Manitoba Sports Betting: Top Sportsbooks in Manitoba & Legal Updates

Bill C-218 came into effect in Canada on August 27, 2021, legalizing single game sports betting. Manitoba wasted no time, announcing that PlayNow Manitoba would open single game sports betting that same day.

To this day this is the only provincially regulated book in the province, while offshore books such as Betway are regulated by governing bodies in other jurisdictions.

Here are the most important factors our team takes into consideration when ranking Manitoba sportsbooks.

• Security and trust → With confidential banking and personal information stored in their data bases, we value the security system a company has in place highly.
  
  Having a well trusted sportsbook with a good reputation is a must in the sports betting industry. We only recommend sportsbooks that are regulated and law abiding.

• Payouts → Winning sports bets should be the difficult part of sports betting in Manitoba, not acquiring your winnings. For this reason, we value sportsbooks that provided a quick and efficient withdrawal process highly.

• Deposit methods → Everyone has their preferred way of transferring money, so the more options a sportsbook has available to deposit and withdrawal money the better.

• Sports coverage → You don’t want to feel limited by your sports book, so the more sports betting markets they offer the better.
  
  This includes offering niche sports such as Darts, Esports, and Handball, as well as providing strong futures and player prop markets for the major sports.

• Customer support → When dealing with money, having a top-of-the-line customer support team available to you is an incredible feeling.
  
  Even if things go wrong, you will have peace of mind knowing that your issue will be solved in a timely manner. Top Manitoba sportsbooks provide customer support through email, phone lines, or live chat rooms.

• Bonuses and Promotions → Welcome bonuses and promotions offered to existing customers are a great way to increase your bankroll without investing a large amount of your own money.
  
  Obtaining bet credits from multiple sportsbooks in Manitoba is an excellent strategy that we recommend if you are just getting started.

• Features → Some of the key features we search for when ranking sportsbooks include live betting, cash out opportunities, same game parlays, and live streaming.
  
  We also prioritize well designed interphases that are easy to navigate, and sportsbooks with a simple sign on process.

Sports betting has been legal in Manitoba since 1990, but restrictions limited the market to parlay wagers only until single-game betting was introduced in 2021.

The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MBLL) launched PlayNow Manitoba in 2013 and while they have the ability to award more licenses, this remains the only book regulated by the province.

Residents are still permitted to wager with offshore companies such as Sports Interaction, which are available to anyone located in the province.

PlayNow Sportsbook is limited to Manitoba residents and only offered online. There are no retail sportsbooks available, but in person bets be made through Sports Select at WCLC retail location.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Manitoba?

Sports betting is legal in Manitoba, but the market has increase significantly since Bill C-218 was passed in 2021, legalizing single game sports betting. The bill was first introduced in 2020, passed in the house of commons in April. 2021, approved by the senate and given royal assent on July. 2021, and officially declared a law on August. 27, 2021.

PlayNow introduced single game betting the day it was legalized, and it was implemented by Sport Select on November 1, 2021.

Manitoba has plans to expand their market and award more provincial licenses to offshore sportsbooks in the near future. It is estimated that PlayNow generated between $50-60 million in 2022 alone, but with the iGaming market in province valued between $75-150 million, there remains as significant amount of unclaimed revenue available.

Who Can Bet on Sports in Manitoba?

Anyone above the age of 18 and located in Manitoba can legally place sports wagers. If you are a resident of Manitoba, you can place wagers online through PlayNow, other offshore brands that have been approved by the province, or in person through Sport Select.

Nonresidents are limited to offshore brands for online betting and Sport Select is only available to Canadian Citizens. While your options are clearly limited, one positive take away is the province does not tax you on your winnings.

Offshore Sportsbooks in Manitoba?

Offshore sportsbooks are legal in Manitoba and available to residents of the province and nonresidents located in the province. Some of these sportsbooks operate in the grey market as they are not directly regulated by the province, but many are regulated by governing bodies in other jurisdictions.

If you are ready to start online sports betting in Manitoba, here are basic steps to get you started:

1. Choose your preferred sportsbook
   
   
   
   Manitoba residents can sign up for PlayNow online or choose an offshore brand such as Betway or Sports Interaction. Look through our top ranked sports betting sites and choose the one that is right for you.
   
   
2. Claim your welcome bonus
   
   
   
   Clicking on the link to one of the top Manitoba sportsbooks on our website will direct you to their advertised welcome bonus. Select claim now if you wish to obtain the bonus.
   
   We highly recommend reading the terms and conditions of the offer before signing up.
   
   
3. Create an account
   
   
   
   Clicking on the claim bonus option will direct you to sign up for an account on their website. You can sign up this way regardless of if you intend on completing the requirements to claim the bonus offer or not.
   
   Follow the instructions on the screen and enter in the required personal information to register.
   
