If you’re wondering about legal online sports betting in Ontario, you’re in the right place, as I’ll discuss everything about the province’s online gambling legalities in this guide. You’ll also find the minimum betting age and the history of legalization.
Most importantly, you’ll learn if the activity is legal in Ontario, and if yes, the most popular sports to wager on. Then, I’ll do a deep dive into how to get started on such platforms and everything else regarding betting in the region. So, if you’re ready to learn more about wagering on your favorite games in Ontario, keep reading.
If you’re currently residing in Ontario and of the legal betting age set forth by the province, then yes, you can legally bet on sports. Sports betting has been fully legal in Canada since April 4, 2022, when the government enforced Bill C-218 through the Criminal Code amendment. After the enactment of the bill, single-event sports bets became popular among Canadian players because, previously, they were only allowed to place parlay bets. With the legalization, you can now place bets like moneylines, props, futures, and many more at all Ontario betting sites.
As of today, 33 sportsbooks are operating in the province, regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) under the regulations from iGaming Ontario (iGO). On the iGO website, I found some well-known legal betting sites in Canada. You too, can visit the official iGaming Ontario website to see all your options and choose the sportsbook that suits you best without worrying about its legal status.
Sports betting has not always been legal in Ontario. In fact, almost all forms of gambling were prohibited when the Canadian Criminal Code was enforced in 1874, although some options like horse racing were allowed. In 1969, the federal government amended the Criminal Code to make Canada the most regulated gambling market by managing all the lottery and gambling activities.
The Ontario Provincial Government created the Ontario Lottery Corporation (OLC) in February 1975. In April of the same year, OLC launched its first lottery game called WINTARIO, which remained a flagship product until 1996. Then, in November 1978, Ontario launched its first lotto game, LOTTARIO.
The Interprovincial Lottery Corporation launched Canada’s first nationwide online lottery game, LOTTO 6/49, in mid-1982. After that, in March 1984, the first $2 instant game called “SHOOT TO SCORE” was launched. With further amendments, the Federal authorities granted rights to the provinces to operate casinos and sportsbooks in 1985. This played a role in the introduction of PRO-LINE in 1992, a chain of online terminal sports lottery.
In 2000, the Government of Ontario merged the operations of the Ontario Lottery Corporation (OLC) and Ontario Casino Corporation (OCC). This formed a new authority called Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLGC).
There were multiple bills proposed to legalize single-event sports betting between 2012 and 2016, but several challenges came up in the Senate. Before the introduction of Bill C-218 in 2021, Ontario players were allowed to place parlay bets only. Ontario, the first province in Canada that decided to make a change in the sports betting landscape, and with the support of OLG, PROLINE+ digital sportsbook was created on August 27, 2021.
After the enforcement of Bill C-218 through the criminal code amendment in April 2022, sports (both single and parlay bets) betting became fully legal in Ontario. Recently, in 2023, OLG partnered with the Toronto Raptors to raise awareness and change people’s lives through basketball. It’s completely safe to bet on sports from Ontario, because of all ten provinces, only Ontario maintains some additional requirements to restrict sportsbooks going out of line.
Now that you know more about legal sports betting online in Ontario, you should keep the minimum age limit in mind, which applies to both online and offline sportsbooks. That said, a player needs to be at least 19 years old to be eligible to start placing bets on sports. This is different from those buying lottery tickets or playing charitable bingo games, for which the minimum age is 18.
If you get engaged in betting when you’re not of proper age, you may have to face legal consequences as per the rules of the AGCO. This is why all platforms must verify the age of their players before letting them bet on sports. That’s where KYC verification comes into play.
I usually find that bookies that offer legal sports betting online in Ontario include quite a good range of sports to bet on. In this section, I’ll introduce you to the most popular sports to bet on.
Basketball is the most common sports betting option for Ontario players, which covers nearly 30% of all sports bets. The Toronto Raptors have been continuously boosting the local market of basketball betting. The Canadian team won the NBA championship for the first time in 2019, and since then, there has been a growing interest among Ontarians in betting on basketball.
Football offers a strong betting market for Ontario players as it accounts for 13% of total sports bets in the province. The National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) both maintain a strong presence in the Canadian football betting market.
CFL is more popular among the players because of its unique style and local charm. You’ll find teams like Toronto Argonauts, Calgary Stampeders, and Edmonton Elks offering a distinctive Canadian touch. The NFL upholds its popularity through its huge media coverage and notable events like the Super Bowl and Grey Cup.
