Best sites for esports betting in Ontario
The popularity of competitive gaming has grown massively in recent years and esports betting is available at a wide range of Canadian sportsbooks.
Each of these esports betting sites has been rated and evaluated by our Time2play experts, who look at a range of factors including markets, odds quality, game titles, safety, and ease of use.
This page also provides a guide to esports betting in general, including tips on markets and live wagering.
| Sportsbook logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-sportsbook button | Show more | T&Cs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
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95/100
Sports and markets rating
by
Elena I.
95%
Playscore
based on
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Most reliable operator
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Play |
Good to know
9 payment methods 
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bet365 operates pursuant to an agreement with iGaming Ontario. #ad |
2
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95/100
Sports and markets rating
by
Elena I.
88%
Playscore
based on
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Best for novelty betting
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Play |
Good to know
6 payment methods
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3
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95/100
Sports and markets rating
by
Elena I.
88%
Playscore
based on
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Best range of sports
|
Play |
Good to know
4 payment methods
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4
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91/100
Sports and markets rating
by
Elena I.
86%
Playscore
based on
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Great for hockey and basketball
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Play |
Good to know
5 payment methods
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5
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90/100
Sports and markets rating
by
T2P contributor
90%
Playscore
based on
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Great range of sports
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Play |
Good to know
7 payment methods
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19+. Terms and conditions apply. Play responsibly. Connexontario.ca |
6
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90/100
Sports and markets rating
by
T2P contributor
89%
Playscore
based on
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Excellent betting odds
|
Play |
Good to know
7 payment methods
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Top esports betting sites by game
Esports betting websites will have markets covering a range of different leagues. Finding the best website for each specific league can be tricky. So to help you out, we have put together our guide to which sportsbooks offer the best betting options for each of the most popular esports leagues in the world.
| Esports league | Sportsbook | Top market |
|---|---|---|
| Dota 2 | LeoVegas sportsbook | Correct score |
| League of Legends | bet365 sportsbook | Winner |
| FIFA | bet365 sportsbook | Match winner |
| World of Warcraft | BetRivers sportsbook | Handicap |
| Overwatch | BetVictor sportsbook | Winner |
| Fortnite | PartySports | Winner |
| Valorant | BetRiver sportsbook | Handicap |
Esports tournaments
If you are new to esports betting online, understanding the markets for each event can be tricky. In the section below, you will find essential details related to the options available for all major esports tournaments.
CSGO
Counter Strike is a multiplayer arena shooting game, and it is the most popular esport in the world. So it is no surprise that there is a raft of betting markets available for every fixture. Aside from betting on the overall winner of the contest, most operators offer esports markets for the winners of each map, the total number of maps and the correct score of the game.
Dota 2
One of the first games to attract a large number of esports betting markets. Dota 2 is a similar esports event to CS:GO, so many of the markets are exactly the same. In addition to these markets, you can also place handicap bets on most fixtures.
League of Legends (LoL)
The League of Legends World Championships has a lot of prop bets relating to specific elements of each game. For example, you can bet on which team will kill the first dragon on each map. Or bet on which team will slay the first Baron. Alternatively, you can bet on whether both teams will achieve either of those things.
World of Warcraft (WoW)
World of Warcraft esports tournaments come in a variety of guises. The most popular (and simplest) for esports bettors is the Arena World Championship (AWC). These 3v3 matches have straightforward winner and handicap markets.
FIFA
Betting on FIFA esports tournaments works in a similar way to betting on real life soccer games. You can choose from moneylines, spreads, totals and prop bets. You can even check out the futures market in order to bet on tournament winners.
Valorant
One of the lesser-known events for esports coverage, this first-person shooter game is rapidly growing in popularity. Currently, most esports betting sites just offer win markets for Valorant games, but this is likely to expand in the near future.
Overwatch
This is another team-based shooter game swiftly gaining popularity. As with Valorant, betting options are fairly limited at present, but this is unlikely to be the case for very long.
Rocket League
An 8v8 vehicle-based online soccer game that has started to attract betting attention. This tournament shares many of the same rules as soccer, but the rocket-fuelled vehicles add extra excitement to proceedings. Some of the esport betting markets for Rocket League are the same as what you will find for FIFA games, however, the format of the tournaments means that there are fewer markets to choose from.How to choose an esports betting site
The big question is, how do we rate online esports betting sites? The answer is that we look at a range of important factors and analyze how each operator performs in them. In the next sections of our esports betting guide, we will discuss each of the areas we review.
Options for esports betting Canada
When it comes to the best esports betting site in Canada, it really should have a wide range of esport betting markets. Ideally, we expect to see at least eight different esports on offer including the top games such as DOTA 2, CSGO, and League of Legends. These should be available across international and domestic events. Sites that have just one esports option with few betting markets will get the lowest score from us. Average sites will have two or three esports to bet on but won’t have some of the smaller leagues on offer. Neither will they have much in the way of unique bets such as handicaps.
