June 18, 2020
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Gambling Laws ⚖️ Is Online Gambling Legal in Canada

Canadian Gambling LawsCanada is known for its beauty and peace and has maintained itself extremely well. To continue peace and harmony, along with gambling entertainment, the government has made efficient gambling laws in Canada to continue gaming effectively. A fair approach toward the formation of laws has maintained unanimity between lawmakers and Canadian gamblers. It works for the well-being of the Canadians that prevents any fraud or scam during gambling in online casinos. In other words, these laws are the support system for gambling in Canada.

Casino gaming activities and sports betting are legal across the country, however, regulated by different governing bodies of 10 provinces and 3 territories. As per the rules, Canadian casinos can legally operate in the country by getting certified from a governing body. Thus, gamblers can gamble at any online casino that holds the certification from an authorized governing body. So, the national policy strives to make playing casino games supervised and legal.

Illegal Gaming History of Canada

John Cabot, an explorer, discovered Canada back in 1497. During his voyage, he found people playing games of luck not for making money but to improve emotional, spiritual, and mental conditions. They used to play games with sticks and pebbles. Europeans started settling in Canada and have brought traditional casino games that include card games, dice, and other forms of gaming with live dealer. The Canadian Criminal Code outlawed all forms of gambling back in 1892. But, people continued illegal gambling in Canada.

As time changed, so did the thoughts of Canadians and laws in Canada. They legalised raffles and bingo in 1900 and were allowed for charitable purposes. After a decade, horse racing got included in the list. These gambling activities were hosted at fairs and exhibitions. In 1967, lotteries were legalised and could be run by provincial as well as the federal government to fund special projects. It was used as charity and funds were collected for the Olympics in Montreal in 1974. In 1985, the federal government passed on all gambling decisions to the provinces; however, betting laws in the Criminal Code were not altered to specify what is legal and illegal gambling. All the gambling practices and casinos are looked after by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Following sections reflect the gambling laws:

  • Section 201

Operating a betting house or being at one is illegal. However, it doesn’t acknowledge online betting houses. Thus, it is unclear whether online casinos are legal or illegal and fall under this code.

  • Section 202

This section states that the lottery advertisement in the state is illegal. But, it is not clear whether this constraint is applied to foreign lotteries that are processed outside Canada lawfully.

  • Section 203

Nobody is allowed to place bets on behalf of other players.

  • Section 204

The Pari-mutuel betting system is not illegal and is managed by the federal government agency named as Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency.

  • Section 205

Any violence regarding the lottery and games of chance is prohibited.

  • Section 206

Everybody is found guilty who makes or procures to make, print, publish, advertise, or in any way sell the property by cards, tickets or any way.

  • Section 207

It validates the creation and operation of managed by the bodies listed under this section.

  • Section 209

Cheating is forbidden.

There are a few key facts that Canadians must know before going to gamble online through legal Canadian online casinos:

No player is at legal risk by playing at any Canadian online casino. However, companies are not permitted to run online casinos within the country. But, most of the offshore gaming sites holding licenses from renowned authorities offer online gaming services. Only casino sites based in Canada are considered illegal.

Even though online gambling is not legalised completely in the country, no Canadian citizen has been sued ever for playing at any offshore online casino. As per the Criminal Code, no gambling website on the territory of the country could be hosted. On the other hand, all the decisions are given to the provincial government that has legalised specific types of gambling within their territory.

Without getting certified from the authority, online casino in Canada can’t operate. Most of the online casinos providing services in the country are based offshore offering legal gambling.

  • Non Taxable Gambling

No Canadian citizen has to pay tax on their winnings as long as they are playing it for fun. If gambling activities found as a form of employment frequency, skill, and payout expectations, it may incur taxes on the winnings.

  • Criminal Code of Canada

The laws of the country that catalogued various criminal offences and procedures in Canada constitute the Criminal Code. It does not clearly disapprove playing at any online casino.

Canada vs U.S Laws

Canadian American Gambling LawIn the past, Canada and the U.S both had strict gambling legislation regulating land-based casinos. However, a change in their gaming laws appeared in 2006 when George Bush brought a gambling law in the U.S.

