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As the official sportsbook and betting partner of MLSE’s Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, PointsBet is a trusted and reliable brand committed to the Canadian market.
Despite being a relatively new sportsbook and one that currently only operates in Ontario, PointsBet has already proven to be a viable competitor with enticing odds and various betting markets.
Without further ado, let’s dive into our PointsBet review!
While PointsBet Canada offers a host of impressive features, promotions, and betting markets, it is still important to recognize where it shines and where it comes up short compared to the competition.
PointsBet Canada is far from the “perfect” sportsbook, but the level of ingenuity it takes to develop such an innovative product should not go unnoticed. It is rare to find a reputable sportsbook that provides good odds on all of the sports PointsBet offers, and most registered bettors won’t be affected by their limited banking options. As PointsBet continues to expand to the rest of the country, it should only grow even further and could potentially become the go-to sportsbook for all Canadians.
| Website: on.pointsbet.ca | Company: PointsBet |
| Year founded: Launched in Australia in 2017 | License & regulation: Registered with and regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) |
| Contact information: 24/7 live chat, email and phone support. | Sponsorship Deal: LaLiga North America, MLSE (Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto Argonauts, Toronto Marlies, and Toronto FC), NHL Alumni Association, Daily Faceoff, the Nation Network, Curling Canada, and Alpine Canada Alpin (ACA). |
| Address/Headquarters: 111 Peter St, Suite 700 Toronto, ON M5V 2G9. | Payment Methods: Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, PaySafeCard, American Express, PayNearMe, Bank Transfer. |
| Features: Enhanced odds, live betting, live streaming, early cash-out, live same-game parlay. | Apps/Devices: Android, iOS app, tablet, desktop |
| Casino Game Types: Live casino, slots, slingo, video poker, card and table games. | Owner: PointsBet Holdings Limited |
With such a well-established reputation in the sports industry, PointsBet is keying in on the Canadian market by providing new customers with a few generous welcome bonuses, which we explain in more detail below, along with some risk-free bets, free bets, parlay boosts, and a special “Refer A Friend” bonus.
PointsBet doesn’t just offer a juicy welcome package for new users, but they also ensure that you never run out of markets to bet on even after you’ve registered thanks to their impressive sports coverage. In fact, with more than 25 available sports to wager on, as well as dozens of international leagues for every sport. There’s truly something for everyone at PointsBet, including more niche betting markets like entertainment and politics.
Another one of PointsBet Canada’s shining features is all of the different markets and types of bets they offer. Outside of traditional bet types like totals, spreads, moneylines, prop and future bets, they also have a wide range of markets such as fixed odds, in-play, half-time/full-time, draw no bet, and more. Not to mention some of the most competitive odds of any sportsbook available in Canada.
In regards to banking, this is where PointsBet falls a little short I’m afraid. While they do accept a few of the more popular forms of currency like Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, and Interac, they don’t provide nearly as much variety as other sportsbooks. Currently, they do not accept the cryptocurrency of Amex, among others.
The customer support team at PointsBet is incredibly knowledgeable and quick to respond. General inquiries can be made at any point in the day via the 24/7 live chat feature, while more serious questions can be handled through their responsive email support system or phone line.
As far as the mobile experience is concerned, you’ll find it to be a nice change as it allows you to place your bets while on the move or when you’re away from your desktop. However, the mobile layout is almost identical to the desktop version, so there are no clear advantages other than mobility and accessibility.
All things considered, PointsBet Ontario provides users with everything they need in a sportsbook: competitive odds, numerous betting markets, and dozens of different sports to bet on outside of the big four (NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB). Most users won’t be limited in regards to the banking options, and in case they do run into any issues, customer support can be reached within minutes.
Bonuses & Offers: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Offers a variety of welcome bonuses and ongoing promotions, though not as many as some other sites.
Betting Variety: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tons of different sports and leagues to choose from, outside of those most commonly associated with the Canadian sports betting market.
Banking Options: ⭐⭐⭐
Only a select handful of ways to deposit and withdraw funds, which is well below average.
Payout Speed: ⭐⭐⭐
Due to their limited banking options, most transactions take at least two to five business days to process.
Key Features: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Loads of fun betting features, including a few of their own that are completely unique to PointsBet.
App & Mobile Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Smooth mobile experience with a similar layout to the desktop version (easy transition).
Security and Trust: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reputable sportsbook with years of industry experience and knowledge, partnered with some of the most recognizable brands in Canada.
