Online horse betting in Ontario: A quick overview
Before you can start betting on horse racing in Ontario, there are certain things you need to know about this sport. This is especially crucial if you are a complete beginner. Below is a quick overview of what you need to know before placing your first wager.
Types of bets
The horse racing market is quite diverse. Some of the most popular markets are straightforward bets, namely, win, place and show. There are also the more complex ones, often referred to as exotic bets. They include markets such as exacta, quinella, and trifecta. Each bet type is unique and adds some fun and character to your betting experience.
Popular racing events
Ontarians are no strangers to some of the top horse racing events. One is the Canadian Triple Crown, which features races like the Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes, and Breeders' Stakes. Across the border is the Kentucky Derby, which steals the spotlight every first Saturday in May. The other notable event is the Breeders' Cup World Championship, a global horse racing extravaganza that attracts talent from Canada, Australia, and the UK. All these popular events are available for betting at the top Ontario horse betting sites.
Off-track betting
In Ontario, off-track betting (OTB) is your gateway to the world of fun and winning opportunities. The Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) oversees OTB operations, ensuring fair play and responsible gambling. Previously, OTB in Ontario was limited to a select few operators, but this is set to change. It's also worth noting that out of the over 70 licensed OTB facilities across the province, the majority are owned by the Woodbine Entertainment Group, the only operator that was initially licensed to offer horse wagering in Ontario.
Top online sportsbooks to check out
Bet365 Review
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How to choose the best
Ontario horse betting sites
With countless options out there, you want to thoroughly select the best OTB Ontario horse betting sites that suit your unique needs. Here's what to look out for during your selection process:
Check out the horse racing bet types
Some of the best Sportsbooks offer various betting markets, giving you the option to pick what works best for you. Besides the straightforward bets such as win, place and show, you should be on the lookout for markets such as distance betting, betting W/O favourite, match betting and more.
Compare the racing odds
To make an informed decision, you should compare the odds across different sites to ensure you're getting the best value for your bets. Horse racing odds are often priced as fractions.
An example is a bet with odds of 10-3, read as 10/3. With this example, you will win ten units for every three wagered. If the first number (numerator) is larger than the second number (denominator), you are set to win more in profit than the wager amount. This, however, also means you are betting on an underdog; hence, there's a significant risk-reward ratio.
In-play betting
A live betting feature allows you to adjust your bets as races unfold. A site with this option gives you the flexibility to lock in value odds in the shortest time possible.
Cash-out options
In horse betting, just like in any other sport, you may sometimes need an escape route. Look for sites with cash-out features, as this gives you the power to settle your bets early. However, this feature may not work for everyone or in every situation because you could sometimes take a 30% cut, forfeiting the rest just by cashing out.
The other factors to prioritize when choosing an online horse betting site in Ontario are efficient mobile streaming and reliable customer support. In our recent guide to online
tennis betting in Ontario, we discussed how bettors are becoming fond of mobile streaming and why most sportsbooks are prioritizing this feature.
The top horse racing betting sites in Ontario
Having explored what to look for in a great sportsbook, here are two of the top
horse betting sites in Ontario
you can sign up with to get started.
|
Bet365 |
PointsBet |
| Betting Markets |
Extensive bet types |
Straightforward and exotic bets |
| Competitive Advantage |
Covers more events |
Excellent live betting experience |
| Payment Methods |
Card payments, Bank Wire, paysafecard, InstaDebit, iDebit, Apple Pay and more |
Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, PayNearMe, Trustly, bank transfers |
| Live Streaming |
Smooth on the app and site |
Best on the app |
| In-Play Betting |
Great in-game odds |
Fast and reliable betting |
Bet365 - Best for betting on different sports in the same app
Pros and Cons
Bet365: Pros & Cons
- Covers worldwide events
- Dozens of betting markets
- Multiple sports and games in the same app
- Not as strongly focused on Canada
bet365 is one of the new horse racing betting sites in Ontario. That is, ever since the iGO license came into force, all private operators with an iGO license were asked to exclude horse racing in Ontario. This changed for Bet365 in August 2023 when they partnered up with Woodbine Entertainment.
Worldwide horse racing coverage
Although bet365 offers a vast selection of sports and casino games, it has a rich history of being strong in the horse racing industry, thanks to its UK roots. Unlike the previous two brands, bet365 caters for a worldwide audience. North America is a strong market, but bet365 also covers Australia and New Zealand, UK and Ireland, and other major horse racing markets.
Livestreaming
A standout feature of the brand includes live streaming, although live streaming tends to be more widely available for UK & Irish horse races. This is a bit unfortunate if you want to focus on Canadian races that are more niche.
Usability
bet365 can’t be faulted on usability. You can star your favourite horses and receive updates when these horses run, as well as subscribe to live updates as events happen.
