Best Sportsbook Bonuses and Promos in Canada May 2025 (excl. Ontario)

Top sportsbook promos happening now

Here are some of the best Canada promos for the MLB, MLS, and NBA & NHL Playoffs on May 24, 2025:

Sports Interaction - Playoff Push Leaderboard: Earn points with every $25 wager you make on the NBA and NHL Playoffs (ongoing). If you finish in the top 10, you'll win a share of $10,000 in prizes.

bet365 Promo - MLB Profit Boost: Claim a 30% profit boost to use on a three-leg MLB same-game parlay with +100 odds.

BetVictor - NBA Rewards: Opt-in and place a $25 wager on any NBA Playoffs market to unlock a prize.

TonyBet - 100% Boost on Combo Bets: Place a three-leg parlay wager on any sport and earn up to a 100% profit boost if it wins.

Stake - NBA Playoffs Refund: Get up to $100 back if your pre-game NBA moneyline pick loses their game by one or two points.

BET99 Promo - F1 Ticket Giveaway: Deposit $99+ from May 16 - 29 to be entered in a draw for two (2) tickets to F1 Montreal Sunday Race Day on June 15. Max 3 entries per day per customer.

LeoVegas - Weekly Parlay Boost: Get a 50% profit boost on your weekly parlay bets and win up to $1,000 in additional bonuses.

888Sport - Live Betting Bonus Bet: Wager $25+ live on NBA or NHL games and get a $5 Bonus Bet. Offer available once every day during the promotional period.

PowerPlay - NBA and NHL Playoff Bonus: Place a $50+ wager on any same-game parlay for both the NHL and NBA, and get a $20 bonus bet.

Top bonus and promo offers in Canada

A lot of betting sites are all vying for your business, and they must work hard to stand out from the crowd. 

These are the most popular welcome bonus offers that you can familiarize yourself with for the NBA & NHL playoffs!

The vast majority of the best sportsbooks in Canada provide attractive betting sign-up offers and casino bonus options to tempt new customers. The NHL playoffs are a big draw for Canada bettors and with that underway along with the NBA playoffs, it's a busy time in sports.

Other Canada sports betting promos

The following sportsbooks didn't quite top our "best of" list, but they are still plenty worthy of your consideration, especially if you're shopping around for the best odds and trying to snag multiple bonuses:

Best Canada sportsbooks reviewed

It's easy to get overwhelmed by the number of Canadian sportsbook options to choose from. We've done our due diligence and will be sure to show you which Canadian sportsbooks are truly the best. From special features to promotions, most top operators provide unique value worth taking advantage of.

Bankonbet 🅱️

Bankonbet has only been around for a few years, but it’s quickly become one of the better sports betting options in Canada. Owned by Rabidi N.V. and licensed by PAGCOR, Bankonbet specializes in niche sports outside of the big four North American pro leagues (particularly esports and horse racing). 

Truth be told, Bankonbet’s 100% deposit match up to $150 welcome offer could be better, but it makes up for this with ongoing promotions and a VIP program. The weekly reload bonus is a highlight, as it provides a 50% match on your first deposit of the week up to $750. For next steps, we’d love to see Bankonbet get away from its generic (though admittedly easy-to-navigate) website design and release mobile apps.

Sports Interaction 🏈

Sports Interaction (SIA) has made a name for itself as "Canada's home-grown sportsbook," but it also happens to be one of the country's best. Sports Interaction was one of the first sportsbooks to secure licensing and regulation in North America, so it's had years to build up a robust live betting platform. Plus, its dedicated apps arguably go toe-to-toe with industry leaders like DraftKings and FanDuel in terms of functionality and user experience.

