SNBET's Top Sportsbooks 171m6c
After the Canadian government legalized single-event sports betting in 2021, Ontario launched its own, fully regulated, legal market of sportsbook operators. When Ontario’s market opened in the spring of 2022, the rest of Canada, including Manitoba, was exposed to a surge of betting ads across major Canadian sports broadcasts. This highlights the complexities of Canada’s gambling regulations, which are managed at the provincial level. When Canada's most populous province and largest market adopts a regulated approach but others do not, consumers in places like Manitoba are often left with unanswered questions. 3i4o5l
We aim to provide you with the most accurate information, but it’s key to note that for online sports bettors in Manitoba, very little has changed. Unlike Ontario, Manitoba still has only one official or “legal” betting brand, while a vast “grey market” of sportsbook providers remains open to you. Many of these "grey market" brands should be avoided due to concerns about legitimacy, but several reputable ones, like those we recommend have entered Ontario's legal market. However, confusing the situation for many people, there is another set of legal Ontario brands that do not operate in the "grey market" and thus do not serve players in Manitoba. We’re here to simplify things and provide answers to questions to help you get started with the brands that best meet your needs.
There's just one fully legal Manitoba betting site: PlayNow 6l16h
If you're in Manitoba, you actually have only one completely legal online sports betting option: PlayNow-dot-com. Although PlayNow-dot-com is actually owned and operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), in 2012, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries identified the BCLC platform as the way forward to offer legal online gambling to players in its province.
Essentially, it was easier to strike a deal to plug into this BC online gambling platform, than to look to create their own platform at a significantly higher cost, with the risk of creating a lower-quality product for players. Thus, from 2013, Manitobans have had access to the PlayNow-dot-com site. Thankfully, once the federal prohibition on single-event betting was struck down in 2021, PlayNow-dot-com was able to add single-event wagering options to their sports betting platform, which is provided by leading B2B technology company "OpenBet".
Manitoba Online Sports Betting FAQs i70h |
PlayNow.com Manitoba Review in short: Is it any good? 1f504w
Yes, PlayNow offers a solid sports betting experience. Built on the OpenBet platform, used by numerous “private” operators worldwide, PlayNow provides all the benefits, features, and tools you’d expect from a top betting brand. This includes an intuitive interface, early cashout options, reasonably competitive odds, and live, in-play betting. More importantly, it provides 24/7 access to GameSense resources, offering award-winning and real-life advisors for those who may need assistance during challenging times. Convenient GameSense links are also placed near the top of the PlayNow site to help players manage their play and spending responsibly.
Additionally, with PlayNow, nearly all proceeds from play stay in the province for reinvestment in Manitoba. So, if you don’t already have an online betting or you’re a recreational bettor looking for the best local option, PlayNow.com is an ideal choice in Manitoba.
Yes, PlayNow.com offers an extensive selection of both online and live dealer casino games to players based in Manitoba. With responsible gaming tools, player , and the fact that most proceeds stay in Manitoba, PlayNow should be your top choice for online casino play. However, if you're looking for alternatives beyond this fully legal online and live casino platform in Manitoba, and are considering brands in the so-called "grey market," make sure you choose a reputable operator. If you're exploring these other options, you can read about our top Interac online casinos for Canadians, which features trusted brands that are now licensed to serve Ontario's legal market. You'd play on their "offshore" versions from Manitoba, but the brands are very much part of the same parent companies.
PlayNow Manitoba payment methods 2r5e69
PlayNow for Manitoba s betting site payments with Interac, PayPal, online banking, and WEBCASH, allowing you to avoid the cash advance fees associated with credit card payments to gaming sites. They also accept Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, but again, the latter are very expensive to use.
Does Manitoba's PlayNow have new player bonuses? 2f6r6j
At last check in October 2024, yes, PlayNow MB offered a new customer offer for up to $250 in "bet tokens". To gain the benefit of this offer, you would need to make a first deposit of a minimum of $10. Your bet token of Sports Freebets amount is equal to the single deposit you made after entering the Promo Code up to a maximum of $250. Then there is a 100% spend requirement of the deposit amount on any sports bet. and conditions apply to all such PlayNow offers. If you are interested in Canadian betting site bonuses, we list those belonging to our recommended "grey market" brands, which all moved to enter Ontario legally, since they were given the chance.
Manitoba betting sites beyond PlayNow: understanding the "grey market" 173d58
While PlayNow is the only fully legal online sportsbook & casino option in Manitoba, we understand the realities of the sports betting landscape. Many people desire more choice than a single platform can provide. Perhaps you’re looking for a sportsbook that is perceived as offering a superior experience. Or maybe you’re serious about finding better odds for your unique betting ideas. You might also want access to a broader selection of betting markets or different ways to bet on your favourite sports. This desire for variety is often what drives individuals to explore the so-called "grey market" of offshore operators, which requires some exploration and explanation.
