Last Updated May 2, 2022, 11:21 AM ET
The federal ban on single-game sports betting in Canada was officially lifted on Aug. 27, 2021 — less than two months after Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, received royal assent. Nova Scotia became the final province to legalize single-event wagering on Feb. 11, 2022.
Ontario launched its new iGaming market on April 4, 2022, marking the first time a provincial government welcomed third-party online operators into the fold. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has already approved 20 sportsbooks and 31 total gaming operators, including FanDuel, BetRivers, PointsBet Canada, and theScore Bet. More than 30 online sportsbooks and betting sites have applied to operate in Ontario.
Our interactive map shows where each Canadian province and territory stands on its road to legalizing single-game online sports betting. Keep in mind that many licensed offshore websites offer legal alternatives, and this graphic represents provincially regulated options only.
Bookmark this page to stay updated with all of the latest single-game sports betting news in your province or territory.
Yes, Canadians have enjoyed legal sports betting since 1985, but the addition of single-game betting is about to take sports wagering to an unprecedented level in the Great White North. Prior to Aug. 27, 2021, parlay bets — two or more bets rolled into one — and pari-mutuel gambling have been the only types of sports betting permitted in the country. What’s more, these bets are only available through each province’s lottery system. This situation has prompted Canadians to seek more favourable online options and inject an estimated $14 billion annually into offshore gambling websites.
The loss of sports betting revenue has been the primary driving force behind the legalization of single-game wagering in Canada. The successful implementation of legalized sports betting south of the border has also caused many naysayers, including several professional sports leagues, to change their tune.
In 2022, It remains unclear how most Canadian provinces will decide to regulate this new legal form of sports betting. Aside from Ontario and Alberta, no province has shown any indication they will welcome third-party operators to town.
Still, at the very least, Canadian bettors are no longer be tied to needlessly complicated parlay bets. The onus is now on each province and territory to make regulated sports betting appealing enough to prevent local bettors from flocking to offshore websites.
Canada’s single-game sports betting law came into effect on Aug. 27, 2021. Justice Minister David Lametti announced the initiative on Aug. 12, 2021, in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Interestingly, few Canadians are in the know when it comes to single-game wagering. According to a Fall 2021 survey sponsored by Deloitte Canada, only 19.2% of Canadians are aware they can bet on a single event.
While every province has made single-game betting available via their lottery-run platforms, expect a slower rollout for retail sportsbooks. Several provinces may decide to stick with their existing platforms and forego an extreme overhaul of their sports bet offerings.
Seven provinces — British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec — offered single-game online sports betting right out of the gate. Alberta quickly followed suit while Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon legalized single-event wagering at retail outlets in November 2021. Nova Scotia was the last province to introduce single-game bets to its residents. The Atlantic Lottery Corp. announced it had begun taking single event wagers on Feb. 11, 2022.
Bill C-218 allows each province to dictate how and when they regulate sports betting. Provincial governments have to determine who is authorized to offer sports betting, the sports eligible for wagering, and the types of bets that are permitted.
As mentioned, this will vary from province to province. For example, Ontario’s thirst for an open market has already led to big industry players putting their stamp on the ON sports betting market. Conversely, provinces with smaller populations may limit bettors to their respective lottery offerings. For this reason, grey market sportsbooks may very well continue to account for much of the sports gambling revenue in the country.
Here’s the latest on legal sports betting in each Canadian province and territory:
Legal - online and retail: Alberta | British Columbia | Manitoba | New Brunswick | Newfoundland and Labrador | Nova Scotia | Ontario | Prince Edward Island | Quebec
Legal - retail only: Northwest Territories | Nunavut | Saskatchewan | Yukon
