Best Esports Betting Sites in Canada (2023)

A Complete Guide to Esports Betting Sites in Canada

Esports has grown into a billion-dollar industry and many Canadians are getting in on the action. So, whether you’re a fan of esports or just looking for something new, we’ve got you covered.  

To help you navigate this scene, our experts have put together a complete guide to esports and esports betting. This includes a list of the best esports betting sites in Canada.

Ready to check it out? Let’s go!  

About Esports

Esports are organized video game competitions. These competitions can include both teams and individual players. Esports are much like real sports and include the following: 

• Strategy 
• Rules 
• Referees 
• Spectators 

Betting on esports is 100% legal in Canada. You’ll find the most betting options on international sites. The problem is - there are so many international esports betting sites available for Canadians. How do you sort through them all and choose the best?

Determining the Best Esports Betting Sites in Canada

At BettingGuide.com we vet every esports betting site we come across to find the very best.

Here are the factors we consider when determining which esports betting sites are superior: 

• Licensed and Legal 
• Esports Bonuses and Promotions 
• Range of Esports and Events Available 
• Depth of Esports Betting Markets 
• Esports Betting Margins 

Licensed and Legal 

There are many benefits to playing at a licensed casino and sportsbook. Licensing holds online betting sites to a certain standard. It also ensures they make decisions that are in the best interest of their customers. 

Licensing also guarantees that an online sportsbook is legal to play at. With so many online casinos and sportsbooks saturating the online market, looking for licensed businesses can help weed out the bad ones.

Several reputable licensing bodies operate in the online betting space. Here are some of the top licensers to look for:

• Kahnawake Gaming Commission 
• Malta Gaming Authority 
• Gibraltar Gaming and Betting Association  
• Great Britain Gambling Commission 
• Government of Curacao  

Esports Bonuses and Promotions 

Do you love bonuses and promotions? We do! That’s why we look for esports betting sites that offer the best perks. 

There is a range of different esports betting promotions you might come across. Some of the most common include: 

• Match bonuses 
• Matched bets 

With match bonuses, the casino or sportsbook will match a percentage of your deposit. For example, you might find a 100% match bonus on your first deposit up to $100. This means if you deposit $100 you will get a bonus of $100 cash. This cash can then be used to place wagers.

Matched bets provide players with double the bet for the same price. This means that if you make a $5 bet you’ll receive an additional $5 bet for free.  

With all bonuses and promotions, it’s important to look at the terms and conditions. For instance, there are often wagering requirements associated with bonuses and free cash. An example of this is 50x wagering. This means that any bonus money will need to be played through 50 times before it can be withdrawn from your account.

Range of Esports and Events Available 

Look for esports betting sites that have a wide range of esports and events. This will ensure that you’re satisfied with the site's options. 

Here are some of the most popular esports events you can bet on in Canada:

• League of Legends 
• Overwatch 
• Fortnite World Cup 
• FIFA eWorld Cup 
• Dota 2, and more 

Depth of Esports Betting Markets 

There are many esports markets available to bet on. When choosing esports betting sites, make sure there is a good mixture of markets and games.  

The main three esports markets are: 

• Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)  

1. Dota 2 
2. King of Glory 
3. League of Legends

• First-Person Shooter (FPS)

1. Call of Duty 
2. Crossfire 
3. Overwatch 

• Sports Simulators 

1. FIFA 
2. NBA 2K 
3. Rocket League 

Esports Betting Margins 

A betting margin (also referred to as “juice”) is the commission that esports betting sites and other sportsbooks take from each losing bet. In other words, it’s the site's profit margin.

You can calculate betting margins to make sure you are getting the best deal on a bet. Most margins are between 4% and 6%. Remember, you only have to pay for the juice if you lose your bet.

Let’s take a look at an example to demonstrate how to calculate betting margins. Please note - this example uses the American betting odds format. 

• Team A +1.5 (-110)
• Team B -1.5 (+110)

In this example, the -110 odds mean that you’re betting $110 to win $100. Therefore, if you win the bet you’ll get $210 ($110 [original bet] + $100 [winnings]). However, if you lose, you’ll have to pay the $100 as well as the $10 juice.

