As a pastime that combines two Canadian passions, sports betting has become a favourite hobby for many sports enthusiasts and avid gamblers. Most seasoned bettors focus more on the lines, odds and picks for the sporting fixtures of their choosing, which is all good and well for those who already know which sports to bet on this year. However, there are still many new and experienced bettors who still aren’t sure which sports to bet on. Below we have compiled a list of this year’s hottest sports for you choose from, leaving you more time to consider the technicalities.
National Hockey League
Number one on the list shouldn’t come as a surprise especially since Canadians love ice-hockey. As a result of its popularity in the country, there is a lot of action to get in on during the NHL. While the NHL is a popular league to bet on in the US, and other regions, Canada is known for its home interest in this sporting code. The NHL features 7 professional ice-hockey teams from Canada. This means that there are many Canadian players to support and get behind. Sportsbooks have recently announced that they will be expanding their betting options to give Canadian bettors a chance to bet on which team will walk away with the Stanley Cup.
You can be sure that almost every operator who offers sports betting in Canada will cover the ice hockey betting ranges and markets which makes finding the perfect sportsbook a breeze.
National Football League
While NHL games are not played as frequently as they are with other leagues, don’t be fooled. When a game is played it is usually a very big event and sportsbooks see tons of action around it. Watching the NFL games throughout the week and into the weekend has become a tradition among sports fans that have likely placed wagers on the outcome, adding to the excitement of it all. The pinnacle of this event, the Super Bowl, takes place in the winter each year with all games throughout the year building up to this event.
Most sports fanatics who consider the nature of the NFL become bettors very quickly once they realise how many bet combinations can be made. Besides the traditional Moneyline, there are also individual players props, a team spread, bets on what plays will take placed and much more.
National Basketball League
The NBA is to the world what the NHL is to Canada, a premier sporting league. There is always a lot of betting action to enjoy with the NBA since games are played almost every day. This provides many hours of entertainment and plenty of golden opportunities to place a promising wager. Besides this, the NBA is similar to many other leagues in that it has a postseason tournament for the teams that performed exceptionally well in the regular season. The postseason tournament is a great time to bet on the NBA as many sportsbooks offer promotions and deals online.
Major League Soccer
The popularity of soccer has been a topic of debate for many years now but statistics show that MLS is not nearly as popular as the NFL, NBA and NHL in the US. However, MLS has become quite a popular betting option in Canada. It could be a result of the national team’s progress and improved skills and as has been proven by the success of the NHL in Canada; Canadian bettors are always keen to put wagers on their nationals and national teams.
In addition, soccer, or football as it is called in certain regions, is the most popular sport to bet on in the world. This means that odds makers and sportsbook providers who operate across countries will be sure to have promotions and bonuses waiting in store. Over the last few years, the MLS has also attracted high-profile soccer players such as Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Thierry Henry in the later years of their soccer careers, adding to the prestige and excitement of the league.
While the leagues mentioned above are likely to bring in millions in wagers, other niche sports have been rising in ranks such as Mixed Martial Arts, Table tennis and even e-sports ensuring that there is something for everyone.