SIA lets its product quality speak for itself, as evidenced by its limited bonus offering. The 125% deposit match (up to $250) welcome offer is admittedly great, as you don't need a Sports Interaction bonus code to access it, making it easy to claim with a low minimum deposit requirement ($10). However, SIA doesn't have many ongoing promos for existing users. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as Sports Interaction offers a secure, trusted betting platform that has become a go-to option for many of SBR's Canadian staff. 

bet365 🟢

bet365 has come a long way since it started with 12 employees working from a trailer back in 2000. Now one of the world’s largest sportsbooks, bet365 is a name many Canadians know and trust. Make sure to use the bet365 bonus code SBRBONUS during sign-up to take advantage of the welcome offer, which gives you a choice between a $1,000 First Bet Safety Net or a bet $10, get $50 in bonus bets deal.

Its robust live betting market has become especially popular in recent years, with a large selection of same-game parlays as well as live analytics. The mobile app is designed with convenience in mind, almost perfectly mirroring the website to create a seamless, consistent user experience across platforms. With an app rating of 4.6 or higher from nearly 200,000 review across iOS and Android, it’s clearly been a hit.    

BetVictor 🔵

BetVictor was founded in 1946 in East London as a means of wagering on greyhound racing. Nowadays, it’s stronger than ever, propelled by competitive odds and a wide selection of sports and betting markets. Some hallmark features include a strong betting app on both iOS and Android, lenient deposit/withdrawal limits, and even live streaming for specific events such as the PGA Tour.

New users across Canada can now get a safety net up to $400 + NFL streaming on select games. There's a minimum deposit of $10 without needing a BetVictor promo code of any kind. 

To sign up, use our exclusive referral link, and make your first wager in BetVictor within seven days (min +100 odds). If it loses, you'll receive Bet Credits equal to your lost stake, up to $400, paid out as four 25% chunks over the next four days.

TonyBet ⚽

TonyBet (formerly known as OmniBet) technically launched in 2003, but was rebranded to TonyBet in 2012 after it was purchased by world-renowned poker star Antanas Guogo — aka 'Tony G'. As such, TonyBet has typically provided a much stronger casino product than it has sportsbook. We rank it among the vert best online casinos in Alberta. However, the sportsbook side of TonyBet has notable advantages too.

Admittedly, we found TonyBet to have a somewhat messy layout and less competitive odds compared to the field. On the other hand, this operator has helpful 24/7 customer support as well as a large selection of live betting and esports markets. 

New bettors will begin their TonyBet experience with a boost as well, with the sportsbook currently offering a $350 free bet promotion. Click the link in the table below or see our TonyBet bonus code section to learn more.

10bet ⚫

10bet has been around since the early 2000s, making it one of the most seasoned sportsbooks on this list. It's available on iOS and Android, and covers more than 42 different sports. 

In addition to its market coverage, 10bet has a good stable of bonuses to check out. The welcome bonus is a 125% deposit match up to $250 + $10 free bet, which is competitive with other books, many of which restrict deposit matches to $150. While the ongoing promos for existing players are a bit light, we like 10bet's 10-tier Loyalty Club program, which unlocks different prizes the more you play. 

To check it out for yourself, use the 10bet promo code SPORTUP to get started.

BET99 🍁

BET99 has been a part of the Canadian betting scene since 2019, spending much of that time at the forefront of the minds of sports fans due to the large volume of advertising. Both the website and the mobile app have a convenient layout, featuring a top menu with dedicated tabs for 'In Play', 'Promotions', and even the casino (live or otherwise). That said, navigation and aesthetics aren't everything, as both the site and app are prone to bugs and may even log you out prematurely. Overall, there's a lot to like in terms of market offerings as even the esports selection is quite vast.

In terms of welcome offers, the BET99 welcome bonus is among the most generous. New players can now get a First Bet Encore up to $800. Just click the link in the table below to get started and use our special BET99 promo code SBRBONUS when signing up.

RTbet 🧩

RTbet has only been available in Canada for a short time, but it's proven to be a worthy addition to the North American sports betting market. You'll find a large collection of live betting markets on its website, which is intuitive to use and works well on mobile browsers (which is a necessity since RTbet doesn't offer iOS or Android apps). 

Use our exclusive RTbet Sportsbook promo code SBR200 to snag an exclusive welcome offer – a 100% deposit match, up to $200.