Are "grey market" Manitoba betting sites legal or not? 3q6r5q
Since neither Canada nor Manitoba has established a regulatory or legal framework for online gambling, brands that legally operate from international igaming jurisdictions—such as Malta, Gibraltar, and Kahnawake (Mohawk Territory in Quebec)—continue to serve residents in Manitoba and other Canadian provinces outside Ontario. With no legal avenue to prevent or pursue these "offshore" operators, there’s also no way to stop Manitoba residents from accessing these betting or casino sites. In essence, "grey market" online sportsbooks are operating legally in their respective jurisdictions, with servers, payment processors, and staff accordingly located. Because Canadian and Manitoba laws don’t prevent their use, they fall into this "grey area," neither strictly "legal" nor "illegal."
Are all offshore, "grey market" betting sites safe for Manitoba bettors? 2r5oy
No, they're not. We maintain a dedicated page on avoiding sports betting scams in Canada. The reality is that around 2,000 gambling sites operate in the "grey market," serving players in Manitoba and the "rest of Canada" outside Ontario. Many of these brands are based in the igaming jurisdiction of Curacao, but are actually operated by companies linked to or based in Russia. For players in Manitoba, there are two primary risks with the vast majority of these brands.
First, if you do win, there’s a significant risk of never receiving your payout—whether from sports betting or casino play. These brands often have no intention of paying winners; instead, they aim to pocket the funds from "losing" players while refusing to pay those who win. Often, they cite vague and conditions, accusing the winning player of "cheating" to justify withholding funds, or they may simply vanish. This is a common scam tactic. Even with somewhat "reputable" offshore sites, the lack of strict regulatory oversight means you can’t be confident in the fairness of the games or expect any real recourse if issues arise. Once your money is offshore, it's largely out of reach.
To make matters worse, several online sportsbook review sites have recently been acquired by the same companies running these shady sportsbook and casino brands. Unsuspecting players in Manitoba who search for a trustworthy operator offering Canadian Dollar s and payment methods may unknowingly end up on sites promoting these questionable Russian-owned brands. If you’re skeptical, try visiting "bookmakers-dot-bet"—you won’t find a single reputable brand there, and many of those listed trace back to Russia. Beyond this, some "review" sites even push USD-only brands, which would force you into constant, costly currency exchange fees. There’s no need for this when several trustworthy CAD sportsbooks are available.
The second major risk to players in Manitoba using "grey" or offshore betting sites is the lack of responsible gambling tools. With shady brands, or even some of the few legitimate ones based in Central America or the Caribbean, most won’t provide essential tools like deposit limits, loss limits, session time limits, timeouts, or proper self-exclusion options. People don’t start betting with the expectation of developing a problem, but having these tools available can help prevent excessive play. All the brands we recommend offer their own versions of these responsible gaming tools.
When it comes to "grey market" online sportsbooks for players in Manitoba, we only recommend brands that include the essential responsible gambling tools mentioned above, in addition to all the features that make them leading sports betting platforms. Furthermore, each of the brands we recommend for Manitoba has moved to become licensed to operate in the legal Ontario market. While you would not be playing on their Ontario-specific versions from Manitoba, it can be reassuring to know that a Canadian provincial gaming regulator has approved these operators.
Interestingly, all the companies we recommend for Manitoba previously served Ontario in the "grey market" before migrating players to their regulated iGaming Ontario operations. These brands include bet365, Betway, Sports Interaction, Betsafe, Betsson, and BetVictor. If the Manitoba Government ever decides to adopt an approach similar to Ontario's, your with these operators could eventually be transferred to a fully legal and regulated market of Manitoba betting sites. The precedent has been set.
Several US sportsbook brands opted to enter the regulated Ontario market after online betting became legal on a state-by-state basis, following the federal ban being lifted by the US Supreme Court in 2018. Since then, US betting brands have recognized that their advertising on US sports broadcasts reaches into Canada, which has created some brand awareness in a market that they don’t primarily target—often leading to confusion for people in provinces like Manitoba, who are familiar with "grey market" sites being accessible.
However, most of these US sportsbook brands have only operated within fully legal, locally regulated markets, or originated as Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) operators, a category defined and regulated separately from online sports betting. This means that many brands simply don’t maintain international “grey market” betting sites based in offshore jurisdictions. The US and Ontario brands that are unavailable in Manitoba include FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM, theScore Bet, PointsBet, ESPN BET, BetRivers, DraftKings Sportsbook, Bally Bet, Caesars Sportsbook, Fanatics Sportsbook, and Betano.
