In recent years, gambling has become a much more popular pastime across Canada, with nearly two-thirds of Canadians participating in gambling games over the past year. One of the major contributing factors that have led to the increase in people playing gambling games is the change in laws, allowing more Canadians than ever to access such games.
In addition to this, the gambling industry is one of the fastest industries to adopt new technologies, allowing them to maintain a competitive edge and continually attract new players from all walks of life.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at how gambling laws in Canada have changed over time and what offline and online gambling options are available today.
Gambling laws in Canada
Gambling laws in Canada cover a wide range of activities, from lottery tickets to scratch cards, bingo, poker, sports betting, slot machines, and any other games that involve risking something of value to gain something greater than the initial investment. Unlike many countries where gambling is controlled on a national level, gambling across Canada is governed on a provincial level.
This means that each gambling provider must abide by the local laws of the province they are located in. In total, there are 10 betting agencies across Canada; each holding the power to grant licenses and take them away, as well as other penalties too.
Who can gamble in Canada?
According to the law, the legal minimum age to gamble in Canada is 19. However, this differs between provinces as in Manitoba, Alberta and, Quebec, the law allows 18-year-olds to engage in betting activity. In Ontario, the law states you must be 19 to enter a casino, however you can be 18 to buy a scratch card.
Unlike in some countries where people under the age of 19 can participate in some gambling activity like a regional or national lottery, all minors in Canada are prohibited from engaging in any form of gambling activity.
Is land-based gambling legal in Canada?
Essentially, land-based gambling is legal in Canada but only when licensed by the local province, these are known as First Nation casinos. Some forms of gambling are acceptable on a national level, such as lotteries run for charitable purposes, but only if the funds are used for a licensed charity. The Criminal Code in Canada states that anyone running or found in a betting house is breaking the law.
There are some circumstances where casinos are allowed, as long as they are licensed by the local province. In addition, there is nothing stopping people from playing games like poker in their own homes, however, if you are found to be making a profit from such activity then you risk facing up to 2 years imprisonment.
Online gambling laws in Canada
Online gaming laws in Canada are more of a gray area than physical casino laws. Canadian law states that any form of online gambling is illegal for casinos located in Canada and this is strictly enforced. However, the law does not state that foreign casinos based offshore cannot provide their services to people within Canada.
As such, Canadian citizens are able to access gambling sites offshore, so long as they are licensed by another authority in the country the site is registered in.
Sports betting laws in Canada
In recent years, sports betting was made a legal activity within Canada and since then the industry has thrived. As such, there are a huge variety of sports betting providers online in Canada now that residents can take advantage of.
Gambling in tribal areas
When it comes to casinos based in tribal areas like in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, a different set of rules apply. Tribal territories have been granted permission to independently regulate themselves from the rest of the provinces. This legislation has meant that indigenous people have the right to establish their own gaming commission and as such, can govern their own online casinos.
Online gaming options within Canada
While there are a limited number of online casino providers in Canada, there is an abundance of online casino providers internationally who provide their services to Canadian residents. One of the great things about these sites is that they have a variety of promotions and bonuses to allow newcomers to try out their games. Let’s take a look at some of the other benefits of online casino sites below:
- Play from anywhere and at any time of day or night
- Play on a mobile device while on the go
- More bonuses and promotions can be found online
- There’s a larger variety of online gambling providers to choose from
- Online casinos offer more ways to pay in a safe environment
- Jackpots are generally larger than that of their brick-and-mortar counterpart
Overall, while Canadian gambling laws have traditionally been quite strict, they are slowly becoming more progressive. As a result, not only is the industry growing across Canada, but its residents are now able to access a wider range of casinos and participate in more gambling activities than ever before.