Sports Betting in Manitoba

The Jets returning home to Winnipeg in 2011 to join the already successful Blue Bombers as major league teams really put sports as a whole back at the forefront in Winnipeg.  With a population of over 700,000 Winnipeg is home to over half the total population of Manitoba.  This allows the province to support these two major league teams, which in turn sparks interest in sports betting in Manitoba.

The Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC) offers sports lottery games such as Proline that you can play at your local WCLC retailer.  That said, these games offer far worse odds than any of our recommended online sportsbooks.  Those Manitoba residents who plan to bet on sports more than a couple times a year should look into opening an online betting account.

Best Sports Betting Sites for Manitoba Residents

The WCLC sports lottery betting games are not player friendly.  For these reasons most Manitoba residents should choose to take their sports betting online.  Here are three online sportsbooks that cater directly to Canadian bettors:

  • 1 See Website For Details
    • Licensed and regulated in Canada
    • Easy deposits & withdrawals including Interac
    • Competitive betting lines
    Bet Now Review
  • 2 See Website For Details
    • Licensed in Ontario and Malta (accepts bettors from across Canada)
    • Competitive betting lines
    • Easy deposit/withdrawal options, including Interac
    Bet Now Review
  • 3 #Ad
    • Most popular betting site worldwide
    • State of the art live betting platform including streaming of several events
    • Fixed odds for horse racing
    Bet Now Review

Offline Sports Betting in Manitoba

All legal offline sports betting in Mantioba runs through the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, which also serves every other Western Canada province except British Columbia.  The sports betting games offered by the WCLC are called Sport Select games and can be found at any WCLC outlet, which usually includes convenience stores and gas stations.  These sports betting lottery games are ok for beginner bettors, but the poor odds keep them from possibly being profitable even for the most talented sports handicapper.

Sport Select

Sport Select is the blanket term for the sports betting lottery games available in Manitoba.  To place bets through the Sports Select lotteries you must fill out a ticket at your local lottery retailer.  You will be given a receipt ticket, which you must bring back to the retailer to receive your prize, just like a lottery ticket.  Check out our dedicated Sport Select page for more detailed information on Sport Select and how it compares to betting online.

Sports Betting Canadian Mascot

Sports Select is great for those of you looking to place a quick bet a few times a year or the few people who are still wary about trusting online sportsbooks.  That said, the odds online are FAR better than Sport Select’s so if you bet often you are leaving a ton of winnings on the table by not making the transition to betting online.

PlayNow.com

A few years ago the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation signed on with PlayNow.com to offer online sports betting to Manitoba residents, in addition to the Sport Select offline betting run through the WCLC.  I have to say, PlayNow.com is actually a respectable site that comes close to my recommended sportsbooks in terms of odds and sports selection.  Check out the dedicated PlayNow page for all of the details.

Sports Betting Canadian Mascot

PlayNow.com is the best government run sports betting option that I have come across.  The odds are actually reasonable, which came as a surprise to me after researching the other options, such as Sport Select. I still prefer the Canada-wide betting sites I recommend above, but PlayNow can be a solid supplemental sportsbook for Manitoba residents looking to compare odds.

Major Sports Teams in Manitoba

Manitoba is home to three professional sports team, all located in Winnipeg.

Winnipeg

  • Valour FC – CPL
  • Winnipeg Blue Bombers – CFL
  • Winnipeg Jets – CFL

Horse Racing Tracks in Manitoba

  • Assiniboia Downs, Winnipeg.  6.5 furlong oval track for thoroughbreds.