Aside from its horse racing perks, bet365 is one of our go-to brands for a reason. Its downloadable app is one of the best in the Ontarian market. You can also use several payment methods to deposit and withdraw, including popular e-wallets like Instadebit and paysafecard.
Bet365 Highlights
- Multicolor game logos
- Live in-game
- Popular markets and futures
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PointsBet: Best for live betting
Pros and Cons
Before creating an account with PointsBet and placing your first bet, here are the Sportsbook's pros and cons you should know:
PointsBet: Pros & Cons
- Varied betting markets
- The odds are very competitive
- Superb live-streaming feature
- Customer support can be slow
PointsBet is one of the
new Ontario betting sites
that are gaining popularity in the market, thanks to a combination of factors such as competitive horse racing odds and extensive betting markets. If you are wondering whether this sportsbook is right for you, here are the other features you'll find in this sportsbook.
User-friendly design
The platform has been designed for the everyday bettor who values speed and convenience. PointsBet also has an iOS and Android app that's lightweight and user-friendly.
Live betting and streaming
If you want to bet on races live and take advantage of accurate and real-time odd changes, PointsBet is the site for you. Compared to most of its competitors, including some of the big names, this sportsbook's live betting feature is faster and more reliable. You won't experience any glitches or delays which could cause odds variation or significant changes in payouts.
Another thing worth highlighting is the incredible live-streaming feature. For the best live-streaming experience, you want to use the app. The site can be a bit slow, especially if you are using an outdated browser.
PointsBet Sports
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PointsBet Highlights
- Unique betting lines
- Live streaming available
- Regular boosters for big sporting events
HPIbet - Best for live streaming
HPIbet Pros & Cons
- Bet over 500 tracks
- Access on all devices
- Watch 4 simultaneous live streams
With very few brands offering online horse racing to Ontarians, HPIbet is a must-have account for horse racing bettors. In fact, it was the first legal online horse betting site in Canada and has decades-long history of delivering horse racing to Canadians. You cannot get more legitimate than that.
Over 500 Tracks To Bet On
Amongst the top perks of the brand, it gives you the opportunity to bet on over 500 tracks from around the world. This includes both standardbred and thoroughbred horse racing, and of course, Canadian horse racing is at the heart of HPIbet. Some of their partner tracks include:
- Woodbine Thoroughbred
- Mohawk Live Racing
- Fraser Downs
- Century Mile
4 Simultaneous Live Streams
One major feature for HPIbet is the ability to watch 4 live streams simultaneously, which will help you keep track of several races at the same time. It helps that this brand is compatible on all devices – load it up on your phone or desktop, you decide.
What else can you expect from this brand? Once you sign up and get full access to HPIbet, you can access real-time odds, pool sizes, intervals, probables and more.
Usability and Special Features
More than that, you can also download statistics of past performances and plan your next move armed with the latest information. You also can download wagering guides.
We can’t complain about the usability of this app as it offers a lot of user-friendly features. For example, we love how it allows you to create custom alerts so you can follow your choice of Runner, Jockey, Driver, or Trainer.
Downsides
Perhaps one of the very few downsides of HPIbet is the fact that it is solely a horse racing app. If you’re interested in other sports, you won’t find them here. This can be slightly frustrating for bettors who want to dabble in different sports without multiple accounts. The second con is that the range of payment methods are a bit limited.
However, you can make use of Credit Card, Interac Online, PayPal, and Loadhub funding options, and these should cover most common payment methods in Ontario.
Dark Horse Bets™ - Best for newbie horse bettors
Dark Horse Bets™ Pros & Cons
- SmartPicks Predictions
- Focus on Canadian horse racing
- Downloadable app
- No other sport available
- Not a lot of worldwide coverage
Dark Horse BetsTM from Woodbine is another legal and safe horse racing betting option in Ontario and the rest of Canada. It targets just Canadian bettors, so you can expect North American races to have a very strong focus here.
Downloadable app
Dark Horse BetsTM is only available as a downloadable app. This improves the betting experience in our opinion, but might not suit everyone’s tastes as some bettors prefer not to take up space on their phone. The app is available on both iOS and Android phones, and its user reviews are positive.
Once you’ve downloaded the app and signed up, there are plenty of things to expect from this brand. We personally recommend Dark Horse BetsTM to beginner horse bettors. Compared to the other horse racing betting sites, this brand stands out with its innovative in-app coaching.
SmartPicks Predictions
If you use the SmartPicks predictions, the data-driven algorithm tool can give you expert recommendations based on the analysis of thousands of pages of statistics. This will for sure make newbie bettors’ lives easier as it can guide you when you make your picks.
Dark Horse BetsTM also offers the ability to switch to Pro Mode, which means you can select more than one horse per selection. It offers the flexibility to build more complex bets by combining more combinations and unlocking additional information.
