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If you wish to learn how to bet on the CFL in Ontario, you need to look no further than our guide here at Strafe.com. We’ll cover all of the need-to-know elements needed to wager on Canada’s pro football league in your region.
From finding the right sportsbook to getting the best possible odds for each bet, there’s a lot that goes into CFL betting. In this article, we’ll touch on all of that, as well as the most popular types of football betting lines.
Founded in 1958, the CFL is the top professional football league in Canada, essentially making it Canada’s equivalent of the NFL. It is, of course, much smaller in size than the NFL and consists of just nine teams, split into two conferences - the East Division and West Division.
Three of the nine CFL teams are based in Ontario, so it’s hardly surprising that it has become a very popular league to bet on in your province. CFL betting is perhaps only behind placing a bet on the NHL in Ontario in terms of popularity. The three Ontario-based CFL teams are the Toronto Argonauts, the Ottawa Redblacks, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. They are joined in the CFL East Division by the Montreal Alouettes.
Betting on CFL in Ontario, and sports betting in general, has been completely legal since August 2021. Prior to that, overseas sportsbooks were accessible to you through the somewhat risky gray market. That all changed with the introduction of government-run retail betting outlets and the Proline+ app, which was operated by the provincial lottery. Private sportsbooks were then given the go-ahead in early 2022.
Following the changes in the law, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) set up iGaming Ontario to license and regulate private sportsbooks in Ontario. The first legal sportsbooks in Ontario went live in April 2022. Today there is a very good selection of online sportsbooks available for you to bet at, as long as you are 19 years or over.
So what’s the best sportsbook in Ontario for CFL betting? We’d argue that it’s something very subjective. Every sportsbook in Ontario offers betting lines on the CFL, and all with fairly decent odds. The best approach, in our opinion, is to match the right sportsbook to the right individual. Every single bettor is different, and everyone is looking to get something different out of their CFL betting experience. Here at Strafe.com, we have created a comparison tool that has been designed so that you can find your ideal sportsbook in the region.
Whether it’s for betting on the CFL, or for placing a bet on MLS in Ontario, there are a number of other factors that need to be considered when selecting a sportsbook. For example, those who commonly bet at night will require 24/7 customer service. Those who favor live betting will need a sportsbook that has a quality streaming service, as well as the rights to CFL games. It doesn’t matter what features the bettor might be looking for, we’re confident that we can help here at Strafe.com.
The process of placing a bet on CFL in Ontario is easy for you to undertake if you are of age. For starters, there are retail betting shops, where anyone can walk in and place a bet in person. However, we’re focussing on placing CFL bets online, and the guide below details exactly how to do that.
The first step towards betting on CFL games in Ontario is finding the right sportsbook with whom to do it. As we explained above, the easiest way to find the best betting site is to use the CFL sportsbook reviews contained within the comparison tool here at Strafe.com.
Onceyou have found the ideal sportsbook, the next step is to open an account with that sportsbook. In most cases, this can be done in just a few simple steps by completing the sign-up form. The only thing that can take some time is the verification process. Usually, this will take less than 24 hours but can take up to five days in some cases.
Once the account has been opened, the next step is for you to deposit funds to bet with. All of the online sportsbooks in Ontario have a range of payment options available to you, including credit/debit cards, prepaid cards, and e-wallets. We always recommend using prepaid cards or e-wallets where possible, as they are better for online privacy and security.
Once the funds have been deposited, it’s then time to start placing bets on CFL games. Football is one of the most diverse sports there is when it comes to betting. As a result, there are plenty of different betting lines available for each game. In the guide below, we’ve explained the most common and popular markets.
As we said above, there is a diverse range of betting options when it comes to betting on the CFL. Because football is a multi-faceted sport, there are plenty of outcomes within the game that you can bet on. First of all, though, we’re going to explain the three most common betting lines - moneyline, point spread, and over/under. These same betting lines also work the same when it comes to placing a bet on NFL in Ontario. So without further ado, let’s take a look.
