Single-Game Sports Betting in Canada
One of the biggest changes for sports bettors in Canada is a change in the law which now enables them to place bets on a single game, rather than placing parlay bets on several games. This allows bettors with knowledge of a team to use this to enhance their chances of winning. Join us as we explain all you need to know about single-game sports betting.
What is Single-Game Sports Betting?
As the name suggests, single-game sports betting simply means betting on a single game rather than a series of games combined into a single bet (a parlay bet).
And while the odds are lower when you place a single bet, it can often be a much more profitable approach. As the history of sport has shown, upsets can and will happen (The Toronto Raptors becoming NBA champions, for example).
As we will explore in more detail later in this article, when sports betting was legalised, single-game sports betting in Canada was prohibited as lawmakers were worried about sporting integrity. By forcing punters into spreading their bets over multiple sporting events, lawmakers believed they were reducing the chances of competition manipulation.
Is Single-Event Wagering Legal in Canada?
At a federal level, single sports betting in Canada is legal after the ban that was previously in place was lifted in August 2021. The change came just days after a Private Members Bill, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, sponsored by Conservative Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Grasswood Kevin Waugh, received royal assent.
However, the change in federal law didn’t mean single-event sports betting would be available immediately throughout Canada as the individual provinces are free to regulate sports betting as they see fit.
Attorney General David Lametti said in August last year: “Canadians will have the opportunity to participate in single-event sports betting in a regulated and safe environment, at the discretion of the provinces and territories,”
There had been several attempts to legalise single-game betting in Canada before the landmark change last year.
In 2012, a New Democratic Party MP put forward a bill that would have allowed single-game sports betting to take place. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation lent its support to the plan, even writing to the government to bolster the bid. Also supporting the proposal was the local governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The bill made it through the house with a high degree of support but was held up by the senate.
Another attempt was made in 2016 but allowing single-event sports betting in Canada was not seen as a high priority for the new Liberal government headed by Justin Trudeau. The Canadian Gaming Association claimed at the time that the government seemed more interested in legalising cannabis, so once again, the bill was sidelined.
It’s also worth remembering that there was push-back from major sporting leagues in America over the proposals with the National Hockey League (NHL) and Major League Baseball (MLB). Both opposed the changes as they feared single-game betting could harm the integrity of their leagues.
Who Were The Supporters Of Single-Game Sports Betting In Canada?
Despite historically pushing back on attempts to legalise single-game sports betting, the major North American sports leagues, including NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, have thrown their weight behind the changes. Some associations have even entered into commercial deals with bookmakers.
For example, in America, DraftKings has been the exclusive sponsor in the NFL’s DFS category since 2019. The deal allowed the operator to use NFL branding, and the two collaborated on products and content across the DraftKings app and NFL Media properties. In February this year, the deal was extended to include Canada.
NFL Canada director of corporate partnerships Gavin Kemp said: “The popularity of Daily Fantasy in Canada continues to rise, providing a great point of connectivity for our fans to engage with the NFL,”
Canadian Football League Hails ‘Single Greatest Opportunity’
The Canadian Football League had long called for the legalisation of single-game sports betting in Canada, calling it the ‘single greatest opportunity for the league’. The CFL is in severe financial trouble after cancelling the entire 2020 season due to COVID-19.
CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie testified before the Senate Standing Committee on Banking, Trade, and Commerce and stated: “This may be one of the single greatest opportunities the CFL has ever faced. It couldn’t happen at a better time. We see this as a recipe for a quicker recovery.”
Ambrosie had previously written to the House of Commons and signed a joint statement with NHL, NBA, MLB and MLS counterparts. He preempted areas of concern and said the following safeguards would be in place.
- Strict age restrictions and broad access to programs that encourage responsible games and self-exclusion;
- Requirements that leagues, operators, gaming regulators and law enforcement to work together and share information to combat those seeking to compromise the integrity of competition;
- Prohibitions on players, coaches and officials from betting on games;
- Protections for athletes, which the CFL and other leagues would support through extensive security protocols.
Canadian Olympic Committee Gives Their Support
The Canadian Olympic Committee also supported the introduction of single-sports betting in Canada, which significantly boosted the movement as the winter Olympics are ingrained into Canadian culture and part of the nation’s identity.
Canadian Olympic Committee CEO David Shoemaker said: “The timing is right for Canada to expand sports betting. This bill has the potential to unlock new growth opportunities, reduce illegal betting and generate revenues for the sports industry and governments.”
It’s no surprise that sports betting companies and the trade bodies representing their members’ interests were fully supportive of the changes to gambling laws.
Paul Burns, President & CEO of the Canadian Gaming Association, said: “Bill C-218 will provide provinces with the authority to deliver a safe, legal, and regulated sports betting option to Canadians and empower them to enact strong regulatory standards on responsible gambling, age and identity verification to ensure minors cannot participate, and controls to prevent match fixing and protect the integrity of sport. We are close to making Bill C-218 a reality and allowing provinces and stakeholders to provide #bettersportsbetting. We thank the Senators for the serious attention they are giving this matter, and we look forward to getting the Bill across the finish line together.”
Who Were The Opponents Of Single-Game Sports Betting In Canada?
The most prominent opponent of single-event sports betting in Canada was the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, created by the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission had previously been the only entity that could licence operators to offer online gambling in Canada. They had formerly licenced sportsbooks, cooperated with the legislature, and wanted their regulatory authority to be recognized and preserved.
However, the practice of Kahnawake Gaming Commission offering licences was technically illegal, but the government was reluctant to take action over concerns of infringing on Indian sovereignty.
