Single-game sports betting means placing a wager on the result of one individual game or event, rather than being forced to combine several picks into a parlay. For years Canadian law allowed only parlay-style bets through provincial lotteries, which made single wagers illegal.
That changed in August 2021 when federal legislation removed the restriction, letting each province decide how to offer single bets. The shift fuelled Ontario's open market launch and expanded sports betting on platforms such as PlayNow and Loto-Québec. Players can now bet on a single hockey or basketball result much as they would in other regulated markets.
Example usage
- Betting on a single NHL game outcome since the 2021 law change
Related terms
- AGCO, The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, the provincial body that regulates and licenses gambling operators in Ontario.
- PlayNow, The official online gambling platform operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, also serving Manitoba.
- Regulated Market, A gambling market overseen by a licensing authority that sets rules on fairness, payouts, and player protection.
- iGaming Ontario (iGO), The agency that runs Ontario's regulated online gambling market, contracting with private operators registered by the AGCO.