Online gaming sites cannot operate from within Canada without the license since it is illegal in Canadian law. However, there is no such explicit statement in the Canadian Criminal code that addresses offshore gambling sites.

This is the major dissimilarity between Canada and U.S laws. In the U.S, the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 targets offshore online casinos. It restricts all the transactions through banks and other payment processors conducted with offshore gaming sites.

This is the reason most of the reputed virtual gaming sites dropped out from the U.S market. While, with no such restrictions for offshore companies in Canada, they continue to entertain Canadian players.

Here we can say that to gamble online in Canada is regarded as the grey market where gambling is neither legitimate nor outlawed. Thus, Canadians can participate in games of luck with not much restrictions.

Regulators & Gaming Authorities

After the creation of the Canadian Criminal Code in 1970, provinces got the right to operate and manage gambling in their territory. Thus, there are multiple respective regulators in the country. They are responsible for licensing land-based casinos as well as virtual casinos. Now, you can enjoy licensed gambling in the country. Each region has separate gambling rules and regulations. Now, in Canada, there are various gaming portals as well as land-based casinos.

These regulators are responsible for Canadian operators only. Canadian gambling operators could be verified through the regulators of their respective territories. The regulators also certify suppliers of the games and equipment for the casino operators. They review the claims springing up from gambling activities and disputes with them.

Kahnawake Commission

Kahnawake Gaming CommissionKahnawake Mohawk Nation, located in Quebec, found scope in gambling in 1996. This gave rise to the formation of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KWG), a gambling regulatory body. The regulatory body is not constrained by Canadian federal or provincial legislation, and thus, it can regulate Canadian offshore casinos as well.

It is responsible for auditing the compliance of gambling acts within the Mohawk territory. It is also liable for providing valid gambling licenses to the gaming providers, casino operators, online poker and sportsbook gaming providers. It also looks after any claims and disputes of the Canadian players with the operators.

The casinos have to meet certain criteria to be licensed by the Kahnawake Commission. These criteria are defined in order to provide a fair and scam-free Kahnawake internet gambling. Also, the regulator supervises land-based and virtual casinos separately.

KWG offers five types of licenses listed below:

  1. Interactive Gaming License
  2. Client Provider Authorization
  3. Inter-Jurisdictional Authorization
  4. Key Person License
  5. Casino Software Provider Authorization

Gambling in Provinces

The nation is separated into 10 provinces, and these are:

  • Ontario
  • Alberta
  • Quebec
  • British Colombia
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Newfoundland and Labrador

The federal government of Canada has given the right to the provincial government for licensing and managing gambling activities in their territory. Thus, each nation’s province has its own gambling rules and regulations. However, most of the rules are the same with slight differences. These provinces have their own supervisory body that forms the gambling as well as sports betting laws. It also looks after all the activities within the industry to prevent scam or fraud in the territory. For example, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is a regulatory body in the Alberta province of Canada.

Let’s take a look at each of the provincial gambling legislation:

Ontario Gambling Laws

This is the biggest area in Canada that encompasses the highest population among the provinces. It is also one of the fastest economically growing areas in Canada and so is applied to gambling. It was recorded in 2011 that 82.9% of adults in the province gamble at least once a year. Also, a major population of Southern Ontario can access legal gambling in this establishment. There is a plethora of physical as well as online casinos where players can partake in various activities.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is the supervisory body of the province that provides a license to the operators and regulates the gambling services within the region. Both the Gaming Control Act 1992 and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act 1999 constitute the major Ontario gambling laws.

The legal forms of gambling in Ontario are as follows:

  • Casinos

Ontario runs over 25 land-based casinos in its region. Some of them are privately owned casinos, while some are managed by the provincial government for charity.

  • Slot Machines

Canadians actively partake in slot machines gaming, and this is the reason there are a large number of slot machines in Ontario than any other Canadian province. You can find slot machines in various physical as well as online casinos.

  • Horse Racing

You mainly get Standardbred, Quarter horse, and Thoroughbred racing in Ontario. From Ottawa to Fort Erie, you would get the fondness for horse racing everywhere in this region.

