Nova Scotia Online Sports Betting in 2023
Nova Scotians gained access to single-game sports betting on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022 — just in time for Super Bowl 56.
With the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) announcement, Nova Scotia became the last province in Canada to authorize single-game betting for its constituents.
Savvy bettors have opened their dooryards to online sportsbooks, but it remains a mystery whether the ALC will allow third-party operators, including PointsBet and DraftKings, to compete with its Pro•Line product.
Access the latest Nova Scotia sports betting news and resources right here.
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- Population: 979,000
- Legal age for sports betting: 19
- Online sports betting: Yes
- Retail sportsbooks: No
- Sports betting revenue: $26 million
How we rate Nova Scotia's sportsbooks
Nova Scotia sports betting updates
Prior to the authorization of single-game betting, Nova Scotians leveraged licensed offshore sports betting entities to satisfy their needs.
These events highlight Nova Scotia's path to legal single-event sports wagering:
July 21, 2022: Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) launch an online casino. The platform had previously only been available in New Brunswick.
Feb. 11, 2022: Nova Scotia authorizes single-game wagers and becomes Canada's last province to do so, since Bill C-218 was passed.
Aug. 27, 2021: According to the ALC, Pro•Line players in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island can make single-game bets.
Aug. 12, 2021: David Lametti, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, announces that single-game sports wagering will be legal on Aug. 27, 2021.
June 29, 2021: Chief Justice of Canada Richard Wagner grants Bill C-218 royal assent. Single-game sports betting is legal in Canada.
June 22, 2021: Overwhelming support for Bill C-218 from the Senate leaves only royal assent for C-218 to become law.
Feb. 25, 2020: Saskatchewan MP Kevin Waugh introduces Bill C-218, a private member’s bill, which seeks to amend the Criminal Code to legalize single-game sports betting.
Who can bet on sports in Nova Scotia?
Legal age
Prospective sports bettors 19 years of age and older in Nova Scotia can indulge in legal sports wagering.
Mobile betting
Mobile wagers, including single-game bets, with Pro•Line Stadium are fair game in Nova Scotia.
Remote registration
Nova Scotians can sign-up with ALC’s Proline Stadium website and place bets online.
Retail sportsbooks
While Nova Scotia boasts two casinos, both (Halifax and Sydney) lack a featured sportsbook. Alternatively, locals can wager in-person at places like convenience stores or gas stations.
Taxable winnings
Nova Scotia bettors keep all of their winnings. Gambling winnings, including those form sports betting, are tax-exempt in Canada.
Latest NS betting news
The pros and cons of NS sports betting
Since ALC regulates sports betting in all four Atlantic provinces, you can access identical betting lines and markets while travelling locally. Outside of that nuanced perk, there's still little to celebrate.
Still, Pro•Line Stadium sets restrictive bet limits and has yet to prevent most sharp N.B. bettors from taking advantage of the more favourable conditions found on offshore sportsbook websites.
Pro•Line Stadium bet limits are still disappointingNo retail sportsbooksBest betting lines found offshoreHow to start betting in Nova Scotia
At present, folks in NS can opt for the ALC's Pro•Line Stadium product or take their business to one of the licensed offshore betting sites.
Take note of these considerations when preparing to place your first legal sports bet in Nova Scota.
Select a sportsbook
Drilldown on what you want from a sports betting site. Think things like odds, bet types, leagues, available banking methods, and customer support channels.
Register online
Simple best describes the sign-up process with Pro•Line Stadium or one of the offshore betting sites. Prepare to share personal information and confirm your physical location. Registration via Pro•Line Stadium first requires the creation of an alc.com account. Don't forget to create a secure password, too.
Claim a bonus
The perks found at Pro•Line Stadium are limited, to say the least. Signing up with an offshore entity unlocks more bonuses, as the competition for your business is far greater. Look out for free bets, risk-free bets, and deposit matches, among other common sportsbook sign-up bonuses.
Tip: Compare the offerings from different sites and don't be shy about claiming welcome offers from multiple sportsbooks.
Deposit funds
Various banking options Nova Scotians can make deposits directly into their sportsbook accounts when using offshore websites. ALC provides its customer various options when depositing funds to Pro•Line Stadium accounts, including: Interac, credit cards, e-Transfer, PayPal, WebCash, and electronic bill payments. Always review the terms and conditions tied to each payment method.
Choose your bet types
The most common bet types like the point spread, moneyline, Over/Unders (totals), futures, and live bets, are all found at Pro•Line Stadium and the offshore sites.
Start betting
Beginner bettors in Nova Scotia should famaliarize themselves with our how to bet guides are a great place to start.
Withdraw funds
Nova Scotians can access a variety of options when withdrawing their winnings from reputable offshore betting sites. Those options include credit cards, e-Transfer, ecoPayz, bank transfers, and more.
