5 Best Horse Betting Sites in Canada (2025)

Canada’s horse racing enthusiasts have a range of top-tier betting sites at their fingertips, offering unparalleled access to both local and international horse racing events. These platforms stand out for their comprehensive coverage, user-friendly interfaces, and diverse betting options, making them ideal for both seasoned bettors and newcomers to the world of horse racing.

Top Horse Racing Betting Sites in Canada

At these leading Canadian horse betting sites, fans can immerse themselves in the excitement of major international events like the Kentucky Derby, one of the most prestigious horse races in the world. These sites also provide access to other prominent races globally, ensuring that Canadian bettors can participate in the thrill and tradition of high-stakes horse racing from around the world.

Each site offers a unique blend of features, including live streaming of races, in-depth analysis, and real-time odds, enhancing the betting experience. Security, reliable customer support, and a variety of payment methods are standard, ensuring a safe and enjoyable betting environment. Whether you’re looking to place a bet on the fast-paced action of the Kentucky Derby or explore other renowned international horse racing events, these top Canadian horse betting sites offer an engaging and comprehensive platform for experiencing the world of horse racing betting.

Horse Betting Sites in Canada: Rating Criteria

There are many horse racing betting sites for punters to pick from, which elevates the industry standard across Canada. As such, we had to go into finer details to rate these sites and narrow down our list to just 5 premier platforms. Naturally, we only picked sites that have proper accreditation and licensure to ensure your safety.

But we also based our pickings on their banking options, mobile functionality, user friendliness, and how well they handle customer queries. These sites are really the cream of the crop, covering horse race meetings from all over the world. Plus, they also have exotic betting markets, and features to allow even the most detailed predictions. Or, if you want to curb the risks, you can also try their round robin and full cover betting functions. In any case, they offer what we consider to be an unrivaled betting experience for horse races.

Best 6 Horse Racing Betting Sites

Here are the top sites, and short summaries of what they have to offer horse racing punters.

1.  TonyBet

TonyBet, launched in 2009 as a casino and sportsbook, is an excellent choice for those new to the online betting scene, thanks to its user-friendly website. While it offers a variety of betting options, TonyBet is particularly notable for horse betting, providing a comprehensive platform for enthusiasts of this timeless sport. Alongside horse racing, users can also engage in betting on other sports, play casino games, and even delve into the world of eSports betting.

Available in English and French, the platform is also committed to responsible betting, self-regulating to ensure a safe and ethical betting environment. A popular platform in Canada, TonyBet offers its users a wide variety of payment options, and through low minimum deposit limits it suits bettors of all budgets.

Originally only available in Canadian provinces outside Ontario, TonyBet also went live in Ontario in 2023. You can join TonyBet from anywhere in Canada.

Visit TonyBet →

2.  BetVictor

Founded in 1946, BetVictor was originally a bookmaker for horse racing in London’s East End.  Since these humble beginnings, it has become a global company that provides everything from sports betting to all types of casino games.

Horse Racing Betting is BetVictor’s speciality. They have an extensive range of live Horse Racing Betting from the biggest events in both the flat racing and jump racing calendars. It includes a number of horse racing betting markets, including Outrights, Match Bets, Each-Way Betting, Faller Insurance, Place Only and Betting Without Favourite.

On top of that, they also offer an innovative option that allows you to Lengthen The Odds. Choose the odds you would like for your selected horse, and they will inform you on how many lengths you will need to win by for your bet to win. Basically, the horse racing equivalent of “point spreads/handicap” wagers.

For mobile users they offer both Android & iOS apps.  It is straightforward to set up and gives you instant access to all your games and bets. The app is specially designed to fit on any sized screen, so you can download it on tablets or mobile phones.

Should you choose to take a peek at the casino games they offer over 1500 slot machines, but most importantly they offer authentic table games including baccarat, blackjack, craps, and roulette. BetVictor is available in Ontario and all the other Canadian provinces.

Visit BetVictor →

3. Dark Horse Bets

A masterfully constructed Canadian betting platform, Dark Horse was launched in 2020. Dark Horse is a fantastic horse racing betting platform, that is available in Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan. It has a great array of features and tools to bring the most out of your horse race betting.

You can bet using virtual coins, or swap to real money betting, and through live streaming, superior race statistics and daily tasks, it is fully equipped to meet your horse race betting needs. Though it is important to note that Dark Horse does not have any casino games, nor any possibilities to bet on any other sports outside horse racing. Dark Horse has iOS and Android mobile apps, dedicated to bringing you the ultimate horse race betting experience.

