Is Bet365 legal in Canada?

Cameron Kozinets
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Cameron Kozinets
Betting Inspiration
Is Bet365 legal in Canada?
Bet365 Canada: Where Is It legal?
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The Bet365 sportsbook is a global operator used by millions of people on several continents. But what Canadians are interested in is the question, is Bet365 legal in Canada? This complicated question requires a significant amount of information to answer, and we at BettingTop10 Canada are here to help. We’ll explore the laws around legal gambling in Canada, the Bet365 license, and other important details to provide you with the key insights needed to understand whether or not this operator is legal. Ready? Let’s dive in.

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About Bet365

bet365 Canada

Most bettors have likely heard of Bet365, as it is one of the biggest sportsbooks in the world. But not everyone knows the intricate details of this operator, including how it was founded, how it came to Canada, and what makes it one of the biggest betting sites in the world.

Bet365 was founded by Denise Coates in 2001 in Stoke-on-Trent. Denise Coates remains the C.E.O. of the company and has led it through two decades to become arguably the largest brand in sports betting. Bet365 has major corporate offices in Manchester, Gibraltar, Malta, Australia, and Bulgaria and has procured licensing from all the governments where they are located.

Bet365’s licenses in offshore locations have made it legal to use the sportsbook in Canada, as the government allows Canadian bettors to wager on offshore sportsbooks as part of the grey market. Bet365 also procured a license in Ontario in 2022, when iGaming Ontario was initially launched. This made it fully legal to use in the province.

Some of the things that set Bet365 apart include a top-notch app, an excellent user interface, and high-quality features. It is a reliable sportsbook with plenty for bettors to enjoy, and it has fun features like bet boosts, bet builder, and player props.

Is Bet365 Legit?

Sports enthusiasts should ask two key questions before getting started with a betting site. In the case of this operator, the question should be: Is Bet365 legit? And is Bet365 safe? To answer those questions simply, yes!

Bet365 is one of the world's biggest and most successful sportsbooks, and you don't get to where they are without having a secure betting site and an unblemished legal record. Bet365 has procured licensing from a number of major regulators, and that means they have to follow stringent guidelines to keep their betting site safe.

They have excellent cybersecurity and a track record of ensuring players receive their money and have their info protected. Overall, there is no question that they are a safe, legitimate operator.

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Bet365 Canada Timeline

Bet365 has been operating for several decades now, dating back to the dawn of the Internet gambling age. There are several moments along the way that have defined the journey. Understanding the history of how Bet365 became legal in Canada requires looking back at several marquee events. Let's take a look at the timeline of Bet365 Canada becoming legal by looking at six crucial moments in time that led to the betting site becoming one of Canada's best legal operators.

2000 - Bet365 is Built in a Portable Building: Bet365 came from relatively humble beginnings, which only adds to the interest of its story as one of the top betting brands in the country. Bet365 was initially developed in a portable building in Stoke-on-Trent. It was created by Denise Coates, a savvy executive who had been running a family betting shop for her professional career. She borrowed extensively from the bank to create the business, hoping to capture a share of the rising internet betting market. She created the brand in 2000, and the history of one of the biggest betting companies began.

2001 - Bet365 is Launched Online: After Coates and her team had finished developing the brand and created an online platform, it was finally time to launch. This was in the early days of the Internet when there wasn't a substantial amount of regulation. Bet365 launched in 2001 and immediately began to find success as one of the most reliable and enjoyable sportsbooks on the Internet. While the first year saw many users sign up in the U.K. and other markets, it would take several years for Bet365 to grow into the world-renowned business we know today.

The 2000s - Bet365 Spreads Across Canada and Gains a Major Following: There is no way to pinpoint exactly when Bet365 began to receive a major Canadian following, as it was a gradual process that played out over several years. Throughout the 2000s, following its launch in 2001, Bet365 saw many Canadian users join the website as part of the gray market. They had offshore licensing from several key regulators, so Canadians could legally use the website without fear of repercussion. As the brand became more well-known, more and more Canadians made it their primary choice of betting site.

2021 - Bill C-218 is Passed in Canada: One major change for betting in Canada came when Bill C-218 was brought to parliament and passed. This bill removed the federal prohibition on sports betting sites and made it legal for provinces and territories to make their own rules about gambling. The bill had the potential to reshape the Canadian gambling industry if provinces decided to embrace sports betting, and one province did: Ontario.