However, withdrawals via bank transfer stand as the lone option for Nova Scotians betting with Pro•Line Stadium.
Reading the odds
Canadian sports betting sites, including Pro•Line Stadium, use decimal odds when displaying betting odds.
The lowest decimal denotes all favourites, while the underdog is identified by the higher decimal.
For reference, sports bettors can take the amount they plan to bet and multiply by the supplied odds to calculate their potential winnings.
In this example, the Montreal Canadiens (1.55) are hosting the Ottawa Senators (2.40). Montreal hold the lowest decimal, therefore we can deduce that they are the betting favourites, while the Sens stand as underdogs.
If you want to back the Canadiens and put down $100, the payout would be $155 ($100 x 1.55). The very same $100 bet on the underdog Senators would net a return of $240 ($100 x 2.40).
While Pro•Line and Pro•Line Stadium leverage decimal odds as the default option, Nova Scotians can use our odds converter to toggle between the three principal types of sports betting odds: American, decimal, and fractional odds.
What else can you bet on in Nova Scotia?
NS bettors can identify virtually all types of betting lines through Pro•Line or one of the offshore sportsbooks.
Awards ceremonies
Pro•Line Stadium and offshore sites permit wagering on events like the Academy Awards and Grammys.
Politics
Offshore betting sites take action on political elections, and suprisingly, so does Pro•Line. However, Nova Scotians can wager on elections and political events held outside of Canada only.
Esports
Bettors in Nova Scotia can partake in Esports betting. Pro•Line Stadium or the offshore sites list betting lines for Esports.
What about Nova Scotia university sports?
Pro•Line will not post odds on games or activities involving the Acadia Axemen and Axewomen or Saint Mary's Huskies -- or any Canadian university athletics. Again, offshore sites might post odds for the Vanier Cup, but it will be limited.
Home team advantage: Nova Scotia sports
The lack of a local team from one of the major leagues in North America hasn’t dampened local betting spirits.
Other types of gambling
The Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority, formed in 1995, oversees all forms of gambling in Canada's Ocean Playground. Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, operates commercial casinos in Halifax and Sydney.Players at least 19 years of age can legally gamble in Nova Scotia.
Casino
At either of Nova Scotia's two casinos, Casino Nova Scotia in Halifax and Sydney, you'll gain access to hundreds of slots and a few table games. At various bingo halls across the province, you can find slots and VLTs.
The ALC launched its online casino product in Nova Scotia on July 21, 2022. Previously, the platform had been available in New Brunswick only.
Poker
NS gamblers seeking poker tables can find them at the two casinos in Halifax and Sydney. While there are a limited number of tables, you can partake in cash games every day.
Horse racing
Fans have been unable to jockey for position in-person at one of the province’s three horse racing tracks, due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
The Inverness Raceway is probably the most popular racetrack for horse racing in Nova Scotia; Northside Downs also gets plenty of action and so does the Truro Raceway.
Fans of the sport seeking a more diverse or robust offering should visit an online sportsbook. Take a look at the online betting site reviews to see which ones offer horse racing markets.
Daily fantasy sports
Access to Daily fantasy sports (DFS) is legal in Nova Scotia. Players are likely familair with industry heavyweights DraftKings and FanDuel.
Responsible gaming in Nova Scotia
The province actively encourages and promotes safe and responsible betting. The “Your Best Bet” is a free resource made available to the public by the NSGC.
Visit The Responsible Gambling CouncilProvincial betting guides
With 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 New Brunswick. Canada is a big place, but we’ve gone local and assembled a list of the best online sports betting sites near you.
Nova Scotia sports betting FAQs
Yes, betting on sports is legal in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority oversees all local gambling in the province. It is also legal to wager in Nova Scotia with reputable offshore sportsbooks.
Residents of Nova Scotia must be 19 years or older in order to bet real money on sports.
No. According to the Canada Income Tax Act, winnings from sports betting aren’t taxed.
Yes, legal online bets in Nova Scotia can be placed with Pro•Line Stadium. Yes, you can easily enjoy sports betting from your phone in Nova Scotia. The best online sportsbooks offer mobile-optimized sites and mobile apps.
Currently, Pro•Line Stadium is Nova Scotia's sole provincially regulated sports betting platform.
No, there aren’t any complete retail sportsbooks in Nova Scotia at this time. Online betting sites certainly fill the void here, allowing bettors to easily access the action.
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Mike has been researching and reviewing products for more than a decade. The former travel and entertainment publisher is all in on sports betting. When he's not sweating picks or supporting Covers' betting experts in making smarter sports bettors, you can find him by the BBQ, perfecting his cross-hatch marks.