Soccer covers 15% of total bets placed in Ontario. This is not surprising as the sport has several events that keep fans glued to their screens. Bettors love to place bets on soccer, and there are various leagues, including Major League Soccer, Canadian Soccer League, and United Soccer League. Toronto FC is the most popular and the first-ever team to join the MLS.
Although Ice Hockey is the national sport of Canada, it is lagging behind basketball and soccer in participation. The Toronto Maple Leafs is by far the most popular ice hockey team in Ontario, but there are other teams too, which have dedicated and strong markets. You’ll find teams like Montreal Canadiens, Vancouver Canucks, and many more.
Baseball is also a popular sport among Ontario bettors. The Toronto Blue Jays is a famous Major League Baseball (MLB) team. There are various online betting markets available so that you can place bets on local events, MLB sports, or on any other option you want.
When it comes to online betting sites that are legal in Ontario, you’ll find all of the common deposit and withdrawal options like cards, e-wallets, bank transfers and crypto. Let’s check out the most popular payment methods for betting in Ontario and their average withdrawal times.
| Payment Method | Withdrawal Time |
|---|---|
| Interac | Up to 24 hours |
| Debit/Credit Cards | 1–3 business days |
| eWallets | Up to 24 hours |
| Bank Transfers | 1–5 business days |
| Crypto | Instant |
Interac is a very common and popular option for Ontario bettors as it is super convenient. You can transfer funds directly from your bank account to the sportsbook, and the whole process is perfectly secure.
When it comes to debit or credit cards, the most common options you’ll find are VISA, Mastercard, Amex, and Maestro. Ontario bettors seem to use VISA or Mastercard frequently because of the convenience and easy accessibility. You can both deposit and withdraw with debit/credit cards.
eWallets are generally used by those who want fast transactions and do not like to receive any payment blocks from the banks. If you’re uncomfortable disclosing your personal banking information, you can use mobile wallets without any worries. The most common options you can use are PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller.
Bank Transfers are usually the most conventional and reliable way to transfer your funds. But you need to remember that this traditional option may require lots of paperwork and withdrawals often take longer than the other channels. Despite the longer processing times, I must add that transferring through a bank is one of the safest ways to withdraw your money.
Cryptocurrency is trending among Ontario bettors nowadays. The main reasons behind its fame are anonymous, immutable, and instant transactions. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and Litecoin are the most popular options. Not all platforms support it though, so if you decide to go with cryptocurrency, you must ensure that the sportsbook accepts such payment methods for deposits and withdrawals.
Yes, you can definitely bet on your favorite matches whether you’re at home or not. All of the platforms I found on the iGO operators list offer fully optimized mobile sports betting sites for mobile players. Many of them even offer highly functional sports betting apps in Ontario for iOS and Android. So, you have a lot of options to choose from when it comes to mobile betting.
For bettors in Ontario, starting the betting journey on sports is a pretty basic and straightforward process. If you do all things right, it’ll take you just a few minutes to dive into the fun. Here’s how to do it:
By now, you should have a proper overview of legal betting sites in Ontario. All that’s left to do is find a platform that suits your preferences and sign up. Before you do so, I recommend double-checking the licensing and security measures to stay safe and within the legal bounds of the province.
Make sure that the site you register on offers all your favorite sports and leagues. If you’re a serious bettor, I’d recommend comparing sportsbooks and odds to get the most value out of your bets.
Famous last words: always gamble responsibly and seek help when in need.
Definitely! With the enforcement of Bill C-218 in April 2022, betting on single-game sports became legal in Ontario. So, you can bet on any sport on any legal sportsbook in Ontario.
You can bet on any sports market that’s available on AGCO-licensed sportsbooks. Popular sports include basketball, soccer, ice hockey, football, and baseball.
The legal gambling age in the province of Ontario is 19. This applies to both offline and online sports betting. To verify your age before placing a bet, every legal sportsbook in Ontario runs a KYC check.
Sports betting sites in Ontario usually offer a wide range of payment methods for deposits and withdrawals, including cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies. Popular options are Visa, Mastercard, Interac, and Bitcoin.
There are a total of 33 legal online sports betting sites in Ontario. You’ll find a full list of licensed operators on the official website of iGaming Ontario (iGO).
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