Best MLB Betting Sites in Canada

MLB Betting Guide for Canadians

Baseball may be America’s sport but Canadians love to get in on the action. Many Canadians are huge fans of MLB and MLB betting online - even though Canada has only one MLB team. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of the Blue Jays, there are plenty of teams to root for. Take me out to the ball game!

If you’re a baseball fan looking to place a bet on your favourite team, or just interested in trying your luck, our MLB betting guide will help you make the most of your wager.

How We Choose the Best MLB Betting Sites 

Our research methods are rigorous and we suggest only the best betting sites for Canadians.  

When determining which sites to recommend, our team considers the following factors. These aspects should always be considered when deciding where you’ll place your bets. This will guarantee that you have the best and most successful online betting experience.

MLB Odds 

Success in sports betting heavily depends on the betting odds a site offers. When choosing an MLB betting site, pay close attention to these odds. Compare them with multiple sites to get the most out of your bet.  

Understanding how odds work for MLB betting online is also crucial to your success.

Similar to other sports betting, there are different ways odds can be displayed. You may see the odds presented in the following formats: 

1. Decimal (2.0) - most commonly used in Canada 
2. American (+145)
3. Fractional/UK (¼)

Using an odds calculator can help you switch between formats. Doing so will help you more easily compare different websites betting margins.  

Better odds mean more profit. So, be sure to utilize odds calculators and to do your research before making a wager.

Live MLB Betting

For a more exciting and fast-paced betting experience, look for sites that offer live betting. When choosing a live betting site, consider: 

• How quickly the site updates their odds - the odds should change as the game unfolds.  
• The website's mobile capabilities - considering the length of a typical MLB game, you won’t want to be stuck placing bets from your desktop computer. Therefore, mobile efficiency is crucial. The site should be easy to use from your phone so that you can stay informed and make bets on the go.

Accessibility 

Whether or not you’re placing live bets, the site you’re using should be mobile-friendly. In this day and age, any MLB betting site that is established will provide the option to bet using your phone or tablet on different betting apps.

For the best experience, look for sites that offer: 

• A mobile-friendly version of their site 
• A downloadable app 

An app is the best way to go. However, if space on your device is limited, use the site’s mobile version. This will allow you to place your bets on the go without having to download anything onto your phone.

Safety 

Don’t be deceived by an illegitimate or untrustworthy MLB betting site.

Before signing up, consider what makes a betting site secure. Look for sites that highlight their commitment to user safety and privacy protection. Read reviews and take advantage of other users’ experiences. These steps will help you protect your personal and financial information. 

No need to undertake this type of research with the MLB betting sites listed here. Our team has already done the heavy lifting. All of the sites recommended above are safe and secure. 

Licensing and Regulation 

In addition to using a safe and secure site, betting on a licensed site is also important. This will ensure your rights are protected and that betting is fair and legal. Be sure to read our full online gambling laws in Canada guide for more information.

Canadians should only use sites that are: 

• Licensed with a legitimate licensing authority
• Operated by an international organization
• Operated by their province or territory

There are several licensing and regulatory bodies that monitor online betting sites. Consider which organization has licensed the site you intend to play on. Look for sites licensed by one of these recognizable organizations: 

• United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) 
• Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) 
• Kahnawake Gaming Commission 
• Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) 

Rewards 

Nearly all MLB betting sites will offer sign-up bonuses as a way to attract sports bettors. 

Therefore, before signing up for a sportsbook, consider what perks it offers. Take a look at several sites and compare them. Then, choose the offer that provides the most valuable to you.

Some of the offers you may come across include:

• Betting bonuses 
• Payouts on wagers that lose 
• Larger payouts 

Funding Options 

As a Canadian bettor, be sure to choose MLB betting websites that accept payment options that work for you. The best betting sites will offer all major payment methods.

The sites we recommend offer payment via:

• Credit card 
• Interact 
• Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies 
• PayPal, and more

Customer Service 

There’s nothing worse than bad customer service, especially when you have your hard-earned money on the line. Aim to use MLB betting sites that boast responsive and effective customer service.

This component can be best judged by user reviews. If reviews note poor customer service, it’s best to avoid that particular site.

In addition, focus on contact methods and availability. Generally, customer service should have several methods of contact and should be available 24/7. 

MLB Betting Markets

Major League Baseball is the only major sport in North America that runs through the summer months. MLB also has more matches than any other major sport. This leaves MLB bettors with plenty of opportunities to wager.  

On top of the vast number of games that can be bet on, there are also many types of bets that can be placed on each game.  

Some of the most common types of bets you can make on an MLB game include:

• Parlays - a parlay bet involves combining two or more bets into one. This type of bet can offer a large payout. However, if any of the bets in the parlay lose, the entire parlay is lost. Some sportsbooks will allow you to place up to 12 bets.  
   
• Point Spreads - this is one of the most straightforward types of bets. All you’ll need to do is decide which team you think will win the game and by how much. Favoured teams will be given handicaps, requiring them to win by a certain amount for you to win the bet. You can tell which team is favoured by a minus symbol before their listed odds (e.g. -1.5 would require the given team to win by 2 or more points). 
   
• Proposition Bets - sometimes referred to as prop bets, proposition bets involve results beyond the final outcome of the game. 

