Canada is a country known for many things. Its stunning nature, busy cities, and passion for hockey are what come to mind for a lot of people, but what many might not be aware of is that Canada has become a hotbed for the online sports betting industry. Millions of Canadians every year lay down wagers on their favorite operators. It has become more prevalent in recent years, but digital sports betting has been a Canadian pastime for decades now.
Many would ask, how to bet on sports in Canada and the truth is that is part of the reason betting in the country has become so popular. It is easier and more accessible than ever to wager on sports in the nation. Let’s look at some of the critical reasons sports betting in the country has taken off.
Long-Running Operators
In the dawn of the early internet age, most Canadians were unaware of the fact that sportsbooks could operate online. It was hardly standard for Canadians to place sports betting wagers through the internet. But then, several major Canadian gambling websites began to emerge. In the 1990s, Bodog and Sports Interaction launched, both founded by Canadian entrepreneurs. These operators introduced Canadians to the world of digital sports betting, and they remain hugely popular to this day. It was a significant change that would signal the era of online betting.
Bill C-218
For a while, sports bettors were wagering in a strange environment, where betting was legal but also something of a gray area, according to the government. That all changed in 2021 when the government passed Bill C-218. This was a bill that would remove the government’s federal prohibition on single-game sports betting. Now, the government was getting behind the gambling industry and acknowledging the passion millions of Canadians had for it. Rather than try to sweep the sector under the rug and make it a gray area, the government started to embrace it.
Ontario Opening the Floodgates
The first of the provinces to make wholesale changes to their sports betting industry following Bill C-218 was Ontario. Ontario began to implement a new initiative where sports betting online was entirely legal for people of age. The sports betting companies could advertise directly to consumers, and the government would oversee and regulate them. This was a massive change, and it resulted in tremendous growth for the betting industry. Significant companies like FanDuel, BetMGM, DraftKings, and more entered the Ontario market, hungry to profit from these new changes. Suddenly, gambling in Ontario was big time.
Other Provinces Implementing Changes
While Ontario has been the first to act in a hugely significant way, it will not be the last. Other provinces have seen the considerable revenue that Ontario has generated, with Ontario seeing $35.6 billion in total wagers in the first year. Other provinces, including Montreal, British Columbia, and Alberta, have implemented single-game betting through their government lottery websites. While they haven’t opened up to new companies like Ontario has, there is no denying that they are seeing the massive results the province has had and considering it. It seems likely that those other three major provinces are the next dominoes to fall in this situation.
A Multi-Billion-Dollar Future
While sports betting in Canada has surged into the mainstream and become wildly popular, the future is likely even brighter. There is a good chance that Canadian bettors will see the industry expand even further over the next few years. Brace yourself for some significant changes as Ontario continues to grow its industry and the other provinces pay close attention. Within a short period of time, we could see revenue in the Canadian sports betting market far surpass what it currently stands at.
