Sports betting has gone mainstream here in Canada over the past few years. It is now common for betting lines to dominate the discussion on sports shows and any negative stigma associated with sports betting has disappeared. It’s become the norm for Ontario residents to have action on sporting events, and I expect this trend to continue in the coming years.
Ontario has become the first province to regulate online sports betting. iGaming Ontario, which was formed in June of 2021 to establish the regulatory framework for online gaming in Ontario, began issuing licenses for online sportsbooks to operate in the Ontario market in April of 2022. All of the sportsbooks we recommend here at HowToBet.ca are licensed by iGaming Ontario to operate in the regulated market.
If you found this page it probably means you’re ready to place a bet. Just follow the quick three step guide below to get your bets placed at one of our recommended betting sites for Canadians. I’ll touch on betting in Ontario more after the 3 step guide.
Bet On Sports From Ontario – 3 Step Guide
Follow these three steps to place your bets online from anywhere in Ontario.
Step 1. Join An Online Betting Site
First you will have to open an account with an online sportsbook that accepts Ontario residents and is licensed by iGaming Ontario to operate in the Ontario gaming market.
| Sportsbook | Offers | Visit |
|---|---|---|
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See Website For Details | Visit |
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See Website for Details | Visit |
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See Website For Details | Visit |
These three betting sites are popular and trusted across Canada, while also being licensed by iGaming Ontario to operate in Ontario. SportsInteraction.com is our top rated site because they are entirely focused on providing a great betting experience for Canadian residents and this shows through in their bet offerings, customer service and banking options.
Click here to visit SportsInteraction.com. Click the ‘Open Account’ button on the landing page and fill out the sign up form to open your account.
**I will be using SIA for the examples provide in this guide.
Step 2. Deposit
Next you will have to deposit the money you want to wager. Log into your new account and click on the ‘Deposit’ link. Select your preferred deposit method (Visa, MasterCard, Interac, etc) and follow the instructions to complete the deposit.
Step 3. Place Your Bets
It’s time to place your bets!
Click on ‘Sports’ from the top menu bar, and navigate through the sports, leagues and betting options on the left sidebar until you find the category of the bet you want to make.
Select the odds of the bet you want to make, enter your stake amount on the Bet Card, and click ‘Place Bet’ to confirm your wager.
Congratulations, your bet is placed!
If you still have questions check out our betting guide with some great beginner articles, including a how to read betting odds page with examples.
Offline Sports Betting
Ontario does have some legal offline sports betting options for Ontario residents, but they have their issues.
Proline
Proline is the main offline betting option offered by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. You can bet through Proline at any OLG outlet (convenience stores, gas stations, etc) by physically going into the store, filling out a ticket and purchasing it at the cash, similar to how you would buy a lottery or scratch ticket. It all sounds well and good as an offline betting option for Ontario residents, but there is a major problem with Proline that I’ll get into here.
The first major problem with Proline is the odds. The odds for a 50/50 event are generally 1.81 on either side. This is compared to 1.91 as the general rule at an online betting site that offers fair odds. Therefore, every $100 you are betting on Proline, you’re automatically leaving a value of $10 on the table vs online betting. The reason Proline is forced to offer such poor odds is because they cannot update their odds in real time.
Overall, Proline is a fun “lottery” for Ontario residents who are completely new to sports betting and don’t really care about if they’re getting fair odds. But if you’re betting on sports more than once in a blue moon, I strongly suggest making the jump to betting online. It’s more convenient, there are better promotions, and most importantly your money will go much further betting on games with fair odds.
Ontario Casinos Sportsbooks
Caesars Windsor launched the Caesars Sportsbook in January of 2023. This is the first full-service retail sportsbook operating in Ontario. Full-service means there are betting counters where you can place your wagers similar to how you would at a Las Vegas casino.
Several other Ontario Casinos have “Sportsbook Lounges” where you can place wagers at betting kiosks in a designated area. I expect more full-service retail sportsbooks to launch at Ontario Casinos in the near future.
Ontario Racetracks
Horse racing tracks in Ontario are a lot of fun and worth the experience and trip. The tracks all allow for live betting and most also offer simulcast betting for race tracks from across North America.
There are several horse racing tracks across Ontario (around 10), but these are the major ones:
- Fort Erie Race Track, Fort Erie
- Mohawk Raceway, Campbellford
- Rideau Carleton Raceway, Ottawa
- Woodbine Racetrack, Toronto
Ontario Sports Betting FAQ
Below I will try to answer a few of the common questions I receive from bettors in Ontario.
Can I Bet With A Credit Card?
Yes, all of our recommended betting sites accept credit card deposits.
You will have to choose a different method to cash out your winnings. Some options generally include Interac, echeck, bank transfer, etc.
Can I Bet Using Interac e-Transfer?
Yes, all of our recommended betting sites for Ontario residents accept Interac e-Transfers for both deposits and withdrawals. I personally think Interac is the best way for Ontario residents to deposit because the transaction is nearly instant, you aren’t dinged with any service fees that may result from a “cash advance” when using a credit card, and you have the option to withdraw via the same method.
What Pro Sports Teams Play in Ontario?
I wanted to touch on the professional sports teams that play out of Ontario to show the options to watch live games for residents of Ontario. And this list doesn’t even include the pro sports teams in Detroit or Buffalo that are just a quick border cross for Ontario residents.
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL)
- Ottawa REDBLACKS (CFL)
- Ottawa Senators (NHL)
- Toronto Argonauts (CFL)
- Toronto Blue Jays (MLB)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
- Toronto Raptors (NBA)