  • Betting on Sports

You can stake on various types of sports by using Pro-line service through land-based lottery centres or by the virtual medium. You need to wager at least two games; however, players can choose different betting variants such as over/under and point spread.

  • Lottery

Along with National Lottery drawings, players can partake in Provincial Lottery drawings run by Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. In North America, Ottawa is one of the most extensive lottery networks.

  • Gaming for Charity

Bingo and Raffles constitute charitable gaming. The gaming corporation operates various eBingo websites for online gambling and is responsible for licensing charitable games.

Quebec Gambling Laws

Being a French Canadian province, you can access gambling in French as well as the English language. Citizens of Quebec have partaken in legal gambling since 1970. Loto Quebec has launched and managed Espacejeux.com, an online casino. Except for Espacejeux, you can access a variety of online casinos in the region legally. These online gaming casinos provide a complete library of games to choose from.

Except for Canadian Gaming Corporation, the main regulators of the region are Regie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (Régie) and Société des lotteries du Québec (Loto-Québec). Major laws enacted for gambling are Loi sur les loteries, les concours publicitaires et les appareils d’amusement and Loi sur la Société des loteries du Québec.

The legal forms of gambling in Quebec are as follows:

  • Casinos

Currently, there are nine casinos in the state which are popular among the locals and the neighbouring residents in Vermont, New York, Maine, and New Hampshire. The Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming Commission supervises these casinos’ activities.

  • Horse Racing

Quebec mainly offers harness racing with only one track at present. Along with gambling at the track, gamblers can also choose their favourite ponies at various off-track centres.

  • Lottery

The lottery is one of the oldest forms of legal gambling in Quebec, where players get different variations to pick from.

  • Online Gambling

Except for Espacejeux, players can gamble at various other online casinos. However, these casinos must be authorized by Loto Quebec.

  • Betting on Sports

Mise-O-Jeu is the game on which players can stake on two to eight options. All the selections must be successful in getting the payouts. You can either stake virtually or through a participating location.

  • Video Lottery Terminals

Out of all the Canadian provinces, Quebec was the last to hold out VLTs. As of 1994, approximately 40,000 machines were operating within the state. Later, 12,000 machines were placed legally in gaming hall facilities, bars, and brasseries.

  • Bingo & Gaming for Charity

Loto Quebec is responsible for licensing and regulating all the charitable games in the province. This includes Bingo, Raffles, and Kinzo.

Nova Scotia Gambling Laws

Nova Scotia supports legal gaming in the state. The second-smallest province in Canada holds a gaming scene with 87% of adults gambling at least once a year. You get legal offline as well as online casinos in the province. Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel, Tobacco Division of Service Nova Scotia is the supervisory body that provides license and manages all the gambling practices in the province. The major gambling law enacted by them is the Gaming Control Act to offer scam-free gambling to its citizens.

Below are various legal gambling activities in the state:

  • Casinos

Nova Scotia encompasses only two land-based casinos which are run by the government. Both are named as Casino Nova Scotia-based in Sydney and Halifax. The average payout percentage of the slots in these casinos is recorded as 92% by Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation.

  • Online Gambling

The area doesn’t sport any online casinos of their own. However, players from Nova Scotia can gamble on several offshore gambling sites in Canada.

  • Horse Racing

Inverness Raceway, Truro Raceway, and Northside Downs are three legal race tracks of Nova Scotia. There are a few teletheatres to make bets other than the track.

  • Betting on Sports

Pro-line system is used by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation to bring sports betting in Canada. A player needs to wager on at least 2 athletes or teams in parlay fashion.

  • Lottery

Lotteries are supervised by Atlantic Lottery Corporation. You can purchase tickets from hundreds of retailers.

  • Gaming for Charity

Charitable games, including Bingo, are managed by Atlantic Lottery Corporation. These games generate good revenue in the region.

New Brunswick Gambling Legislation

New Brunswick is the region with less than one-million population. However, the state offers various legal activities within the province. The New Brunswick Gaming Control Branch of the Department of Public Safety is the regulatory body that keeps its eye on all the gambling services in the territory. The main law of the state is the Gaming Control Act that keeps respective activities safe and protected.