Licensing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Regulated by iGaming Ontario, and licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
Software & Games: ⭐⭐⭐
The software feels a tad outdated and they don’t offer as many online casino games as other brands.
User Betting Experience: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Everything is easy to find within seconds, and laid out in a comprehensive manner.
Sign-up Process: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The registration process is quick and easy, takes less than 10 minutes to sign up and deposit funds.
Customer Support: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Live chat is available 24/7 and a very responsive email support system.
One of PointsBet Canada’s best features, in my opinion, is their welcome offers. In fact, they are one of the few sportsbooks that offer newly registered users three different welcome bonuses to choose from: Basketball Welcome Offer, Football Welcome Offer, and Exclusive Welcome Offer.
After you’ve claimed the PointsBet sign-up bonus of your choice, you will instantly gain access to hundreds of sports betting markets. Although, before you jump into all of the action, you should first gain an understanding of the different features PointsBet has to offer.
With the rapid advancement of technology, sportsbooks are hard at work to create a more digital-friendly user experience. As a result, live streaming is one of the biggest and fastest-growing markets in the sports betting industry, as it allows bettors to place wagers after a game has already begun. The market odds will fluctuate as the game progresses and whenever something noteworthy occurs, the live betting feature will pause momentarily so that the system can recalculate new betting lines based on what’s happening in the game. Games don’t always go as predicted, but live betting enables you to make more informed bets in real-time based on the ebbs and flows of the game while it is taking place.
Another feature that PointsBet offers that ties into live betting is live streaming. Chances are you’re not going to be physically watching every single game you have money on, but many top-tier sportsbooks (like PointsBet) allow users to stream the events you’ve wagered on live without ever having to leave the app or website. This feature will assist you in making live bets since you can follow the momentum of the game and place wagers based on all of the ongoing action.
One of the best ways to increase your payout in sports betting is by parlaying your bets into one. However, PointsBet not only allows you to parlay your bets but also enables you to build a same-game parlay as the game is taking place. Generally, standard same-game parlays must be put together pre-game, but PointsBet is one of the few sportsbooks that allow you to build a parlay bet at any point during an event.
Similar to other leaders in the sports betting industry, PointsBet provides users with a “Cash Out” feature for most pre-match singles in fixed-odds bets. This means that after placing a bet with the cash-out feature, users can collect their winnings before the match is over and still walk away with a decent payout if the game isn’t going as projected.
PointsBet separates itself from the competition with its unique points betting feature. Essentially, points betting allows you to bet on the over/under or the point spread of a specific game. However, unlike traditional fixed odds betting, the payout for points betting changes right up to the final seconds of the game and you can either gain or lose points depending on how well you fare with the over/under as well. So, if your bet wins by one point (or unit), you would win one multiplied by your wager amount, and if your bet wins by two points, you would win two times the initial amount wagered. Although, the flipside to it is that if you lose by one point (or unit), you would lose one times the wager amount, and if you win by just one point but fail to cover the spread by six points, for example, then you would lose six times the original amount wagered. It’s a high-risk, high-reward betting option that builds excitement down to the last minute.
Have you ever wanted to create your very own bets? Well, that is just one of the many impressive features PointsBet offers its users! In PointsBet’s “Name A Bet” section, registered bettors are allowed the unique opportunity to come up with any bet they want, within reason. Simply fill out a form to request your bet and if their team of traders finds it interesting and worth adding, they will price it out and send you a notification that your bet is active.
Before you sign-up with any bookmaker, one of the most important factors to consider is what sports they offer. After all, every fan has a specific market they’re hoping to wager on, and not every sport is offered with every sportsbook.
The good news is that PointsBet Canada truly caters to the Canadian market by offering all of the most popular sports in the Great White North, as well as various international sports like Aussie rules football (AFL), boxing, cricket, curling, cycling, darts, eSports, golf, motorsports, netball, racing, rodeo/bull riding, rugby, snooker, surfing/swimming, table tennis, tennis, volleyball/beach volleyball, UFC/MMA and the Olympics.
Below is a list of the biggest sports markets Canadian bettors can expect to find at PointsBet Ontario:
Now that we’ve touched on what sports you can wager on with PointsBet Canada, it’s time to dive into the nitty-gritty as to the different types of bets you can place.
