Online Live Sports Betting in Ontario at Swiper
Live sports betting is a popular way for users across Ontario to wager on the action as it unfolds in front of them. From the largest leagues in the world, like the NHL, the NBA, and the English Premier League, down to lower-level events such as the SHL and EFL League Two, live sports betting covers virtually all matches that are played around the world. These markets open as soon as the game starts, and usually remain open until the last few moments of the event.
Swiper Ontario is regulated by AGCO and iGaming Ontario, allowing us to offer a comprehensive selection of live sports betting odds and, of course, plenty of online casino games. Why not check out our promotions page and browse through our range of sports betting bonuses and live casino betting offers before making a deposit? After all, there's something for both new and existing players to claim!
How Live Betting Works
In a nutshell, live betting lets you place bets during a match. This comes with a variety of advantages for bettors, with the main one being that you can spectate some of the action before making a wager. Many teams and players don't perform as expected all the time, which is why some bettors prefer to wait until the game has started before they consider their options.
Some live betting markets also come with streaming options, allowing you to watch the match or race after placing a minimum qualifying deposit.
One important thing to note about live betting odds is that they can change incredibly fast. A goal, injury, or even a change in strategy can have a large impact on the current betting odds and in some cases, the underdog team can become the favourite to win a particular match in a few minutes or less!
Sports Available for Live Betting in Ontario
Not sure where to get started with live betting? Here are just a few of the sports that are available to wager on while the match is in progress:
Hockey - NHL
Hockey is one of the most viewed sports around the world, with a massive following of approximately 2 billion fans. Fans in Ontario tune in regularly to watch this fast-paced sport, with many Canadian teams participating in the NHL or National Hockey League, which is the most prestigious event in the sport.
While the Toronto Maple Leafs often receive the most praise when it comes to teams based in Canada, there are others to look out for, too, including the Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens.
Popular betting markets in ice hockey include Moneyline, total goals, and prop bets, with odds changing regularly throughout the 60+ minutes of play.
Football (NFL, CFL)
Football is a sporting giant in North America, with the NFL standing as the world's top-earning sports league. As for the sport as a whole, it's currently ranked 10th in popularity around the world, however, it's certainly been on an upward trend in recent years.
In addition to the NFL, the CFL is another growing league, which features 9 teams split into two leagues, each playing 21 games during the regular season. Teams in the Canadian Football League field larger teams (One more player than in the NFL), and games feature three downs instead of four.
Regardless of which league you bet on, the markets are almost identical, with Moneyline and outright bets receiving plenty of attention.
Basketball (NBA)
While live betting on basketball gets more popular during playoffs and the NBA finals, there are plenty of options for players to consider throughout the season. Markets like player props are amongst the most utilised, focusing on specific stats such as points, assists, or rebounds.
Another point of importance for NBA live betting is the frequency of games. All 30 teams play 82 games each, which creates a total of 1,320 matches each year in the regular season, keeping both spectators and bettors across Ontario entertained!
Soccer (MLS, English Premier League, Champions League)
Of course, we couldn't talk about live sports betting without mentioning soccer. The English Premier League sits as the top level in soccer, at least in terms of viewership, however, the MLS and Champions League aren't a million miles away.
Much like in other sports, match winner and over or under markets are popular across all soccer leagues, with a range of events to choose from in addition to the three mentioned above:
- UEFA Europa League
- La Liga
- Ligue 1
- Bundesliga
- Serie A
- And many others!
Types of Live Bets You Can Place
Most pre-match betting markets remain active when the event gets underway, with some of the most popular options being:
- Moneyline: This betting market involves picking the winner of a chosen game, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs to beat the Montreal Canadiens. When it comes to both pre-match and live sports betting, this market is the most used by a considerable margin.
- Over or Under: Another popular choice revolves around over or under certain statistics, such as goals or the number of cards showing during a soccer match, for example. A number will be displayed for the bet, with players wagering over or under. For example, picking over 2.5 goals in a soccer game would mean that at least 3 goals must be scored in total for the bet to be marked as a successful one.
- Double Chance: Just like the name suggests, the double chance market covers two different options. For example, in an NHL game between the Boston Bruins and the Detroit Red Wings, you could bet on the Boston Bruins to win or a draw. If either outcome occurs, the bet will be marked as a winning one and be awarded at the corresponding odds.
- Correct Score: The correct score betting market often comes with higher odds, however, it's harder to predict. It involves betting on the exact score between two teams, with the winning team (or draw) also needing to be picked correctly for the corresponding potential winnings to be awarded.
