The Canadian sports betting market is awash with licensed online betting app and mobile sports betting options, so what separates the best apps from the worst? And are the odds the same at all mobile sportsbooks?
We’re taking a look a the options on the market and have a few tips for picking the best sports betting app. We’ll even explain why native apps aren’t necessarily the way to go.
200% Welcome Bonus Up to €7,500 + 10% Cashback
- High betting limits & good number of markets
- 10% weekly cashback on losses
- Premium live betting with HD streaming
200% Welcome Offer up to €5,000 + 10% Weekly Cashback
- Great markets for live betting
- Fast and safe deposits with credit cards and Bitcoin
- 10% cashback every Monday
10% Weekly Cash Back
- High betting limits and the best sports action
- Quick and easy banking
- Easy and fast banking with crypto
100% up to $750 + 200 FS + 1 Bonus Crab
- Live chat available in both French and English 24/7
- Payment methods include local options like Interac
- Cashback and higher withdrawals available via VIP system
100% up to CA$100
- Early settlement with Cash Out feature
- €20 freebet available every Monday
- Combo boost up to 1.5 multiplier
4 of the Best Sports Betting Apps in Canada
With so many betting apps to choose from, it can be hard to know which way to turn. Our quartet of highly recommended mobile betting sites are a great place to start. All four of these operators offer fully responsive mobile sites, which is why they don’t need to offer native iOS or Android betting apps.
Instant Sports – The Best Sports Betting App for Sports Coverage
- Founded: 2024
- License Verified: ✅
- Platform: Mobile Site
Instant Sports is a great place to start betting on sports using your smartphone or tablet. Its fully responsive website means you can use any operating system or browser to create a new account and log in. One of the first things you’ll discover is the sheer volume of sports available to bet on within the site – 50 to be precise.
There is a healthy choice of pre-game and live odds for you to choose from. Speaking of its live betting capabilities, Instant Sports’ mobile betting site also allows you to catch live streams of many in-play sports events.
If you prefer the idea of betting on a sports event based on what you see rather than interpreting data from an in-play widget, this is a big deal.
It’s easy to keep tabs on the most popular sports events for pre-game and outright betting thanks to its ‘Top Match’ and ‘Top Outright’ widgets.
The most popular sports are highlighted in the top section of its sportsbook. You can also access the ‘Quick Bet’ tool just by hitting the yellow button towards the bottom of your mobile screen.
When it comes to promotions, Instant Sports offers a welcome bonus for both mobile sports betting and its casino.
Instant Sports also supports cryptocurrencies to deposit and bet with, along with traditional fiat currencies like Canadian dollars.
Pros
- Unrivalled choice of sports
- Plenty of sports betting promotions
- Access to live streams of major sports events
- Supports fiat currency and cryptocurrency
Cons
- Somewhat basic user interface
Our Verdict
It’s hard not to like Instant Sports. Despite its relatively dated user interface, it’s still one of the go-to mobile betting apps to bet on sport worldwide. Its platform integrates live streams and real-time statistics seamlessly, creating an ideal environment for live sports betting on the go.
Samba Slots – The Top Mobile Betting App for Parlays
- Founded: 2016
- License Verified: ✅
- Platform: Mobile Site
From the moment we loaded up the Samba Slots mobile betting site, we spotted that its user interface was strikingly similar to that of Instant Sports.
The top and bottom navigation menus look and feel almost identical, suggesting that both operators source their mobile sportsbook solutions from the same provider.
As for the site itself, there’s no native betting app here, with a distinct focus on browser-based mobile sports betting action.
We also compared the available pre-game and live odds at Samba Slots with those offered at Instant Sports. We discovered that Samba Slots’ prices were also identical, which is another indication that both brands lean on the same provider for their mobile sports betting solutions.
Its live betting interface comes with an embedded ‘tracker’ for in-play events, showing real-time statistics, standings, head-to-head history and live updates to help you make informed bets on your mobile.
It’s disappointing to find that Samba Slots doesn’t have a dedicated welcome bonus for its new sportsbook users. It does offer a ‘Combi Boost’ for parlay betting of up to 40% for those placing the biggest parlays.