Prop bets offer a wide variety of options. Some examples include: 

• First team to score 
• Last team to score 
• Most hits in a game 
• Total home runs in a game
  
• Over/Under Bets - also known as MLB game totals, over/under bets involve wagering on whether you think the total score for a game will be under or over a line set by a sportsbook. Most commonly, this will be based on the total number of runs from both teams combined. 
   
• Moneyline bets - this type of bet simply involves placing a wager on the team that you think will win. In this type of betting you can choose to bet on the favourite team or the underdog. 
   
• Inning Bets - with an inning bet, a bettor predicts which team will be leading in some aspect of the game after each inning. Common inning bets include most home runs or most hits in a given inning.

Tips and Strategies for Betting on the MLB 

With thirty MLB teams and numerous sportsbooks, deciding where to bet and which team to bet on can be a challenge.  

Consider these tips to help you navigate MLB betting online:

• Home game advantage - when placing wagers on MLB games, take into account the benefits that come with being the home team. Often, home teams benefit greatly from playing on the field they practice on and performing in front of a stadium full of their loyal fans, among other advantages.
• Stats and facts - becoming familiar with MLB teams, player stats and even stadiums can be helpful to your success. For example, some parks are known for increased hitting, based on their design. These simple details can go a long way to placing successful bets.
• No Action - take advantage of the “no action” option when betting on the MLB online. This option allows you to cancel and refund your bet if the starting pitcher is changed. Once you know who the new pitcher is you can place a new wager if you wish.
• Evolving odds - pay attention to odds that are profitable and change throughout a baseball game. This will help you manage your wagers and make smart and informed betting decisions.
• Multiple bets and sportsbooks - don’t feel pressured to invest all your wagers in one MLB betting website. Distributing your bets among various sites, as well as participating in an array of betting types, can be more profitable than limiting your betting profile.

How MLB Works

Major League Baseball can be a complex sport. If you’re new to baseball, we’ve broken it down to help you better understand how MLB works.

Knowledge is power, so consider the following when deciding where to place your wagers.

MLB Teams

There are 30 MLB teams - 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada.

These teams are split into two separate leagues.

The American League (AL)

This league is further divided into three divisions.

• AL East 
• AL Central  
• AL West

The National League (NL)

This league is also divided into three divisions.

• NL East  
• NL Central  
• NL West

MLB Games

A typical MLB game works as follows: 

• There are nine innings in each baseball game. Innings are limited by outs rather than time. Each team must get three outs to end an inning. Therefore, there are a total of six outs per inning. There are several ways to earn an out. 
• The batter strikes out (3 strikes - you’re out) 
• A fly ball is caught 
• A baserunner is tagged out 
• A baserunner is forced out. This occurs if the batter becomes a baserunner and the baserunner is forced to leave their base. 
• Players can move from base to base as a result of their own hit or a teammate’s hit. Note: only one runner can be on a base at a time.

To earn a point in baseball, a runner must reach home base after touching first, second and third base. This is called a run. The team with the most runs at the end of a game is the winner.

MLB Pre-Season

Spring training, otherwise known as the MLB preseason, is a series of exhibition games and practices.

This preseason provides time for:

• New players to try out for a team 
• Rostered players to practice before the regular season

Spring training begins at the end of February.

The preseason also offers sports bettors an opportunity to see what the upcoming season might have in store, based on the performance of players and teams.

MLB Regular Season

The MLB regular season starts after spring training. The season begins at the end of March, or the beginning of April, and ends in October.

It consists of 162 games - the most games of any major sport in North America.

MLB regular-season games are typically played between teams from the same division. However, a few games may be played between teams in different leagues.  

At the end of the regular season, each team is given a ranking, based on their performance. The top ten teams qualify for the playoffs.

If two teams are tied, an additional game may be played to decide who will advance.

MLB Playoffs

The ten teams that move on to the playoffs consist of:

• The top five teams from the American League 
• The top five teams from the Nation League

The top team from each division is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs. Given that there are three divisions in each league, six teams in total automatically qualify.

The remaining four teams (two from each league) are known as wild cards.

The playoffs begin with a Wild Card Game. During this round, the two wild card teams in each league compete against one other in a single game. The winner moves on to the Division Series.

The Divisions Series is a quarter-final, with eight teams remaining. As the name implies, each division hosts its own Division Series, resulting in the ALDS (American League Division Series) and the NLDS (Nation League Division Series). Four teams compete in each Division Series.

The Division Series follow a best-of-five format. This means that the first team to win three games moves on to the next round.

The first match-up in each Division Series consists of:

• the wild card winner vs the number one rated team in their league 
• the remaining two teams vs one another

The winning team from each match-up advances to the League Championship Series.

The League Championship Series is a semi-final. Each league hosts a League Championship Series, resulting in the ALCS (American League Championship Series) and the NLCS (Nation League Championship Series).

The League Championship Series follow a best-of-seven format. That is, the first team to win four games advances. 

Finally, the winner of the League Championship Series in each league moves on to the World Series. This is the final stage of the playoffs. 

The World Series also follows a best-of-seven format. The first team to win four games is considered the World Series Champion and is awarded the Commissioner’s Trophy.

The World Series is sometimes referred to as the Fall Classic and usually occurs at the end of October.