
Written By:
Jelena Kabić
About Author
Jelena Kabic is a sports betting writer that focusses on responsible gambling. A psychologist by vocation, Jelena volunteered in a rehab facility, where she worked with gambling addicts. She now reviews all our content to ensure it discusses betting in a socially responsible way.
Fact Checked By:
Amy Webb
About Author
Amy's introduction to the gambling world was 6 years ago, when she joined a casino operator as a content specialist. Since then, she's helped launch and maintain gambling review sites in over 8 different countries. She's tested dozens of casinos and sportsbooks, which is how she can spot a subpar brand in an instant!
Last Update
5 days ago
Last Update:
The Best Soccer Betting Sites in Canada for 2023
Soccer Betting Sites

The famous Italian soccer coach Arrigo Sacchi once said that soccer is the most important of the least important things in life. Anyone who’s ever experienced the passion and thrill of watching it will agree.
Those who enjoy betting on it known just how much can happen in a single game. They’re also aware of all things big and small that can decide a winner.
Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or would like to place your first wager, our recommended websites will provide you with everything you need for a smooth betting experience.
Read our thorough guide on the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup and get expert tips!
What to Bet on This Month
The big news of the month is that Champions League is in full swing!
Premier League is up and running as well so you may want to think about who your favourites are.
And let’s not forget that MLS is coming to a close. Have you picked your winner yet?
Find competitive odds at one of our top-recommended soccer betting sites and enjoy cash outs, live streaming, and more!
BET ON MLSSoccer Betting Sites We Recommend
What to Look for in a Soccer Betting Site
To help you choose the right online betting site for your soccer bets, we paid attention to these few things (so you don’t have to).
- Leagues/Tournaments Offered
Finding a sportsbook that covers popular leagues like the Canadian Premier League, English Premier League, or the Spanish La Liga is fairly easy.
But if you’re after smaller leagues, like say, the Myanmar women’s league, you may end up having a hard time finding a betting site that covers it.
- Odds
Among the most important things to check before placing your first soccer bet is which website offers the highest odds.
And while we will explain the meaning of odds, how to read them, and how to pick a sportsbook that offers the best ones, we also did this portion of the work so you don’t have to.
All of the sportsbooks we recommend have competitive odds. However, they do differ across leagues, and even based on whether you’re betting on the favourite or the underdog.
Stick around!
We feature some examples further down in our guide to give you a general idea of which one is right for you.
- Security
All online sportsbooks legal in Canada need to adhere to certain rules in order to be deemed safe and secure.
With that being said, our recommended operators go a step further to protect your account, and offer extensive resources pertaining to responsible gambling.
- Easy Navigation
Finally, you want your betting experience to be smooth, and not a pain in the neck. Website navigation plays a huge role in that.
For example, Bet99’s navigation makes it easy to see which leagues you can bet on live at the moment, among other, more general user friendly options.

Our recommended sportsbooks allow you to easily find the league, match, and type of bet you’re after. It’s a huge timesaver, and you’ll avoid unnecessary stress!
How to Start Betting on Soccer
Anyone can bet on soccer. You visit an online betting site, you place your bet, and you wait. But to bet smart, you need to master a couple of things first.
Learn What Influences the Result of a Soccer Match
First, you need to know a bit (or, ideally, a lot!) about soccer. Understanding not only the rules of the game but what influences outcomes as well is a must.
For one, if you’re an avid soccer fan, you’ll know that the players’ form and injuries can easily decide the game.
To understand the form of each player, you’ll need to look back at their recent results, such as number of goals and assists.
Players’ form
Still, keep in mind that having the team’s top player away due to injury is not the same as missing a player who regularly “warms the bench”.
Whether they play at home or away can influence some teams as well, especially if a dedicated fanbase is something they’re known for.
Next, you’ll want to stay in the know about the players coming to and leaving a team. If the team’s top scorer leaves mid-season, the fact that the team won The Double last year fades in comparison.
Same thing applies to changing a coach.
Players need time to rest!
Even a seemingly small thing such as the date of the team’s previous match can be a decisive factor.
Master Probability, Odds, and Value
Once you’ve mastered how soccer games and outcomes work and what they depend on, it’s time to learn all about odds, probability, and value. After all, those are the terms that will determine how much money you stand to win.
Probability
Probability lets you know how likely an outcome is to pass.
For example, if you’re flipping a coin, there’s a 50% probability it will land on either side. Now, tossing a coin is easier than figuring out the probability of a team winning a game. However, there is some data on it.
For example, if a team has a 1-goal lead, they’re 74% likely to win a game. On the other hand, a 2-goal lead boosts their chances to 94%! This is great to know if you like betting live.
Luckily, you don’t need to be a math whizz in order to start betting on soccer. The probability of the team winning a game, scoring a number of goals, or winning a championship is already factored into your main area of interest: odds.
