Ontario Sports Betting Sites: Best Ontario Sportsbooks in 2023

There are several crucial changes to the Ontario online sports betting world that have happened, so you’ll be forgiven if you aren’t entirely up-to-date. However, we know this can be confusing, so we are here to help.

Below, we’ve assembled a quick look at some of the important facts to know about Ontario sports betting sites.

There are a lot of operators that are now arriving in Ontario or are set to. Let’s explore some of the sportsbooks that Ontarians can use for their betting and whether or not they’ve secured a license.

To choose the best Ontario sportsbooks, consider platforms that offers mobile betting apps, which make wagering straightforward and accessible.

While we’ve given you a brief look at some of the top websites for Ontario sports betting, let’s dive a little deeper here with more of a breakdown of who these websites are and what they offer. Below, we’ll give you a quick look at the top Ontario sportsbooks you can use today.

Sports Interaction Ontario: Best for Website Design

Sports Interaction is an operator that has been around for decades. It launched in the 1990s as the first notable online sportsbook made by Canadians and for Canadians. It has seen rapid growth to become one of the most popular options in Canada. 

👍 Pros: Great website look and design, licensed by Kahnawake Gaming Commission and iGaming Ontario.

👎 Cons: Could add a few more recognizable features.

888sport Ontario: Best for Fun Features

888Sport launched in 2008 and quickly became one of the most popular operators in the world. With fun features and a great website design, there’s a lot to love about this sportsbook. They also offer an Ontario sports betting app, which makes them stand out. 

👍 Pros: iGaming Ontario licensed, great app, fun features.

👎 Cons: It could offer more Live Streaming.

Betway Ontario: Best for Live Betting

Betway is another sportsbook that has become a global phenomenon. There’s a lot to like about Betway. From its smooth layout to the great features, which include Betway Boosts, this sportsbook has a lot going on. It also offers an excellent mobile app.

👍 Pros: Great website design, fun features, iGaming licensed.

👎 Cons: Could improve Live Streaming options.

BetVictor Ontario: Best for History

BetVictor is an institution. They started as a bookie in the 1940s and have evolved with the times to become a major sportsbook used around the world. They recently entered the Ontario market and offer a massive array of markets and fun features.

👍 Pros: iGaming certified, Mobile App, great layout.

👎 Cons: Could add some more props.

Bet365 Ontario: Best for Sports Betting Markets

Bet365 is one of the most popular sportsbooks in the world. They are a massive operator with a lot of standout features. These include a great bet builder, a top-notch mobile app, and a web design that is the envy of the industry.

👍 Pros: iGaming licensed, top-notch mobile experience, and great design.

👎 Cons: Could have better live streaming options. 

LeoVegas Ontario: Best for Mobile Experience

LeoVegas comes from a major sports betting enterprise and stands as a new addition to the Ontario market. They have an excellent mobile app, fast sign-ups, and fun features. They are an emerging operator that many are looking towards.

👍 Pros: iGaming licensed, great mobile experience.

👎 Cons: Website design is a little confusing.

BetMGM Ontario: Best for User-Friendliness

BetMGM is the first online Canadian offering from the sportsbook juggernaut of MGM. It is an exciting addition to the Ontario market, with an impeccable design, great mobile app, and fun standout features that make it one of the top operators available.

👍 Pros: iGaming licensed, great design, mobile app.

👎 Cons: Loads a little slowly.

Pointsbet Ontario: Best for Unique Features

Pointsbet has been a major name in Australia but is now eyeing global domination. They are in the process of creating an Ontarian version of the Pointsbet sportsbook and offering it to Canadians. This will bring the fun features and mobile app they are known for to Canadian audiences.

👍 Pros: In the process of being iGaming licensed, mobile app.

👎 Cons: Simple website layout.

