NorthStar Bets Review: A Canadian-Owned Sportsbook

NorthStar Bets at a Glance

NorthStar Bets is operated by NorthStar Gaming (Ontario) Inc., a company headquartered in Toronto. It was founded in 2022 and began operations in Ontario that same year. The platform is Canadian-owned and provides both a sportsbook and an online casino. Its sportsbook technology is supplied by Kambi, a well-known provider in the industry. NorthStar Bets covers over 20 different sports. The company has a partnership with TorStar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, which provides a 'Sports Insights' section with betting-related content on the site.

Licence, Ownership, and Where It Is Legal in Canada

NorthStar Bets holds two primary gaming licences in Canada. In Ontario, it is registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) under registration number OPIG1226485. To use the site in Ontario, you must be 19 years of age or older and physically located within the province. The company also holds a licence with the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. This licence allows NorthStar Bets to offer its services in other Canadian provinces outside of Ontario, though the specific terms and availability may vary by region. The owner is NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc.

Regulatory Record

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a regulatory penalty to NorthStar Gaming (Ontario) Inc. In Ontario, the AGCO issued a monetary penalty of $30,000. The penalty was for failing to ensure its site was accessible only to players located in Ontario, as identified during a third-party geolocation assessment. The AGCO also cited the operator for not providing requested data and documents in a timely manner. This action is a matter of public record and demonstrates the AGCO's active compliance monitoring of registered operators in the province.

Sports and Markets

NorthStar Bets offers betting markets for over 20 sports. The platform has a clear focus on the major North American leagues that are most popular with Canadian bettors. This includes the NHL, CFL, NFL, NBA, and MLB. It also covers soccer, tennis, golf, MMA, and a variety of other international and niche sports. The types of bets available encompass the standard options found at most sportsbooks. You can place wagers on moneylines, point spreads, totals (over/under), and various player and game props. The odds are displayed in American format by default, but users can typically switch to decimal or fractional formats in their account settings.

NHL and CFL Betting

Given its Canadian focus, NorthStar Bets provides extensive coverage for the National Hockey League and the Canadian Football League. For NHL games, the available markets include moneylines, puck lines, game totals, period betting, and selected player props. Futures markets for the Stanley Cup and conference winners are also available during the season. CFL coverage is noted as a particular strength of the platform. CFL coverage is noted as a strength of the platform, with more market options than found at many international-origin sportsbooks.

Live Betting, Streaming, and Cash Out

NorthStar Bets offers live in-play betting for many major sporting events. The live betting interface is described as user-friendly, providing real-time odds updates alongside basic match information and scores. It is available for sports like NHL, NFL, NBA, CFL, soccer, and tennis. At the time of writing, NorthStar Bets does not offer live streaming of events. Bettors must use a separate broadcast or streaming service to watch the action while placing in-play wagers. The cash out feature is available for selected single and multiple bets. This allows you to settle a wager before the event concludes, with the cash out value updating dynamically based on the current state of the game.

Same Game Parlays and Odds Features

NorthStar Bets supports same-game parlays (SGP), which allow you to combine multiple bets from a single event onto one ticket. For example, you could parlay a team's moneyline, a player to score a goal, and the total goals over in one NHL game. All selections in a parlay must win for the bet to pay out. The platform's partnership with the Toronto Star provides a 'Sports Insights' section that includes articles explaining betting concepts like same-game parlays. The odds competitiveness for major markets like NHL moneylines is generally in line with the industry average, though pricing on less popular markets may vary compared to higher-volume operators.

Deposits and Withdrawals

NorthStar Bets accepts several payment methods commonly used in Canada. The available options include Interac e-Transfer, VISA, Mastercard, PayPal, and InstaDebit. The minimum deposit amount is C$20. A key point for users to note concerns withdrawals. According to its terms, withdrawals are processed only to InstaDebit or PayPal accounts. You cannot withdraw funds directly back to an Interac e-Transfer or a credit card. The operator states that withdrawal requests are usually approved within a few hours, and in some cases, approval may take up to 24 hours. Once approved, the time for funds to reach your account depends on the chosen method.

