Esports Betting Canada
If you want to find out about esports betting in Canada then you are in the right place! Esports betting is something that has become very popular in recent years
The legal situation around betting online in Canada is somewhat complex, and there are aspects of Canadian law that make the topic somewhat confusing. Nevertheless, the vast majority of Canadians can bet online on esports as long as they are using a sportsbook that is based outside of Canada. Read on to find out more about esports betting in Canada and how you can find the best possible bookie for you!
What is Esports?
You may be reading this article with no prior knowledge of what esports actually is. If you are, we’ll pause here to give you a short definition. Esports is competitive video gaming, where teams of players take each other on in tournament or leagues. Popular esports games include first person shooters, like Call of Duty, as well as Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games like Defense of the Ancients 2. Other popular esports games include League of Legends and Overwatch, but sports video games like FIFA and NBA 2K also have their own leagues too.
If you want to watch esports then you have a number of choices of streaming platform. Twitch is a very popular platform with esports fans, and you can also often find plenty of esports events streamed on YouTube. GINX is an esports channel that operates in Canada, making it the perfect option for anyone who wants to follow events when they are doing some esports betting in Canada.
What is Esports Betting?
So now that you know what esports are, what is esports betting? Betting on esports is where punters place wagers on matches and tournaments. Just as with conventional sports betting, you can wager on which team will outright win a tournament or league, and you can also bet on which teams will win individual matches.
There are many other possibilities when it comes to esports betting in Canada too. Handicap betting or betting on events within games, such as which player will win the most maps or make the most kills in a game, are other possibilities. You can also place in-play bets on esports if you like the excitement of live betting and have access to live streaming.
How to Find a Good Bookie for Esports Betting in Canada
If you’re looking to do some esports betting in Canada then it is vital that you find the right bookie for you. Here are a few things that you should check before you commit to opening an account at the kind of betting sites Canada residents can use.
- Do they have a good range of esports markets?
If you want to do some betting on esports then you need to be able to find a bookie that offers you the chance to bet on a range of different games and tournaments. You should also find a bookie that provides live streams of all the tournaments on which you can bet. This is especially important if you want to do some in-play esports betting in Canada.
- Is there a tempting welcome offer?
Being able to claim a tempting welcome bonus is always a nice part of signing up for an account at an online bookie. A good welcome bonus should offer a generous amount of extra bets or bonus credit and also have fair wagering requirements so that you can turn the bonus into real cash winnings without having to make unreasonable amounts of effort. Good betting offers Canada residents can claim should be worth claiming when it comes to your time and effort.
- Does the bookie offer a mobile app?
Everybody enjoys the convenience that being able to bet on your mobile phone or tablet brings, and every good online bookie should offer an app so that you can do this more easily. An app should be free and easy to download, and offer the same range of services as the bookie’s desktop site. Depositing and withdrawing funds, finding markets and watching live streams should all be available for you to do via the app.
- What is customer service like?
No one wants to feel neglected when they are being a loyal customer at an online sportsbook. Customer service at an online sportsbook should always be polite, speedy and convenient. You should be able to reach the customer service team via live chat and email, and all questions that you ask should be answered swiftly and politely. If the customer service team cannot answer your questions efficiently then you should find an alternative bookie for your esports betting in Canada.
- Does the site have good security systems in place?
You do not want to worry about whether or not your transactions are going to be safe and secure when you are doing some esports betting in Canada. Good online sportsbooks will always be able to tell you the type of encryption and site security that is in place. SSL encryption should always be used. If the site holds a licence from a regulatory body like the UKGC or MGA they will also have stringent security systems in place to protect you.
Tips for Successful Esports Betting in Canada
If you want to place winning bets when you are doing some esports betting in Canada then you can follow many of the same principles as you would when betting on more conventional sports. We’ll outline a few of these basic tips here for you.
Research and plan your bets accordingly
If you want to bet successfully on esports then you need to know as much as possible about the games on which you are betting. Just as successful ice hockey betting depends on you knowing as much as possible about teams and players, the same is true of esports betting in Canada. Make sure you follow all the latest news as carefully as possible as you never know which nuggets of information might prove vital to your chances of success.
Focus on a small number of teams
When you are researching your bets it is often a good idea to focus on just three or four teams in a particular esports game. This means that you do not spread yourself too thinly and take more note of what is important. If you can gain expert knowledge about a small number of teams then you give yourself a greater chance of knowing the really important things that will bring betting success.
Manage your bankroll with care
You should always keep a close eye on your bankroll when you are doing some esports betting in Canada. Managing your funds carefully is vital if you want to properly assess the risk and value that certain bets offer. If you are keeping a close eye on your bankroll then you are also more likely to keep your mind calm and clear – this is vital if you want to ensure that you are making the right decisions around things like stake size and bet type.
Understand odds and bet types properly
Anyone who is doing any kind of sports betting needs to ensure that they understand how odds work. They also need to understand the various types of bet that can be placed when you are doing some esports betting in Canada. Only if you properly understand betting terminology and structures properly can you hope to be successful.
Remember that betting is fun!
All bettors should remember that wagering on esports is supposed to be fun. If you start to feel angry or frustrated when you are betting on esports then you should walk away and do something else. Negative emotions like anger or frustration can lead to you making foolish decisions when you are betting. This can create a situation where you end up chasing your losses and making a series of foolishly big bets. If it is no longer fun, walk away and come back later.
Conclusion
If you want to do some esports betting in Canada then the options are reasonably good. As with any other kind of online sports betting in Canada, the legal situation can sometimes appear to be a little confusing. Legislation is in the pipeline that should make the situation around online betting in Canada clearer, but until then you can rest assured that using an online sportsbook from outside Canada to bet on esports then you should be okay. Of course, you need to make sure that the sportsbook you choose is reputable and safe, as well as offering good customer service and an excellent range of esports markets on which you can bet.
When it comes to being successful when betting on esports, Canada residents need to follow the same principles that work with other types of sports betting. If you want to place winning bets on esports then you need to research as much as possible about your favoured esports and keep up-to-date with all of the latest news. It is also vital that you keep a close eye on your bankroll and remember that esports betting is supposed to be fun!
Esports Betting in Canada FAQs
Yes, you can bet on esports games like Call of Duty, CSGO, League of Legends and others online. Many online bookies now offer their customers the opportunity to place bets on a wide range of different esports games. Some mainstream bookies like Bet365 and Betway offer an extensive range of esports markets but you can also find bookies like GG.bet and Unikrn that specialise in esports.
The situation around betting online in Canada is complex but most Canadians can bet online if they use an online sportsbook that is based outside of Canada. We would always advise anyone reading this to check on local regulations and how they apply to them before they attempt to do any actual online betting in Canada.
The best way to check to see if an online bookie is safe is to check the licence that it holds. If an online sportsbook holds a licence from a recognised regulatory body like the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) or the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) then you can rest assured that you are in good hands and that the site is safe and secure.