Canadian Sports Betting

Since the passage of Bill C-218 in August 2021, which legalized single-game sports betting, Canadian provinces have been able to regulate and tax sports betting within their jurisdictions. This has led to a significant expansion of legal sports betting options across the country. Each province can set its own rules, with Ontario leading the way by opening its market to external online sportsbooks in April 2022.

In March 2025, Alberta introduced Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, which passed third reading on May 8, 2025 and received Royal Assent shortly thereafter. The Act creates the Alberta iGaming Corporation as a Crown agent to manage the competitive private-operator market alongside the AGLC. Alberta's open online sports betting and casino market is set to launch July 13, 2026, with 28 operators formally registered as of May 2026 — including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, theScore Bet and BetRivers — making it Canada's second province after Ontario to adopt an open, competitive model.

Sports betting in Canada is established under the umbrella of Sport Select, which varies slightly according to the provincial lottery corporations that offer it. Originally set up for wagering on major North American professional sports leagues, Sport Select now includes English Premier League soccer and U.S. college basketball.

On Feb. 17, 2021, the House of Commons voted overwhelmingly in support of adopting private member's Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, on second reading. Following its adoption at second reading, Bill C-218 was immediately scheduled for examination by the Justice Committee On Feb. 18, 2021, the Speaker of House announced that government Bill C-13, which also proposes to decriminalize single event sports betting in Canada, will no longer proceed in the current legislative session.

On March 25, 2021, a Canadian Parliament committee unanimously passed an amended bill to legalize single-game sports betting. The amendment that was added to the bill allowed horse racing to continue offering parimutuel bets. Under the new proposed legislation, fixed odds wagering on horse racing would not be permitted.