Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario.

CanuckBets.com – Home of Online Gambling in Canada

If you are looking for the best Canadian gambling sites to bet online then you are at the right place. CanuckBets.com is providing you with all the necessary info about online gambling in Canada. Our guides help you to find the best betting sites and casinos suited for your needs. Browse our articles about the legal aspects, practical online banking and secure online betting.

This is the place to find a comprehensive guide to online betting in Canada. Whether it’s a wager on the sportsbook or a game or two at the online casinos, you’re in the right place.

When it comes to online gambling Canada has much more besides including bingo, video lottery terminals, poker games and daily fantasy sports. There’s a lot to cover so let’s get started.

Sports Betting

popular sports in canada

Popular Sports Among Canadians

Some of the most attractive sports to bet on in Canada, or by fans of Canadian betting, are ice hockey (NHL), Canadian football (CFL), American football (NFL), basketball (NBA), baseball (MLB), soccer (MLS), mixed martial arts (UFC), various eSports, and other sports.

In-Play Betting

In-play betting is popular in connection with Canadian betting markets like in any other parts of the world, with live sports events and with in-play markets available, and with alerts and notifications provided by betting sites concerning the given bet, along with various Cash Out options.

Mobile Betting in Canada

Mobile betting is available in Canada, and for Canadian markets as well. It is especially popular among those bettors who attend the given sports event on which they bet live during the game. Bettors need to check the app store of the given Canadian betting site in order to download the betting app.

Canadian Bet Types

The most popular bet types among Canadian bettors, and bettors of Canadian sports markets are Parlay, Moneyline, Over and Under Bets, Total Points or Total Goals, Futures and Prop Bets. Each bet type refers to a specific segment and conditions of given events.

Casino

Mobile Casinos

The ability to play on the move has been a possibility for some time but mobile casinos are just starting to become more prevalent. In fact, some casinos are now mobile only operators where they can only be accessed by a smartphone or tablet.

Along with a sports betting app, there are casino apps that are widely available for these mobile sites. Alternatively, they can be accessed via the regular search engine installed on phone or tablet.

Top Casino Games

Whether it’s a mobile casino or a traditional static site, some games will always be more popular than others. In no particular order, Canadians like to play roulette, slots, scratch cards, blackjack, baccarat and craps amongst others.

Online casinos in Canada should cover all of those options as a bare minimum. Choice is important and the best operators have many versions of each game.

Blacklisted Casinos

Unfortunately there are some rogue casinos online but fortunately it is easy to spot them. Examples of typical scams involve late payments, no payments at all and lack of response to customer emails.

As a first point to check, make sure that the casino is licensed and regulated to provide services in Canada. This information will usually be displayed clearly at the bottom of the homepage. We recommend licensed and trusted casinos so it’s also possible to find a provider from our panel.

top casino games

Poker

Poker is one of the most popular games among casino players. In Canada online gambling sites can publish a host of unusual variants but the most common options are:

Holdem Online Tournaments

Holdem Online TournamentsHoldem tournaments are based on the most popular format of the game. Texas Hold’em is played more extensively than any other version of poker and there are many online tournaments that use these rules.

Freerolls, multibuy, rebuy and sit ‘n go are among the different types of tournaments associated with Holdem poker.

Omaha Online Tournaments

Omaha Online TournamentsOmaha is similar to Texas Hold’em but the rules have a distinct twist. Each player is dealt four cards and they must make their best hand using two of those cards plus the five community cards.

Once again, there is a great choice of Omaha tournaments across online gambling providers in Canada.

Stud Online Tournaments

Stud Online TournamentsThe clear difference with Stud Poker is that there are no community cards. Players have to make the best hand possible using the cards that are dealt to them. Some of those cards will be dealt face down while others will be face up which give opponents the possibility of assessing the potential strength of that hand.

Lots of Stud tournaments are in place across a wide panel of poker operators.

Best Canadian Online Poker Sites

top canadian poker players

Bingo

popular bingo games

Popular Bingo Games

The best Canadian bingo sites tend to offer a choice between the following games:

  • 30 Ball Bingo
  • 90 Ball Bingo
  • 80 Ball Bingo
  • 75 Ball Bingo

The obvious difference between the four is that some games involve more balls than others. 30 ball bingo will have 30 balls waiting to be called while 90 ball bingo has 90 balls in play.

In each version, players have to cross numbers off their card when they are drawn. This will be done automatically by the game’s software. Players that complete their card before the game ends will win a prize. Typically, 75 ball bingo will have 25 numbers to cross off and this, along with 90 ball bingo, is the most common variant.

Bingo games, like slot machines, now have lots of themes to suit different preferences.

Payment Methods in Canada

A wide choice of payment options can be important when selecting a sports betting site in Canada. The same factor applies to casinos who should look to cover a certain number of options.

Bank cards and bank transfers are the minimum to be expected while it’s useful to have dedicated Canadian providers such as iDebit and Instadebit. On a global scale, other casinos and sportsbooks may include major eWallets such as PayPal, Neteller and Skrill.

Cryptocurrency has yet to be fully established among online gambling in Canada but an increasing number of providers are starting to accept Bitcoin and others.

Gambling Laws in Canada

Is online gambling legal in Canada? The practise is allowed but it is subject to strict regulations. Full details of the laws pertaining to gambling in Canada can be found within this website and it’s advisable to take some time to study these.