Odds
The odds on a soccer game tell you two things:
- How likely an outcome is, and
- How much money you stand to win by guessing it correctly.
When you’re betting on soccer (or any other sport for that matter) just keep in mind that linemakers always factor vigorish into odds. A portion of each wager is going to them — that’s how they make their profit.
That is one of the reasons you’ll find different odds across different online betting websites, as some bookmakers take a higher “cut” than others. In that case, the odds offered will be lower, and so will be your potential payout.
There are several ways of writing odds. However, decimal odds make it easy to calculate payouts, so we’ll work with those.
Simply take the odds and multiply them by the amount you wagered. Let’s look at an example:
Cavalry FC | Draw | Forge FC | |
LeoVegas | 2.30 | 3.40 | 2.60 |
888sport | 2.45 | 3.25 | 2.45 |
bwin | 2.28 | 3.30 | 2.55 |
When it comes to the away team and the draw option, LeoVegas has very competitive odds. Meanwhile, the odds for the favourite differ a bit more between the three sportsbooks.
If you bet $100 on the favourite at all four sportsbooks, here’s how much you’ll be getting:
- LeoVegas – 2.30x$100 = $230
- 888Sport – 2.45x$100 = $245
- bwin – 2.28x$100 = $228
When you subtract the original wager, your winnings are, respectively, $130, $145, and $128. Therefore, for the same match, you could get $17 more if you bet at 888Sport, than by betting at bwin.
P.S. You can read more about 888Sport in our dedicated review!
But it’s not all that straightforward. You’ll often see differing odds for different matches and competitions.
good to know!
The smartest thing to do is to carefully check multiple betting sites before placing your bets.
Now, part of the reason odds aren’t the same everywhere lies in the bookmakers’ understanding of all that goes into winning a soccer match. And that’s where value comes in.
Value
The value of a bet essentially means that you’re playing better odds than is realistic.
If you’re betting on MLS‘ biggest rivalry match, Seattle Sounders vs Portland Timbers, dozens of soccer specialists and enthusiasts will be looking into their chances, carefully crafting the odds.
But if you opt for, say, the third Spanish league, not many will be looking into it with so much vigor.
With enough knowledge and dedication, you could spot an underdog who isn’t that much of an underdog, place a bet on high odds and win back some decent money.
Here’s an example from Japanese J3 league. At Betano, the odds for Sagamihara winning against Iwaki FC are 5.30.

For the same game and the same team, Bet99 has odds of 5.66! Even if you wager only $20 and the underdog pulls a surprise, you’d be winning $7.2 more.

Value Bets!
By following certain teams closely, you’ll be able to spot the best odds and improve your chances of winning.
Once you’re ready to place your first soccer bet, it’s time to decide what kind of bets interest you.
Popular Soccer Bet Types
In soccer, the most common type of bet is a moneyline bet. With a moneyline bet, you’re trying to determine the winner of the game. There are two kinds of bets you can choose from:
- Three-Way Moneyline Bet
This is the more common type of bet when it comes to soccer. The “three” in three-way means there are three likely outcomes: the home team wins, the away team wins, or it ends in a tie.
A tie happens quite often in soccer, which is the reason this bet type is common.
- Two-Way Moneyline Bet
Meanwhile, a two-way moneyline bet means you can only place a bet on one of the two teams winning. With the draw option removed, the odds are adjusted accordingly.
If you opt for a two-way moneyline bet, in the case of a draw, your original wager is returned to you.
- Spread (Goal Line)
With a goal line, you’re betting on whether the total amount of goals will cross a certain threshold.
Much like with baseball, since a soccer game doesn’t usually end with too many points, the goal line is commonly set to -1.5. The exceptions are games with obvious favourites, in which case the goal line is often pushed to -2.5.
After all, a result of 2-0 is far more expected if Forge FC is playing against Cavalry FC than if their opponents are FC Edmonton.
spread bets
With the latter, a result of 3-0 or even a higher one is not unlikely, which is why the goal line is often adjusted.
But how does it work exactly?
Imagine you’re betting on a spread of -1.5 on the favourite, and they win by 2 goals or more. In that case, you win the bet, because they won by more than 1.5 goals. If they win by less, draw, or lose, you lose.
Betting on goal lines
If you bet on the underdog on a goal spread of 1.5, they could lose by 1 goal and you’d still win the bet.
Over/Under
Once more, due to the very low goal counts in soccer, the Over/Under bet is slightly different than in other sports. Namely, it has to be played in multiples of .25 goals, rather than in whole scores. You’ll often see bookmakers setting a total of 2.25 or 2.5.
Here’s how it works:
Imagine you’re betting on over 2.25 goals. In that case, you’re technically placing two bets: one on over 2, and one on over 2.5. If the result is 2:0, it pushed and you’re refunded for the over 2 bet, but you lose the over 2.5 bet. You’d need a 3:0 or 2:1 in order to win both bets.
