Is It Legal To Play Online Casino In Canada

Is It Legal To Play Online Casino In Canada

  1. Is It Legal To Play Online Casino In Canada Now

Online gambling is often called a 'legal grey area,' but does that mean Canadians playing a few hands of internet poker in their living rooms should one day expect a SWAT team to crash through the.

Unless you’re from the Great White North, you might not consider it Canada to be a gambling mecca. But both land-based and online gambling are in full swing, sanctioned by provincial gambling laws in Canada.

The landscape features nearly 100 casinos, and 38,000 VLTs fill in the gaps. Punters can submit their parlays at lottery retailers or online, and bingo, charity gambling, and homegrown online gambling sites for sports and casino gaming are all on the approved list.

Like many countries, Canada’s gambling laws have some clear-cut provisions, as well as some gray areas left to interpretation. So, we’ll do our best to demystify the situation.

We’ll touch on some game-changing judicial decisions too. As Canadian gambling legislation is now in the provinces’ hands, you’ll soon see what each has to offer and the specific Canada gaming laws in play.

If you look at the history books relating to legal gambling expansion throughout Canada, they focus on 1892, 1969, and 1985. But we’re going to add 1976 to the list as well.

  • 1892 – The Criminal Code outlaws gambling under the section “Offenses against religion, morals, and public conveniences”
  • 1969 – The Criminal Code was initially altered to allow for lotteries that raised funds for worthwhile causes
  • 1976 – Sports lotteries were introduced
  • 1985 – The federal government turned control over to the provinces for gambling activities, including lotteries and lottery schemes, which cover computer, video devices, slot machines, and horse racing wagering over the phone

The Criminal Code was the be-all, end-all of Canadian gambling legislation for decades. The 1969 move to approve lotteries got the ball rolling in the other direction.

We include 1976 because sports lotteries have been a mainstay in the country since then. Although betting is exclusively parlay-based, players have plenty of access through provincial-governed programs that extend to retail locations and, now, online betting as well.

1985 took Canada’s gambling and online gambling laws to a new level. Although the first gambling venue, Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, popped up in Yukon Territory in 1971, the post-1985 era prompted the casino boom.

Winnipeg’s Crystal Casino was the first government-owned casino, opening its doors in 1991. It didn’t even have its own structure but instead occupied the Fort Garry Hotel’s seventh floor. Manitoba now has five other gambling venues, but the historic Crystal Casino’s reign was short. It closed in 1999.

1901Charity raffles and other non-profit gambling approved
1917Horse racing temporarily suspended
1920Horse racing resumed with pari-mutuel wagering
1974First lottery emerged since the 1969 change to the Criminal Code – its purpose was to raise funds for the Olympics
1985Gambling legislation transferred from the federal government to the provinces
1985Provinces allowed to run lotteries and lottery schemes, including gambling on computers, video devices, slots, and phone betting for horse racing
1991VLTs approved in eight provinces (not in Ontario and British Columbia) for establishments with liquor licenses
1991Crystal Casino, the first commercial casino, opened in Winnipeg
1993Casino de Montréal opened and is now the largest casino in Canada
1996Online gambling introduced in Canada; the Mohawk Territory’s Kahnawake Gaming Commission became the first online casino regulatory agency
1997Sports Interaction launched and is still Canada’s national online gambling site through Mohawk Online (Mohawk Council of Kahnawake

Online Gambling Laws in Canada

Canada’s online gambling laws are both straightforward and confusing.

On the one hand, online gambling, whether sports betting or casino gaming, is legal as long as the provider is licensed within the country. But on the other hand, Canadians use plenty of offshore online sportsbooks and casinos.

While it’s illegal to operate an online casino in Canada without a license, nothing is spelled out explicitly prohibiting Canadians from using non-licensed services. Many people do, without penalty. No one has been prosecuted for using an out-of-area gambling website.

There are licensed Canadian online gambling sites that operate within the country. Sports Interaction was one of the first and is still going strong. Although it’s categorized as a sportsbook, players can take advantage of casino games as well.

Additionally, Canada is a unique country with its online gambling presence. As the provinces control the gambling and online gambling, most have their own virtual service, like Quebec’s Loto-Quebec or Alberta’s Play Alberta.

Province-run gambling sites include casino gaming, instant lottery, and sports betting. Not all residents are enthused about these services.

The in-region sites tend to have just a small sample of games compared to competitive offshore online casinos. However, new betting opportunities are consistently added, and Loto-Quebec even has some millionaire-makers in its virtual slot banks.

Canadian punters tend to “virtually” leave the country to place bets because Canada’s gambling laws don’t account for straight bets. Since 1976 when sports lotteries emerged, betting has been restricted to parlays.

Aside from Sports Interaction, there are provincial-approved betting services across the country. The national program is called Sport Select, although it’s known by different names, depending on the location.

Sport Select usually operates in conjunction with lottery retailers, and some provinces have extended the service to mobile players. Hence, it falls under both gambling and online gambling legislation in Canada.

