Newfoundland and Labrador Sportsbooks

Sports Betting in Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador is Canada’s easternmost province, and it’s known for being relatively liberal in terms of gambling. As a result, there are thousands of sports lovers who enjoy placing bets on their favourite sports.

This province has legalized all forms of gambling, including online sports betting. However, the Canadian legislative system that governs gambling activities has put some restrictions on what the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador are allowed to do when engaging in sports betting activities.

In this article, we’ll make a short overview of betting in this Canadian province, paying special attention to its legal aspect. Read on!

Sports Betting Sites for Newfoundland and Labrador

Legal Framework of Gambling in Newfoundland and Labrador — Is Sports Betting Legal?

The state’s legislative framework allows sports betting activities and is pretty similar to other states’ frameworks in Canada. It means that betting on sports is a legal activity, and the state regulates it.

NL offers legal sports betting via the Proline website, but joining an offshore betting platform isn’t illegal either; however, from the legal perspective, it’s still in the grey area.

The main regulatory body in NL is the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, which has been running things in the province since 1976. In addition to NL, ALC also regulates gambling activities in several other states, including New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. ALC even has a website where Canadians can enjoy various gambling activities, although with very strict limits. The regulator launched a mobile app as well.

To cut a long story short, if you want to enjoy a legal but limited sports betting option, ALC’s Proline is the best option for you. However, accessing additional betting options is only available via offshore sites. In both cases, the minimum gambling age is 19, and you shouldn’t join any site if you’re younger than that.

Let’s explore how betting on sports works using Proline before discussing offshore sites.

How Does Sports Betting Work in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Being regulated and licensed in the state, Proline is probably one of the fastest services for placing sports bets. You can do it in convenience stores or on the web. Moreover, the lowest wager you can make is C$2.

However, Proline’s main disadvantage is that the types of bets you can make are very limited. The following list includes all Proline bets available on the platform:

• Proline — You can select up to eight games and make a parlay bet. This includes several different betting markets, such as over/under, point spread, or straight bet. The minimum wager is C$2, and the maximum is C$25.
• Proline Futures — This bet allows you to select a winner of a league or tournament before it starts, which is pretty similar to any other futures bet on sports betting platforms. The minimum wager is C$2, and the maximum is C$100.
• Proline Fantasy — Simply put, you can engage in fantasy sports betting using Proline, but it also comes with several limits you should be familiar with before you start.
• Proline Stadium Picks — This is a blend between fantasy and standard sports betting. You get to pick a series or a match-winner and receive points. The one with the most points receives a prize.
• Stadium Bets — This type of bets allows you to place up to C$250 on bets such as moneyline, point spread or over/under.

Some punters from Newfoundland and Labrador don’t enjoy making Proline bets, as limits aren’t the only thing they don’t like. Since Proline is a state-owned company, it has a monopoly, meaning the odds aren’t great. That’s why some bettors choose offshore sites instead.

Are Offshore Sports Betting Sites Illegal in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Offshore betting sites aren’t legal in NL, but they aren’t illegal either. Simply put, there are no laws outlawing players from joining internationally-regulated sportsbooks, so you are free to do it without being prosecuted.

Since there are so many offshore sites, the competition is much stiffer among them. That’s why they have to offer better odds and bigger welcome bonuses to attract more bettors.

Offshore sites also offer single-game bets, which is not available in Proline for some reason. Moreover, wagers have better minimum and maximum limits, making them suitable for both low and high rollers.

Still, many NL residents agree that offshore sites’ biggest advantage is that there are many sports covered and bettors can select from a broader range of betting markets.

However, not every offshore sports betting site is good, so be careful when choosing them. Not being regulated by the state, some sites might use misleading language and black-hat marketing techniques. Also, it may not provide the service you expected. Moreover, some of them might be outright scam platforms. Therefore, make sure to read reviews about the online betting platform you want to join before you do it. That way, you can always find a sports betting platform that’s safe, legal, and reputable.