LeoVegas 🦁

LeoVegas was officially founded in 2012. It's a Swedish-based company that began as a mobile gaming platform, parlaying that success into an expansion into multiple European countries and, most recently, Canada. Despite its growth within sports betting, LeoVegas is still primarily casino-focused, with its sportsbook taking a back seat in many regards.

That said, it has a good selection of betting markets, including several soccer leagues and bet types. It's hard to beat the popularity of soccer overseas, so it makes sense that it's the sport with the most market offerings. Even in Canada!

Those who haven't previously registered for LeoVegas are entitled to the bet $25, get $50 in free bets welcome bonus. No promo code is required! Simply use our link to sign-up for a LeoVegas account and once you've made your first deposit, place a bet of at least $25 to automatically earn $50 in free bets. You won't need to enter a LeoVegas sports promo code to claim this deal. 

Betway 🏒

Betway was founded in 2006 and has steadily continued to grow throughout Canada and the rest of North America. It’s best known for having comprehensive live betting features, which can be easily accessed through the dedicated ‘In-Play’ tab on both the browser and the mobile app. Perks include live stats, several live betting markets, and high-quality live streaming for select games.

Presently, new users are eligible for an SBR exclusive offer of a 100% deposit bonus (up to $500), meaning the initial deposit will be matched based on the wagered amount. Register using our unique referral link from the table below, and the bonus will automatically apply once your first deposit has been successfully processed. You'll also get 50 bonus spins for the 12 Masks of Fire Drums online casino game. There is a $10 minimum deposit as well as a 10x playthrough requirement on odds greater than 1.75 (-133). No Betway promo code is needed to claim this deal. 

Don't forget, this is an exclusive welcome bonus offer for SBR users only and one to take advantage of.

888sport 🎱

Launched in 2008, 888sport is an industry veteran offering a very refined product on both desktop and mobile. Both its iOS and Android apps run well, with a sports catalogue that rivals some of its top competitors. One of the only drawbacks is that the 888sport sportsbook app is separate from both its casino and poker apps. The balances are also kept separate, meaning any money you have in your sportsbook account balance can't be transferred or used between apps. On the other hand, the customer support team is very helpful, with a live chat that is both friendly and responsive. 

Those who are new to 888sport can also take advantage of the welcome bonus, which is a 100% deposit match up to $500. You will also receive a $10 casino bonus once your first deposit has officially gone through. Click the link in the table below to learn more and don't forget to use 888sport promo code SBRBONUS when signing up.

PowerPlay ⚡

PowerPlay is one of the newer operators to try its hand at the sportsbook game. Launching in 2018, PowerPlay has primarily found its success in the online casino space, but its sportsbook is growing well thanks to a partnership with FSB Tech. This has aided the live betting offerings and functionality, but unfortunately, the website still lags at times.

That said, its betting market selection continues to grow and the success that PowerPlay has enjoyed in other parts of the world is beginning to reach Canada. While still without a mobile app, mobile functionality has greatly improved in recent years, and the future looks optimistic.

If you're new to PowerPlay, you'll be able to claim the $500 deposit match welcome bonus. Other promotions and giveaways will be displayed on the website as they occur, so be sure to take advantage of as many as possible.

NEO.bet 🔴

NEO.bet officially went public in 2018, but it didn't reach Canada until 2022. NEO.bet is actually a German sportsbook that hasn't found great success away from home just yet, but it continues to work towards making inroads throughout the Great White North. The iOS and Android apps weren't always available in Canada, but both have now been released and seem to be holding their own. Like the website, the layout is just a bit simple, with a dull colour scheme and a very limited selection of sports markets. On the plus side, there is a dedicated esports page with a larger-than-usual number of options to choose from. 

The NEO.bet welcome bonus is somewhat unique as it rewards your first three deposits. The first provides a 100% deposit match up to $200 while the second and third hand out a 100% deposit match up to $100. Click the link in the table below for more information.

