Sports betting is hugely popular in the United States, but what about Canada? How many Canadians are getting in on the action?
Sports betting and fantasy sports are incredibly popular in North America. Both the United States and Canada have large sports fan bases, making them key markets for these activities. But which country currently leads the way in sports betting revenue?
A recent study done by Leger gave us some insights.
26% of Americans engaged in sports betting in 2025
A recent study by Leger surveyed over 1,000 American adults and over 1,600 Canadian adults about their views on sports betting and fantasy sports.
In the first eight months of 2025, about 26% of American adults – roughly 68 million people – started using apps to bet on sports. While not a huge portion of the population, it represents a significant number of individuals.
Unlike the United States, fewer adults in Canada bet on sports – about 19 percent, or roughly 6 million people.
Both countries experienced a drop in the number of people placing bets this year, suggesting sports betting might decrease further in 2026. This could be worsened by a new tax included in the proposed bill, which would require Americans to pay taxes on all betting winnings, even if they’ve lost money overall.
NHL dominates in Canada’s sports betting market while falling back in 4th place in America
It’s no surprise the NHL leads sports betting in Canada. While hockey is popular in the US, it’s deeply rooted in Canadian culture as its country of origin.
The NHL ranks fourth in popularity for sports betting in the United States. It trails behind the NBA, MLB, and NFL.
In the U.S., the NFL is overwhelmingly the most popular sport for betting, accounting for 59% of all bets placed by those surveyed. Baseball (MLB) comes in second, with 40%.
Despite the dominance of Canadian football, the NFL remains very popular in Canada, ranking as the second most popular sport. This is notable considering American football isn’t widely followed outside of North America.
Now that new laws are being introduced, it will be fascinating to observe how widely sports betting is embraced by the end of 2026.
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2025-09-17 23:41