Esports odds
Once you’ve found a site that offers a wide array of esports tournaments, the next step is to check the esports betting odds. Our favourite esports sites have a payout rate that is around 95%. If it’s toward the upper end of 97%, then we’re going to give this an even better rating. However, any esports betting site that offers payouts under 93% is best avoided. Ideally, we also want to see the odds updated automatically on the site so that we don’t have to manually refresh the page ourselves. Of course, it is a little harder to check the best odds without checking all other sites too.
Bet types
To add some extra excitement to your online esports betting, the best esports betting site provides additional features to their betting markets. Bet builders are one of the most popular betting features. They allow you to build parlay bets by selecting multiple markets from the same esports fixture. This can create some long odds and potentially big wins. Another popular betting feature is the bet boost. This increases the odds on a specified market, usually for a limited amount of time. We also look for online esports betting sites offering live betting and streaming too. Any site that skimps on these areas gets a lower score from us and is best avoided.
Live betting
The best esports betting sites offer live markets on many esports events. To make it easier for you to place live esports bets, these sites often provide live streams of events, so you can assess how the game is developing. In some cases, you will find a range of statistics relating to the game. Studying these stats can also be a help when placing a live esports bet. In contrast, online esports sites that don’t offer any live bets or live streaming options are skin betting sites we suggest you avoid. If a betting site does have some or limited options for betting and streaming, then we’re going to give it an average rank, but we expect more from the esports betting industry these days — especially when it comes to in play betting.
Betting app quality
Mobile betting is growing at a rapid rate. It allows esports fans to place wagers wherever they are, as long as they have a working internet connection. To meet this increase in demand, most esports betting operators have high quality mobile apps that make betting on the go a very simple process. The best sites will have glitch-free mobile apps that are designed to match the main desktop site. Not only that, but all the same features, functions, bet options and so on will be available. Sites that don’t have a mobile version, or offer a slow-loading mobile experience are sites we say you should avoid.
Usability
Whether you are esports betting on desktop or mobile, you want a user-friendly experience that makes betting on esports a simple operation. The best esports online websites and mobile apps offer easy navigation and clear menus. Finding the betting markets you require takes little time and placing bets is an intuitive process. If it’s hard to navigate, takes you hours to find the bet you want, or doesn’t clearly show the bet options or latest odds, we’re not going to be too impressed. In fact, if the site really isn’t up to scratch in terms of search filters or the provision of additional information, you should play elsewhere.
Overall verdict
Our overall verdict on esports operators also takes into account other important factors. This includes customer service — which options are available, and how efficient are they? It also includes a look at the payment options offered at each site. We look at processing times, transaction fees and the deposit/withdrawal limits for each option. Most importantly of all, we always look at the licensing and security situation at every operator we review. Betting licenses are awarded to operators that offer a fair and trustworthy online betting experience. This means that all bets are honoured and your data is fully secure. We only ever recommend esports betting sites that are fully licensed and regulated.
Canadian teams in esports betting
Many esports betting fans have developed a close affinity with certain teams. This is often because they have had regular betting success wagering on those teams. As such, esports bettors will regularly look out for when these teams are playing, so they can place bets on them. Here is a little look at three of the most popular esports teams in Canada.
- Toronto Defiant — An Overwatch team that competes in the Western Division of the Overwatch League. The team is owned by the esports and media company OverActive Media. The squad has enjoyed a huge amount of success in the division.
- Lazarus Esports — A multigame esports organization that is home to teams in Fortnite, PUBG and CS:GO. Lazarus Esports was originally known as SetToDestroyX before rebranding in 2018.
- Luminosity Gaming — Formed in 2015, Luminosity Gaming compete in a number of esports events all over the world, including Call of Duty, Overwatch and Valorant. Their most famous player is popular streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins.
Available betting markets
Once you have found the esports betting sites you wish to join, your next step is to place some bets. The number of esports markets you will find can sometimes be overwhelming, so to help you out, here is a quick guide to the different types of esports bets you are likely to encounter.
Match winner
The simplest and most popular esports market involves placing a wager on which team will win a game. In most esports, there will be two options to choose from — the short-priced favourite or the longer-odds underdog. The first option is a safer bet but will produce relatively small returns. The second option produces better returns, but is less likely to win.
Outright winner
This is a futures bet on the overall winner of an esports tournament. The number of entrants in a tournament will vary depending on the event. These outright winner bets take longer to play out, but because of the large number of options, you will often find some very long odds and potentially large wins.
Map-related bets
Esports events such as CS:GO and Line of Duty are comprised of multiple maps. In many cases, betting operators will have markets for betting on the winners of each of these maps. These bets are especially popular with live esports bettors.