When it comes to placing a bet on CFL in Ontario, or betting on all sports with two outcomes for that matter, the moneyline is the basic bread and butter bet. Put simply, it displays the odds for both teams to win. The team with the shortest odds has the most chance of winning and is therefore referred to as the favorite. The team with the longest odds has the least chance of winning and is referred to as the underdog.
Let’s take a look at an example using a game between two Ontario-based CFL teams:
In this example, the Argonauts are favorites to beat the Redblacks at odds of 1.67, which translates to -150 in American odds. The total returns for a bet on the Argonauts can be calculated by multiplying the stake by the odds. For example, a $10 wager on the Argonauts to win would give a total of $16.70 returns - the $10 stake plus $6.70 profit.
The point spread is a betting line that balances up the contest by giving a numerical handicap to the favorite and an equal numerical advantage to the underdog. The points spread is also a common bet on the NBA in Ontario, and has equivalents in other sports as well. For example, for NHL betting, the point spread is known as the “puck line”. In baseball, it’s referred to as the “run line”.
Here’s a quick example below:
In this example, the Argonauts are -7.5 favorites, meaning that they would need to win by a margin of eight points or more in order for a wager on the spread to payout. On the other hand, we have the Redblacks as +7.5 underdogs. A bet on the Redblacks here would still pay out if they lost, so long as they stayed within seven points of the Argonauts. This is known as covering the spread.
Over/under betting is sometimes known as “totals” betting and displays the total number of points that the bookmakers think both teams combined will put up by the end of the game. The odds are then shown for bets on the score being either over or under that proposed figure. This is the most popular type of props bet on the CFL in Ontario.
If the over/under line is 46.5, then the over will payout if the total points scored come the end of the game is 47 or more. The under will therefore payout if 46 or fewer points are scored in the game.
The three betting lines that we covered above form the three most common markets that will be displayed as standard when you click on any CFL game in a sportsbook. However, there are so many more things that can be bet on when it comes to the CFL, and football in general. There are a whole number of bets that involve betting on stats and other factors that don’t directly influence the winner-loser outcome of the game. Collectively, these are known as props bets.
Props bets come in a whole manner of shapes and sizes in all sports, but especially in football. Bets can be on the total number of touchdowns in the game, or what team will put points on the board first. Props bets related to each team include the number of points the team will score or if they will sack the opposition quarterback.
Individual player props are extremely popular in CFL betting, and draw influence from fantasy football in many ways. Player prop bets can include betting on the first player to score a touchdown in a game, or how many passing yards the QB will throw in a game. Over/under markets can also be found here, such as when betting on a player’s running yards or the number of points they will put up.
Live betting is becoming more and more popular in all sports, but the fast-paced nature and ever-changing odds mean that it doesn’t lend itself well to some games. The stop-start nature of football makes it a great sport for live betting, as there are plenty of breaks in play when the odds standstill. When it comes to live betting, timing is key and football provides plenty of windows of opportunity for you to get in on the action. Still, Live betting on any sport definitely isn’t a recommended starting point if you are a novice bettor.
We’ve almost reached the end of this guide to betting on the CFL in Ontario, but before we go, we’d like to summarize the most important aspects. The first key step is to find the right sportsbook for placing CFL bets. Secondly, understanding the various betting types is just as important as knowing the league and the sports itself. Lastly, shopping around for the best odds for each bet is always worthwhile. Following these steps should help you enjoy the best possible experience when wagering on CFL games in Ontario.
Discover if and how you can be on CFL games in Ontario by consulting our betting guide. As well as covering the legal questions, we’ll also run through the betting markets and how to find the best odds. All of the information is up to date so you’re always in the know.
A full list of the best CFL betting sites in Ontario is available here at Strafe.com. This list has been created by experts and is constantly updated so that the ratings and rankings are always current. Find your ideal betting site today here at Strafe.com.
A full guide to over/under and all betting markets for the CFL can be found in our guide. We’ve explained all of the most popular betting lines for the CFL in a manner that is easy to understand for new and intermediate bettors. Get everything you need to know and more here at Strafe.com.
Players must be 19 years of age or older to reach the minimum age for gambling in Ontario. Please play responsibly - Gambling can be addictive. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) www.igamingontario.ca ; or (b) www.connexontario.ca .
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