When Bill C-218 was passed, the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake issued a strongly worded statement declaring they were “repulsed” by the decision.
The statement states: “indigenous peoples have spent generations being disregarded. Being ignored. And having their ability to shape their own future decided by others.”
It continues: “It is crystal clear that the Senators in question had paid mere lip service to the parliamentary equivalent of a fixed sporting event: the outcome of C-218 had already been decided, and they had to go away from the glare of the cameras to hide their hypocrisy”.
Provinces Where Single-Game Sports Betting is Legal
When single-game sports betting was legalised, seven provinces – British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec – enabled residents to place bets on a single sporting event instantly, and Alberta followed in their footsteps shortly after. Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon also legalised single-event gambling, but only at retail establishments in November 2021.
Last month, Nova Scotia, the last remaining province to not accept single-sports bets, opened its doors when The Atlantic Lottery Corp started taking bets.
Single-Game Sports Betting In Canada – Latest News by Region
As we have previously stated, while single sports betting in Canada is legal, each province is free to determine who is authorised to offer gambling products, the range of sports betting that companies can offer. They can even specify which type of bets customers can place.
This section will give a brief overview of the current status in the different provinces.
Alberta – (online + retail)
Alberta regulated online betting on September 2021, and Play Alberta is the only online platform with Sport Select offering retail gambling. Single-game sports betting was made lawful in Alberta in November 2021. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis regulator has confirmed there will be two additional sportsbook operators this year. PointsBet Canada is believed to be showing an interest.
British Columbia (online + retail)
British Columbia is home to Canada’s only sole retail sportsbook, PlayNow Sportsbook, located inside a public house within Starlight Casino. The province launched single-game sports betting in August last year, and operator PlayNow saw receipts of over $25 million in two months.
Manitoba – (online + retail)
The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MBLL) has allowed the online operator PlayNow.com to offer single-game betting since August last year. Sport Select’s retail platform enabled retail same-sport betting since November. Although the province made $50-$60 million in revenue last year, they are looking to expand operations further.
New Brunswick – (online + retail)
Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) is responsible for regulating the market in New Brunswick and legalised single-game sports betting in August 2021. It is one province that restricts the types of bets to Moneyline, Over/Under, point spreads, and a few more. These restrictions mean many residents still turn to unlicenced operators.
Newfoundland and Labrador (online + retail)
Like New Brunswick, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) are responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador and legalised single-game sports betting at the same time in August 2021. Pro•Line is available to residents both online and offline.
Nova Scotia (online + retail)
Another region that the Atlantic Lottery Corporation regulates and authorized the taking of single-game sports bets in February 2022, just in time for Los Angeles Rams v Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. Nova Scotians can bet online or at many retailers, including gas stations and supermarkets. It is rumoured that the province’s two casinos could accept sporting bets in the future.
Ontario (online + retail)
Canada’s most populated province offered legal online single-game betting in August 2021 and offline in February the following year. Unlike many regions, Ontario has a massive selection of 16 online gaming operators to choose from, including FanDuel Ontario, BetRivers Ontario, bet365 Ontario. Draftkings is also set to launch in April this year. Ontario is also committed to becoming the first province to offer iGaming products.
Prince Edward Island (online + retail)
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) is responsible for regulating Prince Edward Island and legalised single-game sports betting on August 2021. Customers can place bets via the Pro•Line Stadium platform or at one of the many retail establishments. Two casinos are operating in the region, Red Shores Summerside and Red Shores Charlottetown, but neither offers sportsbook facilities yet.
Quebec – (online + retail)
Residents of Quebec have been able to place single-game bets online since August 2021 with Mise-o-jeu+ and at retail establishments using Mise-o-jeu, Loto-Quebec’s platform. A unique feature is that live betting is available in Quebec, a rarity in Canada’s fledgling market. Although there are no retail sportsbooks in the province, there is scope for expansion as several casinos operate in the region.
Northwest Territories (retail only)
At the time of writing, residents of the Northwest Territories are restricted to retail as there are no regulated online operators. They can, however, place bets on the Sport Select platform, which is found in several other regions. In addition, single-game sports betting was legalised in the province in November 2021.
Nunavut – (retail only)
single-game wagers were permitted by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) in November 2021, and while the region is retail only, there is an online aspect available. Customers can make their selections online, and the Sport Select platform will generate a QR code. Customers can then visit a retail establishment to confirm their choices in person.
Saskatchewan (retail only)
The Western Canada Lottery Corporation introduced Single-game sports betting in November 2021 via their Sport Select platform. However, customers still need to go to an authorized retailer to confirm their selections, although the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority has confirmed sports betting will be coming to their casinos and a new online offering in the summer.
Yukon (retail only)
Single-game sports betting has been allowed in Yukon since November 2021. Customers can bet on a single game using Sport Select at participating retail outlets such as gas stations and supermarkets. The region is regulated by Western Canada Lottery Corporation. Although online sports betting is not available via legal routes, customers can select their picks online and confirm them at a retail location.
Where You Can Bet on Single-Events in Canada
Although it is not illegal to use online sports betting sites that are not licenced in a region, it is vital that you pick an operator that can trusted and we highly recommend you check out our dedicated page on the best betting sites in Canada.
You’ll find comprehensive reviews on each operator and as we are independent, we are unbiased and list the weaknesses as well as the strengths.
Also, as most Canadians are unaware of current gambling laws, you can also find all the latest news and information on Canadian sports betting in our blog section.