Mobile App

NorthStar Bets offers dedicated mobile applications for both iOS and Android devices. The apps are available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The applications provide full functionality, including sports betting, live betting, cash out, account management, and processing deposits and withdrawals. The design is clean and the interface is optimized for mobile use, with popular Canadian sports like NHL and CFL featured prominently. The apps also support push notifications for bet results and updates. Dedicated apps for iOS and Android are available from the respective app stores.

Customer Support

NorthStar Bets provides multiple channels for customer support. Users can contact the support team via live chat, email, and a toll-free phone number. The live chat feature is available to logged-in users and typically offers connection times under five minutes. The phone number is +1 (855) 218-7827. The help centre on the website also contains a library of articles addressing common questions about accounts, banking, and betting rules.

Responsible Gambling Tools

As a condition of its AGCO registration in Ontario, NorthStar Bets must provide a suite of responsible gambling tools. These tools are designed to help players manage their activity. The available features include options to set deposit limits, implement cooling-off periods (time-outs), and initiate self-exclusion. The site also provides direct links to Connex Ontario, a provincial service that offers free and confidential support for problem gambling. These tools are typically accessible within the user's account settings.

Questions and answers

Is NorthStar Bets legal in my province?

NorthStar Bets is legal in Ontario under a licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). You must be 19 or older and physically located in Ontario to play on its Ontario-licensed site. The company also holds a licence with the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which allows it to offer services in other Canadian provinces. The specific availability and terms for players outside Ontario are set by the operator under that licence.

Who owns NorthStar Bets?

NorthStar Bets is owned by NorthStar Gaming Holdings Inc., a Canadian publicly traded company. The platform is operated by its subsidiary, NorthStar Gaming (Ontario) Inc. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The parent company has a partnership with TorStar, which is the parent company of the Toronto Star newspaper. This partnership provides the 'Sports Insights' section with content from the Toronto Star. The sportsbook technology is provided by Kambi, a third-party supplier.

How long do withdrawals take at NorthStar Bets?

According to NorthStar Bets, the approval process for a withdrawal request usually takes a few hours. In some cases, this approval may take up to 24 hours. It is important to note that withdrawals are only processed to InstaDebit or PayPal accounts, not to Interac e-Transfer or credit cards. Once the withdrawal is approved by NorthStar Bets, the time it takes for the funds to appear in your InstaDebit or PayPal account will depend on the processing times of those services.

Does NorthStar Bets have a mobile app?

Yes, NorthStar Bets has dedicated mobile applications for both iOS and Android devices. The apps are available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The applications offer the full range of features available on the desktop website. This includes placing pre-match and live bets, using the cash out function, managing your account, and making deposits and withdrawals. The app interface is designed for mobile use and highlights popular sports for Canadian bettors.

What NHL betting does NorthStar Bets offer?

NorthStar Bets offers a comprehensive range of betting markets for the National Hockey League. The available bet types for NHL games include moneylines, puck lines, game totals, and period betting. The platform also offers player props, such as betting on a specific player to score a goal. During the NHL season, futures markets are available for events like which team will win the Stanley Cup or a conference championship. NorthStar Bets offers moneylines, puck lines, totals, period betting, player props, and futures for NHL games.

How do I set limits or self-exclude on NorthStar Bets?

You can set gambling limits or self-exclude by using the responsible gambling tools within your NorthStar Bets account. These tools are typically found in the account settings or a dedicated responsible gaming section of the website or app. The available options include setting daily, weekly, or monthly deposit limits. You can also implement a time-out, which is a temporary break from playing for a set period. You can also initiate self-exclusion. The site also provides links to Connex Ontario, a free provincial support service, for additional help and resources.

Bet responsibly. Sports betting is for adults: 19+ in most provinces, 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Set a budget and time limit before you bet and use the deposit limits and self-exclusion tools every licensed sportsbook offers. Help is free and confidential: ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600, Gambling Support BC 1-888-795-6111, Alberta Addiction Helpline 1-866-332-2322, Jeu : aide et référence (Quebec) 1-800-461-0140.