If you divide the juice ($10) by the total possible winning amount ($210) you’ll get the betting margin (4.76%). i.e. 10 / 210 = 0.0476

This strategy of calculating the betting margin can help you make the most of your money. The lower the margin, the better!

Most Popular Esports to Bet On

Esports is a relatively new genre for gamblers. However, there is already a huge audience and many games to choose from. 

Some of the most popular games you’ll find on esports betting sites in Canada include:

• Dota 2 
• FIFA 
• CS:GO 
• Rocket League 
• Call of Duty 
• League of Legends 
• Starcraft II 
• OverWatch 
• Hearthstone 
• Rainbow Six 
• King of Glory 

Dota 2 

Dota 2 was developed by Valve Software. This company is an American video game developer based out of Bellevue, Washington.  

Dota 2 is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game. This means that each team member picks a character (a hero) then teams play against each other.  

In this game, there are two teams with 5 players each. Each team is trying to defend a structure (known as the Ancient). The first team to destroy the other’s Ancient wins! 

This game is a strategy-based game that utilizes heroes as characters. Players will find several creatures with varying skills and abilities to choose from.  

You’ll find Dota 2 betting offered on most esports betting sites in Canada. 

FIFA 

FIFA, otherwise known as Fédération Internationale de Football Association, is a soccer video game. FIFA has been around for over 20 years and was originally launched in 1993. 

This game is developed by Electronic Arts (EA) Sports. EA Sports is an American company headquartered in Redwood City, California. 

FIFA is a sports simulator game and includes various versions. Each version is based on real-world players and data.  

In this game, players choose a team and a player. Each match commonly has two 6-minute halves, depending on which mode the game is set to. Normal soccer rules apply. 

CS:GO 

CS:GO, also known as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, is a multiplayer First-Person Shooter (FPS) game. Developed by Valve Software and Hidden Path Entertainment, CS:GO was originally released in August 2012. 

CS:GO includes many different game modes, maps, characters, and weapons for players to choose from.  

This game involves two teams (Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists) of five players each. Teams are competing against each other to complete various tasks. To win, a team has to win 16 rounds.  

This is another very popular esports game and can be found on most esports betting sites. 

Rocket League 

Rocket League was launched in 2015. The game was developed by Psyonix, a US game developer based in San Diego, California.  

Rocket League is a sports simulator game that merges soccer and racecars. This game allows players to customize a vehicle and choose from several gaming arenas.  

Once a vehicle and arena have been chosen, the game begins. Rocket League is much like FIFA. However, instead of human-like virtual characters, vehicles are used. Each match lasts around six or seven minutes.  

Call of Duty 

Call of Duty is a First-Person Shooter (FPS) video game that was launched in 2003. This game was created by Activision, a video game publisher headquartered in Santa Monica, California.  

It is estimated that Call of Duty has about 113 million players around the world.  

Call of Duty is a World War II-themed video game. The goal of the game is to get through a series of campaigns. If you are playing the multiplayer version, you are also shooting and fighting against other human opponents. 

League of Legends 

League of Legends is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game that was launched in 2009. The game was published by Riot Games, headquartered in Los Angeles, California. 

This game consists of two teams of five. Each player is in charge of controlling a character with a specific set of skills and abilities. There are many fantasy creatures within League of Legends, from Gromps to Elder Dragons.  

The goal of the game is to destroy the opposing team’s “nexus” before they destroy yours.  

Many of the top esports betting sites discussed above will allow you to bet on League of Legends. 

StarCraft II 

StarCraft II is described as a military and science strategy-based game. It was originally released in 2010 and is a sequel to the 1998 StarCraft video game. 

This game was created by Blizzard Entertainment which is headquartered in Irvine, California.  

The goal of StarCraft II is to beat your opponent by destroying their structures. The game can be played against either a human or computer-based opponent. Both single-player and multiplayer modes are available. 