Dark Horse Bets is available in Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Visit Dark Horse Bets →

4. HPIbet

Originally, the platform was called HorsePlayer Interactive and was launched in 1987. HPIBets covers horse races from all over the world, including the most prestigious meetings in the UK, Europe and North America. HPIbet has superior mobile betting apps, that give you full access to live streams, horse racing data, and all the excellent betting markets that HPIbet has to offer. It provides bettors with numerous payment options and all the tools a newcomer would need to start placing horse racing bets today.

Partnered with over 20 horse racetracks and casino brands in Canada, HPIbet is both well-connected and highly reputable. It offers a definitive horse betting experience, but unfortunately, that is where HPIbets’ coverage ends. The platform does not have any casino games nor possibilities to bet on any other sports outside horse racing. HPI has mobile apps for iOS and Android, in addition to its superior desktop site.

HPIbet is available all across Canada.

Visit HPIbet →

5. 888Sport

888Sport was launched in 2008, as an extension of 888 Casino. The operator is based in Gibraltar and primarily targets European bettors, but it also operates in Canada. In Canada, 888Sports is partnered with Virtual Global Digital Services Limited to have the necessary permissions to operate in Canada. VGDSL also manages all transactions to and from the sportsbook, meaning that in some cases the withdrawal processing time can be a bit longer than usual (1-2 days up to 7 days). 888Sport has lots of great horse racing bets to be had, and with its low minimum deposits and minimum stakes, you can place bets for as little as $1. The platform has a superior bet slip that allows all sorts of parlays and round robin bets, and you can also dive into forecast, tricast and experiment with each way betting markets.

Members of this phenomenal horse race betting platform have a wide array of payment options to pick from. You are not limited to horse betting only, as 888Sport has an extensive sportsbook and a great casino library, packed with games from all the very best game developer studios. Through its Android and iOS apps, you can take your horse race bets with you wherever you go.

888Sports is available in Ontario and the rest of Canada.

Visit 888Sport →

Horse Race Betting Legality in Canada

Horse race betting has been legal in Canada since 1985. Parlay-style wagers and pari-mutuel betting were allowed at dedicated bookmakers or off-track racetrack betting windows, and in 2021 the Canadian lawmakers legalised single-event sports betting. With Bill C-218, practically all forms of sports betting were legalised in Canada, though horse racing falls into a slightly different category in itself.

Each Canadian province reserves the right to regulate gambling as it sees fit. They all have their own gambling regulators, and lots of aspects of the gambling law vary between the different provinces. For example, the minimum age for gambling ranges from 18 to 19.

Ontario has the most progressive gambling industry. In 2022, Ontario opened its door to an open legal gambling market. This allowed foreign sportsbook operators to access the Ontarian market, on the condition that they obtain the necessary licenses and permissions. Operators can acquire licenses from iGaming Ontario, a subsidiary agency of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Through these licenses, the operators fully comply with the gambling laws as dictated by the ACGO, and thus are safe for Ontarians to play at.

Horse Race Betting Landscape Across Canada

Through federal law, horse race betting is fully legal across Canada, but in terms of options, the landscape is quite varied across Canada. In the Maritime provinces, the only legal sportsbook is the one provided by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. For British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, users can join PlayNow, and in Alberta, gamers can play at PlayAlberta. Horse race betting is a little different, as there are platforms such as HPIbet and Dark Horse Bets that operate across the entirety of Canada – only they do not have any sports betting options.

Province By Province Analysis

The provinces outside Ontario, for the most part, have a legal monopoly on sports betting. They tend to have only one legal sportsbook, that covers a decent range of sports, but without any competition, the betting odds and quality of the markets are a bit poor. However, you don’t have to stick to these sportsbooks if you don’t want to. Numerous legitimate online sportsbooks have licensure outside these provinces, the only thing to note though is that they are not locally approved by the gambling regulators. But if you see a sportsbook that is licensed in Malta, Curacao or Kahnawake, you can rest assured that it is fully reliable.

Ontario is the market leader in Canada, but other provinces are looking into the idea of expanding their gambling markets. Alberta has shown interest in following in Ontario’s footsteps, and that may inspire other nations to also explore the options of having an open-market gambling model. In the meantime though, you can always try sportsbooks such as TonyBet or BetVictor, that take horse and sports bettors from all over Canada. If you want more information about the gambling legislation and landscape in the different Canadian provinces, you can check out our provincial sports betting pages below.

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Saskatchewan
• Quebec

Dangers of Betting on the Races

Horse race betting is one of the most exhilarating forms of gambling, and is not so popular in Canada (and the rest of the world) by accident. No, you can go as risky as you like with your wagers, and the majority of races are settled within 2 minutes. From simple race winners to trifectas and superfectas, you will find no shortage of betting opportunities on horse races. Plus, there are lots of different ways to go about it, including various betting systems and strategies.

