Best sportsbooks in Ontario for 2023

Here at BET.CA we have compiled a specific checklist to rate all Ontario sportsbooks equally. As the betting market expands in Ontario, the number of sportsbooks on offer also continues to grow, and we’re here to help choose the best one for you.

We assess sportsbooks across a full range of criteria to give you all the information you need, covering everything from the breadth of their markets, to their customer support and quality of their app. Here’s a breakdown of how we review sportsbooks to help you make the right choice.

Most sportsbooks have a similar sign-up process for setting up an account. It is generally straightforward to do so and only requires you to have relevant personal information to hand. You must do the following to sign up for a sportsbook:

1. 1

   Enter your details as prompted. You will likely be asked for your real name, home address, email address, and a phone number. One or both of the latter may be used to verify your account.

2. 2

   Submit the required documentation to prove your age. In this instance, you may be asked for a digital copy of your driver’s license and/or your social insurance number.

3. 3

   Decide upon and submit the username and password that you will use to log into your account. It is recommended that these are unique to your betting account, and not the same as your login details for any other services you use online.

4. 4

   Select how you want to deposit and withdraw money from your account.

5. 5

   Make your first deposit to your account, complete any remaining verification checks, and get betting!

It is completely safe to bet on sports online, so long as you do so with a regulated and trustworthy sportsbook and do not bet more money than you can reasonably afford. If you’re becoming concerned about your betting habits and activity, don’t forget that you can use your chosen sportsbook’s Responsible Gaming tools and resources for help and advice on how to keep your betting safe.

As sports bettors in Ontario will be undoubtedly pleased to hear, winnings on recreational sports bets are not taxed in the province, as they are considered “windfalls” by the Canadian government.

However, if you’re classed as a full-time professional bettor for whom sports betting is your primary source of income, this rule does not apply. In other words, as long as you're betting for fun and not in any professional capacity, you will not be taxed on your winnings.

Betting is intended to be a fun activity that can add to the excitement of following sports. However, for some it can be a source of gambling problems and addiction issues. To help ensure that you’re in a position to bet safely and within your own means, make sure to use sportsbook(s) that come with a good, reliable range of Responsible Gaming tools and resources.

Many reputable sportsbooks will allow you to place limits on your betting activity if required, such as with daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits, timeout periods, temporary account closures, and other tools.

Beyond this, there are several organizations that can help you keep your betting safe, such as the Responsible Gambling Council, Canadian Partnership for Responsible Gaming, and iGaming Ontario.