- Outright: While some outright markets, such as the winner of the English Premier League or Stanley Cup, are not officially decided until the end of the season, the live betting odds for various outcomes can change depending on the results of each match day.
Of course, these aren't the only available live betting options, with our extensive sportsbook containing a variety of other markets, too!
Tips for Successful Live Betting
While it's impossible to guarantee a win every time you place a live sports bet, there are a range of tips that bettors can implement to improve their chances of success!
Understand How Live Betting Odds Work
There are two main things to consider when learning how sports live betting odds work. First up, you have to be able to quickly identify the potential risk and return for different odds formats:
- American odds format: With the American odds format, favourites are shown as minus and underdogs are shown as plus. For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs might be -200 to beat the Ottawa Senators in the NHL. This means that players would need to wager $200 to win $100 if their bet was successful. On the other end of things, in this scenario, if the Senators had odds of +300 to win, this means that players could win $300 with a successful $100 bet.
- Fractional odds: These are the most common type of betting odds in the UK and are relatively straightforward to decipher. For example, if odds are 3/1, it would mean that players can win $3 for every $1 they wager, plus their original stake back, leading to total potential returns of $4.00.
- Decimal odds: Decimal odds are the most favoured odds format in the world and involve simply multiplying your stake size by the odds to find your potential payout. For example, if you placed a successful $10.00 bet on odds of 1.80, your total return would be $18.00 ($10 x 1.8).
The other thing to consider about live betting odds is understanding the scenarios in which they change dramatically. While there are hundreds of possible reasons for this, the most common ones include:
- A goal being scored
- A player being sent off
- A player getting injured
- One team has a clear opportunity to score
- A penalty is being awarded
- One team significantly outplaying the other for a prolonged period
If you can identify the reason for odd movements, you can get a better idea about what the long-term implications for the match are. This, in turn, allows you to make informed decisions when betting on sports online.
Watch The Game and React Accordingly
While some people who bet on live sports in Ontario focus heavily on the stats of a match, sometimes watching the game closely can be more beneficial, especially if you have deep knowledge of a particular sport.
There are sometimes patterns that emerge during matches, too. For example, a team in the NFL may have a tendency to win from behind, which leads some bettors to wait until the team trails before placing a wager to get the best odds. Keep in mind, though, that these markets will become suspended during key moments of matches, so timing your bet is crucial.
Play Responsibly
Regardless of whether you are betting on sports or playing online casino games, it's important to always do so responsibly. Make sure that you set limits before a session and as soon as you reach that limit, end your playing time.
Here at Swiper Ontario, we have a range of tools that players can use to help them always stay in control, including:
- Deposit Limits: These limits can stop players from depositing over a specified amount, regardless of whether they win or lose overall.
- Loss Limits: Should you lose a certain amount of money during the predetermined period of time, you will be unable to wager further.
- SessionTime Reminders: A session time reminder will pop up on your screen and let you know how long you've been playing for at predetermined intervals.
- Self-Exclusion: If needed, you can also fully exclude yourself from playing or placing sports bets online by using our self-exclusion tool.
Remember that you need to be at least 19 years of age to bet on sports online, and you will also need to verify your details using government-provided ID, as per the current legal requirements in Ontario.
If you need a hand with anything related to responsible gambling or have any questions about anything at Swiper, contact us today. You can get in touch via email or live chat, both of which are open 24/7 for ultimate convenience!
Conclusion
Overall, live betting is one of the most popular ways to wager on sports across Canada. It comes with different advantages and allows users to see part of the action before they commit to a bet. While live sports betting is available across most leagues around the world, the likes of the NHL, NFL, NBA, and English Premier League are particularly popular in Ontario, with millions of people tuning in to watch teams compete in these competitions!
If you want to get involved in the sports live betting action for yourself, make sure that you find a sportsbook or online casino that is regulated by AGCO and iGaming Ontario, just like Swiper is. This will help to keep you safe and your private information confidential, while also ensuring that the services you're being offered are 100% fair.
Register with Swiper today and get access to our range of live betting odds, alongside plenty of different sports betting bonuses that can be used on most markets across our sportsbook!
Frequently Asked Questions About Live Betting Ontario
Is live betting legal in Ontario?
Yes, live sports betting is legal in Ontario, provided that you find a provider that is regulated by AGCO and iGaming Ontario, like Swiper.
What is live betting?
Just like the name suggests, live betting is when users place bets on an event after it's started.
Which sports can I bet on live in Ontario?
You can bet on virtually any sport live in Ontario at Swiper, including hockey, basketball, football, and soccer, alongside many others.
What are the most common types of live bets?
Some of the most common types of live bets include Moneyline, over or under, double chance, correct score, and outright markets.