In the past few decades, it has become a universal fact that gambling has become one of the most popular activities to partake in. In fact, in 2022 there are more people than ever playing casino games all over the globe as a beginner or an advanced player. As the laws surrounding gambling vary across the entire world, it can be difficult to know the rules and how to follow them. In this context, one country that is experiencing a shift in attitudes to gambling and sports betting in particular is Canada and it is worth exploring why this is so.
Firstly, Canada has had a long standing history of sports betting as since 1985, sports betting has been legal in Canada, but only in the form of parlay betting run by provincial lotteries. As many other countries are embracing forms of gambling, for many casino fans in Canada there was an overwhelming feeling that their country was old-fashioned and outdated. As a result, with no law explicitly permitting or banning this form of betting Canadians began to resort to offshore sports betting sites where Canadian law did not apply. For many, this was quite risky as there was less protection and so it resulted in Canadian citizens being desperate for more clear legislation around sports betting and gambling within the country.
In recent years, Canada has implemented more of a lenient approach to sports betting laws as the federal ban on single-game sports betting in Canada was officially lifted on Aug. 27, 2021. Now, legal online sports betting is available in Canada, with each province able to regulate sports betting inside its borders and most provinces having some form of sports betting available through provincial lotteries. Furthermore, there are now various sports betting providers operating and offering their services to Canadian citizens. With high-profile brands such as Betway getting involved with those gambling fans in Canada, the number of people engaging in sports betting is soaring in the region.
Moreover, it is also important to note that one of the main reasons for sports betting being popular in Canada is the passion that Canadian citizens have for general sports in Canada. For example, hockey is Canada’s national sport and it one of the most popular sports betting options available in Canada. It has an impressive history in terms of viewership as in 2021, Stanley Cup viewership in Canada amounted to 15.6 million individuals. For many fans of hockey, the best way to inject an extra layer of fun into watching a game is to bet on it. Sports betting on a game of hockey is also a great form of gambling as there are so many factors to bet on including moneylines, puck lines, over/unders, season-long futures as well as team and player props. In this sense, this passion for regular sports has dramatically helped contribute to the popularity of sports betting as people are turning to forms of gambling to enhance their experience.
Furthermore, in the coming years, this trend is also no different as Canada is set to host the World Cup. In previous years as Canada has participated in this Championship, the number of people betting on sports has upsurged. Football is known as the most popular sport in the world and in 2026 the FIFA World Cup will take place and it will be the 23rd FIFA World Cup. This tournament will be hosted by 16 cities in three North American countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States and is expected to draw in huge numbers in terms of viewership. This is predicted to coincide with huge amounts of football fans wanting to bet on their favourite teams and players by creating an account and wagering their money.
In addition, Canada is experiencing an increase in how much money they are generating in revenue from sports betting ever since relaxing the laws, as technology has also assisted its growth. This is because there is now more information than ever surrounding sports betting and more simple ways to bet online. Not only are there a plethora of reviews which tell potential sports bettors if a site is legitimate or not, but there is also a higher level of trust in online gaming sites due to legislative changes and gambling rules. On top of this, people are more likely to bet on sports online as there are a range of advantages including getting great odds-on sports as well as a variety of bonuses to choose from including welcome bonuses. Remember that if you are choosing to partake in sports betting to do so with a proper casino site and to set a budget for yourself so that you can gamble responsibility.
In summary, it is quite clear that in terms of the laws around gambling there is no identical set criteria for each country. As the laws and regulations differ according to each country and in many cases, fluctuate according to which state you are in, it is worth carrying out research prior to taking part in gambling activities in a specific region. In the future, with attitudes towards gambling already becoming more relaxed it is predicted that countries like Canada will ease up on even more measures to allow people to play safely and securely. With such factors as technological innovations and the popularity of regular sports driving sports betting in Canada, we should witness even more people turning to it in the future.