Pinnacle 🟠 (unranked)*

Pinnacle is a fitting name for this sportsbook, as it's been a very reputable company since first launching in 1998. As one of Canada's most popular sportsbook, Pinnacle has been as consistent as they come in terms of both its sportsbook and its casino offerings. The website is well-designed and players love the competitive betting odds, especially when it comes to live betting. Customer service is a hallmark as well, with a responsive live chat feature that is both friendly and helpful.  Unfortunately, Pinnacle has yet to release a mobile app, but the website does run well on both desktop and mobile.  

*Although Pinnacle is one of the best sportsbooks in Canada, we decided to keep it "unranked" on this list because it doesn't have a welcome bonus.

Betting options in Canada

Sportsbooks offer bettors a wide range of enticing bonus offers in a bid to stand out in a highly competitive market. You can, therefore, benefit from all manner of bonus bets, boosted odds promotions, deposit matches, bonus wagers, and more. These sportsbook bonuses can help you swing into a profit over the course of the year, so it is essential to snap up as many of them as possible.

However, there are wagering requirements and other terms and conditions that you need to know about. We have created this sportsbook bonus page to help you understand all the offers and how to sort through the fine print.

There's a wide range of sports to choose from including NHL betting sites, NBA betting sites, NFL betting sites, NFL parlay betting sites and NFL prop betting sites, and best boxing betting sites. Plus, while it's not a sport (depending on who you ask), you can follow local and international election markets with the ever-popular political betting sites in Canada.

Read on to learn more about the exciting offers you can take advantage of today at some of the best sportsbooks in Canada and the best sports betting apps in Canada.

Residents of Canada can always turn to bet365 as a great option. Canadians can take advantage of the bet365 bonus code (excluding in ON). We also like the newer fish-themed sportsbook BassBet, which offers a 100% deposit bonus up to $150 without needing a BassBet promo code.

Residents in the US also have plenty options: For more information and up-to-date odds, see the DraftKings promo code section, FanDuel promo code page, Caesars Sportsbook promo code, Fanatics Sportsbook promo code terms, or BetMGM bonus code info page.

Canada sportsbook bonuses summary

Betting bonuses terms & conditions

Receiving bonus bet credits is a great way to stretch your hard-earned cash a bit further while getting the hang of sports betting. Before diving in, it’s important to understand the fine print surrounding these bonus bets and how to maximize value before it’s too late.

Expiration of promotions & bonus bet credits 💰

Most promotions involving bonus bet credits will expire within one or two weeks of being received. Be sure to always double-check how long your rewards are valid to avoid missing out. Same goes for the promotions themselves, which eventually expire as new bonuses replace them.

Odds & wagers requirements 📝

Some bonus bet credits have odds and wagering restrictions. Odds restrictions typically start at -200, meaning any bonus bet wager on a betting market with odds of -200 or lower are not allowed. This is to stop people from picking overwhelming favorites for the sole purpose of turning bonus bets into real cash.

This is where wagering requirements come into play. Some sportsbooks have what’s referred to as a ‘play-through’ or ‘rollover’ bonus, meaning you would need to bet past a certain monetary threshold to be able to withdraw bet credits as real cash.

For example, if you deposit $100 with a 3x rollover bonus, you will need to place $300+ worth of bets before making any withdrawals.

Game & win limits 💸

A game limit refers to how bonus bet credits can be spent with a specific sportsbook. For example, some will not let you use your bonus bets on certain sports or betting markets.

Similarly, a win limit hinders how much you’re able to win from a wager placed with bonus bet credits. For example, if a $40 bonus bet wins $200 but the win limit is $100, you will not be able to cash out the outstanding $100.

Expiry Dates 📆

Whether your bonus is comes as Bonus Bets, Bonus Funds, or some other form of site credit, it likely comes with some sort of expiry date. It could be as little as 72 hours or as long as 30 or 60 days. 

Make sure you've read the fine print that comes with your chosen bonus. The last thing you want to do is login one day and realize those bonus funds you were saving have suddenly expired and disappeared forever. 

Bonus types from sportsbooks in Canada

Canadian sportsbooks typically offer a few different bonus bets. Some of the most popular promotions are welcome (sign-up) bonuses, meaning you can only redeem them during registration.

