How to Bet on the CFL in Canada

The CFL, which runs from June to November, offers football fans live games to follow and wager on throughout the entire season.

But how can Canadians understand the CFL picks provided by sportsbooks like BetMGM?

How to Bet on the CFL in Canada

Betting on the CFL in Canada is similar to how to bet on the NFL online.

Football odds, including the moneyline, spread, game total, futures, parlays, and more. 

What Are CFL Betting Odds?

CFL odds provide numerous ways to wager on Canadian Football League games. 

These cover markets include the outcome of the game, the total number of points scored, and more specific bets, such as the number of points scored in the first half. 

On the main CFL page at BetMGM, bettors will see the moneyline, total, and spread. 

This is very similar to what fans of the NFL, NBA, or NHL will be accustomed to, so learning how to bet on CFL odds should be a straightforward process. 

CFL Moneylines

Moneylines are a bet on which team will win a game. CFL moneyline bets include overtime.

The favoured team will have a shorter moneyline price than the underdog. 

For example, the Calgary Stampeders could be -150 on the moneyline against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. 

A bet on Calgary would only pay out if they won the game, either in regulation or with overtime. 

As they are favoured in this scenario, the payout from a $10 wager would only be $16.67, including the original stake.

If the Roughriders were priced at +125 as an underdog, a $10 wager on their moneyline would have a potential payout of $22.50. 

Canadian Football League Point Spreads

Point spreads are a way of handicapping the favoured team in the CFL. 

For instance, the Toronto Argonauts could be 6.5-point favourites over the Ottawa Redblacks. 

This would appear as Argonauts -6.5 on the CFL betting page. A wager on the Argonauts would only win if they won the game by seven or more points. 

On the other side of the market, the Redblacks +6.5 would pay out if they won the game or lost by six or fewer points. 

For example, a bet on the Argonauts -6.5 would win if the game finished 21-14, but it would lose if the score were only 20-14 in Toronto’s favour.

CFL Totals

Game totals are available for every CFL game. 

BetMGM sets a line for each game, and bettors wager on whether there will be over or under that number of points in the game.

For example, the line might be set at 49.5 between the Edmonton Elks and Hamilton Tigercats. 

If a bettor wagered on over 49.5 points, the wager would only win if the teams combined for 50 or more points. 

An under bet would pay out if there were 49 or fewer points in the game.

CFL Props

Prop bets encompass a wide range of markets, including yes/no bets on whether overtime will be played, winning margin bets, and the half-time/full-time market. Betting on half-time/full-time requires a bettor to predict which team will be leading at half-time and full-time for the bet to win. 

Winning margin wagers are a bet on whether a team will win by a specific range of points. 

For example, you might back the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to beat the B.C. Lions by between seven and 12 points. This bet only wins if their winning margin falls in that range.

Player props are a popular option among CFL fans. These markets include anytime touchdown scorer, over/under on player receiving yards, and various quarterback markets. 

CFL Live Betting

Live betting refers to any wager placed after a game has started. 

In-play betting has seen a massive increase in popularity in recent years, and the CFL is no exception. 

The spread, moneyline, and total are available for live betting at BetMGM. 

Canadian Football League Futures Betting

CFL futures betting is when a wager is placed on a future outcome. 

The most common futures market for CFL fans is a bet on the Grey Cup. BetMGM consistently updates its odds on CFL futures markets depending on team performance, injuries, and various other factors. 

These markets are available several months before the outcome is known. As a result, there are often relatively long odds available, even if you’re looking to bet on the Grey Cup favourites. 

CFL Parlays

A Canadian Football League parlay is when multiple selections are combined into an individual wager. 

All of the selections must land for the bet to win, so the odds increase with each selection added. 

Bettors can mix markets in a parlay. A bettor could take the over on one game while backing a team on the moneyline and taking another team to cover the spread as an underdog. 

Specific props may also be included in parlays, and you can even choose to add bets from other sports into your CFL parlays.

CFL Same-Game Parlays

Same-game parlays are when multiple selections from the same game are put together in a single wager. 

You might take the over on the game total, the moneyline for the underdog, and the favourite to be the first team to 10 points to create a same-game parlay. 

Combining markets from the same game can result in very long odds when creating same-game parlays.

Can I Bet on the CFL in Alberta?

Yes, it is possible to bet on the CFL in Alberta with certain restrictions. 

Alberta sports betting has been legal since June 22, 2021. Third-party operators are not yet permitted to operate in Alberta; however, BetMGM is expected to become available soon. 

The only regulated sportsbook is available online and is overseen by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).