Following are some of its legal gambling activities in New Brunswick:

  • Casinos

Casino New Brunswick, based in Moncton, is the only casino in the state that offers slots, VLTs, table games, poker and live games.

  • Slot Machines

A player can relish slots from top brands such as IGT and Bally at both offline as well as online casinos.

  • Horse Racing

Residents of NB are fond of horse racing. That’s why the betting sites are on-track and off-track. Exhibition Park Raceway is a track in NB while Winners Lounge and Valley Sands are some of its offshore tracks.

  • Betting on Sports

You can partake in Pro-line sports betting which is looked after by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

  • Lottery

All the drawings and payouts are managed by Atlantic Lottery. There are more than 900 legal dealers who sell lotteries.

  • Gaming for Charity

Raffles and Bingo can be played in the territory and operated by more than 800 non-profit organizations.

Manitoba Gambling Laws

Manitoba is the centrally located province in Canada where the gambling industry is supervised by The Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba created by Manitoba Gaming Control Commission and the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. The key laws regulating this business in the province are The Liquor, Cannabis, and Gaming Control Act and The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act. Residents are fond of playing casino games and lotteries.

Some of the juridical gambling activities are as follows:

  • Casinos

There are six traditional casinos in the state, out of them Opaskwayak Cree Nation is the first-ever land-based casino launched in 2002. You get both First Nation as well as government-owned casinos in the province.

  • Slot Machines

Residents enjoy an extensive range of slots at physical as well as online casinos that include slots from various renowned providers.

  • Horse Racing

Manitoba Horse Racing Commission is responsible for conducting live as well as simulcast events. Standardbred and thoroughbred races take place in the province. Assiniboia Downs is the only constant track in the state.

  • Betting on Sports

Pro-lines, Pro-Picks Pools, Point-Spread, and Pro-Picks Props techniques are used in the province. A maximum of CAD250 in a day could be wagered on sports betting events.

  • Lottery

The Western Canada Lottery Corporation manages lottery tickets and scratch-cards. These can be bought online or via licensed retailers.

  • Gaming for Charity

Bingo, Breakopen, Raffles, Monte Carlo, Sports Draft, Calcutta Auction, and Texas Hold’em Poker are carried as a charitable activity within the area. These are operated by non-profit organisations.

British Columbia Gambling Laws

British Columbia in Canada offers a plethora of games of chances to its residents. Both the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Finance (GPEB) regulate and manage such activities. Players of the age of 19 and above are allowed to participate in gambling in the state. The Gaming Control Act is the major law formed in the region.

These are the legal gambling activities in BC:

  • Casinos

There are 15 traditional casinos in the state that offer slots, table games, poker, along with live games. Hard Rock is the largest casino based in Vancouver.

  • Slot Machines

The first legal casino was launched in 1997 in the province. It allows slot machines in certain areas only that encompass casinos, community gaming centres, and race tracks. They are excluded from bars and pubs.

  • Horse Racing

Residents enjoy Thoroughbred as well as Standardbred racing in the region. The province houses two race tracks along with over 15 off-track sites.

  • Betting on Sports

Players need to wager on a minimum of 2 games. A few betting events demand a 100% winning percentage to receive the payout.

  • Lottery

Residents can buy tickets from various virtual as well as physical legal retailers. The winner can claim their prize up to one year from the date of winning.

  • Gaming for Charity

Ticket raffles, bingo, wheel of fortune, poker, and social occasion casinos are some of its charitable games. These are managed and operated by licensed non-profit organizations.

Prince Edward Island Gambling Laws

One of the smallest provinces of Canada, Prince Edward Island, has legalized various gambling activities. Similar to the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, the Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission supervises all the gambling sector since 1996. One of the major respective laws of the province is the Lotteries Commission Act. However, the region has the least gambling rates. Some of its legal gaming activities are as follows:

  • Casinos

There are five traditional casinos in the province that include various casino games such as slots, VLTs, blackjack, and poker. Some of its traditional casinos are Red Shores at Summerside and Red Shores Racetrack and Casino.

