Last Updated May 4, 2022, 02:23 PM ET
On Nov. 1, 2021, single-game sports betting arrived in Canada's northernmost territory. Western Canada Lottery Corporation's (WCLC) Sport Select platform is now the home of single-event wagering in Nunavut.
While it remains to be seen if NWT and Nunavut Lotteries will look to offer fully online wagering, Nunavut residents are now able to bet on major events like the Super Bowl and Stanley Cup Final at authorized retail locations.
Our team of experts at Covers has created a guide to help you navigate the world of sports gambling in Nunavut.
Residents aged 19 years of age are legally allowed to wager on sports in Nunavut. The legal grey area for online sports betting pertains to unlicensed sportsbooks. Reputable offshore sportsbooks hold valid licences from international jurisdictions, making the law unenforceable.
However, most of the biggest sports betting sites in the U.S. do not operate north of the border. Online sportsbooks like FanDuel Ontario, DraftKings, and BetRivers Ontario are not available in Nunavut.
Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) oversees all sports betting and gaming activities in Nunavut. The service familiar to local bettors is Sport Select. Popular bets include Pro•Line (moneyline), point spreads, Over/Unders (totals), parlays, props, and the newly added futures betting. Nunavut residents must confirm all Sport Select wagers in person at a WCLC retail outlet.
The Sport Select betting product can check the right boxes for casual local bettors, but sharps will soon get frustrated by its significant limitations. The offering here is generally limited to the main leagues for the popular sports, and users will experience bet limits and poor odds.
This is where online sportsbooks more than help to fill the void. Bettors on these platforms gain access to far better odds, bonuses, and promotions, as well as dedicated customer service channels.
If Nunavut were a country, it would be the 15th largest country in the world. However, extreme weather, difficult terrain, and its tiny population are all contributing factors as to why Nunavut does not have a local professional sports franchise. It does, however, have a homegrown connection to hockey. Former first-round pick Jordin Tootoo grew up in Rankin Inlet.
With hockey dominating the local scene, it’s not uncommon for fans to place bets and express their fandom for western Canadian franchises. The NFL and CFL also count Nunavut residents as fans of their respective leagues. All of our betting site reviews can help you pick the top sportsbooks, each backed by the Covers BetSmart System™.
Horse racing, while legal in Nunavut, is not represented in the Canadian territory. There aren’t any permanent tracks or regular horse racing events within Nunavut at this time.
This leaves residents only one option and that is to bet on horse racing online. Thanks to the popularity of the sport on an international scale, most top sportsbooks cover horse racing.
The Government of Nunavut promotes safe and responsible betting. They have provided resources, including a toll-free number, for residents in need of support.
Visit Government of NunavutWith 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 Nunavut. 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.
19 is the legal age for sports betting in Nunavut.
No, you don’t have to pay taxes on sports betting winnings in Nunavut.
Yes. The online sportsbooks featured in our guide are all available via mobile.
No, there aren’t any retail sportsbooks in the Canadian territory.
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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