That said, bonus bets are often available if you’re a returning player as well and can be awarded for any number of reasons. Here are the most popular types of free bet bonuses being offered by Canadian sportsbooks.

➡️ Deposit match bonus

A deposit match bonus is when your first real cash deposit with a sportsbook is matched up to a certain amount. For example, if a sign-up bonus is a 50% deposit match up to $1,000 and you were to deposit $250, you would receive $125 in bonus bet credits.

Remember, bonus bet credits are not a direct equivalent to real cash – meaning the $125 bonus cannot be withdrawn and spent elsewhere.

➡️ Bet & get bonus

Some sportsbooks have what is called a ‘Bet and Get’ bonus. A common example would be a promotion such as ‘Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bet credits.’ Essentially, a small wager earns a large amount of bonus bets whether it wins or loses.

➡️ No deposit bonus

There are some instances where a sportsbook will offer new players a no deposit bonus. This type of promotion is a good way to truly get a sports betting free trial, as bonus bet credits are awarded without any kind of deposit requirement.

➡️ First bet insurance bonus

A first bet insurance bonus, sometimes referred to as a ‘no sweat first bet’, provides a safety net for players who are making their first bet with a new sportsbook. For example, if you place an initial bet of $20 and it loses, you will be awarded $20 in bonus bet credits.

➡️ Parlay insurance bonus

Parlay insurance bonuses provide players a unique opportunity to get creative with multi-leg combination bets. Most promotions of this variety require a parlay bet containing at least four legs and will reimburse the player in bonus bet credits if only one leg doesn’t hit.

For example, if you were to place a $40 five-leg parlay bet and four-out-of-five legs hit, you would receive $40 in bonus bets. Conversely, if only three-of-five bets won, the parlay insurance bonus would not activate.

➡️ Reload bonus

A reload bonus is essentially a deposit match bonus for returning players. This type of promotion is typically offered at random, often via sportsbook app notification or email. Sometimes there will be a time constraint, so be sure to check how long that is if you want to take advantage of the promo but don’t immediately have the funds to do so.

An example of this would be a 75% reload offer up to $200, meaning a $200 real cash deposit would earn $150 in bonus bet credits.

➡️ Boosted odds

Sportsbooks will sometimes offer boosted odds on select markets. This can happen for a few different reasons, such as a boosted odds promo during the Super Bowl to augment betting activity.

For example, a sportsbook may send you an email or notification that says something along the lines of ‘Patrick Mahomes Over 1.5 Passing Touchdowns + Travis Kelce Anytime Touchdown parlay now available at +340 boosted odds! (Was +240).

➡️ Refer-A-Friend bonus

Many businesses offer a best sportsbook referral bonus to reward customers for recruiting family and friends, and sportsbooks are no different. This is the type of bonus where everyone wins, as the sportsbook receives a new customer and both players involved in the referral will earn bonus bet credits.

Top games to bet on this week

With the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals and the Toronto Blue Jays playing nearly every day, the Canadian pro sports schedule has a little something for every bettor.

Here are the top games this week:

How to use bonuses and promos in Canada

Many bonuses and promotions in Canada have shifted away from needing a promo code, although there are still some that require it. Many of the aforementioned welcome offers that use codes can be redeemed with the SBR promo code SBRBONUS, but it's important to make sure prior to signing up.

For example, the Stake promo code is SBR3000, which is completely unique compared to the others. To redeem a welcome bonus or any other type of sportsbook promotion, follow the steps below.

1. Choose a sportsbook and register for an account

Select a sportsbook with a promotion that fits your current needs. Feel free to consult our best sportsbooks page if you need further guidance. Once you’ve made your choice, register for an account and verify your identity.

2. Make your first deposit

Once the registration/verification process is complete, it’s time to make your first real cash deposit. If the promotion you’ve activated is a deposit match, make sure your initial deposit is the full amount that you would like to be matched in bonus bets.

3. Select and submit your bet slip

After your deposit has been made, pick a sport and a betting market (or multiple if building a parlay). Submit your bet slip, kick back, and enjoy the action!