  • Slot Machines

A number of slot machines are available at both offline and online casinos. These slots appear in different forms from a variety of game developers.

  • Horse Racing

PEI includes two legal race tracks, namely Summerside Raceway and Charlottetown Driving Park. However, the region does not provide any off-track facility.

  • Betting on Sports

Prince Edward Island Lottery Commission and ACL supervises this type of entertainment. A gambler uses Pro-Line service to make Parlay bets on the sports events.

  • Lottery

Atlantic Lottery Corporation operates a lottery in the region. Lottery licenses could be applied by charitable organizations only.

  • Video Lottery Terminals

ALC is the only operator for VLTs at PEI formed in 2003. Later, the rules were made quite flexible to operate lotteries contests every day.

  • Gaming for Charity

Raffles, bingo, and lottery contests are played for charitable gaming which is managed by non-profit organizations only.

Newfoundland & Labrador Gambling Laws

In the easternmost part of Canada, there is Newfoundland and Labrador. Unfortunately, there is not a single casino in the state. However, First Nation has all the gambling rights. Players access offshore online casinos since there is no such law prohibiting residents from doing so.

Here are some legal gambling activities of the region:

  • Gaming for Charity

Charitable games such as raffles and bingo are inspected by the Department of Government Services. Here, more than 3,800 charitable licenses are in use.

  • Lottery

Lottery contests in the province are managed and operated by Atlantic Lottery Corporation. Residents can purchase tickets online or from several land-based retailers.

  • Horse Racing

St John’s Racing and Entertainment Centre is the single race track in the region. Along with live racing, simulcast facilities are also available to relish horse racing in other Canadian regions. These are jointly supervised by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency and Standardbred Canada.

  • Video Lottery Terminals

VLTs are regulated by Atlantic Lottery Corporation. Here, the player can get the jackpot ranging between million and million. You can purchase tickets online or from licensed retailers.

  • Online Gaming

No online casino is present in Newfoundland and Labrador. Thus, players engage in plenty of offshore gaming sites.

  • Betting on Sports

Lottery Licensing Regulation and Service NL regulate sports betting in the territory. Several Pro-Line websites are available in the province.

Saskatchewan Gambling Laws

Among all the Canadian provinces, residents of Saskatchewan spend the most on gambling activities. Along with the Criminal Code of Canada, The Alcohol and gaming Nation Regulation Act 1997, Licensing Agreements, and Saskatchewan gaming Corporation Act are some of its major laws to regulate the industry. The regulating authorities in the region are Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA), Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA).

Here are some of the legal gaming activities in the region:

  • Video Lottery Terminals

VLTs are co-managed by SLGA and Western Canada Lottery Corporation(WCLC). Net revenue through VLTs are divided as 85% goes to government funds while 15% is added to business participating in VLT programs. Currently, there are 4,200 legal VLT machines in the province.

  • Charitable Gaming

Raffle, bingo, break open tickets, Monte Carlo, and Texas Hold’em Poker events are eligible to collect the charitable gaming grant. SLGA disburse 25% of net proceeds in the event that is limited up to 0,000 yearly.

  • Casinos

Saskatchewan comprises 8 traditional casinos that host slots, table games, and live games along with special events and offerings. The revenue of First Nations Casinos is shared among First Nations, the government’s General Revenue Fund, and Community Development Corporations.

  • Lottery

This gaming activity has been entertaining gamblers since 1974, which is managed by Saskatchewan Lotteries. The proceeds are funded among over 12,000 organizations.

  • Betting on Sports

Players wager using the parlay betting system on sports such as hockey, basketball, baseball, soccer, and football. Generally, wagers range between file=php/clean_code.php and 0.

  • Online Gaming

Online casino websites are not permitted in the state, however, players can gamble using offshore sites.

  • Horse Racing

Thoroughbred, Standardbred, and Quarter racing takes place in the region that could be wagered on-track as well as off-track. There are three legal horse tracks in the state.

Alberta Gambling Laws

The contribution of gambling revenue is 4% of its budget. This implies that the residents gamble keenly. Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission is the supervisory body, and the main gambling legislation is Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act.

