PointsBet is one of the most recognisable names in gambling in The Great White North. But is it worth the hype? Join me for a full PointsBet review, as I give my honest assessment of this all-Canadian sportsbook.
My PointsBet review covers all areas of the site, including its sportsbook’s betting odds. I’ll be taking an in-depth look at the brand’s mobile usability, payment options, and customer support, along with its legal standing. Plus, I’ll share my views on how easily you can place your bets at this site.
With its DC-inspired visuals and punchy black, white, and red colour palette, PointBet Canada sure looks the part. But after taking this betting site for a spin, what can I tell you about its performance and usability?
Only good things, as it happens. First of all, regardless of the size of the screen you’re using, I don’t foresee any navigation or usability-related issues cropping up here. PointsBet does a terrific job of putting its most popular sports betting markets into user-friendly widgets right at the top of the page, so you won’t have to search far to find your favourites.
It can take a second to figure out what the buttons do on the desktop version of the site, but once you’ve tested PointsBet long enough, you’ll soon get a handle on how things are set up. As for loading speeds, the site does exceptionally well so that sports bets can be placed seamlessly on the site’s dedicated sportsbook section.
If you’ve no inclination to boot up your dinosaur of a desktop to place sports bets online, there’s a fallback option in the form of the PointsBet app. Available for both iOS and Android devices, the PointsBet Canada app is a must for anyone who prefers betting on the go rather than being tied to their laptop screen – with no features or functionality missing from the app-based version versus the standard desktop site.
Before I downloaded the PointsBet app to test it out on my iPhone, I noted its impressive 4.6-star App Store rating; that’s out of over 14K reviews, too. The PointsBet app rating isn’t quite as high in Google Play on Android, but it still achieved 3.9 stars – higher than the apps of many comparable new Ontario betting sites.
What’s great about using the PointsBet mobile app is that there’s absolutely no need to ever use the full desktop version – or even the mobile browser version – of the site. You can do everything directly in the app, even so far as registering for a free PointsBet account if you’re completely new to the brand.
We’ve reached that time in my PointsBet Canada review to get down to brass tax and talk all things cash. Because, as I touched on in my recent bwin review, the ease at which you can make deposits and withdrawals on your favourite betting sites can make all the difference to your overall experience.
So, what’s my verdict on paying in and cashing out at PointsBet Canada? Let’s take a closer look…
I’ll be honest: I’m not entirely convinced by the deposit options at PointsBet Canada. There’s a serious lack of e-wallets like Skrill and ecoPayz on the site, which from my experience is what a lot of today’s online sports bettors prefer to use.
However, the good news from a Canadian perspective is that you can use Interac to deposit at PointsBet, so that’s one box ticked at least. Visa, MasterCard, and PayPal are also in the mix, with the latter hopefully appeasing those members who would prefer to add funds via an e-wallet for extra protection and anonymity.
When it comes to withdrawing winnings at PointsBet, flexibility remains an issue, although I was happy to note that you can cash out via PayPal. Unfortunately, however, Interac withdrawals are not an option, which is bound to be a point of frustration for those who prefer to use this homegrown Canadian payment facility.
The good news is that you can expect comparatively speedy withdrawal times at PointsBet, with the brand processing withdrawals in under 24 hours on average. Cashing out (and depositing, for that matter) are also made super simple thanks to the design of the PointsBet Cashier screen, so I can’t foresee anyone having an issue with managing their bankroll.
PointsBet didn’t fare all that well in the payments section above. But, can the brand redeem itself as I test out its customer support offering?
Yes would be the answer. PointsBet Canada seemingly covers all bases to ensure its members can access reliable customer support on demand, offering contact options and services like:
See? Told you PointsBet does awesome with its customer service. While the brand’s live chat and telephone support channels aren’t available 24 hours a day, there are enough alternatives to ensure that help and guidance are always available. You can even reach out to PointsBet via their social media channels if you’re really in a bind, which is certainly a welcome fallback option.
Not that you’ll need to reach out to PointsBet in a hurry. Between the brand’s comprehensive FAQs page and help centre, you can get answers to generic queries without resorting to contacting the brand itself, which can save a little time and hassle.
Given recent changes to Canada’s stance on online gambling – particularly in relation to legal sportsbooks in Ontario – there’ll be many people reading this who are curious about the status of PointsBet in The Great White North. But trust me when I say that I wouldn’t ever knowingly recommend a brand that breaches local laws in the region I’m writing for, so you can rest assured that PointsBet is a legal and reputable entity in Canada.
That’s not to say that PointsBet is 100% legal in all of Canada, however, so be sure to read the brand’s terms of service before you sign up and make a bet. In the meantime, here’s some background information that should help you to get the measure of PointsBet and its legal setup.