Is FanDuel Sportsbook available in Manitoba? 3f4g4z
No, FanDuel Sportsbook is not available in Manitoba. (Their DFS product is available, though.) FanDuel Sportsbook is only accessible in Ontario within Canada.
Is DraftKings Sportsbook available in Manitoba? 2m3sm
No, DraftKings Sportsbook is not available in Manitoba. (However, their DFS product is available.) DraftKings Sportsbook is only accessible in Ontario within the Canadian sports betting market.
Is theScore Bet available in Manitoba? i731h
Unfortunately, the answer is still "no." In Canada, theScore Bet operates only within the legal Ontario market with its sports betting and casino products. Now owned by US-based Penn Entertainment, theScore Bet does not operate in the so-called "grey market."
Is BetMGM available in Manitoba? 38c1h
No, BetMGM is only available in legal US state markets and Ontario.
Is BetRivers available in Manitoba? 682b30
No, the ads featuring former TSN anchor Dan O'Toole are for BetRivers’ Ontario offering. They do not serve Manitoba.
Is PointsBet Canada available in Manitoba? 334r5a
No, PointsBet Canada, the official sportsbook of Curling Canada and Alpine Canada, which featured the Trailer Park Boys in their early TV ads, is only available in Ontario.
Is ESPN BET available in Manitoba? 44y4w
No, ESPN BET is Penn Entertainment’s US-based legal sportsbook, with theScore Bet being its only Canadian entry, exclusively in the legal Ontario market. Penn does not operate in the "offshore" market, so ESPN BET is unlikely to ever be available to players in Manitoba.
Is Bally Bet available in Manitoba? 2u1f2o
No, Bally Bet, the online sportsbook and casino brand of "Bally's," which also shared its name with a regional sports network in the USA, is only available in various US state markets and the legal Ontario market. Bally Bet does not operate an "offshore" version of their platform.
Is Caesars Sportsbook available in Manitoba? z5fa
No, one of the most prominent legal US sportsbook brands, Caesars Sportsbook, is only available in Canada within the legal Ontario market.
Is Fanatics Sportsbook available in Manitoba? d4p3x
No, the massive apparel retailer's entry into online sports betting, which leverages technology acquired from their PointsBet USA purchase, is only available in select US states where online betting is legal and they hold a license. Fanatics Sportsbook is not available in the legal Ontario market and has no plans to launch a "grey market" version that could serve Manitoba.
Is Betano available in Manitoba? 3hb5d
No. Within Canada, Betano is only available in the legal Ontario market. Widely d in Europe & the kit sponsor for the EPL's Aston Villa, Betano does not operate a "grey market" site that serves Manitoba as part of the "rest of Canada" market.
Is Betfred available in Manitoba? 6m6r4d
No. EPL fans may be curious if the official sports betting provider of Manchester United is available in Manitoba. Betfred is only available in the UK & Ireland.
Is Unibet available in Manitoba? 2r335h
No. Unibet has now stopped serving all of Canada, including Manitoba.
Do any Manitoba sportsbooks offer WHL betting? 5v601f
Not really, no. The Western Hockey League now includes just one club from Manitoba, the Brandon Wheat Kings. Whether you're a fan of the Wheat Kings or simply enjoy Canadian Major Junior Hockey, finding a trustworthy online sportsbook in the "grey market" that offers WHL betting can be challenging. Due to the young age of many WHL players and a mandate from Ontario's regulatory body to ban OHL betting, many top betting brands steer clear of offering bets on the WHL, OHL, QMJHL, or the Memorial Cup - even outside the Ontario market. If you persist in your search here, be cautious, as some less-than-reputable brands may still cover these games.
Is bet365 available in Manitoba? w394u
Yes indeed. Manitoba is part of the "rest of Canada" market for bet365, which operates from its international igaming jurisdiction in Gibraltar.
Is Betway available in Manitoba? 4x4225
Yes. Betway serves Manitoba as part of its "rest of Canada" market segment through its international offshore igaming jurisdiction in Malta.
Is Betsafe available in Manitoba? 621r50
Affirmative, yes. Manitoba falls under the "rest of Canada" market for Betsafe, which provides services from its international igaming jurisdiction in Malta.
Is Betsson available in Manitoba? l6x3x
Yes. Betsson (a brand related to Betsafe) is available to players in Manitoba as part of the "rest of Canada" market, operated from its licensed jurisdiction in Malta.
Is BetVictor available in Manitoba? 4fk
Yes. BetVictor caters to the "rest of Canada" market, including Manitoba, through its international igaming jurisdiction based in Gibraltar.
Is Sports Interaction available in Manitoba? 1b2t12
Yes. Sports Interaction serves Manitoba along with the "rest of Canada" market (excluding Ontario), operating under the Kahnawake Gaming Commission located in Quebec, on sovereign Mohawk land.