Pinnacle Ontario: Best for Payment Options

Pinnacle is a sportsbook that has stood the test of time. They’ve been around for decades now and have a lot to offer. With betting resources, fun features, crypto deposits, and much more, there’s a lot to enjoy about using this major sportsbook.

👍 Pros: Crypto deposits, fun betting features.

👎 Cons: Could add to a plain website design.

Bet99: Best for Canadian-Themed Offerings

Bet99 is a sportsbook that has surged to popularity over the past few years. It is created to specifically target Canadian bettors, and it has done so with aplomb. They’ve formed major partnerships, built incredible betting features, and are now one of the leading Ontario sportsbooks.

👍 Pros: Geared towards Canadians, Lots of player props.

👎 Cons: No live streaming.

PowerPlay Ontario: Best for Player Props

PowerPlay is a sportsbook that came out relatively recently compared to some of its peers, but it has a lot to offer bettors. It is an exciting operator with a massive array of betting options. They have a lot of banking methods they accept and a great layout.

👍 Pros: Great support options, crypto deposits.

👎 Cons: Could add a mobile app.

TonyBet Ontario: Best for Esports Markets

TonyBet is a sportsbook that is growing at an astronomical rate. Carving out a spot in the Ontario market is important to this operator. TonyBet is one of the better live betting sites on the market, with great options and an in-depth sportsbook.

👍 Pros: Quickly and effectively livechat, great payment options.

👎 Cons: The website doesn’t look amazing. 

Neo.Bet Ontario: Best for Modern Features

The gambling industry is always changing, and sportsbooks have to do what they can to stand out. Neo.Bet does a good job of standing out by offering modern features like bet builders and comprehensive e-sports coverage. They also have the trust of a lot of consumers.

👍 Pros: Android and iOS Mobile App, fun features.

👎 Cons: The website design isn’t impressive.

Bwin Ontario: Best for Parlay Builders

Bwin is an operator that has arrived established as one of the best in the business. Bwin’s known for their smooth website and user-friendly experience, as well as their fun features like a world-class parlay builder.

👍 Pros: Excellent parlay builder, great mobile app.

👎 Cons: Could add some new sports covered.

Betsafe Ontario: Best for Bet Boost

Betsafe is a sportsbook that is servicing Canadians with incredible features and a straightforward website design. There are many appealing aspects of this site that make it a must-use for Ontario sports betting.

👍 Pros: Great features, Simplistic layout

👎 Cons: No mobile app

Rivalry Ontario: Best for Esports Coverage

Rivalry is an operator that has received licensing from iGaming and exploded onto the Canadian mainstream. It is a top-tier operator with a great interface and some of the most in-depth coverage of Esports you’ll find.

👍 Pros: Esports coverage, licensing.

👎 Cons: Could add some new features.

BetRivers Ontario: Best for Parlay Wagers

BetRivers is one of the newer Ontario sportsbooks that betting enthusiasts are falling in love with. It arrived out of the United States once the Ontario sports betting laws changed, and it has excellent features, including a top-of-the-line parlay betting experience.

👍 Pros: Great for parlay betting, ideal color design.

👎 Cons: Could expand live streaming options.

Unibet: Best for Prop Betting

Unibet has been serving Canadians for some time now, and they have acquired the iGaming Ontario license that allows them to expand on the Ontario market. They are a great operator with renowned prop betting features that help set them apart.

👍 Pros: Great for prop betting, deep sports coverage.

👎 Cons: Website design could be improved.

DraftKings: Best for Interface and Intuitiveness

DraftKings is one of the world’s most popular betting sites. They have served America for years, and now are a part of the Ontario market. Their expansive coverage and incredible betting interface have made them an immediate success for sports betting in Ontario.

👍 Pros: Interface, mobile app.

👎 Cons: Could add payment options.

FanDuel: Best for In-Depth Sports Coverage

FanDuel is a global success story that has swept across Ontario since its arrival in 2022. With a world-class interface, an elite mobile betting app, and some of the best sports coverage you’ll find, it is h

👍 Pros: Amazing interface, top-notch coverage.

