This summer is primed to be one of the biggest sports betting events in history, with a flurry of FIFA World Cup betting expected across Canada.
With 104 games across 39 days and three countries, betting-friendly kickoff times in North America, 13 matches hosted in Toronto or Vancouver, and widespread interest from coast to coast in a multicultural country, Canadian sportsbooks are preparing for one of the busiest periods they’ve ever seen. That’s particularly true in Ontario’s maturing regulated market, where dozens of online sportsbooks compete for customers’ time and money.
Gambling market data firm H2 Gambling Capital estimates that more than $400m will be bet on FIFA World Cup 2026 via regulated sportsbooks in Canada.
Canadian Gaming Business reached out to licensed sportsbooks in Ontario, as well as the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), to find out more about their plans ahead of the World Cup kickoff on June 11, as well as some insights into what they’re seeing from bettors so far.
Team Canada is Caesars’ biggest potential liability
Caesars Sportsbook is offering more than 10 times the number of futures markets that it offered for the last men’s FIFA World Cup in 2022, the biggest menu it has ever offered for a soccer event. It also launched several new engagement features in the lead-up to the tournament, including:
- Spin2Win — A daily three-reel, three-spin slot that offers players the chance to lock selections of specific World Cup outcomes to earn rewards like bonus bets or profit boosts
- Parlay Your Bracket — A bracket game that lets users map out the entire tournament from the group stage all the way to the final
- Flex Parlay — A new parlay option that pays out as a win even if one or two picks lose
Caesars is also offering tournament Same Game Parlays that allow fans to build customized bets across markets like tournament winner, which team(s) will reach the final and who will win their group.
“That flexibility is something we expect will really drive engagement throughout the World Cup,” Caesars Sportsbook’s Head of Soccer Mark Bickerdike told Canadian Gaming Business. “We’ve seen significant parlay activity, especially on favourites to win their respective groups, so we’ll certainly be rooting for one or two early upsets.”
The most popular markets so far on Caesars have been major futures such as the outright winner. While France and Spain are rated as the favourites, Portugal has been the most popular selection in Ontario in terms of total wagers placed, while England has attracted the highest overall handle.
“Interestingly, Ontarians are not showing strong patriotic bias, with Canada only the fifth most wagered-on team,” added Bickerdike. “However, they do represent our largest potential liability in the Ontario market. Of particular interest locally are our player-focused futures markets. For example, Jonathan David’s total tournament goals line is currently set at 1.5, giving Ontarian customers a clear opportunity to back one of their most prominent national players.”
BetMGM: 16X more bets on Canada’s opener than any other game
BetMGM Chief Revenue Officer Matt Prevost told Canadian Gaming Business that Canada’s opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto is by far the most bet-on game on BetMGM Sportsbook in Ontario.
That match on Friday, June 12, is one of the most popular FIFA World Cup betting markets of any kind on the platform, along with the tournament winner futures market. As of the time of writing, there had been 16 times more bets on the Canada opener than on any other individual game.
“BetMGM is built around delivering legendary moments, and there is no bigger stage in soccer than the World Cup,” added Prevost. “With Canada hosting matches on home soil, this is a defining moment for the sport and a unique opportunity for Canadian fans to connect directly to the action.”
The Canadianism is strong with BetMGM Ontario bettors; the sportsbook noted that Canada is the ninth most-picked team to win the tournament, there are twice as many wagers on Canada than any other team to win Group B, and there have been 10 times more bets on Canada’s moneyline than on any other team to win their first match of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Portugal are also a favourite of BetMGM bettors in the province: Cristiano Ronaldo’s team have both the most wagers and the highest betting handle on them to lift the trophy.
BetMGM also has a range of special offers and markets, including:
- Goal Rush — Bettors who place a $5 bet can win a share of $100,000 in bonus bets for every goal scored by Canada in the World Cup
- GoalFest — Users have a chance to win $50,000 through the BetMGM GoalFest Sweepstakes by participating in BetMGM’s virtual penalty kick activation in downtown Toronto near the official FIFA Fan Festival site
BCLC hosting Vancouver pop-ups and watchalongs
Over on the west coast, BCLC has teamed up with the Vancouver pub The Butcher & Bullock to host a series of PROLINE House Pop-Ups.
The events will offer free activations for residents and visitors, a 17-foot sportsbook screen delivering every match, live PROLINE sportsbook betting terminals, and prize giveaways. GameSense Advisors will be on-site to provide healthy play support and education.
Online, the lottery corporation’s PlayNow iGaming platform is giving away a total of $250,000 in prizes, with five weekly $20,000 draws and a $150,000 grand prize, with only a $5 bet required to enter. Other offers include up to $25 in bonus bets for every goal scored by Canada during the tournament for players who place a qualifying Same Game Parlay on Canada games, as well as daily specials and super boosts throughout the tournament.
“With the world’s biggest tournament in our backyard, we wanted to go big for both B.C.-based and visiting international fans,” BCLC Chief Operating Officer Dan Beebe told Canadian Gaming Business. “Our PROLINE House Pop-Ups are sure to deliver the energy of match day, while PlayNow is offering some of the biggest prizes we’ve ever given away. This is our chance to help make the tournament unforgettable for fans across the province through exciting and engaging experiences.”
Sportsbooks lean into World Cup novelty betting
Meanwhile, as well as the widest range of FIFA World Cup betting markets ever on offer, some operators are giving users the chance to bet on some unique novelty markets around the tournament.
Super Group’s Betway brand, for example, has markets on whether U.S. President Donald Trump will turn up at the World Cup this summer after his appearance during the NBA Finals on Monday night, including:
- Will President Trump appear at USA’s opening game against Paraguay?
- Will President Trump appear at the 2026 World Cup final?
Meanwhile, FanDuel Canada offers Ontario users the chance to choose from a selection of World Cup novelty betting markets, including:
- The total number of games Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow would attend in the city
- What Alanis Morrissette, Michael Bublé, or Alessia Cara’s first song would be at the pre-game opening ceremony on June 12
- Which special musical guests may appear during a half-time show during the tournament
FanDuel also rolled out one of the most striking bonus offers: a “No Brainer” boost on the chances of there being at least one shot on target in the game that raised the odds of either Canada or Bosnia and Herzegovina registering a shot on target from -10,000 to +101, effectively offering customers a double-your-money wager.
Just like Team Canada this summer, sportsbooks are shooting their shot.