Samba Slots is another of the top betting apps in Canada to support cryptocurrency deposits like Bitcoin (BTC) as well as fiat currencies (CA$). You also have the option to use your smartphone to deposit and withdraw via Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Pros
- Competitive odds in line with other sites
- Deposit and withdraw in CA$ or crypto
- ‘Combi Boost’ promotions ideal for parlays
- Engaging in-play ‘tracker’ widget
Cons
- No dedicated welcome bonus for sportsbook
Our Verdict
In reality, there’s precious little between Instant Sports and Samba Slots. Given that they both appear to be powered by the same underlying mobile sportsbook platform and odds supplier, you can’t go wrong with either operator.
It’s frustrating to see a lack of sign-up bonus for sportsbook players here, although the Combi Boost is a pretty good deal if you like the idea of betting on sports with parlays.
Golden Panda – The Best Sports Betting App in Canada for Cashback on Weekly Losses
- Founded: 2024
- License Verified: ✅
- Platform: Mobile Site
As with Instant Sports, this mobile betting site has a top and bottom navigation menu, along with the same ‘Quick Bet’ button that’s ideal for live betting.
Another similarity with Instant Sports is its choice of sports, with 50 sports also available to bet on at the Golden Panda mobile betting site.
There’s one clever feature that differentiates Golden Panda from Instant Sports. This operator has committed to a ‘Weekly Cashback Bonus’, which returns a percentage of your weekly losses in cash.
The downside at Golden Panda is that their choice of live streamed events is more limited than other options, where you can watch all kinds of live events without even having to be logged into your account.
Golden Panda is another multi-currency mobile betting app in Canada. As well as being a Bitcoin betting site, you can deposit your fiat currency using Visa or Mastercard debit cards, as well as Interac transfers.
Pros
- Comparable pre-game and live odds to Instant Sports
- Easy access to Quick Bet functionality
- Weekly Cashback Bonus a boost for losing
- Supports payments in CA$ and BTC
Cons
- Fewer live-streamed sports events than Instant Sports
Our Verdict
There’s no doubt that Golden Panda is another successful mobile betting app. Thanks to its Curacao license, you can be sure it complies with industry-leading standards for your safety and fairness of odds and markets.
We liked the concept of the Weekly Cashback Bonus, which gives you a second chance at winning with the cash returned to your balance.
Roby Casino – The Best Mobile Betting App for Soccer
- Founded: 2024
- License Verified: ✅
- Platform: Mobile Site
Of the four top betting apps we’ve reviewed at length, Roby Casino is the only one with a bespoke user interface. It has an almost space-age platform, with purples and neon pinks joining the on-site colour palette.
As with the other mobile betting apps listed, you only require one Roby Casino account to access their mobile sportsbook and casino. Their sportsbook is very well-categorised, with the ability to find popular leagues and events in the overlaid navigation menu.
If you’re into parlay betting, you’ll probably enjoy Roby Casino’s ‘What to Bet’ feature. This lists a string of potential parlays for upcoming sports games to inspire you for your next parlay.
It shows how much you could expect to win if all selections win. With 27 sports available to bet on, Roby Casino’s coverage doesn’t quite compete with the three previous betting apps listed.
However, their dedicated live betting section is a dynamic platform to take in-play odds, with a ‘Score Center’ giving you real-time updates on the games you’re interested in.
We were pleasantly surprised to find that Roby Casino has a dedicated welcome bonus for mobile sportsbook users. These include deposit match bonuses, as well as reload bonuses and cashback bonuses for regular betting. There’s a clever ‘2 Goals Ahead Early Payout’ soccer promotion, while parlay betting can also get odds boosts up to 100%.
As far as payment methods go, you can deposit CA$ using conventional debit cards and e-wallets, while BNB, BTC, LTC and DOGE crypto assets are also supported for deposits and withdrawals.