   
4. Make your first deposit
   
   Once your account has been finalized, you should have complete access to the sportsbook. You will not be able to place wagers until you have an account balance, however.
   
   To obtain a balance locate the deposit option on the website/app. Follow the instructions on the screen by entering in the required banking credentials through your preferred payment method.
   
   Select the amount you wish to deposit, and you should receive a conformation email and see your account balance updated shortly.
   
   
5. Make your first wager
   
   
   
   There are a wide range or sports and betting markets to wager on in Manitoba. Locate the market you wish to bet on, select the wager you wish to make, and enter in the amount of money you are willing to risk.
   
   The amount you wager will be subtracted from your account balance, but if you win the total payout will be added to it.
   
   
6. Withdrawal your winnings
   
   This step is not required, but if you can withdrawal from your account balance whenever you wish to. Locate the withdrawal option on the website/app, enter in the required banking credentials under your preferred payment method, and select the amount you wish to withdrawal.
   
   Withdrawal times will vary based on the sportsbook you are with and the payment method you have selected.

Here are the most common payment methods if you are looking for options to deposit/withdrawal on your favourite sportsbook.

• PayPal → One of the most popular methods for transferring money, Paypal is an e-wallet that requires you to connect to a chequing account or credit card before signing up.

• Apple Pay → Provided on IOS devise, Apple Pay is a mobile wallet that stores banking information for each of your payment cards. It unfortunately is not widely accepted for Canadian sportsbooks. 

• Mastercard → One of the most popular methods for credit/debit cards, Mastercard is accepted on most sites but is limited by slow processing times.

• Visa → Both Visa credit and debit cards are popular payment methods, but they are restricted by some banks for betting specifically. Visa offers quick processing times unlike Mastercard. 

• Bank Transfer → An alternative to digital wallets, bank transfers offer higher withdrawal and deposit amounts. This method provides quick deposit times but is much slower for withdrawals.

• Interac → One of the top payment methods for sports betting in Canada, Interac creates seamless transactions to and from your bank account without providing any financial information. Deposits are instantaneous, but withdrawal times often vary.

These are the most popular sports to bet on in Manitoba right now.

🏒 Hockey

Hockey is the most popular sport in Canada, despite only having seven of the 32 NHL teams. Each province is incredibly loyal to their team and Manitoba is no exception, playing host to the Winnipeg Jets and their AHL affiliate the Manitoba Moose.

🏈 Football

The NFL is popular in Manitoba with the Minnesota Vikings bordering the province, but Canada’s own football league has some of the most loyal fans you will find. Manitoba plays host to one of the nine CFL teams, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

🏀 Basketball

One of the top growing sports in the nation, basketballs popularity has increased significantly in Canada since the Toronto Raptors won the championship in 2019.

⚾ Baseball

Canada will always be behind the states when it comes to developing baseball players due to cold weathers, but the country remains incredibly invested in their only MLB team, the Toronto Blue Jays.

Know what sport you want to bet on but unsure what to place your money on? Here are the most popular sports betting markets in Manitoba.

• Moneyline → The simplest wager in all of sports betting, the moneyline is a wager on a specific to team to win the game. The favourite will be represented by a minus (-) sign and the underdog will be represented by a plus sign (+) in the odds.
  
  Example – Jets (-180) vs Canucks (+150)
  
  Bet $18 on the Jets to profit $10 and bet $10 on the Canucks to profit $15.

• Point spread → A more complicated version of the moneyline, the point spread has varying names based on the sport (puckline for hockey, runline for baseball) but is essentially the same concept. Teams of different skill are in theory given an even chance to win based on the point differential stipulations put in place.
  
  Example – Raptors -9.5 (-110) vs Rockets +9.5 (-110)
  
  The Raptors must win the game by 10 points or more and the Rockets must win the game or lose by 9 points or less.

• Totals → If you are not confident in either team winning, then totals are a great betting alternative. Oddsmakers set a fair number that they believe both teams will combine to score, and you are given the option to wager on the true result being higher or lower than this given number.
  
  Example - Jays vs. Yankees O 7.5 (-120) / U 7.5 (-105)
  
  Select O 7.5 if you believe the teams will combine to score 8 runs or more. Select U 7.5 if you believe the teams will combine to score 7 runs or less.

• Player Props → The top sportsbooks will allow you to wager on individual players stats. For hockey this can include goals, assists, shots on goal, saves, etc. With so many different statistics and so many different sports, the possibilities are endless.
  
  Example – Connor Hellebuyck over 27.5 / under 27.5 saves

• Futures → These require you to get your crystal ball out and predict results that will be decided further down the line rather than just wagering on the most recent events. Common futures bets include end of season awards, regular season standings, and a specific team to win the championship.
  
  Example – Winnipeg Blue Bombers to win the Grey Cup (+190) 

Other Bets 

Here are some of the top alternative betting options available in Manitoba's sportsbooks.

