalizing single-game betting. Punters could place single bets using offshore sites, and the province was missing out on revenue in the realms of $14 billion.

Which Are Steps Taken to Legalize It?

Single-game bets were illegal under the Criminal Code until a private members bill (Bill C-218) was passed in August 2021.

Saskatoon-Grasswood MP Kevin Waugh sponsored the bill. After a successful introduction to the Senate, the bill passed a second reading and was moved to the Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce.

The bill was later approved on its third reading and later received royal assent, making sing-game bets legal throughout Canada, including Manitoba. Bill C-218 was a culmination of several attempts that began in 2012. Its passing is one of the latest reforms with significant impacts on the Canadian gambling landscape.

What Does It Include?

Legalizing single-game bets expanded the options available for punters at PlayNow and land-based gambling hubs.

A single-game bet is precisely what the term means; a wager on one outcome or selection only. An example is betting on who will win a football match (moneyline) between the Winnipeg Jets and the Arizona Coyotes.

Previously, you couldn’t do this with any sport other than horse racing. You needed to bet on at least two events, which meant predicting two outcomes from different matches.

Betting on multiple games requires more research and lowers your likelihood of winning. The more games you have on the slip, the less likely you’ll win because you must predict all outcomes correctly.

What’s In The Future?

Currently, Manitobans have everything they need to bet on sports. The single-game bet was the last major piece missing, but there’s a lot to still look forward to.

PlayNow remains the only website licensed by MLLC, so punters who need something different must look for it offshore. The next big step is for MLLC to open its boundaries to other operators like Ontario has done. Through iGaming Ontario (iGO), the province has licensed global operators like Betway, 888sport, BetVictor, Sports Interaction, BetMGM, Bet99, FanDuel, and more.

Punters in Manitoba are free to join these sportsbooks but might not be fully dedicated to the Manitoba market. In Ontario, these sportsbooks offer promotions and services for the local market and abide by iGO gambling standards.

Anyone of legal age and not part of a self-exclusion program can bet on sports in Manitoba. The restrictions are stricter for those playing via PlayNow, which is designed for Manitobans alone.

Offshore sportsbooks have less stringent requirements. Here are some of the things to note about who can enjoy legal sports betting in Manitoba:

• Age Limit: The age limit for betting at PlayNow is 18 and above. No minors are allowed, and ID verifications are completed to prevent such exposures. The age limit is almost universal since 18 is the legal age in most countries. Some offshore bookmakers restrict betting to people above 19, 20, or even 21, so check the terms and conditions.
• Location: PlayNow is restricted to punters within Manitoba, and the site records your location details to prevent outsiders from joining. Once your account is verified, you can bet from anywhere worldwide but might need a VPN. Punters can bet on local and offshore sports, although the offshore options are less comprehensive than those on other sportsbooks.
• Mobile Betting: You can bet on sports using your mobile phone via the browser or a dedicated iOS app. PlayNow has a sleek design fully optimized for Android and iOS devices. The app is only for iPhone and iPod users. You’ll get the same features, sports, markets, and odds available for PC users. Leading offshore betting sites also accept mobile devices and offer Android and iOS apps.
• Taxes: Manitobans aren’t required to pay any taxes on gambling wins. Recreational bettors don’t need to file their gambling winnings. However, full-time professional bettors who solely earn from betting are expected to file their gambling income. Other than that, you can cash out all your winnings without worrying about taxes. There’s no threshold beyond which winnings are taxed, like in the US and other countries.

Offshore Sportsbooks in Manitoba? 

Manitoba offers its residents one online sports betting website in PlayNow.com. However, punters can explore offshore websites licensed in Ontario, Kahnawake, Malta, the UK, the US, Curacao, Gibraltar, Alderney, etc.

You can join sites like Betway, Bet99, BetVictor, 888sport, Sports Interaction, Bwin, and many more. No law prohibits offshore sportsbooks, meaning Manitobans can bet wherever they want. Nearly all the sportsbooks in Manitoba hold offshore licenses, but this could change when MLLC opens its doors to private operators.

Betting in Manitoba is similar to other provinces with legal gambling scenes. You can sign up for an account, deposit funds, claim bonuses, explore sports, betting markets, and odds, place a bet and withdraw winnings.

Manitobans can also access standard banking options, including credit/debit cards, eWallets, bank transfers, prepaid cards, and cryptocurrencies. Let’s dive into how to bet using the best of Manitoba’s sportsbooks:

• Registering An Account

You need an active account with PlayNow Manitoba or offshore sportsbooks to start betting on sports in the province.