Pros
- Dedicated sportsbook welcome bonus
- Dynamic live betting section
- Multiple bet promotions for soccer
- Supports CA$ and cryptocurrency payments
Cons
- Fewer sports covered to bet on
- Invite-only VIP program
Our Verdict
Roby Casino is a refreshing alternative to the three mobile betting apps listed above. It stands alone as its own mobile sportsbook, with a distinctive user interface and competitive pre-game and in-play odds. But, it can’t be ignored that the site offers almost half the choice of sports to bet on.
Nevertheless, mobile soccer is perfect with this operator, thanks to multiple soccer-specific promotions. There’s also a sportsbook bonus waiting to match your first deposit.
Are Betting Apps Legal in Canada?
The Canadian sports betting market has gone through a lot of changes in the last few decades, with single-event wagering and mobile sports betting increasingly accessible:
- 1985 – The federal government votes to legalise multi-leg (parlay) sports betting.
- 2012 – Ontario unveils Pro-Line, its own provincially-backed parlay betting portal for citizens.
- 2021 – The federal government approved Bill C-218 – the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act – permitting single-event sports betting nationwide.
- 2022 – The province of Ontario became Canada’s first to regulate its own sports betting market, welcoming offshore-licensed betting apps too.
- Present Day – Within 12 months of regulating sports betting, Ontario yielded $1.4 billion in revenue. Today, the Canadian market is one of the top sports betting industries in North America.
Although the bulk of betting apps in Canada are licensed with offshore jurisdictions, they remain legal for you to use. Those regulated by the likes of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and Curacao Gaming Control Board are still required to comply by stringent frameworks which prioritise safety, security and fairness.
Mobile Sites Vs Betting Apps
While some online sportsbooks choose to offer native mobile betting apps to download and install onto your device, others focus on fully responsive mobile sportsbooks which run seamlessly in any browser.
Whichever option you prefer for mobile sports betting, each comes with specific pros and cons. Let’s run through them to put you in the picture:
Mobile Betting
Mobile betting sites are designed to work flawlessly within your preferred mobile web browser. This means you don’t need to download anything. The sites automatically adjust their layout based on your device and screen size.
Pros
- With no downloads necessary, you can use the website instantly. There’s no need to worry about having enough storage space on your device.
- Mobile betting sites give you cross-device compatibility, no matter your device’s operating system.
- Browser-based mobile betting sites update their own software in the background, so you can be sure you’re always using the latest version.
- It’s a privacy-friendly option too, with no app permissions required, giving you more control of your personal data.
Cons
- Some browser-based betting platforms will have slower page load times than dedicated betting apps.
- In fact, the performance of a mobile betting site will depend largely on the browser you choose.
- Most mobile betting sites lack app-specific tools like setting push notifications or one-touch logins.
Dedicated App
Some operators will offer dedicated mobile sports betting apps, designed for both iOS and Android devices. They are usually available to download from their website or the relevant app store.
Pros
- Native betting apps are accessible with a single tap of your home screen.
- Some sports betting apps have preloaded functions accessible offline such as odds analysis and insights.
- You can set real-time push notifications for goals updates, odds changes and even new bonus offers.
- Native apps support two-factor authentication (2FA) with fingerprint or biometric authentication.
Cons
- Installing betting apps onto your smartphone or tablet requires storage, which can be an issue for those with limited memory.
- You’ll often have to manually update your betting apps to access new tools or fix bugs.
- Most betting apps are limited to iOS and Android operating systems, leaving others unsupported.
How to Pick the Best Sports Betting Apps
If you’re feeling out of your depth choosing between one online betting app and the next, don’t panic, we’ve got your back. Below, we’ll discuss our seven non-negotiables which feature in the best sports betting sites in Canada and beyond:
Best Betting App Bonuses
Competitive bonuses that give you more bang for your buck are part and parcel of what makes a great Canadian sports betting app.
Below, we’ll run you through five of the bonuses any online betting app worth its salt should offer.
First Deposit Match
This promotion is a staple of Canada’s top betting apps for sports fans. As a ‘thank you’ for joining, many operators will give your betting balance a head start by matching a percentage of your first real-money deposit in bonus credits.
In most cases, first deposit match offers will be 100%, meaning your first deposit will be matched cent-for-cent in bonus money. There’s usually a maximum figure they’re prepared to match, so be sure to check the small print for this. Your bonus funds will sit in your bonus balance until it’s either wagered or you’ve cleared any applicable wagering requirements.
