Published by Programme B
If you follow the latest industry news, then you likely already know that in Canada things are changing quite quickly. New brands are entering the scene and some of them might actually be better than the ones you are already familiar with.
This is why we thought it would be a good idea to review a number of sportsbooks that are popular in Canada as well as some that are gaining popularity. Below you can find the three sportsbooks, which we believe would give you the best player experience in the upcoming year. Our verdict was based on a number of factors like the variety of supported payment options, content tailored for Canadian players, payout speed, user-friendliness, and reliability.
Changes in Regulation
Due to recent changes in local gaming-related regulation, betting brands from other countries can now obtain a Canadian operating license. The main regulator managing local licenses is the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Usually, sportsbook brands from other countries aren’t directly given a license, but instead, the local commission simply acknowledges their existing ones.
Top 3 Sportsbook Brands
As we already mentioned earlier, we handpicked three betting sites that we feel most confident about. Of course, we could have given you a bigger list, and to be fair, there are lots of decent bookmakers in Canada. Nevertheless, we feel that by giving a long list to choose from we would just make it more difficult to eventually make a decision. You are definitely welcome to do your own research based on your personal needs and interests, however, if you don’t have the time to do that – we’d be happy to show you what we have.
Bet99
Bet99 Canada is a local sportsbook brand that has been around for a bit over two years, however most local betting enthusiasts are already familiar with it. Bet99, for the most part, has a good reputation and is still one of the best options to consider if you are looking for a betting site.
Why Bet99?
Bet99 is an original Canadian betting brand, so they are essentially a local company, which is usually a good thing when dealing with bookmakers. The fact that they are relatively new is also a good thing, as they are quick to adapt to changes and are open to trying new things. For example, some of the bigger betting brands still haven’t integrated crypto payments – Bet99 has them. The same approach applies to their content, they work based on your feedback and latest industry trends.
New Player Offer
As a newcomer, you will be given the option to claim a 100% welcome bonus up to C$600. Bet99’s welcome bonus has a wagering requirement of 5, which makes it realistic to convert it into real money balance. The required deposit amount is just C$20. Single bets will count towards wagering as long as the odds are 1.80 or higher and you will have 30 days to wager your welcome bonus.
NeoBet
NeoBet isn’t actually a Canadian company – they are an international sportsbook brand. Nevertheless, they heavily focus on becoming one of the “go-to” local betting brands. NeoBet is also one of the most innovative bookmakers. Therefore, they might not be suitable for everyone, as some of you might not be interested in trying new things and would like something more “traditional”.
Worth mentioning that NeoBet is currently not available in Ontario.
Why NeoBet?
As we already said above, NeoBet Canada has an innovative and unusual approach to sports betting. The first thing you will notice is their “unusual” user interface – the UI significantly differs from the industry standard. We believe that this is, for the most part, a positive thing – companies like this are like a breath of fresh air. If you are open to trying something new or are simply curious, we strongly encourage you to go and check them out yourself.
Also, NeoBet is one of the few local bookmakers that have an iOS app.
New Player Offer
NeoBet’s welcome package for players from Canada consists of three bonuses. As you may have already guessed, three bonuses for your first three deposits.
The first bonus is 100% up to C$200, the second one is 100% up to C$100 and the third one is also 100% up to C$100. All three bonuses have identical wagering conditions. The wagering requirement is 5x and the minimum odds requirement is 1.50, which is quite low for a welcome offer. Each individual bonus is valid for 100 days.
Leon.Bet
LeonBet is one of those companies that entered Canada recently, after obtaining a Kahnawake Gaming Commission license. Even though Leon is new to Canada, they have been around for quite a bit, since 2007. Considering their rich experience, it comes as no surprise that they deliver a top-notch player experience. In many counties (mostly Eastern EU) LeonBet is considered one of the top betting brands, so they are likely aiming for a similar position in Canada.
Why Leon Bet?
Given Leon is the oldest betting brand on our list – they must be doing something right. A bookmaker would not be able to exist and thrive for such a long time without being flexible and reliable.
A lot of established bookmakers are afraid to embrace crypto as they believe it might negatively affect their reputation. LeonBet supports crypto payments, which is a testament to their flexibility.
There are various loopholes to accepting online bets from Canadian players without a local license, however, LeonBets decided not to use them. Leon has successfully grown their brand for over 15 years, and they haven’t entered Canada until it actually obtained a valid license.
New Player Offer
Unlike the two betting sites we mentioned above – LeonBet doesn’t have a classic welcome deposit bonus. Instead, all new players from Canada get a risk-free bet of up to C$20. If you are not familiar with the concept of a risk-free bet, you get your stake back as bonus funds if your bet loses. For example, you can create a new account at Leon, make a C$200 deposit, bet all that money as your first bet, and if you lose – you get C$200 back as a bonus balance.
Even though there is no welcome deposit bonus available, all active players can get a weekly deposit bonus. This will be a 50% bonus up to C$500 and you can claim it every week.
Play Responsibly
Finally, we would like to remind you of the importance of staying in control of your betting hobby. Make sure to always have an allocated budget and never go over your budget even if you believe that the next big win is “just around the corner”. If you find yourself in a situation where you are trying to “win back” or simply unable to stop – it might be time to look for assistance. We can recommend checking out https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en – they have 24/7 online help services, where you can talk with a trained professional or discuss your issues in group sessions.