Once you’ve registered with PointsBet, they make the rest of the process to begin placing bets quite simple. After you’ve logged into your account, and made your first deposit, you can place your first bet by:
Once your bet has been placed, all you need to do is sit back and wait to see if it hits. Keep in mind that because PointsBet offers live betting, you can always place additional wagers during the game if you don’t think one of your pre-game wagers will hit.
While we personally did not find any serious issues with PointsBet’s desktop version, it is worth noting that their mobile app is extremely highly rated amongst users. Outside of the sheer simplicity and convenience of having all the odds at your fingertips, the app itself is incredibly intuitive and easy to navigate.
After you’ve downloaded the app, which takes just a couple of minutes and is available for all iOS and Android devices, you’ll instantly be met with one of the smoothest betting applications on the market. Within seconds you can find the exact market and bet type you’re looking for, and moving from screen to screen is seamless.
The layout is almost identical to the desktop version as well, with a “Featured” section of all the ongoing events you can wager on as well as a “Live” tab for all of the current live events, in addition to early cash-out and secure banking options. So, it should be a smooth transition for most users. Bettors should also feel confident using the app due to its impressive 4.8 rating on the App Store, which ranks much better than other high end sportsbooks.
As soon as you reach the PointsBet Ontario homepage, you will find two tabs in the top right-hand corner of the screen: “Log In” and “Sign Up”. To register for an account, you will need to click on “Sign Up”.
After you’ve made it past this stage, you will then have to fill out the first of two sections to complete the registration process. The first section will ask for some personal information like first name, last name, and email address. Keep in mind that there will be a box that says “Sign Up Code” where you will need to ensure you claim the welcome bonus using the relevant code. For new customers, it will just be “WELCOME”.
From there, you will need to enter some more personal information on the second page before you can begin placing bets. This will include your full address and date of birth as well as your desired username and password. It is also important to note that they may ask you to verify your information to ensure you are of legal age and in a region where sports betting is legal.
Once all of your personal information has been validated, you will be able to choose from one of the provided banking options to make your first deposit, at which point you can then begin wagering on your favourite teams and sports!
As one of the more reputable sportsbooks in Canada, PointsBet offers several popular deposit and withdrawal options. Here is a full list of how you can deposit and withdraw money from your sports betting account:
PointsBet Deposit Options:
The minimum deposit for each of the aforementioned methods is $10 (CAD).
PointsBet Withdraw Options:
Sportsbooks don’t always offer the same deposit methods when it comes to withdrawals, but thankfully, PointsBet Canada users won’t have to worry about that.
All of the deposit methods listed above can be used to withdraw funds as well, which generally takes between two and seven business days depending on the banking method.
PointsBet is committed to delivering industry-leading customer service and there are plenty of options should you run into questions.
Not only is there a 24/7 live chat feature that will instantly connect you with one of their very knowledgeable service reps, but there’s also a phone line and email service you can use as well. The fact that PointsBet offers all three is certainly beneficial as not all sportsbooks do, and personally, I found the email response to be much quicker than most sportsbooks.
The 24/7 live chat should truly be used for general inquiries, whereas anything more serious should be done through email or phone line. Although, if you’re just looking for a quick answer to a simple question, I would first check out their FAQs section. Here you can find tons of related questions from other users that might provide you with the answer you’re looking for.
The FAQs can be found by clicking on the “Help” tab on the homepage. This will take you to a separate page where you can browse by category depending on the question at hand. They even have some incredibly thorough guides that can help walk you through the majority of situations.
The length of time it takes to withdraw money from your betting account will depend on the banking method. However, on average, the payout takes between one and five business days.
Yes, PointsBet launched in Ontario in April 2022 and has a licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). In addition, it is a regulated operator through iGaming Ontario, so you know it is legit.
Unfortunately, PointsBet Canada does not accept crypto as it is not considered legal tender by Ontario sportsbooks. Although, they do accept Visa and MasterCard, as well as PayPal, which are considered the three most popular ways to deposit/withdraw money into or from your account.
PointsBet understands the importance of responsible gambling and as a result, they offer a host of limit-setting tools. This includes time-based limits, deposit limits, loss limits, and self-exclusion (banning yourself from gambling sites).
PointsBet is set to take the Canadian market by storm. In all honesty, it’s unusual to find such a reputable bookmaker that offers this wide a variety of markets, including a few of their own patented bet types. Let alone one with such competitive odds and a plethora of daily odds boosts, promotions, and live betting/streaming features.
If you’re an Ontario resident and on the hunt for a safe and secure sportsbook, look no further than PointsBet Canada!
