Online Sportsbooks in Canada

There are some excellent and legal online sportsbooks based in Canada which operate just outside of Montreal. They are located on the Kahnawake native reserve, where they are licensed and regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. There are other Canadian sportsbooks located outside of this area but we recommend you avoid them at all costs. While it’s safe and legal to wager at Canadian sportsbooks located on the Mohawk reserve, it is illegal and unsafe to wager at sportsbooks in other parts of the country.

There are advantages to joining a licensed Canadian sportsbook, for both the bettor and the country. Bettors benefit from a superior technology infrastructure in Canada versus many of the offshore sportsbooks, resulting in faster connections and less downtime. Many Canadians also feel a little safer about having their money remain within our borders. And by wagering with sportsbooks in Canada, you are helping to create (or keep) jobs at these Canadian sportsbooks, which can only help our economy.

Sportsbooks Based in Canada

Sports Interaction

Sports Interaction is a great choice if you want to bet with a truly Canadian sportsbook. The first online sportsbook to be licensced and regulated in Canada, Sports Interaction is best described as Canada’s “Sportsbook” with no other Canadian sportsbook having a bigger presence or longer history here. Sports Interaction is rated well with industry watchdogs and they are one of those sportsbooks that seem to improve every year. They also post some very opinionated betting lines which offers a lot of value to sports bettors.

Read more in our Sports Interaction sportsbook review.

Bodog Sportsbook

One of the biggest and best online sportsbooks has their servers based right here in Canada. For the longest time Bodog avoided accepting Canadian customers for that very reason, but they now feel it’s safe to accept sports bettors from Canada. In September, 2009, Bodog Canada opened for business and Canadian sports betting instantly became more enjoyable. Bodog is not a completely Canadian sportsbook, as their support and management team are located overseas.

Read more in our Bodog sportsbook review.

Are these Canadian sportsbooks legal?

Sportsbooks in Canada which operate on the Kahnawake reserve appear to be operating legally and are safe for Canadian sports gamblers for the following reasons:

  1. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission and their activities have never been challenged under the laws of Canada since being established in 1996.
  2. The 1982 Constitution Act protects the area and their aboriginal rights, which include gambling.
  3. In 1988, the federal government handed over responsibilities for gambling laws to the provinces. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the Quebec government and the police force have a good relationship which is unlikely to change.
  4. The federal government is highly unlikely to interfere in this area for fear of another “Oka” incident, coupled with the fact they would most likely lose a legal battle.

Other Canadian Sportsbooks

The following sportsbooks are based in Canada but operate off the Mohawk reverse and are not recommended due to potential legal issues.

  • BetED
  • BetUS