In the Internet Era, Canada got a reputation as the country with the best manners, however, there are many other things that describe this great nation. From a sporting perspective, their national hockey team is simply brilliant with lots of World Championship titles under their belt and the Toronto Raptors recently made history by being the first Canadian team to win an NBA title. Of course, you can’t leave the stunning landscapes out of the conversation when talking about Canada, however, we’re doing our best to focus on the sports betting sites Canada has to offer. Canada is a thriving nation from every point of view and the passion for sports and betting goes hand in hand with their economic stability. Around 60% of adults use Canadian betting sites at least once a week and that leads to an overall gambling industry that is estimated at CA$20 billion annually. So, if you’re looking for top betting sites, Canada is one of the best countries to find them.
The answer to that question might be a little more complicated than you’re expecting. Don’t worry, though. The answer to “Are betting sites legal in Canada” is actually irrelevant here. This is because, despite the bookies are considered illegal in most territories, there are no laws preventing them to operate and offer their services in the country. So, the best betting sites in Canada are thriving with no legislation making online betting illegal or imposing any consequences for punters.
With no specific federal laws regarding online betting sites, Canada prefers to let each of its 10 states deal with this matter on their own terms. Of course, this can only add to the confusion about how a bookmaker should proceed for fully legal operation and it encouraged local punters to seek international alternatives.
Out of the 10 states, Kahnawake is the only one that passed legislation for international online betting and gambling operators. The state now issues the only license that foreign bookies can get for operating in Canada. Also, earlier this year Ontario’s new government declared it’s going to set up a competitive market for online legal betting and gambling. Alberta also showed some intention towards regulating online gambling, however, this would not be their first set of statements in that direction. It looks like the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission still didn’t find the proper framework to allow any online betting sites Canada to function with a full legal permit.
With all the best betting sites in Canada competing for the punters’ attention, the ones that really want to stand out are doing everything it takes to do so. The checklist of every online bookmaker that wants to be as appealing as possible in the region starts with high odds for a wide list of betting markets on hockey, basketball and football, quick payouts, lack of fees and, of course, both a French & English website and customer support. CAD currency is also a nice touch, however, that’s already a standard for most of the best Canada sports betting sites out there.
Since there’s no legislation to regulate online betting, nothing is stopping you from accessing the best online betting sites in Canada, no matter if they’re local or international. Currently, there are no black lists to ban the best soccer betting sites Canada offers so punters can take their pick and bet where they feel most comfortable. The state of Quebec made an attempt to ban online betting domains, however, the law draft was declared unconstitutional.
Regardless, if you are looking for freedom and security when accessing the best sport betting sites Canada has to offer, it won’t hurt to have a VPN software installed on your device. Just in case one of the states decides to change the rules and force ISPs to block online betting domains all of a sudden.
In terms of international payment options, everything is available. With no regulations or restrictions in the picture, you’re free to pay with debit and credit cards issued by all the Canadian banks, ewallets like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller or EcoPayz or mobile apps such as Boku.
Furthermore, most of the betting sites allowed in Canada also provide the most popular local payment option – Interac. With it, you will be able to instantly transfer funds directly from your bank account to any of the betting sites available in Canada. Interac is rapidly growing in popularity and it’s already accepted by many international bookmakers as well.
Even if there’s nothing preventing them from operating within the country, some betting sites in Canada that also offered betting exchange services, decided to pull back. Betfair is one of the most well known examples in that direction as they decided to leave Canada earlier this year. Betfair went in the same direction with all the markets that still do not have clear legislation similar to what’s happening with Canada’s sport betting sites. Another top-class betting exchange, Matchbook, also decided not to offer their services in Canada anymore, leaving punters to choose only from Canadian sportsbooks that are available within the country.
If the bookmaker you’re playing at has a license issued by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, they are the ones you should contact in case there’s something you want to clarify regarding your betting experience. If, on the other hand, you play at any of the international bookies licensed inside the EU, contacting the regulatory authority is the best way to go. There are numerous ways to contact the UKGC or MGA and make them aware of any wrongdoing. No matter the way you choose to proceed, we’re always here to help so don’t hesitate to drop us a message regarding any trouble you encounter at any of the bookmakers on our site.
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