Yes, PointsBet is legal in Ontario, with a gaming license issued by the state’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO). It could be available elsewhere too, although it is important to check the brand’s terms of service – along with local laws where you live – just to make sure everything’s above board before you register.
I tested every element of PointsBet so am happy to vouch for the brand as a secure outfit. Every box is ticked from a safety and security perspective, with key features including:
And it isn’t just behind-the-scenes security features where PointsBet excels, either. The brand demonstrates its commitment to reputability by offering a suite of responsible gaming tools, including a fully customisable self-exclusion feature. Of course, these are a prerequisite of the brand securing a gaming license from the AGCO, but it’s still encouraging to see them going above and beyond to make their platform safe for all types of users.
PointsBet clearly knows a thing or two about the Canadian sports betting market. This is evident by the choice of sports the brand has added to the widgets on its sportsbook homepage, with the likes of NHL, soccer, tennis, and cricket appearing alongside the NBA, MLB, and golf fixtures.
What I like about the PointsBet sportsbook setup is that the most in-demand betting markets are always brought to the top of the page. For example, at the time of writing, March Madness events were showcased as a priority, along with MLB Futures, UEFA Nations League and Premier League soccer fixtures, and high-profile games from the ongoing tennis circuit.
Elsewhere, regular sports bettors can expect Daily Profit Boosters, Boosted Odds, and plenty of in-play betting markets.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of how PointsBet handles sports betting:
PointsBet covers 25 sports. There is strong coverage of all of the biggies here like hockey, basketball, football, baseball and soccer, and you’ll find an in-depth coverage of other global sports like boxing, tennis, MMA, golf and so on.
There are also plenty of niche sports here so that you can try your hand at betting on everything from surfing to curling. Plus with bets on politics and esports, it makes for a fully-rounded betting site.
You can count on PointsBet to serve up an impressive range of betting markets for each sporting event. For example, a standard game in the NHL between Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings will feature over 70 betting lines.
These feature bets for the moneyline, spread and totals, alongside other bets like player goals, shots, first team to score, winning margin, highest scoring period and you can even pick your own total in the scoring markets. What’s best is that these can all be effortlessly combined into a same game multi as a great way of livening up pretty much any game.
PointsBet is easily up there with the best of them in terms of its betting odds. I checked out the site’s odds for the outright winner of the NBA Championship and found that PointsBet was in agreement with several other major sportsbooks that Oklahoma City Thunder were the favourites.
However, what was interesting was that PointsBet tended to edge ahead of many of its rivals with some of the other strong teams like the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers. It’s just one example, but it should show you that PointsBet can be counted on to serve up great odds.
I’d say that PointsBet has easily one of the best live betting platforms in the whole of Canada. After all, you will get a massive amount of live betting odds for the biggest sporting encounters and the brand even throws in free live streaming on top.
As well as this, I liked the way in which the live odds were illuminated in red or blue whenever they changed, and the whole site was fast enough to handle some seriously chaotic live betting. A great way to add some drama to that big sporting encounter.
PointsBet is among the most recognisable names in Canadian sports betting , so the fact that my review is 99% positive shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. For those who live in Canada, this brand is probably a first point of call, which explains why I was so eager to make sure it’s up to scratch and worth the hype.
There’s certainly a lot that PointsBet gets right, not least its impressive A-Z of sports markets. I was also bowled over by the quality of the brand’s regional customer support provision, while its punchy visuals make it a nice place to play and bet over extended periods of time.
Of course, there were a few things that I wasn’t so hot on at PointsBet, including the brand’s payment, deposit, and withdrawal options. I’d certainly like to see more flexibility from the site’s accepted facilities list in the future, even if that only meant the inclusion of Interac as a method of withdrawal.
But on the whole, it’s been an impressive performance, so be sure to sign up to PointsBet for a superior way to enjoy online sports betting.
Sure, PointsBet is legal in some Canadian territories, including Ontario. Take a look at its terms of service and check local laws where you live to see if it’s also available in your jurisdiction.
It’s basically just a matter of loading up the PointsBet site from your web browser and then filling in the registration form with your personal information. Once you’ve done this, you can log into your account, verify your identity and start betting.
You can download the PointsBet app from either the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The app should automatically install onto your device in just a few seconds and it’s completely free to get too.
Like all legit betting sites in Ontario, PointsBet will only accept customers who are at least 19 years old. This means that you will have to submit some form of proof of identity upon registering your account here.
Nope, there’s zero possibility that PointsBet is a scam. This is a well-liked Canadian sportsbook with thousands of daily users, so you can trust it as a safe place to play and bet. The site is duly licensed and boasts all the security features you would expect from a top sportsbook, including SSL encryption and a range of responsible gambling tools.
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