No-Sweat Bet
No-sweat bets may be offered as part of welcome bonuses or as reload offers for regular betting. Essentially, these are risk-free bonuses, allowing you to place a bet and be refunded if it loses. You’ll either be refunded in withdrawable cash or in free bit credits with modest wagering requirements attached.
No-sweat bet promotions may have a minimum odds limit set into their terms and conditions. For instance, you may have to place your no-sweat bet at odds of -200 or greater.
Odds Boost
Prior to some headline sports events, some of the best betting apps in Canada will promote odds boosts on selected betting markets. If you’re experienced at calculating value odds based on probability, some odds boosts may create betting opportunities with a positive expected value (+EV).
Just be mindful that not all odds boosts are great value. Do your own research to decide if an odds boost genuinely tips the scales in your favour.
Parlay Insurance
If you’re someone who likes the thought of winning big payouts from small stakes, you’re sure to like multi-leg parlays. Some betting apps will offer parlay insurance, committing to a refund of your initial stake if only one leg of your parlay lets you down.
It only takes one form team or player to have an off-day, so parlay insurance is one of the most valuable bonuses.
Your stake will either be refunded as cash or in free bet credits. In an ideal world it’ll be cash, but free bet credits give you another opportunity to win regardless.
Reload Bonus
Once you’ve stuck around with a sports betting app for some time, you may be entitled to a reload bonus. The best Canadian betting apps acknowledge that it’s not your first rodeo and reward your loyalty with a further deposit match bonus.
This will usually work in the same way as a first deposit match promotion, matching a percentage of your next real-money deposit.
Reload bonuses are usually triggered if your account’s been inactive for a while or you’ve been wagering serious numbers in recent weeks or months.
How do top sports betting apps compare in the Canadian mobile sports betting market? Let’s find out.
| Sportsbook | Sports | Crypto | Contests |
| Instant Sports | 50 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Samba Slots | 50 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Golden Panda | 50 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Roby Casino | 27 | ✅ | ❌ |
| Nine Casino | 49 | ✅ | ❌ |
How to Bet with a Sports Betting App
Customise your push notifications
Many of the top sportsbook apps will let you set up push notifications, alerting you to specific events, promotions or even live updates for games you’re betting on. Tailor these to suit your preferences, but don’t allow for every notification, since it can encourage impulsive betting.
Master in-app statistics and features
Maximise the data at your fingertips. Most betting apps will have live widgets offering real-time data on the sports games you bet on. Learn how to understand and interpret the data to help inform your live betting decisions. There’s often pre-game betting insights to glean too, which can save you time researching your next bets.
Use ‘dark mode’ for evening betting and research
A lot of mobile betting sites now give you the choice to switch between ‘light mode’ and ‘dark mode’
Dark mode is designed to be easier on your eyes, especially when you’re placing or researching bets late in the evening
This reduces eye strain and ensures a more comfortable experience, especially in dimly lit environments.
Explore the ‘quick bet’ tool for live betting
If you’re attracted to the dynamic nature of live sports betting, be sure to familiarise yourself with any ‘quick bet’ functionality offered
Most of the best sports betting app options will have this, which is essentially a one-click function. It speeds up submitting your betslips and allows you to capitalise on changing odds in real time.
Become familiar with the cash-out facility
The top betting apps will often include a cash-out facility for live betting. This allows you to settle in-play bets early by cashing out and locking in a percentage of your potential total win or loss
Play around with the tool and get to grips with how this works. It can be a handy tool to protect your betting bank from unexpected losses.
Best Sports Betting Apps Roundup
The best mobile betting apps aren’t necessarily the ones you need to download and install onto your device.
Online sportsbooks can now function flawlessly on any mobile device as well as desktops and laptops, with fully optimised betting layouts within your preferred mobile web browser.
You’ll also want to pick Canadian betting apps which offer a great choice of sports and odds to wager on, both pre-game and live. It’s also important to look for betting apps which offer sport-specific promotions for the events you like to wager on.