To register for an account, visit the official website of the sportsbook and click on the sign-up button. The term can be different depending on the sportsbook. It’s Join at PlayNow, Sign Up at Betway, Join Now at 888sport, and so forth.

Simply follow the prompts, enter accurate information (name, date of birth, phone number, emails, address, etc.), and submit your registration.

• Banking Options

Once you have a verified account, your next task is to fund it, so you can start betting. Sports betting sites offer a wide range of payment methods. You can use Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, MuchBetter, Trustly, Skrill, Neteller, Jeton, ecoPayz, Interac, AstroPay Card, Paysafecard, PayPal, and more.

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Tether, Ethereum, Dogecoin, etc., are also popular.

To deposit funds, navigate to the banking section under your profile, select deposit, and follow the prompts to link your account and specify the amount.

• Claiming Bonuses

Bonuses and promotions are part of any gambling structure, and virtually all sportsbooks have deals for their new and regular punters. You can claim a no-deposit bonus before you even make your first deposit. Bookmakers also offer no-risk first bets where you’re refunded your first bet if you lose it.

Other deals include deposit matches, cashback deals, free bets, rakebacks, VIP perks, tournament rewards, refer-a-friend bonuses, and more. Simply visit the promotions tab, find a bonus, and read the terms and conditions to learn how to claim.

• Betting On Sports

With a funded account and bonuses to explore, you can launch the sportsbook to start the fun part. Betting on sports in Manitoba is easy. You can find dozens of sports, each with dozens of matches with hundreds of weekly markets to bet on.

Simply navigate to the sportsbook section, choose a sport (football, basketball, hockey, etc.), select a league (NFL, NBA, NHL, etc.), find a market (moneyline, spread, total, etc.), and place a bet. The process is virtually standard across most bookmakers.

• Getting Help

You won’t need help often, but you can access multiple channels whenever you want assistance. The best Manitoba’s sportsbooks offer 24/7 customer support through live chat. You can also use email or telephone.

Live chat provides instant answers to general questions about the sportsbook, so you can get instant support. Emails are ideal for detailed inquiries involving screenshots and document uploads. Sportsbooks also offer on-site help through FAQs, footer links, help centers, blogs, and even social media pages.

Leading bookmakers also have friendly teams ready to help you and responsible gaming frameworks to protect you.

• Mobile Betting

You can enjoy sports betting in Manitoba directly on your mobile phone. All online sportsbooks today are fully optimized for Android and iOS phone browsers.

Search for the sportsbook’s official website like you do with a PC. Most top-rated sportsbooks also offer mobile betting apps that you can install on your device. You don’t necessarily need an app, but some punters prefer apps to mobile web versions and home screen shortcuts.

Manitobans can access the same sports available to punters worldwide. Most of these options are available on offshore sites like Betway, Sports Interaction, 888sport, BetVictor, etc.

PlayNow offers decent coverage but is focused on local sports and North American leagues and tournaments. Below are some of the popular sports to bet on:

Football: Football is one of the popular sports in Canada, and Manitobans can bet on local games and matches in other places. You can bet on Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who participate in the CFL and have access to all matches from the local football league. Bookmakers also offer NFL betting opportunities, including playoffs and the Superbowl.

Hockey: Ice hockey is a phenomenon of its own in Canada and offers punters a chance to bet on seasonal events, playoffs, and the Stanley Cup. Manitobans can back local teams like Winnipeg Jets of the NHL, Winnipeg Ice and Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, and Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

Basketball: Manitobans haven’t had a professional basketball team since the Winnipeg Cyclones folded in 2001. However, punters can bet on the NBA, CEBL, Euroleague, and other basketball leagues. You can find hundreds of games and markets to bet on and back the Toronto Raptors, the only Canadian basketball team in the NBA.

Soccer: Manitoba has no team participating in Major League Soccer (MLS), but punters can bet on all MLS games. They can also back their very own FC Manitoba, which participates in the USL League Two. Bookmakers offer thousands of markets across soccer events in Canada, the USA, the UK, Europe, and worldwide.

Tennis: Tennis is becoming more prominent in Manitoba with every passing day. New indoor courts are on the docket for 2023 and 2024, and events like the Winnipeg National Bank Challenger continue to be big in the province. Punters can also bet on tennis leagues and matches, including the ATP and WTA.

Golf: Manitoba is home to several golfers like Aaron Cockerill, George Knudson, and Nick Taylor. The PGA of Manitoba also organizes various tournaments and challenges you can bet on. Top bookmakers offer bets on the PGA Tour, LPGA, 3M Open, Arnold Palmer Invitational, and more. You also have access to traditional markets.