Matched deposit bonus offers

You generally have to deposit some of your own money into a new sportsbook account before you can unlock a sports betting bonus. This is called a deposit match bonus. For example, some betting sites in Canada might offer you a 100% matching bonus if you sign up for a new account. That means it will give you 100% of the amount you deposit in the form of a bonus bet, up to whatever maximum they set.

How deposit matching bonuses work

If you deposit $100 of your own money, the sportsbook will kick in another $100, bringing your total to $200. Alternatively, a sportsbook could offer a 50% match deposit. In that case, you could deposit $100 and receive $150 to play with.

Some sports betting sites offer 150% or 200% matched deposits, while others might go to 300% or 400%. However, they may only allow you to deposit a small maximum amount when seizing these generous bonuses. You will notice that each betting site has a minimum and maximum deposit amount for anyone who wants to take advantage of a first deposit bonus bet bonus offer.

For example, one site might offer a 100% matched deposit up to $250, while a rival site could offer a 50% bonus up to $1,000. In the first case, you would be able to deposit $250 and receive $500 to play with. In the second case, you could deposit $1,000 and receive $1,500 to play with.

How to claim a deposit match bonus

You can only qualify for a sign-up bonus if you are a new customer. You may have to enter a promo code to unlock these bonus funds. If you do, check our table above for the most current verified bonus codes.

Your bonus funds usually aren't available right away, either for play or withdrawal. Instead, you have to unlock the funds with consistent play or by betting through the bonus amount a certain number of times. Read the terms and conditions to know exactly what you're getting, and what you have to do in order to actually take advantage of your deposit match bonus.

Recent key developments in Canada sports betting

No deposit bonuses

This is a rare promotion. A no deposit Canada casino bonus essentially allows you to place a wager without having to deposit any of your own money. If your bonus bet wins, your winnings will be added to your account balance, and you can keep playing. If your bonus bet loses, you can walk away without losing any of your own money. 

Why would a betting site offer a bonus bet? The idea is that you will be so impressed with the sports wagering platform after betting for a bonus that you will decide to remain a long-term customer, deposit real money, and play various different markets. Some sports betting operators believe that getting your foot in the door is half the battle. They lure you in with a bonus bet and sell themselves in a short amount of time to encourage you to stick around.

You may find that a sports betting site offers subsequent bonuses after giving you a bonus bet in order to give you another incentive to stay. A no-deposit bonus bet is an appealing bonus offer for anyone who bets on sports. It's well worth snapping them up when you see them. We will always highlight no-deposit bonuses alongside match bonus offers and other bonus bets at SBR.

First-bet insurance

Some bonuses are branded as “bonus bets” but are more accurately called first-bet insurance. A sportsbook will promote that they will refund your first bet, if it loses, up to a certain amount. For example, if you bet $50 and lose, you'll get a $50 bonus bet as compensation. You can't cash it out, but it does give you another chance to pick a winner. 

Referral bonus 🤝

You will often receive bonus bets by encouraging your friends to sign up for an account at the site. For example, a sportsbook will give you a 100% bonus bet up to $100 if you refer a friend to the site. The friend must deposit $100 into a new account for you to receive the full $100.

Others will give you a 200% bonus bet for using the best sportsbook referral bonus, plus an extra $25 if that friend uses a specific deposit method. Some might give you a 25% commission on each referred player, paid out monthly. There is generally no limit to the number of friends you can refer and the number of bonus bets you can earn.

Boosted odds bonus offers in Canada

Many sports betting operators will offer boosted odds promotions in a bid to generate new business when a big sporting event looms.

This is particularly common among European betting sites. Let's say Liverpool has a big game against Everton in the Premier League and are heavy favorites to win. You might see a sports betting operator offering boosted odds on Liverpool winning. Instead of 2-to-1 (+200) odds, a book might boost them to 3.5-to-1 (+350). Snagging these boosts (when they make sense) can be a great way to pad your bankroll. 

The offer usually isn't limited to just new customers. That gives returning bettors a chance to use these bonuses too. However, they generally have small betting limits (Less than $20).

