Single-event sports betting is legal in Ontario. After Bill C-218 changed federal law in August 2021, Ontario enabled betting on a single game or event. This explainer covers what is legal today, who runs it, the legal age, how to bet, and how winnings are taxed.
Ontario sports betting at a glance
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Online sports betting | Legal & regulated (open market since Apr 2022) |
| Retail sports betting | Legal (casinos; retail books at Caesars Windsor & Fallsview) |
| Single-event legal | 27 Aug 2021 (Ontario market launched 4 Apr 2022) |
| Regulator | AGCO, with iGaming Ontario (iGO) |
| Market model | Open / competitive (Canada’s only one) |
| Legal online operator(s) | Dozens of licensed books (bet365, FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, theScore Bet) + OLG Proline+ |
| Minimum age | 19 (18 for lottery & bingo) |
| Winnings taxed? | No – recreational winnings are tax-free |
Legal sports betting in Ontario
Ontario runs Canada’s only fully open, competitive online betting market. Dozens of licensed private sportsbooks – including bet365, FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM and theScore Bet – compete for players, all registered with iGaming Ontario and regulated by the AGCO. The OLG also runs its own online sportsbook, Proline+. Ontario also has casinos across the province, with retail sportsbooks at Caesars Windsor and Fallsview.
Legal status and key dates
Single-event sports betting became legal across Canada on 27 August 2021, when Bill C-218 amended the Criminal Code. Ontario launched Canada’s first open, regulated online market on 4 April 2022. The market is overseen by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), with iGaming Ontario (iGO) managing the commercial agreements.
How to bet legally in Ontario
- Use a legal option – any sportsbook registered with iGaming Ontario, or the OLG’s Proline+.
- Be 19 or older (the legal gambling age in Ontario). Note that the age is 19 for sports betting and casino play, but 18 for lottery and bingo.
- Create an account and verify your identity.
- Deposit with Interac, the most common Canadian method.
- Place your bet.
Are gambling winnings taxed in Ontario?
No. In Canada, recreational gambling winnings are not treated as taxable income, so you keep what you win. The only exception is the rare case of someone who gambles professionally as a business. This is a federal rule, so it applies in Ontario as it does across Canada.
Responsible gambling in Ontario
Ontario promotes safer play through PlaySmart. You must be 19 or older to bet in Ontario. Free, confidential support is available through ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600, and every regulated site offers deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion.
FAQs
Yes. Single-event sports betting is legal in Ontario, offered through any sportsbook registered with iGaming Ontario, or the OLG’s Proline+.
19. You must be 19 or older to bet in Ontario.
The legal option is any sportsbook registered with iGaming Ontario, or the OLG’s Proline+. Sites operating outside provincial regulation offer weaker player protection.
No – recreational winnings are tax-free in Canada. Only professional gamblers, a rare business-like case, may be taxed.
For the national picture, see is sports betting legal in Canada?, or our guide to the best betting sites in Canada.
19+ in Ontario. Please play responsibly. Help is available through ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.