​​Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)

OLG launched PRO•LINE back in 1992 as a parlay sports betting product at retail locations. It was an instant hit and OLG added POINT SPREAD in 1996, and PROPS and POOLS in 2004. OLG is one of the largest lottery corporations in Canada, with more than one million players registered on the platform.

PRO•LINE+ is the online sports lotto platform available in Ontario. You can play online or on the PRO•LINE+ app. Choose to wager on pre-match markets or bet on live odds. You can flip your odds type between decimal and American, and cover multiple events including:

Minimum bets at PRO•LINE+ start at $10 and you can set a Sports Spend Limit to ensure you stick within budget.

Improvements

The big issue that PRO•LINE+ needs to improve on is payout speeds. There have been reports in 2024 of Ontario residents waiting weeks to receive their money after filing the necessary identification paperwork and processing withdrawals. This isn't an issue everyone has faced but it has led to some players looking at alternate Ontario sportsbooks instead.

Betting Experience

Using PRO•LINE+ is as close to a sportsbook experience as you will get without actually joining one. Remember, PRO•LINE+ is operated by the OLG and proceeds go back into the province of Ontario. It’s not a sportsbook but operates in the same way.

The betting app is ultra smooth and the best option if you plan to wager on mobile. It’s arguably one of the best sports betting apps in Canada and it’s not even a complete sportsbook! PRO•LINE+ launched in August 2021 to provide more wagering options beyond parlays. It’s become hugely popular and OLG has invested more into the system, with a better interface and more advice on wagers now available.

​​Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC)

The Pro•Line brand is also available for users of the Atlantic Lottery in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and NL. However, Pro•Line is not as powerful as Pro•Line+ in Ontario. Most players are restricted to parlay wagers of between two and eight picks. Choose from moneyline odds, totals, and spreads when crafting your parlay.

You cannot place a single selection wager unless it falls under the Eligible Events tab which varies from province to province.

ALC also has a Pro•Line Fantasy betting portal where Canadians can wager on specific players in a game, rather than the game itself. This gives bettors additional freedom to spread their wagers beyond basic moneylines and totals, although you do have to select a minimum of two players to form a mini parlay.

Improvements

Bettors in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador get a good range of options to wager on at Pro•Line but this platform still feels like a lotto site with sports options attached. It doesn't provide the universal wagering experience that a sportsbook or even Pro•Line+ can give users.

Betting Experience

Pro•Line from ALC does the basics right but there are some issues players should be aware of. The Pro•Line app works on iOS and Android devices relatively well, but we wouldn't advise trying to play on your phone or tablet browser. The site just isn't optimized for small screens and that causes issues when you're trying to select odds and open the bet slip.

Saying that, Pro•Line is the ideal destination for bettors in the ALC provinces who otherwise cannot join a sportsbook. It covers all the major sports in the US and Canada, as well as other popular games like soccer, tennis, and golf.

​​Loto Quebec (LQ)

Like Pro•Line+ in Ontario, ​​Loto Quebec also has a "+" option that differentiates its online sports lottery from in-person retail options. Mise-O-Jeu+ is LQ's landmark product that is available on a browser and as an app.

You can place single bets or create parlays up to eight selections deep. Enjoy live betting, same-game combos, and boosted odds. Mise-O-Jeu+ also recently added more local betting options to its roster of events. Oh, and it is naturally available in both French and English languages.

Loto Quebec is one of Canada's oldest operators, having launched in 1993. It is regulated by the Quebec Alcohol, Racing and Gaming Commission and it operates a string of land-based casinos and resort hotels, as well as its lottery products. It is a highly respected Canadian sports lotto and rivals the country's top sportsbooks for reliability and player safety.

Improvements

Mise-O-Jeu+ rivals Pro•Line+ as having the best odds in Canada but English speakers will struggle to get the best from this platform. That's because all Mise-O-Jeu+ betting tips and picks are in French. While most residents in Quebec speak French and English, anyone new to the province who can't speak the language may not enjoy the universal betting experience available to others.

Betting Experience

Saying that, Mise-O-Jeu+ still delivers an excellent sports lotto experience. Whether you're playing on the app or online, the platform is optimized to deliver high levels of usability and facilitate quick wagers.

Mise-O-Jeu+ also recently extended its wagering options to feature more local teams. The lotto ties these options to regular promotions, such as refunded wagers on losing bets on CF Montréal. Other promos include matched wagers on $10+ MLB and NHL bets.

Mise-O-Jeu+ is an exciting platform and certainly one that leads Canada's sports lotto industry. No wonder players often choose to stick here rather than look at sportsbooks elsewhere.

British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC)

British Columbia is doing something a little different from other Canadian provinces with its sports lottery this year. In 2024 the province will shutter the retail lotto Sports Action. The online lotto, called PlayNow, will continue to operate.

The reason for retiring Sports Action is to "modernize B.C.'s lottery business" and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has pledged to launch a new digital sportsbook in retail later in 2024. That means you'll still be able to wager on sports in person at selected locations, but for now the only alternative is to use PlayNow.

Thankfully PlayNow does the basics right and gives players opportunities to place two- to eight-pick parlays on top sports like pro CFL, NBA, hockey, and baseball. iOS users can download the PlayNow app and open an account in seconds.

Improvements

The BCLC is currently focused on improving its in-person sports lotto and relaunching Sports Action (or a similar product with a different name). It means PlayNow is being overlooked for now. The Lotto isn't available as an Android app, which means thousands of players are denied easy access. Playing through a browser is possible but the site isn't optimized.

Betting Experience

PlayNow suffered for years with having a limited number of bet options. While the site still doesn't offer the detail that Pro•Line+ does, it at least covers the basics. Single bets and new parlay options have opened up a wider world of possibilities for players. A popular recent addition is the Bet-Back Bonus which offers free tokens to wager on future events. In fact, PlayNow rates highly for delivering regular promos for players.

Perhaps the best thing about PlayNow is the customer service provision. Users can live chat with operators at any time of day, and have access to extensive FAQs and guides. See what guides are trending and use the 'Learn' tab to improve your knowledge of the sports lotto.

Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC)

The Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) oversees and operates a sports lotto that reaches more than 11 million people. The governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba work closely with the WCLC, while the Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories and Nunavut participate as associate members.

Sport Select is perhaps the most limited sports lotto in Canada. It features just a handful of sports: baseball, basketball, boxing, football, golf, hockey, and soccer. There are no options for more niche sports like MMA.

It's also not really an online betting site. You can use Sport Select to create your wager but then you need to generate a QR code and get it scanned at a retailer. Stakes are capped at $100 and you can only bet on single events marked with the letter S.

Now, Sport Select offers retail betting in these provinces but there are also several online sports lotto options. Play Alberta launched in 2020 under the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Authority. Saskatchewan and Manitoba have a PlayNow platform identical to what ​​British Columbia residents can access.

Improvements

Sport Select needs a lot of improvement if it is to be considered one of the best sports lotteries in Canada. For a start, the site is little more than a QR generator for retail betting. Yes, you can search the odds and build bets when you like, but you still need to find a teller to complete the bet.

This, coupled with a lack of an iOS or Android app, means Sport Select isn't the easiest platform to place wagers. No wonder players look instead to offshore betting sites or stick with online options like Play Alberta.

Betting Experience

Betting on the Sport Select website is time-consuming in that you have to find a retailer to complete the wager. However, the good thing is you can generate your QR codes in seconds. Bet on props and single games whenever you like, and use the top bar on the homepage to quickly filter your chosen sport and leagues.

Sport Select also runs daily pool picks where you need to make multiple selections, and there are multiple featured futures bets available each week.