You will also have to deposit some of your own money to unlock the bonus. If you win, you will be paid in real money that you can instantly withdraw. These boosted odds bonuses are often available for a variety of sports, including all the most popular ones.

Sportsbooks run other creative bonuses to tempt new customers. You might find you can bet $10 on the first quarter-final clash at the US Open tennis tournament and then receive a subsequent $10 bet on each of the remaining quarter-finals. You might alternatively receive double the odds on your first bet.

These bonus bet offers are again more common among European sportsbooks, but US and Canadian-facing betting sites increasingly offer such bonus bet offers.

Reload bonuses 💰

A sports betting operator will generally offer you various incentives to stay loyal to the site. A reload bonus is one of the most common ways to reward customers for their ongoing loyalty. They are very similar to the bonus bet welcome bonus offers, but they are aimed at existing customers.

They generally come at a lower percentage than the sign-up sports betting bonus. For example, you might be given a 100% bonus on your first deposit and then a 25% reload bonus. Once again, you will find wagering requirements attached to a reload bonus, and you can always opt out if you find them too onerous.

Bonus spins 🎰

Most sports betting sites are also among the best online casinos, as many have dedicated online casino sections. They might offer you a matched deposit, bonus spins, or a combination of both to encourage you to sign up. Even if you only intend to play at the sportsbook, you may find that a site will offer you a matched sportsbook bonus and throw in bonus spins as an extra incentive. It simply gives you bonus spins of online slots in Canada, such as Starburst. These combination offers are some of the best online casino bonuses in Canada.

Bonus vs. cash bonus 💵

The top betting offers can broadly be divided into two categories: play bonuses and cash bonuses. There is one key difference between them: if you receive a cash bonus, your stake will be returned to you as part of your winnings if your bet is successful. 

If you take a bonus, the stake will not be included when your balance is fulfilled after a successful bet. Let’s say you receive a $100 cash bonus, and you use it to bet on the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators to go over their 5.5-goal game total, with odds of -110. If the teams combine for six or more tallies, you would make a $91 profit. If you placed that bet with a cash bonus, your account would be credited with $191 ($91 profit and your $100 stake returned as your bet was a winner).

However, if you placed that bet with a play bonus, your account would only be credited with $91, as you do not get the stake back on a play bonus. A cash bonus is, therefore, generally more appealing than a play bonus when you sign up at a sports betting operator and place your first bet.

However, you might find higher rollover requirements on a cash bonus, so read the small print before deciding which bonus bet promotions to take advantage of. As a general rule, risk-bonus bet offers are good to play rather than cash bonuses.

Rollover requirements

This is the crucial consideration that you must factor in when deciding whether or not to take advantage of a sports betting bonus. A rollover requirement refers to the number of times you have to play your account credit before you can think about actually making a withdrawal. For example, you might find a 5x rollover requirement attached to a 50% bonus bet first deposit bonus offer. This means you have to wager your bonus money and your own money five times before it will be available for withdrawal.

Each sportsbook in Canada sets different rollover requirements for its bonuses. They typically become more demanding as the amount you receive in bonus bets rises. For example, you might find an 8x rollover attached to a 200% bonus, a 6x rollover attached to a 100% bonus, and a 4x rollover attached to a 50% bonus. On reflection, you might decide that you stand a better chance of actually being able to withdraw money if you opt for the 50% bonus with a 4x rollover as opposed to the 200% bonus with an 8x rollover. With each bonus bet offer, you must bear in mind the percentage you will be given, the rollover required, the maximum bonus cap, and whether it is a extra play or a cash bonus. A 50% cash bonus up to $250 with a 5x rollover requirement is very different from a 150% extra play bonus up to $3,000 with a 16x rollover.

SBR will always tell you what the true bonus is in each case to help you make your decision. A 150% extra play bonus up to $3,000 might initially sound better than a 50% cash bonus up to $250, but it is a smaller true bonus. A rollover requirement is also referred to as a betting requirement or a playthrough requirement.