The following are its legitimate gambling activities:

  • Horse Racing

There are various horse tracks in Alberta. Some of them are Alberta Downs, Northlands park, and Century Downs. A total of 15 teletheatres offer off-track betting facilities.

  • Video Lottery Terminals

There are 6,000 VLTs in the province that are overseen by AGLC. There is a limit of 14 machines for retailers while 15-49 for gaming entertainment centres.

  • Betting on Sports

There are various sports betting games. However, no online sports betting casino is available. It is regulated by Western Canada Lottery Corporation. Gamblers need to wager on two or more teams.

  • Casinos

Over 20 casinos are operating in Alberta. Out of them, some are government-owned casinos, some are First Nations casinos, and others are privately owned casinos. Most of the casinos operate for charitable purposes.

  • Online Gaming

There are no government-owned online casinos. However, residents are free to play on plenty of offshore sites available in the province. These online casinos should hold the license from the international gaming authority that provides safe online casinos in Canada.

  • Lottery

Lottery contests are regulated by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. The drawings occur every day of the week.

  • Gaming for Charity

Bingo, selling raffles, and pull tickets are charitable games organized by philanthropic organizations only.

Gambling in Territories

Similar to provinces, the gambling laws of Canada are varied in territories too. These territories are the smaller areas with limited population. It includes Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest territories. Many Canadians and foreigners called this complete area ‘The North’. All the gambling services and legal Canadian online casinos and offline casinos are run by the federal government in ‘The North’.

The laws are almost similar, what differs are the games in a territory. Canadian residents in these territories get horse racing, casinos, charitable gaming, sports betting, VLTs, and lottery. It completely depends on the laws of particular Canadian territory. However, legitimate games of chances are less in these areas.

Let’s take a look at the gambling legislation within the Canadian territory.

Yukon Gambling Laws

Yukon is the smallest territory of Canada that houses the least population of 36,000 people. Whitehorse is the only city of the territory and is the capital too. There are a few legal gambling laws, especially for its capital and the region surrounding it. Most of the gaming activities are regulated by the Western Canada Lottery Association. These are as follows:

  • Gaming for Charity

Raffles, bingo, and lottery are hosted by charitable organizations only. These organizations need to be approved by the Registrar of lotteries. Along with money, these organizations donate meat and other forms of food.

  • Lottery

Various lottery games are proposed at the Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall. Yukon residents are permitted to play in the lottery proposed by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation. The lucky player can win millions of Canadian dollars with a single ticket.

  • Temporary Casinos

No permanent casinos are permitted in Yukon. However, temporary gaming establishments are allowed for up to three days only. It could be organized by charitable or religious organizations having licenses. Blackjack, roulette, and wheel of fortune are permitted games here.

  • Betting on Sports

Sport Select service offers legal sports betting to the gamblers. They can stake on NHL or CFL teams using parlay bets.

  • Gambling on the Web

Residents can place their bets easily at online casino websites located at the offshore locations.

Nunavut Gambling Legislation

Before the split, Nunavut used to be a part of the Northwest Territories. Now, it is the biggest and most recent territory in Canada that houses the second least population across the country. Its consumer affair department is responsible for licensing all the gambling services in the region. Following laws are under the Yukon laws that offer legal gambling to the citizens:

  • Gaming for Charity

Charitable casinos offer bingo, raffles, poker tournaments, pull tickets, and impermanent casino-style gaming. These game events take place for fund-raising.

  • Lottery

The lottery has been running since 1978. It is regulated by Western Canada Lottery Corporation. Citizens can buy tickets from licensed retailers or via official online sites.

  • Temporary Casinos

Similar to Yukon, permanent casinos are not permitted in the region. Temporary casinos are allowed for three days only that are organized by charitable or religious organizations.

  • Betting on Sports

Nunavut citizens can wager on their sports through Sport Select. There are a variety of games to stake on, such as American football and basketball. These are managed by Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

  • Online Gambling

The territory provides legal Canadian online casinos and sportsbooks to the gamblers. However, citizens sometimes face issues due to improper internet connection.