Here’s a quick overview if you bet on over 2.25:
RESULT | OVER 2 | OVER 2.5 |
1:0 | Lose | Lose |
2:0 | Refund | Lose |
3:0 | Win | Win |
2:1 | Win | Win |
Prop bets
Prop bets are among the seasoned bettors’ favourites in all sports. Basketball, golf, or soccer, it’s always fun to bet on virtually anything you can imagine.
In soccer, such bets include who scores first, in what minute, when the first yellow card will be issued, whether someone will win despite being a goal behind…
For example, you could have bet on tons of interesting stuff for Jurgen Klopp’s first game as Liverpool’s new coach: whether he gets sent to the stands, whether he’ll substitute a substitute, or use all three of his substitutes in the first half.
One of the best betting sites when it comes to prop bets in soccer is definitely Betano. You can read more about this brand in our dedicated Betano review.
Derivatives
Derivatives are somewhat similar to proposition bets, in that you’re just betting on one specific part of the game. You can choose to bet on the result in the first 10 minutes, last 5 minutes, the first or the second half…
Derivatives tip!
These are great if a team you follow tends to score early on in the game, or if a coach likes to send in a valuable player later in the game.
Futures
Finally, there are the futures bets. The “future” here suggests you’re not betting on an immediate event.
Good examples include placing a wager on the top scorer of the Premier League or Bundesliga, or guessing the winner of the upcoming World Cup.
You can also bet on the top 2 teams, top 4, or the top London club in the Premier League, for example.
Most Popular Soccer Leagues and Tournaments to Bet On
While virtually every country in the world has its own national soccer league, some are more popular (and fun to watch) than others. Among the most popular leagues Canadians follow and bet on are:
- Canadian Premier League
Since its inception in 2019, the Canadian Premier League (CPL) has been at the top of the Canadian soccer league system. Currently, eight professional soccer teams compete in it.
The first two seasons were won by Forge FC. Runner-ups and Forge FC’s biggest opponents include Calvary FC and HFX Wanderers.
CPL runs from April to October.
- Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is currently the strongest soccer league featuring Canadian teams. Three of 28 teams come from Canada – Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and CF Montréal. The rest of the teams stem from the USA.
strongest teams in MLS
So do the two strongest clubs, New York City FC and Seattle Sounders FC.
In 2023, MLS will run from February 25th to October 21st. Such timing often conflicts with big international competitions such as the World Cup (although it wasn’t the case in 2022).
The biggest favourites in 2023 include Nashville and LA Galaxy, but CF Montreal has decent chances as well! After all, the Canadian club did finish second last year.
- Premier League England
England’s Premier League is the world’s most-watched sports league. It’s being broadcast to over 200 territories and has an audience of more than 4 billion people.
20 clubs compete in the Premier League, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Tottenham being considered the strongest teams in recent years.
Premier League runs from August to May.
- Spanish La Liga
According to UEFA’s rankings, Spanish top soccer league – La Liga – has been the top league in Europe between 2013 and 2019. The strongest teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona, are among the main favorites of Europe’s biggest competitions, year after year.
La Liga runs between August and May.
- Bundesliga
The International Centre for Sports Studies analyzed dozens of European soccer teams a few years ago. Their conclusion was: Bundesliga has the biggest following and highest attendance. The strongest of its 18 teams are Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
Bundesliga runs from August to May.
fans love it!
Meanwhile, the most popular tournament year after year is the Champions League.
Champions League comprises Europe’s 32 top-division clubs, which progress from round robin group stage into double-legged knockoffs to decide the winner.
But once every 4 years, soccer enthusiasts get to follow, cheer, and bet on the European Championship, as well as the FIFA World Cup.
The European Championship has 24 European countries competing for the title. It’s held every four years in a different country.
The FIFA World Cup is the largest soccer competition in the world – and there’s one happening in 2022! Every four years (two years after the most recent European Championship) 32 countries compete for the title. Like with the European Championship, the country where the competition is being held switches every year.
Related read: MLS betting tips
FAQs
Can you bet on soccer in Canada?
Yes, you can bet on soccer in Canada. In fact, soccer is among the most popular sports to bet on at online sportsbooks in Canada.
Where can I bet on soccer online?
legal sports betting in Canada is growing by the day. However, we recommend betting at LeoVegas, 888Sport, and Royal Panda, as they offer competitive odds and make placing a bet simple.
Which is the best soccer betting site?
It all depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for niche leagues, LeoVegas and 888Sport are a good choice. If you’re after competitive odds, try BetMGM or Northstar Bets.
What is the best bet in soccer?
The most common and most straightforward bet in soccer is the three-way moneyline bet. However, seasoned bettors love proposition bets. Futures bets are popular as well, especially with the World Cup 2022 coming up.