Sports of all types are hugely popular in Canada: football, basketball, hockey, and more. With the legalization of single-game betting in 2021, sportsbooks and betting sites were able to provide Canadians with more options than simple parlay wagers.
In addition to this, there has been a huge growth in the number of betting sites available to potential bettors in numerous provinces throughout the country. But with the increase in betting options comes another problem: choosing where to play.
Each casino and betting site has slightly different features, all of which should be considered before choosing where to play. For instance, one betting site will have a huge selection of sports betting offers, while another may have hundreds of betting markets. So, before you go too far, here are some of the things you should know about sports betting in 2023.
Picking where to play
As mentioned, each bookmaker is different. So, as you will be depositing your own money on the site, you do need to be sure this is the place you wish to play at. Some things to consider include:
- Reviews — these should be from trusted review sites. Additionally, you should look to those who have direct experience signing up to a betting site such as previous or current players. These will give you a good idea of where any issues lie on that betting site, offering a far more accurate insight to the sportsbook. Over 20% of Canadians have bet on sports online in the last year, so that’s plenty of people with first-hand experience of these sites to look to for information.
- Accessibility — these days, it’s important to find a site that can be played on a phone as well as desktop device. Most sites do, and some even offer a downloadable app for even easier access.
- Live or in-play betting — a newer feature on sports betting sites, his feature allows you to enjoy placing a bet while the game is underway. Not all sites offer this feature, so it’s worth checking for it if you want to enjoy more betting excitement.
- Licences — security should always be at the forefront of your mind when playing online. To ensure a secure gaming environment, you should choose those that hold licences from organisations such as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission or the Ontario iGaming Commission.
Placing a bet
It’s also very important to actually understand the terminology when you do start playing on one of these betting sites. There are numerous bet types available, including moneyline, future, over/under and prop. Understanding what these mean in betting terms is essential when betting on any sport.
And, you should also learn about the odds and how they show your potential winnings. Sites will often use decimal or fractional odds, so understanding both is key. If you’re not sure, it’s best to brush up.
At the end of the day, you also need to set a budget and stick to it. In this way, you can place bets, and potentially win, but still have fun overall.