Gambling Legislation in Northwest Territories

Northwest is the most populous region among all the Canadian territories, with most of them, are Aboriginals. The climatic condition of the region is harsh – still, more than 75% of the population gamble in some form or other. Western Canadian Lottery Corporation regulates gambling and games in the region.

Here are some of its legal gaming services:

  • Lottery Games

These games include raffles, bingo, pull-tickets, and casino-style lotteries. These are run by certified non-profit organizations to raise funds. These events are managed by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, that is the associate of WCLC.

  • Land-based Casinos

The area is a remote location and also includes less population that’s why there are no physical casinos even after the permission.

  • Betting on Sports

Sport Select offers to bet on sports in NWT that could be enjoyed online or at local retailers. These are regulated by NWT Lotteries. Point spread and over/under options are available at major sports events.

  • Online Gambling

Most of the gamblers access online casinos and sportsbooks due to lack of land-based casinos.

One of the favourite pastimes for Canadian residents is gambling, and after the popularity of online gaming, citizens are much more into online betting in Canada than offline. However, out of a plethora of online casinos, it is difficult to choose the best out of them. The best is in terms of complete entertainment, payback, and fringe benefits. Here are some of the parameters that will assist you in selecting the best casinos in the country:

  • Registered Casino

Always use the casino that holds the license from the Canadian authority. This will assure you that the establishment is a 100% legal and a safe online casino. Also, it will protect you if you face any problem related to paybacks or accessing your money.

  • Bonuses & Promotions

A real online casino always offers nice benefits to you through its bonus deals. It may include free spins, big welcome bonuses, no deposit bonuses like $300 no deposit bonus codes, VIP bonus, cashback offers, and so on. These benefits can help the player visit and play for free on a new platform.

  • Reliable Payment Options

A best online casino ensures trustworthy payment options such as PayPal, Visa, MasterCard for the transactions. This will keep your data safe. Also, look for the casino using the encryption technology for depositing and withdrawing money.

  • Accessible

Choose a casino that is accessible from different devices such as PCs, smartphones, and tablets. Also, it must support renowned operating systems such as Windows, iOS, and Android.

Conclusion – Future of Canadian GamblingCanadian Casinos

Different gambling laws in provinces and territories of Canada show diversity in them. We know that changes are the part of life, and the gambling laws in Canada will keep on updating with time. But, currently, it is difficult to say what changes will be brought to them. However, it is clear that Canadian gambling laws will become more flexible than present ones.

Presently, various Canadian provinces are running their own legal gambling activities at various online and offline casinos that offer bingo, raffles, casino hold’em, and various other games of chances. It seems the bright future of Canada in gambling with exciting innovation, state-of-the-art adaptations, and exclusive innovations. Canadian gamers will be having more choices and fun in the near future. Whether it is government operated casinos or international casinos or offshore sites, the liberal and flexible laws will add more fun and ease in the life of Canadian citizens.

FAQ about Canadian Gambling Laws

❓ Is Online Gambling Legal in Canada?

It is illegal to operate an online casino in Canada. Still, Canadian gamblers can play at offshore online casinos as long as they are licensed by respective legal bodies and comply with the Criminal Code of Canada.

🎲 Can a US citizen gamble online in Canada?

It is hardly possible for US citizen to play with real money in Canadian online casino as US tracks and restricts all money transactions to offshore gambling sites.

💎 What is an offshore casino?

An offshore casino is an online gambling site that holds all needed gambling licenses but is based in another country to avoid law restrictions. As Canadian gambling laws do not restrict offshore casinos, it is a preferable way to gamble for most of the players.

💡 Which online casinos are the safest and trusted for Canadian players?

An online casino has to be licensed and regulated by a reputable gambling authority, to use compatible payment methods and be focused on the Canadian players, by offering them acceptable bonus deals. Find a list of recommended casinos on our site.
Jackson Tremblay
Jackson Tremblay
Chief Editor, Betting Sites Expert
Jackson is the main expert on the website. He creates and edits all reviews that you see on our website. He is responsible for uniting our team and inspiring us to catch up with his proficiency.