The MLB is one of the very few professional sports played during the summer, as it runs from late spring to the postseason games in October. During that period, the schedule is simply stacked—each team plays 162 games, so there are plenty of online sports betting opportunities.
As such, the rise of MLB betting sites in Canada has been quite prominent, but not all of them are worthy of your attention. To kick off your MLB betting experience, we’ve ranked the top operators in Canada for you. Let’s walk you through all there is to know.
Each MLB betting site in Canada goes through a rigorous reviewing process before it finds itself on our list of suggestions. Here is a short overview of the list of criteria an online sports betting site must tick.
Bonuses and Promotions
Betting on MLB picks is just half the fun—reliable sports betting sites offer several types of bonuses to keep you engaged. We carefully examine both the bonuses and promotions section on each sports betting platform and decide whether it is more suited to beginners or experienced bettors among our readers.
Betting Features
Besides the standard baseball betting markets, top betting sites are always keen on standing out from their counterparts through additional features. They can include, but not be limited to, live betting, cashout functions, early payouts, turbo bets, live trackers, and live streaming of sports events.
Competitive Baseball Odds
Betting odds are often the deciding factor that separates good from world-class sportsbooks in Canada. Through state-of-the-art MLB odds comparison tools, we focus on finding Canadian MLB betting sites that will provide you with great value for your real money bets.
User Experience
User experience is all-encompassing and can be linked to how easy it is to register and claim bonuses. Therefore, we make sure to create accounts and test out how user-friendly the website is—and whether it keeps that straightforward nature on mobile as well.
Security Measures
We require every sports betting platform to be committed to providing a hassle-free and secure online gambling experience. As such, we only focus on sites licensed by trusted regulators and utilize robust security features such as SSL encryption and secure payment gateways.
Types of MLB Bets to Consider
Fortunately, the range of betting opportunities for each MLB game is vast. From a simple match-winner MLB bet all the way to player stats and game props, let’s check out the most popular MLB betting options:
Moneyline: Baseball games can often be low-scoring, so a popular betting market widely exploited by bettors is the moneyline. This type of bet simply requires you to pick the winner outright, so it is a good starting point for beginners as well.
MLB Futures: As is the case for every other sport, the best sports betting sites allow you to try and predict what will happen over the long term in the MLB. Here, options can be quite extensive—you can bet on markets ranging from the MLB winner all the way to the top team runscorer. This type of bet requires a long-term commitment from your side.
MLB Prop Bets: A prominent MLB betting site will allow you to bet on specific events within a game in the form of prop bets. Such bets are often linked to individual player performances, such as the total number of strikeouts or whether a certain player hits a home run.
Totals (Over/Under): By deciding to bet on team totals on an online betting site, you will wager on the total number of runs scored by an MLB team. Here, it doesn’t matter who wins the match—as long as the offensive production of one team delivers or fails to deliver.
Parlays: Finally, parlay bets are arguably the most used type of wager on online MLB betting sites. This type of bet sees you combine multiple wagers into one larger multibet betslip. For it to win, all individual bets must be successful. Due to the larger number of selections, the payouts can be significantly higher as odds multiply with each other.
MLB Specific Betting Markets
You might not be content with the general betting markets explained above. Therefore, if you want to dive a bit deeper, here are a few specific betting opportunities on the league you can explore:
Run Line Bets: The MLB incorporates its own point spread, with it being commonly known as a run line. Through it, you give a certain team—a favourite—a disadvantage. For example, you can back the Yankees to start a game with a -1.5 spread. So they not only need to win the game—they must do so with at least two runs.
First Five Innings (F5): Betting on the first five innings is also an option on every sports betting site from our list. This type of bet is self-explanatory and a good option if you want to isolate a pitching matchup at the start of the game and avoid bullpens.
Series Bets: Unlike other sports, MLB teams play against the same opponent several times, and you can bet on the team that you think will win the overall series.
Season Win Totals: Most MLB betting sites offer you the chance to wager on the total number of wins by a particular team. The best time to place these bets is before the season starts, when the odds are most competitive.
