Since 2021, when the country legalized sports betting, Canadian fans and punters have been able to enjoy placing bets on the country’s biggest sports. And, while bets on individual games of ice hockey and basketball have kept fans entertained in the four years since, the betting market has evolved. Fans have been looking for new events and outcomes to bet on, and sportsbooks have duly obliged, knowing it will bring in more profits and enhance their reach.
Sportsbooks now offer betting on political events from around the world, as well as modern events like eSports tournaments and more. They also cater to other niche fans, such as those who prefer cryptocurrency payments or desire live in-play betting.
Sportsbook Services
Sports betting was legalized in Canada in 2021. Before that, horse racing pool betting was the only form of legalized sports betting in the country. Since its legalization, physical and online sportsbooks have become commonplace, including those reviewed by the Esports Insider editorial team. Most sportsbooks cover the major sports like basketball and, of course, ice hockey, according to gambling expert Brett Curtis. Some sites now also offer more niche betting opportunities.
Lower Divisions
Betting on the NHL and CHL is commonplace and can be found in most sportsbooks. But, lower and lesser-known divisions are not only popular with local sports lovers; they can throw up some unique, additional betting opportunities. Some sportsbooks offer bets on lower divisions and lesser-known leagues, opening up new markets for keen bettors and offering representation for fans of local teams.
Less Popular Sports
Ice hockey and basketball are the two most popular sports in Canada, but there are many others with professional leagues. Baseball, soccer, and lacrosse do not attract the same huge crowds as the big two. They are considered niche sports. But niche sports attract fanatical fans. And these fanatical fans enjoy placing bets on games.
eSports
eSports is a relatively new betting market around the world, and Canadian sportsbooks are not being left behind. eSports is competitive video gaming. Video gaming has come a long way since LAN competitions, with global tournaments taking place online.
Competitions pit individuals or teams of individuals against one another, competing for cash and other prizes. Canadian teams do enter North American leagues, but there are also specific Canadian leagues.
Betting on eSports is effectively the same as betting on any other sporting event. Bettors can pick outright winners of individual match-ups, or they can bet on the team they think will come out on top during tournaments. As eSports continues to grow as a betting market, punters can also find more involved and highly specific bets. Some sites offer members the chance to bet on the final score, who will be the most valuable player, and even which map will be drawn first during a Counter-Strike tournament.
Global Sports
The biggest betting events in the world are the Grand National horse race in the UK, the Super Bowl in the US, and the UEFA Champions League final. Meanwhile, soccer is the most widely bet-on sport, with the Premier League and Champions League being the two most popular competitions. Their global popularity means that these competitions tend to offer the broadest range of bets and the greatest availability.
Canadian sportsbooks, like sportsbooks around the world, offer access to betting opportunities on these and other leagues. Punters who consider themselves Premier League experts are well served with bets. But, even if badminton is your thing, you will be able to find sportsbooks offering bets on these events, too.
Political
In some ways, political events can be less predictable and more exciting than some sporting events. Participants withdraw, and use a variety of different tactics, and surprising results are thrown up all the time. Betting on elections can be very enjoyable for some punters, especially those who follow the news and have a good handle on public feelings.
You can also find some surprisingly long odds on events, and political events are happening around the world all the time. It is even possible, at some sportsbooks, to bet on whether interest rates will be increased or decreased, and what level inflation rates will reach. These niche markets give political spectators the same opportunities as sports fans.
TV
Live TV events, like Big Brother, can be a lot more unpredictable than the next ice hockey game. Punters never really know what is going to happen next: whether one of the housemates is going to blow their chances with an off-the-cuff comment, or if Big Brother is going to throw a spanner in the works with a new challenge.
Which makes it an enjoyable betting market for those who sit and watch every episode. Global TV events like the Eurovision Song Contest can also present betting opportunities, albeit highly specialized markets.
Other Niches
The chosen betting market is just one type of niche that sportsbooks accommodate. In-play betting is commonplace with sportsbooks, allowing punters to bet on events as they watch them unfold. Specialist bets can include which team will score next, or whether a team is going to score from the upcoming corner.
Some bookies enable their punters to watch the sports live on their site, although this is more common with horse racing than with heavily licensed sports leagues.
Payment Methods
Another niche that operators are tapping into is the payment method niche. Traditional payment methods include bank payments and card payments. Modern payment methods include digital wallets and cryptocurrencies.
Digital wallets have become popular because of their prevalence and because they are convenient. Most of us have mobile wallets, as standard, on our mobile phones.Cryptocurrencies are considered more secure and offer greater privacy than traditional payment methods, hence their increase in popularity. Some punters will only look for sportsbooks offering these payment methods, and there are more and more services now accepting these payment methods, although they do still remain somewhat niche – cards and bank payments are still the preferred payment solutions.
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