The Sports Betting Canadian

Winnipeg is the central hub of Manitoba with over half of the population of the province, and all of the professional sports goodness.  The Winnipeg Jets returning to the city in 2011 was huge for the sports landscape with the Jets joining the Blue Bombers of the CFL as the two main professional sports teams in the city.  The Jets were a staple in Winnipeg from 1972 to 1996 and it was a huge win for the city when the Atlanta Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg over a decade ago.

The sports betting landscape in Winnipeg is actually one of the best in the country.  I wouldn’t waste your time with WCLC’s Sport Select, which has very poor odds compared to online betting sites, but the government run sports betting website PlayNow.com is well run with fair odds.  Winnipeg residents also have the option to bet through any of the top private online betting sites for Canadians.

Top Sports Betting Sites for Winnipeg Residents

  • 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

Our top rated sportsbook, SportsInteraction.com, also takes bets on races held at the Assiniboia Downs race track in the city, which is huge bonus for those horse racing fans in Winnipeg.

Offline Sports Betting in Winnipeg

Offline sports betting in Winnipeg is available, but it’s run by the WCLC (Western Canada Lottery Corporation).  You have your Sport Select options, as well as Pools and Futures, but they all have very poor odds when compared to any of our recommended betting sites outlined above.

The Sports Betting Canadian

I want to make sure I stress how bad Sport Select betting is for Winnipeg residents.  The odds are far worse than those offered at online betting sites, with parlays often paying out half as much as the exact same parlay bet through one of our recommended betting sites.  I strongly advise Winnipeg residents who bet through Sport Select to make the transition to betting online.

Government Regulated Online Sports Betting

PlayNow.com is a government run online betting site that accepts players from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and BC.  It’s a legitimate option for sports bettors in Winnipeg and it’s a step in the right direction for government regulated betting in Canada.  The site is very similar to the online sportsbooks that we recommend and even offers fair odds, which is somewhat of a surprise considering how poor the odds are from Sport Select.

If you’d like to learn more about PlayNow, check out my detailed info page about the site.  I include an in depth comparison between PlayNow and the top online betting sites for Canadians.

The Sports Betting Canadian

PlayNow.com is a step in the right direction for government run sports betting in Canada, but until they allow single game wagers they will not be on the same level as the top Canadian online sports betting sites.

Land Based Casino Sportsbooks Near Winnipeg

The McPhillips Station Casino and the Club Regent Casino are both right in downtown Winnipeg, but unfortunately neither of these casinos accept sports bets in any form.

That said, they are off-track betting locations for Assiniboia Downs racetrack, which I get into more below.

Assiniboia Down Racetrack

Winnipeg is home to Assiniboia Downs racetrack located at 3975 Portage Avenue in Winnipeg.  Assiniboia Downs has live racing at Mondays, Tuesdays, and most Wednesdays throughout the racing season.  You can bet on these races, as well as others from around the world at the track.

You can also bet on Assiniboia Downs races through SportsInteraction.com, our top rated sportsbook.

Major Sports Teams in Winnipeg

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