Combined Strikeouts by Both Teams: Bettors who have better knowledge and experience can try their luck with betting on the combined number of strikeouts by both teams as a prop bet that can give them solid MLB odds.
Player to Hit a Home Run: Each player from both teams will be listed with specific MLB betting odds detailing the chance for them to hit a home run.
Total Bases: Another interesting option for bettors is the total bases market, as it sees them wager on a player who they think will accumulate a certain number of bases throughout a game.
Total Hits: This is a team prop that you can wager on, and it sees you wager on whether a team will have over or under hits than the line determined by the sportsbook.
Pitcher Strikeouts: Finally, a pitcher strikeout bet sees you wager on the number of strikeouts a starting pitcher will throw in an MLB game. This is another form of an over/under sports betting market.
Most Popular MLB Events for Betting
The best MLB betting sites offer you the chance to use the huge range of betting markets mentioned at several events throughout the season. To help you get started, here are the most notable games and periods that offer numerous betting lines for MLB fanatics.
Opening Day
Other sports in the world have their season openers, but for many, MLB’s Opening Day marks the ceremonial beginning of spring. Some fans even call it a national holiday, so you can see how much Canadians look forward to it.
The season opener can provide early indications on how far teams like the Toronto Blue Jays can go and sportsbooks stack events with numerous types of bets, including proposition wagers.
MLB All-Star Game
You can expect dozens of betting options when the MLB’s All-Star Game occurs, also known as the “Midsummer Classic“. This is an annual baseball game that sees an all-star matchup with the best players from the American League and the National League.
Over the years, more than 50 Canadians participated in MLB’s All-Star Game, with Justin Morneau being the first to win it in 2008. As for markets, each betting app and site from our list offers a plethora of options, including outright winner bets, over/under markets, and, most notably, player prop bets.
Home Run Derby
The Home Run Derby is a competition that focuses on home run hitting; you can expect betting markets to be more specific compared to the other inclusions in this list. Batters go head-to-head in numerous rounds, and they get 10 outs per round. The goal is simple—get as many home runs as possible to win.
To gamble on the Home Run Derby, you need extensive knowledge of players’ capabilities and form. Consider which players are on hot/cold streaks. Another good piece of advice is to check how contestants fare at a specific park to gain an edge when thinking of odds and betting markets.
World Series
The World Series in baseball represents a post-season play-off series of games between the champions of America’s two leagues—the American League and the National League. And all the standard options are at your disposal—moneyline, over/under, parlay bets, and various prop bets.
You can also explore futures bets and try to predict which team will be the winner that year. The Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series in 1992 and 1993, thus becoming the first team based outside the US to complete a feat.
Regular Season
Finally, the best MLB betting sites won’t just limit you to the special events and games mentioned above. Throughout the regular season, you can place any pre-match and live bet you can think of—from the outcome of a game and overall season results all the way to specific player performances.
You can find the best betting markets and odds on MLB games throughout the regular season at all bookmakers in the list above.
Key Factors About MLB Betting Lines
Before choosing a sports betting app or website, you need to know that the betting line in this sport is slightly different from other sports. Generally, baseball is a low-scoring game, so more often than not, the spread will be -1.5 and +1.5. If the run line in baseball is your preferred bet type, here are a few factors to note.
The Importance of Starting Pitchers
The best online MLB betting sites allow you to bet on the starting pitcher but note that your wager will only be valid if the pitcher takes the mound. On the other hand, if you place a bet on a specific player to score and he doesn’t even play, most of the bookmakers will void the bet and return your stake.
In-Game Dynamics for Live Betting
You can explore various live sports betting opportunities on MLB betting sites. The low-scoring and slow-paced nature of MLB matches allows even novices to test their luck and knowledge through in-play bets. Here, game dynamics are crucial, and tools such as game stats, live trackers, and live streaming can help you with your decision-making.
Weather and Ballpark Factors
If you are seeking expert betting advice, then we suggest you pay close attention to the weather before placing a wager. It can significantly affect games—the number of home runs and pitcher effectiveness can be severely impacted. For example, if the wind blows out, then it can help carry the ball much further. This will result in more home runs.