• Esports → One of the top growing industries worldwide, the popularity of esports exploded during the pandemic and sports bettors in Manitoba have the option to wager on it. Some of the top games include League of Legends, Call of Duty, Valorant, and Rocket League.

• Politics → Offshore betting websites will provide odds on Canadian politics, but you will only find American politics on PlayNow Manitoba.

• Movie/TV Show/ Music Awards → The top awards ceremonies in the world have betting sections on Manitoba sportsbooks, including the Oscars, Emmy’s, and Grammy’s

Winnipeg has it’s fair share of sports teams and some of the most loyal fans around. Here are the most popular sports teams in the province.

Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets are the most popular team in the province, and one of seven Canadian teams in the NHL. They first joined the league in 1972 but became the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996. The second edition of the team took over for the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Founded in 1930, the Blue Bombers compete in the CFL (Canadian Football League) and hold the record for most Grey Cup appearances at 26. They most recently won in 2021, defeating the Hamilton Tiger Cats.

Toronto Blue Jays

The only MLB franchise in the nation has loyal fans across the country, despite not winning the World Series since their back-to-back championships from 1992-93.

Toronto Raptors

The only NBA franchise in the nation has developed a similar fan base to the Blue Jays in recent years, after winning the NBA championship in 2019. They were the first major Canadian sports team (NHL, NBA, MLB) to win a championship since the Blue Jays in 1993.

Sports aren’t the only thing you can bet on, and the majority of sportsbooks have additional sections for non-sporting events. Here are some of the top options available.

• Casino

Club Regent Casino and McPhillips Station Casino are the two provincially owned Casinos in Manitoba, operated by the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries corporation. The Casinos offer slot machines and table games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker. You will also find a couple Tribal Casinos throughout the province as well.

PlayNow Manitoba provides a live casino, giving customers the ability to wager on game likes blackjack, roulette, and baccarat in real time. 

• Poker

There are plenty of options to play poker for cash in the province. McPhillips Station Casino has several poker games while Club Regent Casino has a room dedicated specifically to poker. PlayNow Manitoba also has a poker app if you are looking to bet online.

• Horse Racing 

Wagering on horse racing is available both live and remotely in Manitoba. You can place wagers on HPIbet.com or visit the Assiniboia Downs racetrack. The province hosts an annual Manitoba Derby in June.

• Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

Season long fantasy sports are one of the largest markets in the sporting industry, but sportsbooks such as FanDuel and DraftKings provide the option for players to compete daily, drafting a new team each day.

Responsible gambling is one of our top priorities here at MansionBet. In order to ensure you are playing responsibly, we recommend setting daily limits for yourself under the settings tab of your favourite sportsbook. We also recommend approaching gambling like a past time rather than as a second job.

If you find yourself relying solely on sports gambling as a source of income or notice yourself developing an unhealthy addiction, please utilize the help services put in place for your location.

For responsible gambling resources in Manitoba visit the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries website or call 1-800-463-1554 which is a 24/7 helpline.

Sportsbooks to Avoid in Manitoba

Here are some characteristics to look for in order to avoid questionable sportsbooks.

• Banking issues

Sportsbooks that have a reputation of dragging out withdrawal requests over multiple weeks should be avoided entirely.

• Unexplained voided bets and odds changes 

Voided bets happen all the time in sports, but if they are occurring after the game has started without a specific reason (listed pitcher didn’t start, result was a push, etc.) then we have an issue. Odds changes throughout the game are standard as well, but once you lock in a bet at a specific price, you should not notice a chance in the odds after the fact. 

• Poor customer support

Sportsbooks with poor overall customer support systems that deliver slow responses or are irresponsive to player complaints is a huge red flag in the industry.

• Poor security

Sportsbooks with a vulnerable security system should be avoided entirely since we are dealing with valuable personal banking information. We also recommend avoiding companies without a valid license from a governing body.

Manitoba is not the only Province that permits sports betting in Canada. It is legal in all 10 provinces and three territories – however, rules and regulations will vary based on your location. Here are MansionBet’s additional provincial betting guides:

PlayNow Manitoba and Sport Select (In person only) are technically the only sports books licensed by the province of Manitoba. Other offshore websites operate in the grey market, but we only recommend wagering with websites that are regulated by other governing bodies. 

Why Should I Use a Licensed Site?

Licensed websites provide that extra blanket of security you are looking for when dealing with large amounts of money. You can feel confident that your banking information is secure, and you will receive all your winnings in a timely manner.

Regulated sportsbooks must also satisfy the requirements put in place to detect and prevent problem gaming. This included adverting help recourses and providing options to restrict the amount you can wager.

About PlayNow

PlayNow is currently the only online sportsbook regulated by the province of Manitoba. Only residents of the province can place wagers on the website, but they offer a wide range of options include single game sports betting, live sports betting, live casino betting, and niche betting markets such as Politics and esports.