Individual provinces are responsible for setting their own rules within the overall framework.

List of Provincial Legislation

Alberta

Alberta

Quebec

Quebec

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Ontario

Ontario
Those provinces, and others, determine access to general gambling and online gambling in Canada.

Gambling Safety in Canada

Canadian Gambling Legislation by Province

The four provinces most active in regulating gambling in Canada are Alberta, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Ontario. They are joined by British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan.

Each takes a different approach to betting and casino play: For example, the legal gambling age in Canada will either be 18 or 19 depending on where you are located. The advice is to read through our full guide and to seek clarification from local government bodies if it is required.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission

Canada has its own licensing and regulation authority and this is the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. It was established in 1996 as the practise of online gambling was just starting to develop.
Kahnawake Gaming Commission
This first nation gaming commission licenses three poker rooms within its own community while providing additional licenses for a number of other online providers. Those operators who are based overseas may hold a license in other parts of the world but casinos and sportsbooks that are Canadian in origin may well be regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Online Gambling in Canada FAQs

Are Online Gambling Sites Legal in Canada?

It is perfectly legal to play at an online gambling site in Canada providing that the operator is licensed and regulated to provide services here. Licensing and regulation details will appear at the bottom of the respective homepages for clarification.

Customers should also keep in mind the legal age for gambling which varies between 18 and 19 depending on the Canadian province in question.

What Should I Consider when Choosing a Gambling Site?

We’re all looking for something a little different when signing up for a new casino but there are some factors that we should all consider before anything else. Firstly, is the site licensed and regulated to provide casino and sports betting in Canada? Is there a page on safety that looks into questions of encryption and how our personal information is kept secure while we are online? You can read our recommendations on this point while the question of trust and reputation can also be assessed on individual players’ forums.

Having established those crucial points we can then look at factors that suit our individual preferences. Is there a good set of funding options including the methods that we like to use? Does the sportsbook have a wide range of markets and is there a good selection of games over at the casino?

Finally, if things go wrong or we need an answer to a simple query, are there a number of ways to get in touch and is the customer service fast and effective?

How do I Trust an Online Gambling Site is Safe?

The first point is to check on those licenses; Are the details of licensing and regulation clearly shown on the operator’s website and can they be verified? An independent seal of audit can be accessed to verify those licensing details.

Check via an independent source that the provider is not on a blacklist. While it isn’t a guarantee, it can be a good idea to fire over a question to customer support before you sign up and see if you get a fast and comprehensive response.

How do I Register with Online Gambling Sites?

Once you have found your own provider or, you have chosen one of our own recommendations, registration should be quick and easy. Firstly, check all the general information and terms and conditions. If happy to proceed, a simple registration form will follow.

During sign up, expect to be asked for name, physical address and contact details including phone number and email address. You can then select preferred currency, any deposit limits and you can choose a login.

Be prepared to go through a verification process if necessary. This will require scans of ID documents just to confirm your identity and that you are of legal gambling age in Canada.

How do I make Deposits and Withdrawals on Internet Gambling Sites?

The exact funding process may vary slightly depending on which operator you are using but the basis is generally the same. To fund casino and sports betting in Canada, the operator is likely to have a button at the top of their home screen marked ‘deposit’ or ‘cashier’. Click on this and establish whether your preferred method of payment is available.

Follow the simple instructions: Add the amount that you want to deposit, click on the ‘pay’ button and wait for confirmation. The money should quickly appear in your account balance.

For withdrawals, the process is the same but be aware that, depending on the method that you use, the money may take up to 48 hours to appear in your account.

How Fair is Online Gambling?

Trusted online gambling in Canada simply has to be fair and there are a number of ways in which to ensure honest play. Sports betting in Canada takes care of itself with random results that shouldn’t be influenced by third parties but what about casinos?

Independent bodies such as eCOGRA work to ensure that results from slot machines, roulette wheels and card games are entirely random. The presence of certified Random Number Generators (RNGs) ensures this.

Casino games should also declare a Return to Player (RTP) percentage. This is the average amount that will be paid out to players over the course of the gameplay and it is independently verified. When looking for a new casino site, look for this information and the presence of an independent body such as eCOGRA.

Is there a Limit to how much I can bet?

Under the general list of terms and conditions, sports betting sites in Canada will list the maximum amount that they w ill accept for a single wager. This will usually start at several thousand dollars so the sums involved will cover most bettors.

It is also possible to set restrictions voluntarily. As part of campaigns to promote responsible online gambling in Canada, players can set lower limits on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. It may also be possible to set a temporary exclusion for those who need a complete break from gambling.

Can I play with a real life dealer?

Many of the current Canada online gambling sites have a live area of their casino. Within this section are links to many games where live dealers are in place. Games are played in real time from a studio with high quality sounds and graphics.

The list of available games will vary depending on which site you are using but the schedule will typically include poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat and more.

Can I Gamble from my Mobile Phone and Tablet?

Yes it is possible to gamble using a mobile phone or any mobile device that is connected to the internet. All operators will have a dedicated mobile website and the vast majority will also provide an app.

You should be able to find a free Canada sports betting app for all of our recommended providers and they should list casino apps too. Options will be available for both iOS and Android devices.