Live Streaming
The final pro is its access to live streaming so that you can bet on your favourite horse races with ease.
Downsides
Like HPIbet, Dark Horse BetsTM is just a horse racing app. We wouldn’t recommend it to bettors who want to bet on different sports without downloading multiple apps. It also has a reduced focus on worldwide horse racing events.
Expert tips for online horse betting in Ontario
Betting on horse racing can be intimidating, especially if you're new to the sport. However, here are a couple of betting tips you can borrow to make online horse betting in Ontario work for you.
Understand how horse betting works
For beginners looking to excel in horse racing betting, it's crucial to grasp the fundamentals. For instance, you should know that you're not betting against the sportsbook; rather, you're competing with other bettors in a mutual pool. Unlike what we discussed in our
MLS betting guide, where the odds are fixed, horse racing betting is a bit different. Payouts are determined by the pool's total and the number of winning bets.
Know when to bet on your horse
As noted above, horse racing odds fluctuate until the race begins, depending on the betting trends. To be on the safer side, you should pay close attention to any changes before the race, as they will impact the final odds and your potential returns. However, you should note that odds do not necessarily influence the race results but rather the payouts.
Choose your horse racing bets carefully
Ontario off-track betting sites offer various markets, from the most popular straightforward bets to the more complex exotic options like exacta, trifecta, and box bets. Ideally, you want to start with markets that align with your knowledge and experience before venturing into more complex wagers.
Monitor live races for in-play betting
The thing with horse racing is that action happens very fast. That means live betting can be dynamic, and if you are slow, you will miss the best odds. When betting on live races, you want to keep an eye on odds fluctuations. If you spot value odds on a horse with winning potential, you should make a quick move.
Research the competing horses
Predicting the outcome of a horse race is a difficult task. From the course and track conditions to the jockey's skill, obstacles, and even the weather, horse racing can be a complex sport to bet on.
In other words, you should only wager on a horse you know how it has consistently performed in the past. To simplify the betting process, it's crucial to focus on certain aspects of the race and use historical behaviour patterns to your advantage.
Most horses often exhibit consistent behaviours. Some horses are known to lead from the front, while others are the kings and queens of comebacks. Once you have access to this information, you are sure to make better and more informed betting decisions.
Find the most valuable horse racing bets
If you are a veteran bettor, you probably know that the secret to long-term success in any sports betting niche is to consistently find value bets. But what does value bets look like in horse racing? You can think of value betting as finding the most overlooked opportunity.
For instance, an OTB Ontario Sportsbook may offer 5–2 odds for a particular horse to win, but after doing some research, you think that the odds are slightly higher than they should otherwise be priced. If you go ahead and bet on this race, that would be your value bet. It is more than just the win; it’s about the probability of getting a better price with just one event.
The reason why this is important is because value bets give you the most results with minimal risk, leading to long-term profitability. It's about understanding the true odds, comparing them to bookmaker odds, and seizing opportunities when the odds are in your favour.
A step-by-step guide to betting on horse racing in Ontario
For players who are new to horse racing betting in Ontario, here's a quick guide you can use to kick-start your horse racing adventures.
- Choose the Right Sportsbook: Look for platforms that offer multiple markets and great odds for off-track betting in Ontario.
- Register:
Create an account on your chosen sportsbook.
- Verify Your Account:
Most sites require account verification, so you may need to submit your government-issued ID.
- Explore the Markets:
Take some time to understand the market. Get familiar with the types of races, bets, odds and events offered.
- Choose Your Wagers:
If it's your first time betting, go for straightforward bets such as win, place or show.
- Place Your First Bet:
Once you've picked a race and a horse to bet on, navigate to the betting slip, enter your stake, and confirm your bet.
- Keep Track of Races:
Stay up to date with upcoming races, odds, and race details. If you want to bet live, many
horse betting sites in Ontario
offer in-game betting streaming.
Conclusion: Pick your ideal sportsbook today
Now that many sportsbooks are offering online horse betting in Ontario, placing your wagers is easier than ever. All you need to do is understand the betting markets and how the odds system works. Similarly, you should pay attention to the strategies highlighted above to enhance your betting experience.
More must-try sports betting sites in Ontario
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3.
4.
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5.
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Ontario horse betting sites
FAQ
📍Is horse betting legal in Ontario?
Yes. There are various licensed online sportsbooks and off-track betting facilities offering horse wagering in Ontario.
📌How can I pick the right horse betting sites in Ontario?
There are a couple of factors to consider when deciding whether a sportsbook is right for you. Basically, you should pay attention to the available markets, site usability, customer support, payment methods, and odds.
💡What bet types can I place when wagering on horses in Ontario?
Depending on your experience level, strategy, and risk tolerance, you can choose either the straightforward bets or the exotic bets.
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