2022 - Bet365 Launches in Ontario as a Fully Licensed Operator: Ontario decided to lean into the gambling craze and create a regulatory body that would oversee the industry. They created iGaming Ontario, an agency that would ensure sports betting was safe, legal, and fair. In April 2022, the gambling laws came into effect. Bet365 was one of several major operators that were the first recipients of a sports betting license in Ontario. This has made them bigger than ever in the province, and they are now allowed to advertise on television, the Internet, and billboards.

Future: Will Other Canadian Provinces Embrace Change?

The results in Ontario have been significant, as the Ontario government can now tax the earnings of the sportsbooks Canadians are using. That can mean hundreds of millions of extra dollars in the province's accounts, helping to fund several important problem areas. The question is, will other provinces now follow Ontario's lead? Will they implement a similar system that allows betting sites like Bet365 to be licensed and regulated here in Canada?

How to Use Bet365 in Canada

We’ve answered the question of can you use Bet365 in Canada, but what about how to use the sportsbook? Not everyone is familiar with sports betting sites, and the process of getting started can be slightly confusing.

Don't worry; we are here to help. Below, we'll provide a quick dive into how to use Bet365 in Canada and break down the key steps in the process required to successfully create your account, fund it, and start betting.

Step One: Visit the Bet365 Canada Website and Click the Join Tab.

Once you have arrived at the website, you’ll see a tab marked join at the upper right-hand corner. Click on this tab, and it will take you to the betting site’s registration page. 

Step Two: Provide Your Details to Bet365.

The information they’ll require from you includes the country and province you are in, your name, birth date, occupation, email address, phone number, address, and login details. You will also have the option to set a loss limit and bet limit for your own safety. Bettors will then have to check boxes verifying that they confirm their information is accurate and that they are fit for play. Once that is done, they can click the Join Bet365 tab.

Step Three: Fund Your Account

Once you’ve created an account, you’ll need to fund it. You can do this by clicking the Deposit tab on the right-hand side of the sportsbook. This will take you to the sportsbook's deposit page. Your options for funding your account include credit/debit cards, Interac, InstaDebit, iDebit, Apple Pay, Paysafecard, and clicktopay.

Step Four: Start Betting.

Once your account is funded, you are free to start wagering. Bettors can browse the options by visiting the left-hand side of the sportsbook, which shows you different sports. Bettors can then click on the sport they want to bet on, pick a game to wager on, and click on that game. This will show all the odds. Bettors can click on the odd they want to wager on, input how much they want to bet, and they will be good to go.

Frequently Asked Questions About Legal Betting with Bet365

Understanding the legality of sports betting in Canada can pose a major challenge. The rules have been changing, and they aren't all entirely clear, so many bettors are often confused. If that is the case with Bet365 betting, we'd love to clear some things up.

Below, we’re answering some of the most frequently asked questions about the legality of this wildly popular betting site.

Is Bet365 Legal in Canada?

The simple answer to this is a yes. Bet365 is one of the sportsbooks that has managed to acquire plenty of licensing around the world, and that has led to the betting site being legal to use in every part of Canada. 

Is It Just the Sportsbook or Also the Bet365 Casino?

The sportsbook and casino are intertwined and are both fully legal to use in Canada. The Bet365 casino is a big part of the website, and it offers a variety of games, from blackjack and roulette to slots and poker, that Canadians can wager on. 

What is the Gambling Grey Market, and How Does Bet365 Fit In?

The gambling grey market is the term that has been used for the legality of websites with offshore licenses. These websites are not illegal to use for Canadians, but they don’t have the full Canadian government’s regulation and approval. In every province except for Ontario, this is the case for Bet365.

Does Bet365 Have an iGaming License in Ontario?

Yes! When sports betting became legal and regulated in Ontario, Bet365 was one of the first betting sites to acquire a license. They got an iGaming License directly from the Ontario government, which means they are overseen within the province.

Is the Bet365 User Experience Difference in Ontario?

Because of the different licensing, the user experience in Ontario is slightly different. Bettors need to verify their location through a downloaded verifier, and some of the payment options and bonuses are different from the rest of the country.

Why Has Bet365 Become One of Canada’s Top Sportsbooks?

Bet365 has managed to become one of Canada’s top sportsbooks for several reasons. For starters, it has a great interface, fun features, and a deep sportsbook that covers all the major sporting events Canadians target. But another big reason is that they serve the entire Canadian market.

Will Other Provinces License Bet365 Within the Province?

Eventually, it is likely that other sportsbooks will follow the lead of Ontario and license operators within the province. However, there is no predicting of when that will be the case.

Is the Bet365 App Legal?

Yes! The Bet365 App is available on the Canadian app store and is fully legal to use. It is a safe, enjoyable mobile version of the betting site that Canadians across the country seek out. 

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