Manitoba sports betting offers a wide variety of markets, including traditional lines like the moneyline, spread, and total. You can also wager on props and futures, parlays, single bets, and multi-bets. Here’s an overview of the popular betting markets to explore:

• Moneyline

The moneyline market is one of the traditional lines available in all sports. It involves wagering on who will win the match. Each match has a favourite and an underdog. Here’s an example of a moneyline format for the NHL match between the Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks:

• Jets -350
• Sharks +290

In this example, the Jets are the favourites, as indicated by the minus (-) sign before the vig (amount the bookmaker takes for the bet).

If you bet on the Jets to win, you’ll need $350 to make a profit of $100. Conversely, the Sharks is the underdog and not expected to win. If you bet on them, you’ll make a profit of $290 from a $100 bet.

• Spread

The spread, point spread, puck line, or run line is a betting line involving wagering on the goal variation. Bookmakers set a spread and let punters back the favourite to cover the spread or the underdog against the spread. Here’s an example:

• Jets -1.5 (-137)
• Sharks +1.5 (+112)

In this example, the spread is 1.5 goals. The Jets have the handicap, meaning they must score at least two goals more than the Sharks, like in a 3-1 or 5-2 scoreline.

If you back the favourites to cover the spread, you’ll win $100 from a $137 bet. You can also back the Sharks against the spread, meaning they must not lose by more than 1.5 goals.

The need to win, draw, or lose by at most 1 goal. If you back the underdog, you’ll win $112 from a $100 bet.

• Total

The total bet, also known as over/under, involves betting on the combined goals or points scored by both teams.

Bookmakers set a threshold of goals/points and allow punters to bet on whether the match will produce more (over) or fewer (under) goals. Here’s an example:

• Over 6.5 (-104)
• Under 6.5 (-120)

In this example, you can bet on the NHL match between the Jets and the Sharks to result in more than 6.5 goals, like in a 5-2 or 4-3 scoreline.

You’ll win the over bet and need $104 to get $100. If the game results in fewer than 6.5 goals, like in a 4-2 or 3-1 scoreline, you can win the under bet and need $120 to get $100. The bookmakers believe here that the under bet is more likely. 

• Other Betting Markets

Apart from the traditional betting lines, you can bet on props, futures, single bets, and parlays. A prop is a small outcome within a game, like how many rebounds an NBA player will get or how many points a team will score.

A future is a bet on a future outcome, like who will win the Superbowl, Stanley Cup, or MVP player of the season. A single bet is any one outcome on the slip, while parlays are multi-bets with two or more predictions on different markets.

Other Bets

Sportsbooks in Manitoba offer more than just sports bets. You can bet on eSports, politics, and award ceremonies. PlayNow accepts political bets but doesn’t feature betting lines on Canadian politics. You can find that on offshore sportsbooks.

Political bets are futures predicting who will win a given seat or appointment into office. Punters can also bet on award ceremonies like the Oscars, Grammy, and Emmy Awards.

Esports betting is also legal in Manitoba, so you can back your favourite team to win in games like Overwatch, League of Legends, Dota2, FIFA, etc.

Manitoba is home to various professional sports teams that participate in different competitions. Most clubs come from Winnipeg, which has a strong fanbase for hockey and football matches. Here are the most popular Manitoba sports teams:

• Winnipeg Jets: The Jets is an NHL team established in 1972. The team competes in the Central Division of the Western Conference.
• Winnipeg Blue Bombers: The Blue Bombers are a CFL team from the Western Division. The team has won 12 Grey Cups, with the most recent coming in 2021.
• Toronto Raptors: The Raptors hail from Toronto but is the only Canadian basketball team in the NBA and won the Finals in 2019. As such, all Canadians, including NBA fans in Manitoba, love the team.
• Toronto Blue Jays: Like the Raptors, the Blue Jays hail from Toronto but are Canada’s only MLB team, so they get countrywide attention. The team has two world series titles in its cabinets.

Punters in Manitoba have access to many other betting products, including casino games, live dealer games, poker, bingo, lotteries, and more. Here’s an overview of alternative gambling opportunities you can explore in Manitoba sportsbooks:

Casino Games: You can play various casino games, including slots, blackjacks, roulettes, baccarat, and other card and board games. Leading software providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Quickspin, Play’n GO, Pragmatic Play, Evolution, etc., power the games.