👎 Cons: Limited live streaming.

As we’ve mentioned, there are new Ontario betting apps and websites that arrive on a consistent basis. The world of sports betting in the province has expanded rapidly over the past several years, and many sportsbooks are taking note of the success that Ontario betting sites are having. They are looking to join the ranks.

If you haven’t been paying attention to some of the new operators, we are here to help clear up the confusion. Below are the five newest sportsbooks to arrive as the best Ontario sportsbooks.

Sports betting has taken off in Ontario, and we at MyBetting Canada are thrilled to see the enthusiasm Canadian bettors have. There’s so much to learn about these sportsbooks, and we are here to help guide you along the way. When we recommend a website to our users, there is a lot of thought that goes into that process. We know that some might be asking, what makes one Ontario sports betting operator better than another?

To help you answer that question, let’s break down some of the things that we look for when we rate the different betting sites that are available to Canadians.

• User-Friendly: Do they have a website that is easy to use and navigate?
• License and Safety: Are they licensed for use in Ontario, and do they have a strong reputation for user safety?
• Sports Coverage and Markets: Do they cover all the sports and markets that the typical Canadian bettor is going to seek out?
• Offers: Do they provide a diverse array of offers to keep bettors engaged and interested?
• Features: Are their features exciting, unique, and diverse? Do they have many to offer?
• Customer Service: If a user experiences issues on their website, will they be available to help?

Sports betting in Ontario was a legal gray area for several years. Bettors could use offshore betting sites or place parlay bets with the OLG and Proline, but in general, the legality of Ontario betting was murky. Now, there are numerous legal betting sites in Canada. Let’s quickly look into how that happened.

The turning point came when Bill C-218 was passed. This was a new law that put control over sports betting’s legality in the hands of provinces rather than the federal government. This occurred in 2021. It took some time to get everything established, but the Ontario government was the first to institute legal betting.

They did this by instituting iGaming. iGaming Ontario is the regulator that oversees Ontario online betting. iGaming and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario work together to oversee the industry and ensure that betting sites adhere to certain standards, protect their users, and are fair.

iGaming issues licenses to these operators, so users can be certain they are using fully certified and regulated sites. From NBA betting sites to soccer betting sites, bettors now have a way to know for sure that the sportsbook they are using is safe and legit.

Single betting vs. Parlays

Before Ontario sports betting became legal in 2022, there were some forms of betting that were legal and provincially regulated. What was legal was parlay betting through OLG and Proline; what was illegal was single game betting in Ontario.

Parlay betting is a type of bet that includes bets on multiple different outcomes that are tied together in one bet. Each component of the bet needs to hit for a parlay to cash. Parlays were allowed before these new rules and had been for decades. However, they were only offered through provincially-ran services like Proline or the OLG.

Bettors could make bets at the gas station or convenience store, much like buying a lottery ticket. However, these bets could only be parlays, which are riskier than single-game bets. The odds that were available to gamblers were also significantly worse than what they could find online.

The new rules have made Ontario single game betting legal. These are bets that are on a single game, so not parlays. They are just one outcome bets, which makes them likelier to hit. Bettors can make these bets at gas stations and convenience stores like parlays, or they can make them at the many online legal sportsbooks.

This is important because bettors now have a much better chance to earn money than just with the legal parlay bets.

Betting Exchanges in Ontario

A betting exchange is a concept that will be new to most Canadians. This is because it is something that hasn’t existed in Canada until recently. The pathway to legal gambling in the province has led to new and exciting mediums for gambling entering the country. One of these new mediums is a betting exchange.

Betting exchanges are something like stock exchanges. They are exchanges where bettors can determine the odds of something on a betting app and then wager on it with other users in real-time. It is similar to stock exchanges where the decisions of users to buy or sell different odds results in the odds shifting. This is a new, exciting form of wagering that was, up until iGaming Ontario, not legal or possible.

