Soccer is by far the most popular sport in the world with 3.5 billion followers. However, does the same hold true for Canada? It might come surprising, but soccer tops the country’s sports participation charts.
According to some of the latest data, registered Canadian soccer players amount to almost 1 million. This is about one-third more than the number of registered ice hockey players before the Covid-19 pandemic. It seems the tendency of soccer’s prime popularity is about to grow given its wide spread among the youth. It is the most popular sport for young boys and the third most popular sport among girls in Canada.
Despite the top participation rates, soccer still has to go a long way in terms of viewership. It ranks fourth in popularity among Canadian viewers, following ice hockey, football, and baseball. However, this tendency might soon change, with the game attracting more young viewers. For instance, soccer is the second most viewed sport for Millennials and the third among Gen X. When it comes to betting, soccer also ranks fourth after basketball, American football, and baseball. Nonetheless, with the ongoing World Cup 2022 in Qatar, we expect to witness a massive rise in soccer bets.
Canada has been quite tolerant towards gambling. The state has kept up to date with the latest trends in legislation and licensing to establish a player-friendly and safe environment. What is more, Canada does not shy away from offshore gambling providers. This results in a diverse and competitive market, which benefits gamblers by providing them with more betting options and better-quality deals.
Online gambling is huge in Canada. Such popularity is natural, given that the country is fairly technologically advanced, with almost the entire adult population owning a computer or some sort of mobile device. Besides, Canada is huge in territory with many remote areas, where access to land-based casinos is severely limited. Therefore, it is no wonder that online gambling is so prevalent.
Statistics point out that 19.3 million Canadians wager online. This is just above half of the country's population. Local players rank eighth in the world when it comes to money spent on Internet gambling activities. Generally, men prefer sports, while women fancy playing video bingo, lotteries, and other fortune-based games.
Online gambling is most widely spread within the 30-50 age range in Canada. The most popular games are online slots. With so many wagering fans, the gambling industry has become a major source of income. In 2021 alone, Canada has seen a gambling revenue of $2.64 billion, with $1.2 of that money coming directly from online wagering activities.
That said, the rise of cryptocurrencies has also supported the growth of the Canadian online gambling sector. Canadians have been quick to adopt crypto and recognize its advantages when it comes to Internet wagering. Like most casino players, Canadians also look for greater safety and enhanced security. These are known to be among the main benefits of crypto and the blockchain.
What is more, using cryptocurrencies allows for a greater degree of privacy. When you play online casino games with crypto, not only is your banking information better protected, but also your identity remains intact. Even in a country as lenient as Canada, people often prefer to remain private about having a little betting fun occasionally.
Lastly, yet importantly, banking with cryptocurrencies guarantees faster transactions. You can deposit in a single click and withdraw your money in no time using your crypto wallet. Managing your finances seamlessly as you go is extremely important nowadays. Besides, having immediate access to your winnings makes the casino experience more enjoyable. It feels like you are in a real land-based establishment, where you receive your cash as soon as you win.
Online casinos in Canada have caught on to the trend early enough. At present, you can play at many websites that offer crypto banking options. Some are strictly Bitcoin casinos, while others provide a wider combination of fiat and crypto payment methods.
The best options for Canadians
Canada is one of the most vibrant and well-developed online wagering markets in the world. As we found out earlier in the article, the state is quite relaxed when it comes to gambling. It favors offshore online casinos while creating a safe business environment for local operators.
However, because regulation and licensing lie in the hands of Canada’s different provinces, loopholes appear occasionally. Thus, unsilenced and fake operators appear. Therefore, it is important to know which Canadian bitcoin gambling sites are safe. Casino comparison sites come to give us precisely this information. Besides, they provide an honest and thorough appraisal of other important factors, such as games, bonuses and promotions, payments, customer service, and more.
The most popular crypto currencies in Canada
Canada is one of the fastest-growing crypto markets in the world. Players adopted Bitcoin and the major altcoins in search of a safer, more private, and seamless gambling experience.
Bitcoin (BTC)
When it comes to the most popular coins, Bitcoin’s primary position remains undisputed. Ever since it appeared in 2009, Bitcoin has turned into Canada’s most used cryptocurrency. The majority of readers are probably familiar with how Bitcoin works, but let us summarize it just in case. Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency, which uses the blockchain to verify and record transactions, thus making them more secure, traceable, and transparent.
Ethereum (ETH)
Canada is no stranger to worldwide cryptocurrency trends. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the second most used altcoin in the country is Ethereum. Invented by Vitalik Buterin and Gavin Wood, Ethereum is an open-source blockchain with a smart contract functionality.
Binance Coin (BNB)
Those of you who are already into crypto have probably heard the name of Binance, one of the world’s leading crypto exchanges. Binance Coin is the platform’s native token, which was created in an attempt to facilitate trade and now functions as a standalone digital currency.
H4: Solana (SOL)
Solana is one of the newest cryptocurrencies. It launched in 2020 and quickly became a players' favorite because of its high security, fast transactions, and reliability. Canadian online gamblers grasped Solana’s major advantages, and it became a top popular altcoin in no time.
What are Canadian's favorite casino games?
As we already learned, Canadians are keen gamblers, who mostly enjoy slots. Besides spinning the reels, local gamblers also like card games like blackjack, poker, and baccarat. Such games are captivating because they are not purely luck-based. Canadians also particularly delight in the fast-paced, high-adrenaline gameplay of roulette.
Photo: iStock