You’ll encounter lucrative mega jackpots like Wheel of Fortune, Cleopatra, Siberian Storm, Golden Goddess, etc. at PlayNow.

Offshore sportsbooks host thousands of casino games spanning classic and contemporary releases, themed quests, table games, fruit machines, instant video games, and more.

Live Casino Games: Live casinos offer immersive gameplay and have become standard on modern gambling sites. The games are hosted in real-life studios and casinos, with real gaming equipment, croupiers, and camera angles.

Punters join in via webcams and can bet against each other. You can find various live games, like blackjack, baccarat, roulette, poker, and craps. Other live shows include Monopoly, Deal or No Deal, Mega Ball, Sic Bo, Dragon Tiger, etc.

Poker & Bingo: Fans of video poker and live poker can explore dozens of games from different software providers. Manitoba casinos feature a wide range of poker games, including Hold’em Poker, Caribbean Stud, Joker Poker, Deuces Wild, and more.

The casinos also host 75-ball, 90-ball, 80-ball and 40-ball bingo games from the best providers. You can find many other casino games, including lotteries, scratchcards, crash games, and instant-win video games.

Sports betting in Manitoba is as exciting as elsewhere in Canada because you have access at the palm of your hand. However, with such easy access comes the risk of a betting problem.

Manitoba gamers can explore various responsible gaming resources, including deposit limits, loss limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusion. Each sportsbook has unique resources to keep punters informed and offer help.

You can also find game blockers. GameSense Info Center is the best place to start, but you can also visit responsiblegambling.org. The MLL’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion is exclusively for Manitobans. You can register online via GameSense or offline at the Casino’s Operations Manager or by contacting the MLL’s Security Office for an appointment.

The province is dedicated to forging a safe and sustainable gambling industry. Existing policies seek to restrict minor involvement, rehabilitate problem gamblers, and enforce high gaming standards.

Sportsbook to Avoid

The best way to play responsibly is to choose a trustworthy sportsbook and avoid all illegitimate sites.

Don’t join any Manitoba sports betting site that doesn’t have a license, SSL Certificates, malware sweeps, reliable payment options, and exceptional customer service.

Avoid websites with loads of ads and spam emails, ambiguous privacy policies, and mandatory minimum balances. Negative reviews and user complaints are also red flags that should keep you away from the bookmaker.

Manitobans have access to the British Columbia betting hubs and websites. PlayNow.com is the most trusted sportsbook in the area and is government regulated. If you fancy betting locally, choose PlayNow. However, you’ll miss some sports, markets, and competitive odds.

Offshore betting sites offer a chance to find the best deals and experiences. Check out our provincial betting guide below for all regions with sports betting, including online sportsbooks and betting apps:

• British Columbia
• Ontario
• Alberta
• Quebec
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Northwest Territories
• Prince Edward Island
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nunavut
• Yukon
• Nova Scotia

Licensed and unlicensed sites are critical terms for any form of gambling. You should join a licensed Manitoba sports betting site, which refers to two options; operators licensed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and operators with credible offshore licenses that allow them to serve the Canadian market.

The latter can be considered unlicensed in Manitoba, but they’re legitimate platforms with licenses from the UK Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, Kahnawake Gambling Commission, and other credible regulators. MLLC and BCLC are yet to license a private sports betting operator, so PlayNow is the only option. 

No other operator can claim to have a license from Manitoba. However, punters are free to join offshore-licensed sites, including those licensed by iGaming Ontario.

These differ from sites operating without a legitimate gambling license from a known regulator with high standards.

Why Should I Use a Licensed Site?

Playing at a licensed site has many pros. The licensing authorities have legal oversight of the industry and enforce comprehensive gambling standards. Sportsbooks are vetted vigorously before a license is awarded, meaning these sites must comply with safe and sustainable standards. Here are some pros of using a licensed site:

• It helps you avoid scam websites and poor betting experiences 
• You can be assured of safety, security, and fair play
• Allows the use of standard payment methods, including local banks
• You can bet conveniently without distracting ads, pop-ups, and push notifications
• Offers help, including self-exclusion when you need gambling support
• Get guarantees that your winnings will be paid on time and in full

About PlayNow

PlayNow.com is British Columbia’s only legal, regulated gambling site, meaning no other sportsbook has a license from the province. All alternatives are licensed offshore.

Gambling profits made by PlayNow are reinvested in BC to support education, healthcare, and community programs. You can trust the website for positive play and the most secure gambling experience.

The site offers comprehensive sports coverage, casino games, poker, lotteries, and more.