The gambling laws in Canada and how you can bet on sports.
Sports is a way of life to many Canadians, with the likes of Ice Hockey, American Football, Baseball, Soccer and Basketball ranking as the most popular events. Thousands of fans attend the top fixtures in Canada every week, with millions more watching the live TV coverage. Canadians love professional sports and are deeply loyal to their favourite teams.
It is, therefore, no surprise that sports betting continues to grow in popularity. Many armchair fans love to spice up the live game with a financial interest in the outcome. They wager on the winning team, the first player to score, handicap, points spread and more. The top bookmakers offer a range of markets on NFL, NHL and MLB, ensuring there’s a bet to suit all types of customers.
Cheering on your favourite team as they surge to victory is great, but what if you could cheer on the win and the profits heading your way as a result of the final score? That sounds even better and is the perfect scenario for sports bettors. The gambling laws in Canada allow residents to place bets on horse racing and sports, but it’s not as straightforward as it is in some other countries. There are a few points to keep in mind before betting, and we point out the terms and conditions you should be aware of.
Bet on sports with confidence
First and foremost, it’s important to explain that gambling in sports, casinos and lotteries is legal in Canada. You can bet in a registered sportsbook or at a casino from a Canada online casinos list, although the majority of bets are placed online. Backers can make their predictions using a sportsbook website or mobile app downloaded to their smartphone while allows you to gamble on the go. Bet from the comfort of your own home, at the stadium or even at work with a reliable and user-friendly mobile betting app.
Sports betting has been legal in Canada since 1985, but people have been betting in the country for hundreds of years before that. The early forms of bets were placed unlicensed between two individuals wagering cash on a horse race, a test of strength or another event. Things have moved on since then, and the industry is more professional, licensed and regulated. Making betting legal and licensed help drive out the illegal bookies that couldn’t be trusted to pay out your winnings or not to rig events in their favour.
The way we gamble has changed forever, as have the kinds of things we bet on. Today, most bets are placed on horse racing or sports, but virtual sports and even e-sports are growing in popularity at an alarming rate. Bets are placed on mobile apps, transferring funds and withdrawing winnings electronically. There’s no need to leave your home or to ever visit a land-based betting site. Things will never be the same again.
A few gambling rules can be described as grey areas and sometimes discourage less experienced bettors. The most important thing to keep in mind when betting on sports in Canada is you can’t back just one team or even two teams as a double. Every type of bet you make on sports must have three or more picks. This is especially true for those betting on ice hockey matches such as the NHL games. There is a movement to change that law to allow singles and doubles to be placed, and it’s looking like it could be pushed through sooner rather than later. The legal gambling age is 18 years old in Canada, but some territories have raised that to 19. Another thing to keep an eye on.
Promotions and special offers
The sports betting industry in Canada is as competitive as anywhere in the world, and for that reason, the leading betting apps must battle for your attention. To safeguard their success, sportsbooks must offer bettors an incentive to choose them over the other sites available, and they do this by giving new players bonuses.
These deals come in many different shapes and sizes, including free bets and risk-free bets. The most popular at present is a deposit matched bet which is a free bet equal to your first deposit and gamble after opening an account. Stay on the lookout for welcome bonuses today.
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