Guide 2024: How to Gamble in Manitoba

Manitoba is a Canadian province where both online and land-based casinos are available. In other words, there is a wide range of gambling opportunities for the players. For those who like playing games from home Manitoba online gambling sites are by far the most convenient option. The virtual casinos typically greet the newcomers with welcome bonuses and have a variety of other promotions and features.

Brick-and-mortar casinos in Manitoba offer a selective range of gaming options, such as multiple slot machines, table games, and also poker tournaments. In this guide on how to gamble in Manitoba, we’ll go over some tips for beginners and go over some industry trivia.

Is Sports Betting Legal in Manitoba?

Indeed, sports wagering is legal in Manitoba. The province has a booming online casino industry, where many licensed bookmakers offer sports betting services to residents. What’s more, the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation governs gambling activities in the province, making it secure and regulated for the users. Furthermore, the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act requires all license holders to follow strict advertising and promotion requirements. These prohibit the use of misleading or deceptive practices that may target vulnerable groups or stimulate excessive gambling.

On top of that, Manitoba's laws are mainly focused on the protection of bettors' funds. This allows punters to file complaints and settle disputes through the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission.

Manitoba Sports Betting Updates 2024

Manitoba's gaming industry demonstrated excellent growth rates in 2023, posting higher revenues than in the previous year. According to the latest figures from the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MBLL), the total gambling revenues for 2023 were $1,645,508, which is almost $200,000 higher than the revenues of $1,416,849 in 2022. A spike in revenue points to the steady growth of gaming in Manitoba, tracing back to factors such as expanding player base, the emergence of internet betting, and marketing efforts by officially licensed operators. Thus, we will probably have a rise in revenue in the year 2024 as well.

As gambling businesses are poised for expansion and further growth, that only means more user incentives. Therefore, if you want to give gambling a shot, now’s a perfect time.

How to Start Betting in Manitoba

If you never gambled online before, here’s a rundown of the important things to keep in mind.

Select a Sportsbook

There are lots of available sportsbook operators in Manitoba, and not all of them rely on the same bookmakers. This means that betting markets and odds won’t be identical. If you have a hard time deciding who to trust then you can always consult online reviews.

Look for those sites that have received positive feedback from your fellow gamblers. Of course, double-check the date on those reviews and whether the operator still has an active license. Another thing to check is what payment options the operator supports, and if there are any sportsbook bonuses.

Claim a Bonus

One of the best advice you can get on how to gamble on sports in Manitoba is to use bonuses. It sounds straightforward, but it’s not as easy as you’d think. First off, you need to make sure that you read the terms of the promotions. This will tell you whether or not you can use the bonus to place bets.

Assuming you’ve found a promo for betting, the next step is to figure out how it can be used. Once again, there will be limitations and caveats in the terms of use, so pay attention to:

• Minimum required deposit to qualify
• Minimum and maximum bet amount
• Minimum number of wagers per single slip (e.g., at least 3 matches)
• Minimum odds (you’ll have to place an accumulator or parlay bet to meet this requirement)
• Maximum winning cap
• Playthrough requirements - The number of times the bonus needs to be wagered so that you become eligible for cashout.

Once you are fully familiar with the terms, you can claim the promo, assuming you find it fair.

Choose Your Bet Types

There are dozens of betting markets out there, some are sport-specific, while others are available regardless of the competition’s format.

• Moneyline Wagers: The basic option where you choose the outright winner. Whether it’s boxing, football, racing, or other sport, this bet is always available. Odds are assigned to each option – favorites have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds.

• Point Spreads: In point spread wagers, you gamble on the margin of victory in a game. A point spread is set by bookmakers so that they can level the playing field for teams of different levels of skill. The bettors can place their bets on whether the team will record more or fewer points than what was given by the spread.

• Parlays: Parlays involve wagering on more than one event on the same bet slip. Punters can put together slips that contain different types of bets (moneyline, point spread, above/under, etc). The odds on all of the options are combined together in order to calculate the potential payout.

Choose the types that fit your play style and preferences. Also, consider the team's performance, injury reports, and past trends. These factors may affect the game's outcome, and they aren’t necessarily taken into account when odds are generated.

Top Sports to Bet on in Manitoba

Without a doubt, hockey is the most preferred option for Manitoba punters, as most of the placed bets are on NHL games. The Winnipeg Jets are the team that locals support, and their betting slips reflect their passion. That being said, both football and basketball receive commendable attention among gamblers.

eSports gambling has also seen a healthy spike. In fact, Canadians often wager on esports such as Dota 2, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike 2, and younger generations love to gamble on those.

Other Types of Gambling in Manitoba

As mentioned, casino gaming also has a solid fan base here. McPhillips Station Casino, Club Regent Casino, Aseneskak Casino, and South Beach Casino are some of the top picks among the locals. They feature some of the latest slot series that both older and younger players find attractive. On top of that, there are classic table games (blackjack, roulette, craps, and baccarat) as well as poker tournaments.