The first sportsbook to offer this exciting feature is STX. It just arrived in Ontario in 2023, and now it is revolutionizing the industry. While STX is the first to offer this feature, they likely won’t be the last. If it goes well, this could be a big part of the Canadian betting industry’s future.

Ontario sports betting did not suddenly happen overnight. There was a long, gradual process that led to sports betting becoming legal in the province. Ontario sportsbooks now seem altogether common, but up until recently, this was not the case. So how did sports betting in Ontario come to be legal? In order to properly illustrate this fact, we need to take you through a timeline.

Below, we’re providing a quick timeline that illustrates the process of Ontario betting sites becoming legal.

• February 25th, 2020: Bill C-218 is introduced by Kevin Waugh, which seeks to amend the criminal code to allow single-game sports betting across the nation.
• April 22nd, 2021: The bill is passed in parliament. This means it is on the pathway toward becoming Canadian law.
• June 29th, 2021: The bill receives the royal assent, which means that legal single-game betting in Canada has the express approval of all the major decision-makers in the country.
• July 6th, 2021: Ontario introduces iGaming to the public. This is the regulatory body that is part of the AGCO, and they will have control over the betting industry in the province.
• September 9th, 2021: iGaming Ontario releases their standards and regulatory information about how sportsbooks can become licensed within the province. The work for legalizing betting in Ontario begins.
• December 2021-March 2022: Sportsbooks begin to scramble to form partnerships with Canadian companies. They begin applying for iGaming Ontario licensing, which will allow them to be a part of the Ontario sports betting market once the law comes into effect.
• April 4th, 2022: Legal sports betting in Ontario is officially launched. This represents a new era for online wagering in Canada. All the companies who received iGaming approval are now able to serve the Ontario market.
• January 26th, 2023: iGaming Ontario reports a massive quarter-three of 2023, with a betting handling of more than $11.5 billion, which was double the previous year.

The answer is yes! The new betting rules have made everything from NCAA basketball betting to football betting legal. However, this isn’t fully limitless.

While offshore betting sites have long been tolerated and remain so, the only Ontario betting sites that are regulated and overseen by the government are the ones that are iGaming licensed.

The goal of this is to create a safer system for bettors, ensure the government has some control and money from this big business, and to open the floodgates for betting sites.

These new laws give bettors more assurances. If you see a website is iGaming certified, you know that it has passed through rigorous testing to become that way. There are strict rules on security, fairness, and website infrastructure these sportsbooks have to pass, and now users can be more certain the sportsbook is safe and fair.

For the government, they now get to play a role in a massive industry that countless Ontarians were already involved with. They get to tax the operators and dictate the direction the industry goes in their province.

For sportsbooks, they can now advertise and promote their business, and they will likely see a lot of new customers. That is why Ontarians have seen a lot of commercials and billboards advertising gambling companies lately. While they aren’t allowed to advertise things like free bet offers or other betting offers, they can still spotlight what they bring to the table.

Overall, it is good for all three parties in this situation. While Ontario gambling is incredibly popular, every province is in a unique position. The new rules have opened up the industry, but every province and territory are in a different place. Below are guides we’ve prepared for each Canadian province and territory.

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

Who Is Eligible for A License?

To receive a license, there are several steps sportsbooks need to take. There are different regulatory standards enforced by iGaming and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Sportsbooks need to live up to certain rules and online standards.

For example, there are certain certifications that sportsbooks will need to have. Some will need to have their technology tested and certified by a third party. Generally, some of the requirements include submitting financial information, implementing control activities, having operator systems and data readiness checked, and more.

It is a long, ongoing process, but one that helps consumers.

Who Will be Able to Bet in Ontario?

While Ontario sports betting is legal, it doesn’t mean that everyone will be able to use Ontario sportsbooks. There are certain rules that are in place to ensure things don’t get out of control.

