Sports betting involves predicting the results of games or specific occurrences within a match and placing a bet. While personal interest and knowledge play a significant role, some sports can offer better opportunities for profitable betting than others. Get to know what sports disciplines are the most popular in Canada and learn how to get started with them.
Sports Betting Growth in Canada
According to data from Statista, revenue in the sports betting industry is projected to reach US$1.17bn in Canada in 2025. Revenue in the industry is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2025-2030) of 6.09%, resulting in a projected market volume of US$1.57bn by 2030.
In the sports betting market, the number of users is expected to amount to to 26.5m by 2030. As sports betting in Canada continues to grow, it is essential to know what are the most popular forecasting fields in the country. It will help you choose the correct sports discipline and maximize your winning odds.
Ice Hockey
Ice hockey is a very fast-paced game with a lot of moving parts all working together, where all the decisions are made fast. These are the most common betting markets:
- Moneyline. A straightforward bet on which team will win.
- Puck Line. The match favorite needs to win by two or more goals, or the underdog must win outright or lose by one goal to cover the bet.
- Totals. Betting on the total combined score.
Timing is just as important as insight when it comes to betting on ice hockey games. One of the best times to place your wager is shortly after opening lines are released, typically the night before or early morning of the match day.
Basketball
Basketball is one of the most high-scoring and fast-paced disciplines. Teams usually score more than 100 points, and the lead can change numerous times in a matter of minutes. These are the most common basketball betting markets:
- Outright Win. You are betting on which team will win the game outright.
- Over/Under. It involves betting on the total number of points scored by both teams combined.
- Parlays. A parlay stake combines multiple bets into one. All individual stakes, also called legs, must win for the parlay to pay out.
Once basketball betting odds are released to the public, they are subject to change in response to staking action, news, and other developments. When odds shift from the opening positions, it signals where money flows or where new information emerges.
MMA (UFC)
MMA betting refers to placing bets on mixed martial arts. It mainly includes betting on the UFC, but there are also other popular mixed martial arts organizations in the world, like Bellator, RIZIN, and others. There are three common betting markets:
- Money Line. Pick the winner. Odds determine your payout.
- Prop Bets. Wager on fight specifics: method of finish (knockout, submission, decision) or which round it ends.
- Parlays. Chain multiple bets together. Higher payouts demand ideal accuracy across all picks.
The most common question beginners face when looking at odds is how to interpret the numbers they see next to each fighter’s name. Odds appear as positive or negative numbers next to each fighter’s name.
Positive odds (+300) mean that the fighter is an underdog. A $100 bet wins $300 if they win, returning $400 total. Negative odds (-300) mean that the fighter is favored to win. You must bet $300 to win $100, returning $400 total. High positive numbers indicate longer odds and bigger payouts, while low negative numbers signal stronger favorites with smaller returns.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport with around 1 billion fans all over the world. One of the things that makes it unique is the variety of surfaces where it can be played, which makes tennis betting quite complex for newbies. There are three types of surfaces, where the event might unfold, including hard court, clay, and grass. These are the most popular tennis betting markets:
- Match Winner. Betting on which player will win the match outright.
- Set Betting. Betting on the outcome of individual sets or predicting the exact set score of the match.
- Player Prop Bet. Betting on a specific statistical performance by an individual player during a match.
There are many popular tennis tournaments you can try betting on, including Grand Slams, Masters, ATP/WTA, Challenger, and ITF.
Golf
Golf is a sport with major championships, including The Masters, The Open Championship (the British Open), the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship. Twenty-five million people played golf only in America in 2020, which is the sport’s biggest jump in participation since 2003. Young golfers drove this growth at rates unseen since Tiger Woods claimed his first Masters title in 1997.
When it comes to betting on golf, there are several types of stakes available to choose from. See the table to see the most popular options.
| Bet Type | Description | Typical Odds Range |
| Outright Winner | Predict the tournament winner | 10/1 to 100/1+ |
| Top-5 Finish | Player to finish in top 5 | 3/1 to 20/1 |
| Head-to-Head | Bet on which of two players will perform better | Even to 2/1 |
There are other popular golf betting markets too, including the First Round Leader, Player to Miss the Cut, Top 10/Top 20, and other match bets.