But therein also lies the danger. Horse race betting is a high-intensity sport that also creates a very dramatic and high-paced betting environment. At a premier betting site that has international horse race coverage, you can even bet on 20 or more horse races from around the world. This frequency, and the lengthy odds, make it very dangerous for gamblers.

A win can easily fill you with confidence and stimulate you to bet more. Even when you finish close second, you may get a piece of the winner’s high, as your predictions have not fallen that far of the mark. The fast nature of the races and their frequency can draw parallels to gambling on slot machines.

Common Fallacies and Bad Habits

Fluctuating between the highs of winning and remorse of a loss can play tricks on your mind. Like casno gaming, it changes your dopamine regulation after time. And this can stimulate punters to bet more and take more risks. It can also build a number of common gambling fallacies.

For instance, you can get sucked into winning or losing streaks. In reality, streaks are just anomalies or coincidences that can occur at any time. But for some, a winning streak may build confidence and cause bettors to bet more aggressively. Losing streaks can have the same effect, albeit for different reasons. You want to break the cycle, and chase your losses to work your way back up to square one.

Another fallacy is the belief that there are “lucky” horses, trainers or racing tracks. These are merely superstitions and should not be taken seriously. Instead, you should always weigh up the dangers and the potential rewards, gauging to see whether a bet is worth taking the risk.

How to Prevent Gambling Addiction

The best way to avoid overspending is by setting deposit limits on your betting account. All licensed horse race betting sites offer these responsible gambling tools. As well as tools such as win/loss markers and self-assessment to help you control your spending. It is also worth setting reality checks.

Though these tools are primarily used in casino gaming, they are highly beneficial to horse racing punters. Because it is easy to lose track of time and spend hours picking horses and betting on races. Take breaks regularly, and always keep an eye on your balance.

By setting a budget and making a plan for your horse racing bets, you can prevent falling prey to poor gambling habits. Should you ever need help or some counsel, there are lots of organisations that prompt safer gambling in Canada. And these networks have toll free helplines and useful information about how you can avoid gambling addiction.

Conclusion

Horse betting can be very rewarding if done right, but you will need some skill and practice in order to learn how to recognize a winning horse, but also how to recognize the best platform. Learning how to study a horse and recognize which one is the best is something that you will have to pick up on your own. However, we can help you choose the best platform, and of the mentioned above are our top picks for Canada.

Horse Racing Betting Canada FAQs

Here are some of the questions we get asked most often about horse race betting in Canada.

Is horse race betting legal in Canada?

Yes, horse race betting is fully legal in Canada. It is regulated by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency CPMA), and you can bet both online or at physical venues. The online market for horse race betting in Canada is large, and there are plenty of elite-category sites that offer a comprehensive betting experience.

What is the minimum age to bet on horses in Canada?

The legal gambling age in Canada varies depending on the province. In Manitoba, Alberta and Quebec, you must be 18+ to bet for real money. In other provinces, the legal required age is 19+.

Do I have to pay taxes on horse race bets in Canada?

No, your horse race betting proceeds are not subject to any taxation. Unless, you are a professional gambler and have gambling listed as your official source of income.

Which Canadian betting sites have horse race bets?

There are numerous top Canadian betting sites that have hrose racing bets. For instance, HPIbet, BetVictor and TonyBet are reputable platforms with a huge array of horse race betting markets.

What are virtual horse race bets?

Virtual horse races are generated by computer algorithms, and run virtually all the time. They are an alternative for bettors who want to place wagers on horse races when there are no horse races on. These virtual horse races are not rigged, but are calculated using powerful algorithms and are completely random. As such, they are provably fair to play, and a worthy alternative to betting on real-life races. Plus, the betting sites that offer them always provide streams and lots of betting opportunities on these races.

What are exotic horse racing bets?

Exotic bets in horse races usually refer to wagers that include numerous horses in 1 race or multiple races. For instance, Exacta bets require you to predict the horses that finish 1st and 2nd in a race, in that order. Superfectas extend the requirements to include the horses that finish in the first 4 places in the correct order. Then, there are Pick 3, 4, or 6 bets that require yo to pick winners of multiple consecutive races. These bets are popular as they generate lengthy odds on horse races, but they are also a lot riskier than simply picking a race winner.

Which Canadian horse races are best to bet on?

Canada has numerous top racing events in a year, the most popular of which are the Triple Crown events. The King’s Plate, Prince of Wales Stakes and Breeders’ Stakes make up the Canadian Triple Crown, and always receive special attention from top Canadian horse race betting sites. Other horse races to watch out for are Canada’s International Stakes and the Woodbine Mile.