For starters, you must live in Ontario and have a listed Ontario address. You also must be in Ontario. Some websites make you install a geo-tracker to ensure you are in the state. Beyond that, you have to be the legal gambling age. In Ontario, that is 19.

If you are 19, in Ontario, and have a permanent address in the state, you are officially good to bet.

Let’s look at some of the criteria that must be fulfilled.

We’ve explained to you how sports betting in Ontario is now legal. Let’s explore how you can get started. It is a quick process, with the hardest step being the first one.

1. Step One: Find an operator you like. This will take time and research. We’ve listed several great Ontario sports betting sites above, but there are a lot more out there.
   
   
2. Step Two: Register. This will take about two minutes and require information like your name, address, and phone number.
   
   
3. Step Three: Deposit. Banking with a sportsbook can feel scary, but it is safe and reliable, especially if you’re using an iGaming site.
   
   
4. Step Four: Start betting. Now that you’ve loaded your account with money, you’re good to start placing bets.
   
   

Since sports betting in Ontario has gone legitimate, there are now more betting apps than ever in the province. Most of the best Ontario sportsbooks will have betting apps associated with them. This means residents of the province can now wager on a huge number of different mobile gaming options.

The Ontario betting apps can be downloaded directly from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Users will find that these apps have a remarkably similar experience to the desktop site, except they are designed for their phones. These apps are convenient and load quickly. With sportsbooks now being licensed by the government, it is easier for them to get approval for an app that is legal and allowed on the different app stores.

Some of the sportsbook apps that Canadians love most are Sports Interaction, 888Sport, Betway, and Bet365. But this is only scratching the surface. There are plenty of amazing betting apps out there.

There are several major sports that are commonly bet on in Ontario. Let’s explore some of the most popular sports to bet on in Ontario.

⚾ Baseball: Baseball is a timeless game that has been played for centuries. Canadians love it, and along with the rise of the Blue Jays, baseball betting has taken off. Bettors can find a ton of great baseball bets online.

🏀 Basketball: Canada is basketball crazy right now. It is one of the most popular sports on the planet, and basketball online betting has risen steadily. Canadians can find tons of great basketball bets to enjoy.

🏈 Football: Football is a massive sport in Canada and the United States, and Ontarians flock to their favorite sportsbooks every Sunday for NFL betting. There is a lot of football betting coverage on Ontario betting sites.

🏒 Hockey: Hockey betting in Canada is a sensation. Canadians love their hockey, and having coverage is incredibly important to any sportsbook that intends to last in Ontario. Luckily, there are many that have great hockey options.

⚽ Soccer: Soccer is the biggest sport on the planet. Sportsbooks need to have truly global coverage of this game to stand out, and many of them do.

What Else You Can Bet?

If you aren’t interested in wagering on sports, there will be other options available to you. Ontario bettors can pick from a broad range of options to wager on. Most Ontario sportsbooks will take odds on several unique kinds of wagering. Let’s look at some of the other things you can bet on with typical sportsbooks in the province.

• Esports: Wagering on video games is now all the rage. With Esports betting, you can place bets on major video game tournaments from around the world.
• Politics: Politics are a common dinner table topic, but you can also place bets on major political events. From big elections to whether certain proceedings will transpire, the options are endless.
• Entertainment: Don’t just watch your favourite awards show. Wager on it! Many sportsbooks will have odds on things like award shows, reality TV, scripted show results, and more.

Teams that Ontario Sports Fans Love to Wager On

Sports are wildly popular in Ontario. That is part of the reason Ontario sports betting has caught on so dramatically. Ontario fans love supporting their teams with wagers. Let’s look at some of the most popular sports teams Ontario fands tend to put their money on.

Toronto Blue Jays: Toronto’s MLB team is a dynamic and fun squad, so it is no wonder fans enjoy placing bets on the Jays!

