Last Updated May 4, 2022, 02:23 PM ET
Northwesters have enjoyed legal single-game sports betting since Nov. 1, 2021.
Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) released its updated Sport Select product just two months after the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act (Bill C-218) lifted the federal ban on single-event wagering in Canada. While no lottery-run online options exist in Canada's Last Frontier, plenty of reputable and licensed offshore sportsbooks service northern sports bettors.
Our sports betting guide includes detailed reviews on the best sportsbooks and is designed to help you make informed decisions on where to place wagers.
Persons aged 19 years of age and older can legally wager on sports in the Northwest Territories. There aren’t any laws preventing residents of the Northwest Territories from betting online at offshore sportsbooks.
However, barring a major overhaul of Canada's sports betting legislation, it's unlikely Northwesters see names like FanDuel Ontario, DraftKings, and BetRivers Ontario apply for online gaming licences. These sportsbooks do not operate in the grey market.
NWT & Nunavut Lotteries, in conjunction with WCLC, oversees all gambling activities in the Northwest Territories. Sport Select is the only game in town, and the platform has offered single-game betting since Nov. 1, 2021. Betting options include Pro•Line (moneyline) bets, point spreads, Over/Unders (totals), props, and futures.
Residents can select their bets online but must visit an authorized retailer to complete their purchases. The new single-game option is a welcome addition, but Sport Select still does not stack up well compared to the offerings available at the top offshore sportsbooks operating in the Northwest Territories.
The sportsbooks highlighted earlier offer less restrictive betting, more events, and loads of markets. They also have better odds and will often reward bettors with bonuses and special promos. Registration is straightforward, and bettors can be up and running within minutes.
Hockey is the undisputed king of the north when it comes to participation and betting. It is common for fans here to follow the local action taking place south of the territory, as NWT counts British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan as its neighbours.
Hockey takes precedence in the province with allegiances seemingly split between the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Halifax Mooseheads count local NHL superstar Nathan MacKinnon as an alum, while the Cape Breton Eagles are the province’s other team playing in the QMJHL.
Online sportsbooks help to serve this market through coverage of the NHL, NBA, NFL, and CFL. Our betting site reviews reveal more about which sites to register with, each backed by the Covers BetSmart System™.
While there aren’t any horse racing tracks in the Northwest Territories, bettors have been known to like the races. Horse racing is one of the top sports available at most sportsbooks and it makes for an exciting session. Bettors can access a rich schedule from races held all over the world.
AGLC provides policies, regulations, program tools, and resources that educate and inform Albertans on responsible gambling. The agency operates ‘GameSense,’ an online portal designed to provide recommendations to bettors and resources for how to gamble responsibly. If you feel you might benefit from speaking to someone, you have several options. The Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) is an independent non-profit organization focused on the prevention of problem gambling in Canada and globally for more than 35 years. Check it out for the latest facts, tools, and helpful services.
Visit The Responsible Gambling CouncilWith more than 25 years of excellence within the sports betting industry, Covers continues to provide Canadians with independent sportsbook reviews.
Whether you are looking for the best NFL sportsbook or the best site for live NHL betting, Covers has vetted the best places to bet online in Northwest Territories. Canada is a big place, but we’ve gone local and assembled a list of the best online sports betting sites near you.
The following online sportsbooks should be avoided due to their questionable tactics and failure to provide adequate services.
Sports betting is legal for adults aged 19 years of age.
No, you don’t have to pay any taxes on winnings from sports betting in the Northwest Territories.
Yes, all the top online sportsbooks nowadays come with great mobile apps for betting on the go. You can check out the best sites in our guide.
No, there aren’t. The good news is that online sportsbooks more than make up for the lack of retail options.
Michael Duchesne is a senior commercial content editor at Covers, who has been researching and reviewing products for more than a decade. The former travel publisher is all in on sports betting. When he's not supporting Covers' broad array of betting experts in making smarter sports bettors, you can find him by the BBQ, perfecting his cross-hatch marks.
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