If you are an experienced bettor, then you probably know that it’s all about following trends. Each year, the betting markets move in a certain way, which dictates how people wager. If you want to make the most out of your betting journey, it’s all about spotting top trends and getting the edge before everyone else.
So, what about Canada? Well, there are a lot of sports bettors in Canada, that’s for sure. But which sport is the most popular? And most importantly, which teams do Canadians favor the most this year?
Well, we’ve done a bit of digging just to spot the top betting trends in Canada. To be honest, most of you will be surprised.
Betting in Canada has evolved a lot, and you have everything from eSports betting to the NHL and UFC. But which is the most often picked sport or team by Canadians this year? Let’s find out.
Let’s get one thing straight from the start, when it comes to sports betting in Canada, being a hockey nation, the NHL dominates the betting markets. Nobody can dethrone hockey, at least not anytime soon.
Canadians love some hockey bets, but how are they betting this year? Following the Edmonton Oilers’ deep playoff run in 2024, there’s been a surge of faith in Canadian NHL teams. The Oilers have become favorites of futures bettors that are looking for the next big win, and they sit at around +800 to win the Stanley Cup.
But Canadians love to bet on the underdog, that’s for sure. Even the Leafs are in on the action and a popular bet for Canadians, which is not surprising since they are at the top of their 2024/25 table.
Let’s talk more about the type of bets that Canadian people love. It is not surprising that Moneyline and puckline wagers dominate the market, especially in the NHL. But there is one big trend that Canadians love – live betting. Bettors aren’t just picking the winners but dive into fast-paced bets, choosing who scores next, or how many goals will come in a period.
And it’s not just NHL action. A surprisingly large portion of wagers now go toward World Juniors, Women’s International Hockey, and even junior leagues like the OHL during playoff season. When Canadians say they bet on hockey, they mean all of it.
The second most popular sport is Basketball. The Toronto Raptors still draw the most attention from the locals, which isn’t surprising, especially with their young roster and rebuild promise. Props on Pascal Siakam, Gradey Dick, and Scottie Barnes have been one of the most popular single-game bets in Ontario.
The NBA Finals pull the second only to the Stanley Cup Finals in Canadian betting traffic, and that says a lot.
Even college basketball is growing in popularity, especially March Madness, and there is a good reason for that. Canadians are shifting their betting desires and are looking for more opportunities. And what’s better than College Sports in terms of betting potential?
If you assumed Canadians only watch the CFL, you’d be half right. Yes, fans place bets on the Grey Cup, divisional matchups, and even Most Outstanding Player futures. The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers still inspire fierce loyalty, both in the stands and on the betting boards.
But let’s not kid ourselves; the NFL dominates the football betting scene.
From September through February, Sundays are a sacred betting ritual. Parlays, teasers, moneylines, player props, it’s all fair game. The Buffalo Bills, thanks to their proximity to Ontario and a wide Canadian fan base, receive a disproportionate number of wagers.
And with the continued growth of single-game betting options in Canada, bettors can now legally place same-game parlays on their favorite teams across nearly every province, particularly in Ontario’s regulated market.
Soccer might not have always been a betting powerhouse in Canada, but 2025 says otherwise. The rise of Canadian Premier League (CPL) visibility, Canada’s national teams gaining respect, and the ongoing lead-up to World Cup 2026 (hosted in part by Canada) have driven serious betting interest.
But the EPL, La Liga, and Champions League still hold the crown for soccer betting volume. Early Saturday mornings now feature Canadians sipping Tim Hortons coffee while placing first-goal scorer and over/under corner bets on Tottenham vs. Aston Villa.
This trend is being led by younger bettors, many of whom follow the game as closely as they do hockey or football. We can see the recent Club World Cup finale between Chelsea and PSG pulled in a lot of betting action in Canada.
Let’s talk about the “others”, the markets that don’t get primetime TV slots but are raking in wagers nonetheless.
UFC and MMA betting are thriving. Each major UFC card brings in a wave of wagers, particularly on Canadian fighters or top-of-the-card names like Islam Makhachev, Jon Jones, and Alexa Grasso. Round betting and method-of-victory props are extremely popular.
Meanwhile, esports, especially CS:GO, Valorant, and League of Legends, have officially broken into the mainstream betting world in Canada. Major tournaments like the LEC and ESL draw thousands of wagers, particularly among bettors under 30. It’s not uncommon for sportsbooks to offer the same depth of betting markets on a League of Legends match as they do for an NHL game.
So, which is your favorite sport to bet on? Are you in line with these trends? Let us know in the comments.
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