Team-related esports bets (e.g. first kill)
These bets relate to achievements by specified teams. For instance, in Dota 2 games you can place bets on which team will achieve the first kill or be the first to draw blood. You will also find over/under markets for these team-specific areas.
Handicap bets
These work in a similar way to match winner markets, but give one of the participants a theoretical advantage. For example, in a Rocket League game, the handicap market may give one side a theoretical one-goal advantage. In order to win this market, the other side would need to win by more than one goal.
Game-specific bets
Some markets are only applicable for a specific game. For example, only League of Legends games will have markets for which team will slay the first baron, as this is a LoL-specific game element.
How to wager on esports
If you are starting out on your esports betting journey, you have a lot to consider before placing any esports wager. Our step-by-step guide for esports betting beginners will help you get started.
- Read our guides — Doing this will give you the pros and cons of each operator and enable you to decide which sites are the best for you.
- Sign up — The sign-up process at esports betting sites is fairly straightforward. Just supply a few personal details and a copy of a government-issued ID.
- Verify your account — After your ID has been verified you will receive an email from the operator. Clicking on this email will verify your account and complete the sign-up process.
- Take a tour — Before placing any esports bets, familiarize yourself with the operator’s website and mobile app. This will make it easy for you to locate the events and markets you require.
- Place your bets — Now you are ready to start betting on esports games!
Pros and cons
There are many advantages and disadvantages to betting on esports. Before you begin placing bets on esports, you need to carefully consider whether it is right for you. Do you want to add esports to your betting repertoire, or should you stick to sports that you already know? Here are a few key pros and cons of esports betting:
- Volume of fixtures
- Good odds
- It’s fun
- Unpredictable
- Limited options for some operators
Top tips
So how exactly can you find winning esports bets? Unfortunately, there is no 100% foolproof way of betting on esports games, but by following our expert tips you give yourself the best possible chance of success.
Join a range of sites
The esports betting site with the best odds will change with every game. The more betting sites you join, the more likely you are to be able to benefit from the best odds for any given fixture.
Decide how much you want to spend
Before you place your first esports bet, you need to consider how much you have available to spend on esports betting. Make sure you stick to that amount. Never wager an amount you cannot afford to lose.
Study the stats
The more that you study the markets, the more likely you are to find preferential value. Whilst esports are not as rich in statistics as some other sports (e.g. ice hockey and baseball), there is still plenty of information to look at. Try to look at a team’s recent results, their head-to-head records and their team lineups.
Read the news
Esports receive a lot of online coverage. You can even find betting tips for major events, so make sure you read as many articles as possible before placing your bets. Reading what the experts think can really help you to formulate winning esports bets.
Double-check your bets
Before confirming your bets, make sure that absolutely everything is correct. Check that you have entered the correct stake for your bet. And ensure that you have made the correct selection for the correct fixture.
Shop around
The betting site with the best odds will vary from market to market. The more esports betting sites you sign up to, the more likely you are to be able to benefit from the best odds.
Esports betting alternatives
If you ultimately decide that esports betting is not for you, there are a large number of other sports you can place real money wagers on in Ontario. Here are just three of the most popular.
- Ice Hockey — Canada’s number one sport.
- American football — The biggest sport in the USA.
- Basketball — A great sport for online betting fans.
FAQs
What are the best esports betting sites?
Essentially, any site that is fully licensed and regulated to provide an online gambling provision in Ontario. Betting with operators that do not have full online betting licenses puts your financial and personal data at risk. It can also lead to the results of your winning bets not being honored. Remember, we only ever recommend operators that are fully licensed and regulated.
Can I bet on esports in Ontario?
Yes, the esports betting legal market in Ontario is growing at a rapid pace. More and more operators are offering a provision for esports. In many cases, this esports offering includes a wide range of markets. Not only can you place real money bets on the winners of each game, but you can place prop bets, handicaps and even bets on the winners of each map in shooter games.
How do I successfully bet on esports online?
Whilst there is no guaranteed way of successfully betting on esports, you can greatly improve your chances of landing regular wins, by thoroughly researching all of your bets. We can also highly recommend that you concentrate your efforts on esports that you have an excellent knowledge of. Finally, make sure you set yourself a budget for your esports betting and always stick to it.
What games can I place esports wagers on at online betting sites?
The esports titles available will vary from operator to operator and also depend on the esports calendar. However, at the vast majority of sites, you can place bets on popular leagues and major tournaments such as CS:GO, Call of Duty and Rocket League. If you wish to bet on some of the lesser-known esports leagues, you may find your options more limited. But the esports industry is growing so check back with us as things improve.
Is it easy to use online betting sites for esports bets?
Very easy. Once you have completed your research and found the bet you wish to place, just open up a betting slip, enter your stake and submit your bet. Always make sure that you double check all of your bets before submitting them. Failure to do this can lead to erroneous bets being placed, which could potentially cost you a lot of money.
