Looking for a good betting site in Canada? You’re not alone. The demand for mobile sportsbooks has grown rapidly since last year, when the country legalized single-event betting.
Now, the powers to legalize sports betting in Canada fall to the provinces. Ontario launched its first single-event betting app on April 22, this year. Several other provinces have similar plans.
Meanwhile, the majority of sports punters in Canada still prefer to gamble through offshore sportsbooks. Here’s why:
- Competitive Odds
- Hundreds of daily betting markets
- Generous bonuses
- Reliable & safe banking
- Not illegal
That said, the best bookmaker differs from one person to another. It all depends on what you value the most from a bookmaker. Continue reading to discover the most important factors to check when choosing a betting site:
1—Safety and Trustworthiness
When you sign up an account at a betting site, you’ll need to reveal your personal information. What’s more, you must link your banking information to deposit money.
Against that backdrop, it’s essential to find a safe and trustworthy betting site. You want a bookmaker that can protect your personal and banking information. But how do you know a sportsbook is trustworthy?
First, look at its licensing information. Many genuine sportsbooks have licenses from Malta, the UK, Curacao, Panama, Costa Rica and other well-known jurisdictions.
What’s more, they have secured websites, and social proof. In case you’re wondering, social proof includes reviews and testimonials showing an operator is genuine and reputable.
You can also find best Canadian sportsbook online by looking for suggestions at trusted review sites. Sportsbooks review sites rank a wide range of bookmakers. All you need is to choose the right company for you.
2—A User-friendly Interface
Sports betting requires a fast, easy to use website. Think about it. You need to refresh the odds constantly. You have to compare different games, and often place bets during peak hours.
If a site loads slowly, has web pages that crash or fail to open, it’s not worth your time. A good sportsbook needs a professionally designed interface. That way, you can bet, deposit, claim bonuses and withdraw your profits stress-free.
These days, mobile support is also part of user-friendliness. More than 50% of Canadians browse the Internet through their smartphones. As such, they expect a betting site that can work on both their android and iOS devices.
3—Your Preferred Betting Markets
If you’re looking for a sportsbook, you probably have an idea of the sports and leagues you want to bet on. But to be certain, find a bookmaker with major sports and leagues in Canada:
- Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Football
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Baseball
Usually, top-tier bookmakers organize their betting products neatly on one section of their websites. This way, you can scroll to your preferred sport quickly. Sometimes they also feature major games at the center of the sites.
This helps you identify the biggest sporting events of the day or week first. Then you can focus about minor games afterwards. Speaking of minor games, choose a sportsbook with upcoming sports like MMA, and eSports. These betting markets come in handy when the major leagues are out of season.
4—Odds and Bet Types
Lots of sports betting sites support the CFL, the NHL and the MLS. However, they all differ in the quality of their odds. And the types of bets you can place on their websites.
Some sportsbooks also feature casino games like slots, blackjack and poker. These games aren’t entirely necessary in a sportsbook. But if you play these games for entertainment regularly, consider a site with gaming software.
Let’s start by explaining about odds. They determine how much money you can win. As such, you want a bookmaker with competitive odds. Normally, odds come in three types: decimals, fractions and American style odds.
Many sportsbooks allow you to use one of three formats. However, ensure you understand the differences.
Next, look at the bet types:
- Moneyline
- Spreads
- Totals
- Parlays
- Props
The availability of many bet types helps spice up your betting experience. What’s more, it could increase your chances of winning. Think of sites with parlay betting alone.
You need to accumulate multiple predictions to your stake. This increases the risk of losing money. But when you can bet on a single game, your chances of winning are higher.
5—Free Bets and Bonuses
Let’s face it. One of the main reasons to spend time finding a good sportsbook is so that you can earn bonuses. Free bets allow you to wager on a specific match without using your bankroll.
Free bets come in many types. There are welcome bonuses. These can be no deposit or free bets based on your first deposit. Then there are loyalty bonuses like cash backs, reload offers, loyalty programs and bonus boosters.
Now, it’s one thing to find a sportsbook with multiple bonuses. It’s a different thing altogether to ensure these bonuses have fair terms. To expound more, look at the play through, validity time, cashout limit and betting events to follow.
Play through dictate the number of times you need to wager your bonus amount before you can cash out bonus profits. It ranges from 1x to 10x your bonus amount.
6—Deposits and Withdrawals
What’s your betting budget? If you have a small budget, you want a sportsbook that accepts small deposit amounts. That also means it needs to have digital wallets, crypto or other payment options designed for microtransactions.
For high rollers, look at the maximum deposit and withdrawal amount. Ensure you can bet up to $1000 per game. And if you win, you want a bookie that can process your winnings quickly.
For clarity, betting sites differ in withdrawal times. As a result, look at a site’s cash out times. If it takes more than three days to debit money into your account, look for a better bookmaker.
Your Turn
There you have it—the most important factors to consider when choosing a betting site in Canada. You can always save time by looking for a recommendation at a betting review site.
But to be certain you’re choosing the right sportsbook, use the tips shared above. Emphasize on security, a good reputation, fast banking and quality odds. Also, ensure you join a bookmaker designed with Canadian bettors in mind.