Other terms and conditions

You will generally only have a short period to claim your bonus. If you leave it there for more than 14 days, it will probably disappear. You might also be restricted in terms of the betting markets in which you can use your bonus bet bonus. For example, it might only be valid when betting on the spread or totals, or it might only be useful for particular sports.

A common condition of a bonus bet bonus is a minimum odds requirement. You cannot simply bet your bonus on a few overwhelming favorites at odds of -10000 and expect that to take care of your rollover requirement. You will generally find that you have to wager it at minimum odds of -200, -150, or even +100. This is another important point to bear in mind when weighing up how attractive these bonus bets and other bet promotions actually are. Some players prefer to simply avoid bonus bets and other offers altogether, but they can be very lucrative if you get it right.

For more, see our best sportsbook promos in the US.

Loyalty and VIP programs

Several of the fastest payout sportsbooks will run loyalty programs to encourage customers to stick with them. You will earn reward points every time you bet on a sporting event, bet at a table game, or bet on a virtual slot.

The number of bet points you earn may differ depending on the bet you place. For example, a site might give customers 1 point for betting $1 on either video poker or table games, 5 points for a bet of $1 on slot games, 3 points for betting $1 on sports singles (moneyline, spread etc.), 15 points for betting $1 on teasers, 25 points for betting $1 on a sports round robin or a parlay, 40 points for a $1 straight bet at the racebook or 60 points for a $1 exotic bet or multiple at the racebook. You would therefore earn 600 points by betting $10 on an exacta for the Kentucky Derby.

You can then exchange these reward points for bonus bets or other prizes. You will typically move up through the loyalty program tiers by betting a high volume or placing large wagers, and your rewards will improve the higher up the ladder you climb. High rollers and players with VIP status can expect to benefit from a personal account manager, enhanced bonus bet rewards and bonuses, exclusive promotions, faster withdrawals, cash back on settled bets, and other incentives, such as trips, gadgets, and hospitality invitations.

Contests

Sportsbooks will often host contests to keep players excited over the course of the year. These contests allow bettors to hone their handicapping skills and compete against one another for cash prizes, bonus bets, trips, and other exciting rewards.

For example, a sportsbook may run a contest where the customer with the highest total profit on NBA wagers during a promotion period wins $600, the runner-up wins $400, the bettor that finishes third receives $300, and so on. You find similar contests at most of the best NBA betting sites. 

There are also contests that you can pay to enter like a $250,000 NFL Mega Contest, a season-long handicapping contest that carries a first prize of $100,000. Your first entry costs $100, and subsequent entries are discounted.

SBR also runs various exciting contests for our members. You can win points and then exchange them for bonus bets at our top online sportsbooks. Sports betting sites will also run prize draws, put on promotions around seasonal events such as the NBA Finals or the Super Bowl and provide many more reasons to remain loyal.

Current contests on SBR include:

• Stanley Cup Finals Scratch & Win - Enter for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
• NBA Finals Hi-Lo - Predict the point totals for top stars in the NBA Finals for a chance to win a $200 Amazon Gift Card.

Where to find the best sportsbooks’ bonuses

You should bookmark this page to ensure you stay up to date on the latest matched deposit offers, bonus bet promotions, and other bonuses on offer. However, you should always stick to safe, reliable, reputable sportsbooks. There are several scam sites and shady operators vying for your business. Stay away from anyone on our list of blacklisted betting sites.

They may offer highly attractive bonus first bet offers and promise you all manner of bonus bets, but they have no intention of actually paying you out if you win your bet. If a bonus bet offer or a matched first bet promotion sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For example, if you find a high cash bonus on a first bet with no rollover requirement attached, it should ring alarm bells. It could be an incredibly generous sportsbook, but that is highly unlikely.

One way to identify scam sites is to visit our blacklist, which details all the different sites that have stiffed players over the years. Many of them use bonus bet offers to lure you in, but you should avoid them and stick to the trustworthy sites listed on our top sportsbooks page.

Many of them offer great bonuses, so you are bound to find more than one that appeals to you. It is always worth signing up with more than one sportsbook, as that ensures you benefit from more than one bonus offer.