What you need to know to bet on Esports in Canada
TOP ESPORTS BETTING SITES IN CANADA
If you’re wondering about the kind of esports betting sites Canadian residents can enjoy, you need to read this simple guide.
Esports has become one of the world’s fastest-growing forms of sports entertainment.
Competitive video games have really exploded in popularity across the globe over the last decade, with vast quantities of cash being generated by the world’s biggest esports tournaments and events. It is little wonder that this growth has also seen an increase in the number of betting sites in Canada and all over the world that offer the chance to bet on esports.
In the esports betting world, you can bet on a wide range of games. These betting sites cover popular titles like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, as well as newer games like Valorant and Overwatch. This variety ensures there’s something for everyone. Whether you prefer strategic games or fast-paced shooters, esports betting sites let you turn your gaming know-how into potential real money wins.
Here, we’ll take a closer look at the phenomenon of esports in Canada, and offer you some tips about how you can find the best online betting sites Canada offers.
An overview of esports betting in Canada
Regulation in Canada works on a province-by-province basis, something which we will go into further detail about below.
On April 4th, 2022, Ontario became the first province in Canada to legalize online sports betting and some of the world’s best sports betting companies have set up shop in the region. Typically, top betting websites will provide both sports and esports betting markets and this is also true for legal betting sites operating in Ontario as well, where changes in legislation and the formation of governing bodies have allowed esports fans to wager on their favourite games.
Learn more about this on our Ontario Esports Betting page.
Esports you can bet on in Canada
As Canadians are largely compelled to use overseas bookmakers and betting sites to place bets on esports, the range of games and tournaments in which they can bet is pretty wide. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, usually referred to as CSGO betting, remains one of the world’s most popular esports with punters, and you can place bets on tournaments like the DreamHack and ESL series of tournaments.
League of Legends is another popular game for esports betting in Canada, while Defense of the Ancients 2, or Dota 2 for short, is another one which attracts plenty of interest. Events like The International 2019 and the EPICENTER Major are sure to have plenty of punters placing bets on their favorite teams. Virtus Pro, Team Liquid and Vici Gaming are some of the teams who compete on the Dota 2 circuit.
The range of games on which people looking for the best online betting sites in Canada can bet is increasing all the time too. Sports games like FIFA and NBA 2K have their own leagues and tournaments, while Fortnite betting markets are increasing in number all the time too.
Types of bets you can place on esports
The types of bets that can be placed on esports are every bit as varied as those that can be placed on more conventional sports. By far the simplest way of betting on esports is to bet on the outcome of individual matches. This is very simple and easy to understand and involves you choosing the winner of a single match.
You can add value to the odds on offer for match bets by combining several of them in an accumulator. This is where you include a series of bets on one slip, with the winnings from one bet being used as the stake for the next one on the slip. If one bet loses, the whole bet fails, though.
Another type of bet to look out for at esports betting sites in Canada are in-play bets, where you bet on events in the match while it is taking place. Another type is bets on specific game events.
This is a summary of some types of esports bets:
- Matched betting
- Accumulators
- In-play bets
- Bets in specific game events
Is it legal to bet on Esports in Canada?
The law surrounding betting in Canada can be quite complex, with the various provinces of this geographically huge nation having their own regulations regarding gambling. In the main, sports betting punters are limited to using official, provincially sanctioned betting channels to bet on sports and esports.
Options for Canadian esports punters
When it comes to finding a betting site for esports, Canadians are therefore compelled to look for good sites from overseas. Bookies like Betway and Bet365 are at the forefront of the growth in esports betting, and cover plenty of different games and tournaments. Esports-first sites like Rivalry are specialised in esports betting and have plenty of specialised esports markets on offer. It can therefore be seen that the best online esports betting sites Canada has to offer to esports punters based outside Canada.
Payment methods you can use for esports betting
It is vitally important that all punters choose a safe and secure payment method when opening an account. The safest payment method is to use a prepaid Visa for betting or Mastercard credit or debit card. These are accepted by almost all bookmakers, and offer a reliable and secure way of funding your esports betting account.
Ewallets are another secure and versatile payment method that can be used at Canada betting sites. Examples of ewallets include Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal. They can be funded directly from your bank account and are widely accepted by the overseas bookies that offer esports betting services to Canadians.
The esports betting sites Canada residents can use offer a good range of payment methods. Always remember to check the security of a payment method and how it handles international transactions before you sign up for an account.
Tips for successful esports betting
Whatever kind of sport you plan to bet on, there are three things to remember if you want to be successful. Follow these three tips and you should enjoy some reasonable success.
- Know as much as you can about your favoured sports, games, players and tournaments
- Never get greedy
- Place lots of small bets rather than one big bet
Conclusion
When it comes to esports betting in Canada, there are plenty of options for punters to enjoy. While homegrown betting sites in Canada are not there for esports fans, due to the way that the gambling industry is regulated, there are plenty of overseas betting sites that Canadians can use perfectly legally to place bets on their favourite esports events. Big names like Betway and Bet365, who are major players in the UK betting market, sit alongside more recently established esports specialists like Rivalry when it comes to offering Canadians the chance to bet on esports.
