As 2023 is just around the corner, it is a good time to look at the Canadian sports betting scene from a slightly different angle. Usually, all top spots among betting brands were always occupied by the same companies, this will definitely change going forward. The main driver for this change is regulation, changes to regulation to be precise.
It is now a lot easier to run a sportsbook in Canada for companies and brands that are based overseas. A foreign betting brand can acquire a valid Kahnawake Gaming Commission license as long as they play by the local rules. Obviously, establishing a presence in Canada is a long-awaited dream for many well-known sportsbooks, which is now coming true.
Having that in mind, all local sports fans will now have to make a difficult decision – do we stick with the betting sites that we are used to, or do we go and explore what’s new on the scene? If you choose the latter, you will likely face even more uncertainty – there are so many different now sportsbooks to choose from. How do you decide and what are the factors you should keep in mind?
Are There Any Good New Sportsbooks?
Local betting brands didn’t have all that much (official) competition so far, which might put them at a disadvantage. This doesn’t mean that they are bad, but new bookmakers that come to Canada will likely have some content and some features, which haven’t yet been available here.
Ideally, you’d need to do a side-by-side comparison of what each brand offers and how those fit with your personal preferences in interests. Of course, we understand that not everyone will have the time or the expertise to carry this out. Therefore, we decided to do this on your behalf and give you our “safe choice” betting brands for the upcoming year.
Top 3 Betting Brands for 2023
As we already mentioned above, we are going to give you “safe” options to roll with, meaning they will be suitable for the “average” player. These betting sites will have a well-balanced content portfolio which doesn’t extremely tilt into any specific direction. We have also paid attention to the UIs and made sure that whatever we are going to recommend below will be suitable for novice bettors.
We would also like to say that we didn’t exclude original Canadian brands from our comparison. As you will see later on – one of the brands in our list is actually one that most of you are likely familiar with.
If you don’t want to read the full thing and just want to know who these sportsbooks are, we can list them here as well. They are: Bet99, Cobrabet, and NeoBet. Links to each one of them can be found in the corresponding sections below.
Bet99
The sports betting brand that we would like to place at the top spot of this list is Bet99 Canada. If you aren’t new to sports betting, then you have probably heard of Bet99 or even used them yourself. They have the resources and the know-how to step their game up, and we are certain they are going to do it.
Who is Bet99 Good for?
Bet99 is an original Canadian bookmaker, and one that a lot of locals are familiar with. First of all, Bet99 is a good choice for those who are already using them or at least have an account with them. There are probably going to be a lot of new and exciting things happening there, so it would be wise to stick around.
They might also be a good choice for hardcore hockey fans, sue to their impressive live event coverage and wide range of betting markets. We aren’t saying that everyone else should avoid them, quite the opposite – they are a solid choice for most people out there. Nevertheless, we recommend reading about the two other sportsbooks before making your final decision.
Welcome Offers for New Players
Now, if you haven’t ever used Bet99 and don’t yet have an account with them – we have some good news for you. As a new player from Canada, you are welcome to claim their C$600 new player bonus. Like most other welcome offers out there, this one is a deposit bonus – you will get 100% of your deposit as bonus funds credited to your player account.
The amount you need to deposit in order to trigger the bonus is C$20, a smaller deposit will have no effect. Once you have your bonus funds, they will be valid for 30 days and should be wagered 5 times with the odds of 1.80 or higher. Compared to a lot of other bookmakers we looked at, a 5x bonus wagering requirement is quite a good one.
Cobrabet
Cobrabet haven’t been around for too long – they are available in Canada since early 2020. Nevertheless, they were able to build a substantial player base and earn a good reputation in the local betting community. With the way things developed so far, we are quite certain that 2023 is going to be a big year for Cobrabet.
Who is Cobrabet Good for?
Cobrabet is quite newbie-friendly, so they are definitely a good option for those of you, who are just getting into sports betting. If you are an occasional bettor, who doesn’t do it on a regular basis – you might also like Cobrabet. They have a user-friendly interface that is very easy to navigate, it’s also easy to perform activities like making deposits and requesting withdrawals. You don’t have to jump through hoops to get things done.
Finally, if you prefer having your winnings paid directly to your bank account – Cobrabet can help with that as well. The withdrawals page has “bank payment” listed as one of the possible options, so all you have to do is just fill out your payment details. However, please keep in mind that the minimum amount you need to have in your player account in order to initiate a bank withdrawal is C$500.
Welcome Offers for New Players
Unlike most other sportsbooks, Cobrabet doesn’t have a welcome offer in the way that we are all used to. Not all bookmakers have a fair condition for their welcome offer, so in some cases it might be better to not have one at all.
Instead, Cobrabet focuses on combination (accumulator) bet boosts, having a different offer per sport, and sometimes per competition. They also often hold timeboxed promotions, where you can get cash prizes and free bets. If you decide to sign up with them, we highly recommend also signing up to their mailing list to always stay on top of things.
NeoBet
NeoBet is somewhere in between the two sportsbooks we mentioned earlier. They aren’t completely new in Canada and they are not a local brand. They have been around for some time and have a strong presence in Canada. From a tech standpoint they are far ahead of most sportsbooks and that is probably their biggest advantage.
Before moving any further, it is important to say that NeoBet is not currently available in Ontario.
Who is Neobet Good for?
NeoBet is a perfect fit for slightly more advanced bettors, so if you are a newcomer – Neo.bet might not be the best choice for you. Yet again, it’s all about how you feel, and you are more than welcome to give them a go if you feel like it.
Another noteworthy thing about NeoBet are their mobile apps. If you prefer using an app over using a mobile website – this might be something you’d like to hear about. Betting apps are available for Android as well as Apple devices, which is quite a rare thing. Due to how complicated the process of listing an app on Apple’s App Store is, most betting brands decide to drop this idea altogether. NoeBet have gone the extra mile and have made their app available for you regardless of what device you prefer.
Welcome Offers for New Players
As a player from Canada, you will be looking at a welcome package consisting of three separate bonuses. Each bonus applies to one of your first three deposits.
All three bonuses will be equal to 100% of the amount you deposit. The first one is up to C$200 and the other two are up to C$100. The minimum amount required to activate the offer is C$10, which is the smallest deposit you can make in general. Finally, the wagering requirement is 5x and the odds requirement is 1.50. If you are well versed in bonus conditions, then you would understand that this is a pretty good offer.
Bet Responsible
As always, we would like to wrap things up by taking a moment to talk about your mental wellbeing. Sports betting has been around probably ever since competitive sports became a thing and betting is a good way to make your favorite sporting event even more exciting.
Nevertheless, we should always remember that there are underlying risks. Sports betting can cause your brain to develop addictive patterns, making you unable to stop and giving you a constant urge to “win back” whatever you had lost. This is a dangerous path that we don’t recommend setting your foot on. Betting is a hobby, something that should bring you excitement and joy, and if all excitement is gone and there is no joy left – it might be a good time to stop and take a break.
If you find yourself being unable to distance yourself from your betting hobby, it is vital that you get help. A lot of people have been there before you, so you are not alone. We recommend starting with https://www.gamblingtherapy.org/en – they have a lot of useful information and 24/7 online help. Trained professionals are there to listen to you and you can also take part in group discussions and therapy sessions.