OverWatch 

OverWatch is a Multiplayer First-Person Shooter game with a futuristic theme. The game was launched in 2016 by Blizzard Entertainment. 

This game consists of characters known as heroes. Each hero has a unique set of skills and abilities. Heroes are put into two teams of six. 

The goal of the game is to capture your opponent’s flag without allowing them to seize yours first. To win, a team must earn three points first or have the most points at the end of the game. Each game is five minutes long.  

Want to bet on OverWatch games? Check out Betway, Powerplay, Bodog, Casumo, Spin Sports or Unibet esports betting sites. 

Hearthstone 

Hearthstone was launched in 2014 by Blizzard Entertainment. This company is known for developing many great video games, including: 

• StarCraft II 
• OverWatch  
• World of Warcraft 
• Diablo, and more 

Hearthstone is a card game that requires strategy. The game is based on the Warcraft series and includes similar characters and relics. 

The goal of this game is to destroy your rival’s hero. To do this, you must use cards from within a 30-card deck. Each card has different powers that can help you move forward in the game.  

Want to try Hearthstone for yourself? You can play for free at the Hearthstone website. 

Rainbow Six 

Rainbow Six is a First-Person Shooter (FPS) video game that was released in 2015. Rainbow Six was developed by Canada’s own Ubisoft. Ubisoft is a video game developer that was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. The game hosts over 60,000 players per month!  

The theme of Rainbow Six can be described as army and/or combat. This game is a true shooter game with human-looking characters.  

The goal of the game is to complete various missions, such as: 

• Saving a hostage 
• Deactivating a bomb 
• Retrieving an object, etc. 

Rainbow Six can be played as a single-player or multiplayer game.  

Due to its popularity in Canada, Rainbow Six can be found on nearly all esports betting sites. 

King of Glory 

King of Glory, also known as Honor of Kings, is a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena game. This game was launched in 2015 by TiMi Studio Group. This company is based in China and was founded in 2008. 

Similar to League of Legends, the aim of the game is to destroy your opponent’s structures and belongings, while also protecting your own. Each player has a character with their own specific set of powers and potential. 

There are numerous modes of play you can choose between, including: 

• 1v1 
• 3v3 
• 5v5

Types of Esports Betting Options

There are several types of bets you can place on esports betting sites. 

The most common esports betting options are: 

• Skins Betting 
• Fantasy Betting 
• Map Winner 
• First Blood 
• Winning Team 

Let’s take a look at each. 

Skins Betting 

Skins betting involves the use of in-game objects as a form of currency. Bettors wager on the outcome of a game using skins as money. 

What are skins? Skins are graphics that change the appearance of an item or character in a video game.  

Here are some examples of where you might find a skin: 

• Guns 
• Characters 
• Vehicles 
• Weapons, etc.  

There are many reasons skins are significant in video games. Skins can be traded and bought to: 

• Move up in rank 
• Gain new skills or abilities  
• Enhances focus 
• Increases performance, etc. 

Fantasy Betting 

Fantasy betting in esports requires bettors to choose a team of players. Once your team has been chosen, you are hoping that your selections outperform other bettors' choices.  

With fantasy betting, rather than betting against a sportsbook, you’re betting against other players.  

Fantasy betting is a very interactive form of betting and is available on many esports betting sites in Canada. 

Map Winner 

A map winner bet is a very common type of bet in CS:GO esports games. 

With map winner bets you can bet on: 

• Who will win each round 
• How many rounds a certain team will win 
• A certain map you think a team will win 

When making a map winner bet, it’s important to note how many maps or rounds the game will have. Researching each map and the strengths of various teams can also help you make a more informed wager. 

First Blood

First blood bets require gamblers to predict which team will get the first kill in a game. 

This type of bet is common in First-Person Shooter and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games.  

Winning Team 

Winning team bets are simply a prediction of which team will win a game or match. This type of bet is available for the following game types: 

• Sports Simulators 
• Multiplayer Online Battle Arena 
• First-Person Shooter