Toronto Maple Leafs: While the Leafs may not have a Cup in some time, that doesn’t stop Ontario bettors from getting their hopes up every year.

Ottawa Senators: The young Senators are rising, and many Ontario bettors will be wagering on this team to do some serious future damage.

Toronto Raptors: The Toronto Raptors are a beloved Toronto franchise, and they rewarded their fans with a 2019 Championship.

While we’re primarily focusing on sports betting, it isn’t the only way you can wager in Ontario. Most sportsbooks in the province offer bettors several other ways to gamble. Let’s look at some alternative options if you aren’t interested in wagering on sports.

Casino Games: The virtual casino is a staple of the online betting world. Most betting sites will include a huge range of different online casino games, including baccarat, blackjack, roulette, slots, and much more.

Poker Games: Poker games are incredibly common for online gamblers. Wagering on games of poker is an exhilarating virtual experience, and bettors love the many different options available to them in Ontario.

Live Dealer Games: Most betting sites in Ontario allow for live dealer games. These are virtual games that have real-time dealers, where bettors are competing live against other online participants.

Markets are the individual things bettors place bets on. Let’s explore some of the most popular markets online bettors in Ontario enjoy.

• Moneyline: A Moneyline bet is a bet on one team to win. If you pick a team on the Moneyline, you’re betting them to win.
• Point Spread: A Point Spread bet is a bet on a line that represents the projected score differential in a game in favor of one team. Bettors can bet for the spread, meaning the team will exceed that differential or against it, meaning they won’t.
• Total: A Total is a line that represents the total amount of combined points between two teams in a game. Bettors can bet the over, meaning there’ll be more, or the under, meaning less.
• Outright: An Outright, or a Future, is a bet on a long-term outcome, such as who will win the Stanley Cup or be the NBA Rookie of the Year.
• Game/Player Props: Game/Player Props are on outcomes within games that aren’t necessarily tied to the final score. It could be something like who will be winning at half-time or which team will hit more three-pointers. Player Props are like this, but just for individuals. It could be something like will Player A score a goal or how many rebounds Player B will have.

Some sportsbooks have received their licenses, some are still applying for them, and others have no intention of receiving their licenses. Let’s explore some of the differences between websites that have been Ontario sports betting licensed and ones that haven’t.

The primary difference is that bettors have more certainty with an iGaming Ontario licensed site. You know that they have been regulated by the Ontario government, that they are following a more strict set of rules. This should help you be confident you can trust the operator.

Another difference is transparency. Unlicensed sites aren’t responsible to the Canadian government. They don’t share any information with the government, and the Canadian government doesn’t have any input. This isn’t the case with iGaming sites.

iGaming sites also pay taxes in Ontario and Canada. This makes our country wealthier rather than paying for sportsbooks licensed in low-tax locations like Malta and Gibraltar, where all the money primarily goes to the sportsbook.

Why Should I Use A Licensed Site?

There are definitely websites that haven’t been licensed in Ontario that are still trustworthy. However, generally speaking, the websites you can trust more and have more assurance with are the iGaming websites.

You know for a fact that they’ve been regulated and overseen by the Ontario government. There is no question that it is legal and as safe as sports betting can be.

While gambling is a beloved past-time for many, it is not something you should take lightly. Gambling is something people need to be incredibly careful with. It is a slippery slope, and caution is crucial. There are many who make irresponsible gambling decisions or fall into unhealthy habits. It is important to note that if you need assistance with gambling-related problems, there are resources available to you.

PlaySmart is an online resource for gamblers who want to learn healthy ways to play and hear advice from industry professionals. It is a hugely informative online source that can help ensure you stay safe and better enjoy your betting experience.

For individuals seeking 24/7 support for gambling addiction, Connex is available. It is entirely anonymous, and you can talk to caring support staff that will ensure you feel heard and assisted.

If you need other assistance, there are government resources available. Call 1-888-230-3505 for information about problem gambling treatment resources in Ontario.