Heavy Emphasis on Data and Analytics
Baseball is a stats-based sport, as teams use data analytics to make important decisions, such as choosing the right pitcher. You can also use data analytics to your advantage when betting online. Do your research on teams and players’ forms before constructing a bet and slightly boost the odds in your favour. Even small details—like a hitter being bad at hitting curveballs and sliders but being world-class at fastballs—can be the difference-makers.
Frequency of Games
The frequency of games in an MLB season means that sports betting websites will offer extensive coverage and markets to explore. More games mean more data for you to exploit, so you can make much better decisions when constructing your wager.
Common Bonuses for MLB Online Betting
You can expect several ongoing promotions to accompany you on the top MLB betting sites and apps from our list. Starting from the welcome bonus all the way to MLB-specific promotions, here are the most frequent offers you can expect:
Welcome Bonus: A welcome bonus is available for newly registered players on legal betting sites in Canada. To claim it, you usually need to deposit straight after registering. A welcome bonus can come in a couple of forms—a deposit match bonus or a risk-free bet. The former adds extra funds to bet with on top of your balance, while the latter reimburses your wager if it is a losing one.
Parlay Insurance: One of the most popular betting promotions you will encounter is parlay insurance. Offered by certain sites throughout the MLB season, this promotion provides you with a refund on your stake if you come up short of winning your parlay bet—usually by one selection.
Free Bets and Free Credits: One of the most widespread bonuses you will encounter on the best sports betting sites. Free bets allow you to wager without risking your money, but you will need to make a deposit to get such an offer. Note that free bet winnings are usually subject to wagering requirements.
Live Betting Bonus: There are several variations on how in-play bonuses can work. More often than not, you can expect boosted odds, free bets, and maybe a cashback deal on your losses incurred when betting on live MLB events.
No-Run First-Inning Promotions: This type of bet sees you try to predict whether a run in the first inning will occur. As this type of bet grows in popularity, there are several sites offering promotions, often in the form of boosted odds and winnings for successful wagers.
Early Payouts: Some of the best betting sites in Canada offer some specific promotions, starting with the early payout. It works very simply—if a team you backed goes a specific number of runs ahead at any stage of the game, your selection will be marked as won.
Double Winnings: Sports betting sites in Canada can incentivize you to continue wagering on MLB by offering you the chance to double your winnings on margin bets if your selected team wins by a predefined range of points.
Enjoy the Thrill of MLB Betting in Canada
Now that you have a basic understanding of how odds and betting lines in MLB work, you can implement your knowledge at any of our recommended bookmakers. Betting on MLB events can add a bit of excitement when watching matches, and you are all free to experiment with different betting markets and strategies.
Just make sure to stay informed about team/player performances and bet responsibly within your limits. Feel free to browse our top list of MLB bookmakers in Canada to enjoy a hassle-free betting experience online.
MLB Betting in Canada FAQs
There is not just one site we categorize as top-class. We have uncovered several operators with a wide range of betting opportunities for MLB sports betting enthusiasts. So check out each operator and select one that matches your preferences the most.
The best online betting markets for MLB are determined on an individual basis. Depending on your experience level, you can start with simple moneyline or run line wagers, and as you build your knowledge, you can proceed with prop bets – first five innings, combined strikeouts, number of runs in a game, and more.
There is the same range of betting markets for the World Series, but you can expect a stronger focus on player prop bets. Nonetheless, futures bets on who wins the series and the MVP are the most sought-after options among Canadians.
Besides doing basic research on teams and players’ stats and recent performances, we would suggest you pay attention to the weather conditions. Windy weather conditions can have a big impact on how the batter performs, for example.
All our recommended sites include a solid range of promotions that include, but are not limited to welcome bonuses, risk-free bets, reload offers, cashback deals, early MLB payouts, and high-roller bonuses for VIP players.
A run line is baseball’s version of the point spread. A team will be given a certain disadvantage at the start of the game. So if you decide to use that bet, it must win by a certain margin for your bet slip to win.
Since MLB teams play against each other a few times during a season, you can back a certain team to win the matchup in a so-called series bet.
