No—not all sports betting was illegal in Canada. The important distinction is between sports betting generally and betting on a single sporting event.
Canada had legal forms of sports wagering for decades, including provincial lottery-style betting. However, Canadian law prohibited single-event sports betting for many years. That restriction changed in 2021, when Canada legalized single-event sports betting through amendments to the Criminal Code.
The Senate of Canada has described the history clearly: sports betting had been legal in Canada for decades, with the major restriction being the prohibition on betting on a single sporting event.
What Was Illegal?
Before 2021, Canadians could participate in certain legal sports-betting products, but they generally could not place a legal wager on just one game through the regulated provincial lottery system.
Instead, sports betting was commonly offered through parlay-style products. A bettor had to combine multiple sporting outcomes on the same ticket rather than simply choosing one game.
This distinction is why saying “sports betting was illegal in Canada” is too broad.
A more accurate statement is that single-event sports betting was illegal under Canada’s federal Criminal Code for many years, while other regulated forms of sports betting remained available.
When Did Canada Restrict Single-Game Betting?
The major restriction dates to 1985.
In 1985, Parliament passed legislation that prohibited single-event sports betting while preserving certain provincial lottery-based betting arrangements. The law was connected to broader federal-provincial discussions about gambling regulation and the division of responsibilities between governments.
One concern behind the restriction was the potential for manipulation or match-fixing. Policymakers wanted to limit situations in which a person could have a financial incentive tied directly to one individual sporting event.
As a result, sports bettors could use legal products involving multiple games, but a straightforward wager on one individual game was not permitted in the same way.
Was Sports Betting Legal Before 2018?
Yes, certain forms of sports betting were legal in Canada before 2018.
This is an important point because 2018 is sometimes associated with the major change in sports betting law in the United States, not Canada.
Canada already had provincial lottery sports-betting products. What remained prohibited was single-event wagering.
For Canadian bettors, this meant the legal betting landscape looked different from the modern system. A bettor could participate in an authorized sports lottery product, but could not simply make a legal single-game wager in the way that became possible after the 2021 change.
What Changed in 2021?
Canada changed its federal law in 2021.
Bill C-218, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, became law and removed the federal prohibition against single-event sports betting. This allowed provinces and territories to determine how they would regulate and offer these types of wagers.
The change was significant because it moved Canadian sports betting away from the old requirement that wagers generally involve multiple events.
After the legal change, provinces could establish regulated systems for single-event betting, including products that allow bettors to wager on individual games or events.
Why Was 2021 More Important Than 2018?
The dates can be confusing because the United States experienced a major sports-betting change in 2018.
In the U.S., the Supreme Court’s decision in Murphy v. NCAA struck down the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act provision that had broadly restricted state-authorized sports betting.
Canada followed a different legal path.
Canada’s key national change for single-event sports betting occurred in 2021, not 2018. The country already permitted some sports wagering before then, but the single-game restriction remained in place until the federal law was changed.
Could Canadians Bet on Multiple Games Before 2021?
Yes. Legal parlay-style sports betting was available through provincial lottery systems.
The old system generally required bettors to select multiple outcomes rather than placing a wager on one game alone. The exact products and rules could vary by province and by the lottery corporation operating the betting product.
This is another reason the phrase “sports betting was illegal” can create a misleading picture of Canadian gambling history.
Sports betting existed. The major legal limitation concerned how individual sporting events could be wagered on.
Why Was Single-Game Betting Banned?
The historical reasoning included concerns about game manipulation and match-fixing.
A single-game market can create a direct financial connection between a bettor and a specific contest. Policymakers in 1985 were concerned about the possibility of players or other participants becoming involved in improper activity to influence an outcome.
There were also broader political and regulatory considerations involving the federal government and the provinces. The 1985 legislation formed part of an agreement concerning gambling and provincial authority.
What Does Canadian Sports Betting Look Like Today?
The modern Canadian system is different from the one that existed before 2021.
Single-event sports betting is now permitted federally, but the actual betting environment depends on provincial and territorial regulation. That means availability, operators, products, and registration requirements can differ depending on where a bettor lives.
Anyone considering a wager should check the rules that apply in their own province or territory rather than assuming that the same betting options are available everywhere in Canada.
Quick Timeline
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Federal law expanded government-authorized lottery activity |
| 1985 | Single-event sports betting was prohibited under federal law |
| Before 2021 | Parlay and other authorized sports-betting products remained available |
| 2021 | Canada legalized single-event sports betting federally |
| Today | Provinces and territories regulate how betting is offered |
The details of gambling regulation have changed over time, so historical rules should not be treated as a description of today’s betting market.
Bottom Line
Was sports betting illegal in Canada? Not entirely.
Sports betting in regulated forms existed for decades. What was illegal for many years was single-event sports betting. The restriction was introduced in 1985 and remained in place until 2021, when federal legislation opened the door to legal single-game wagering under provincial and territorial regulation.
That distinction is the key to understanding Canada’s sports-betting history.