Canadians appreciate more than just online sports betting, though. As we mentioned, the majority of provinces host their own online gambling sites featuring casino games, like slots, table games, virtual scratch cards, and lottery-type gaming.

Province-run online betting sites are geofenced. Players can use their mobile devices to play from home or anywhere in the region but will lose connectivity when they cross into another jurisdiction.

Summary of Canada’s Online Gambling Laws

  • Online casinos and sportsbooks licensed in Canada are legal.
  • Sport Select is the national sports betting program, allowing for parlays in retailers and some provinces to provide online access.
  • It’s illegal to operate an online casino in Canada without a license, but nothing is spelled out regarding players using outside online betting services.
  • Most provinces have dedicated full-service gambling sites for residents but are geofenced, so Canadian punters in other areas can’t access the service – they have to stick to their local website.

Since 1985 when the Canadian government relegated gambling legislation to the individual provinces, there’s been continuous expansion. More than 80 casinos have surfaced and there are now nearly 40,000 VLT machines worth millions to the local economies.

The following are the nine provinces and one territory with casinos and subsequent oversight.

Alberta

  • Gambling oversight: Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC)
  • Commission established: 1996
  • Alberta gambling legislation: The Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act
  • AGLC website: https://aglc.ca/
  • Legal gambling age in Alberta: 18
  • Official online gambling site: Play Alberta

Alberta has 28 licensed casinos within the region. Vegas-style casinos are prevalent, totaling 24, and the other four stick to machine-based gambling.

When it comes to VLT gaming in bars and clubs, Alberta takes the nation’s second spot with 6,000 machines at more than 1,200 locations. Quebec is the only province with more, as it totals 12,000. Electronic gaming provides a half-billion dollars in annual revenue to the government.

The province participates in the WCLC, or Western Canada Lottery Corporation but doesn’t allow for online lottery sales. However, Alberta does have a provincial-run online casino, Play Alberta, with slots and lottery-type games. Players can deposit to their betting account with Visa or Mastercard.

  • Gambling oversight: British Columbia Lottery Corp.
  • British Columbia gambling legislation: Gaming Control Act
  • BCLC website: https://www.playnow.com/
  • Legal gambling age in British Columbia: 19
  • Official online gambling site: Play Now

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation is a three-part service consisting of casino games, lottery, and e-gaming.

Play Now is the official online gambling service, which extends to lottery ticket sales and slots, and other virtual machine-type gaming. Unlike Alberta’s online casino that’s limited to Visa and Mastercard acceptance, Play Now offers a wide range of payment options, including PayPal, Web Cash, and Online Bill Payment.

Land-based gambling in British Columbia features 34 casino venues, but only 18 with traditional table games. There are also three bingo halls, but British Columbia has opted out of the VLT program, so machine gaming isn’t available at bars, taverns, and other liquor-licensed establishments.

  • Gambling oversight: Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba
  • Manitoba gambling legislation: The Liquor Gaming and Cannabis Control Act of 2018
  • LGCA website: https://lgcamb.ca/
  • Legal gambling age in Manitoba: 18
  • Official online gambling site: Play Now

While Crystal Casino, the first commercial casino in the area, closed in 1999, five replacements have been added since. Manitoba is also home to Assiniboia Downs’ flat track thoroughbred racing under the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission’s supervision.

Is it legal to play online casino in canada right now

The Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba handles other gambling license applications, including lottery and VLTs. While Manitoba isn’t at the top of the list for VLT revenue, it has nearly 600 licensees, 4,400 machines and generates around a quarter-billion in revenue for the area.

Manitoba is the exception with the Western Canada Lottery Corp, as it also utilizes the Play Now online services for tickets. Both lottery and VLT retailers go through an application process but aren’t charged licensing fees to get started.

  • Gambling oversight: New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corp.
  • New Brunswick gambling legislation: Control Act of 2008
  • NBLGC website: https://www2.gnb.ca/
  • Legal gambling age in New Brunswick: 19
  • Official online gambling site: Atlantic Lottery

The NBLGC oversees most of New Brunswick authorized gambling activities, except VLTs. VLT supervision is under the Department of Justice, which has recently implemented changes in the program.

VLT machines and retailers have been reduced to a maximum of 2,000 devices spread out amongst 300 locations. New Brunswick’s other land-based gaming includes the Casino New Brunswick with Vegas-style gaming and Grey Rock, which sticks to gambling machines, including electronic table games.

Online gambling is legal in New Brunswick through the Atlantic Lottery site, covering all of the bases from lottery tickets to casino games (slots and tables), bingo, and a link to Pro-Line for sports betting.

  • Gambling oversight: Nova Scotia Gaming Corp.
  • Nova Scotia gambling legislation: The Gaming Control Act
  • NSGC website: https://gamingns.ca/
  • Legal gambling age in Nova Scotia: 19
  • Official online gambling site: Atlantic Lottery

There’s plenty of bingo action throughout Nova Scotia in addition to the two Casino Nova Scotia locations in Sydney and Halifax. According to reports by the NSGC, the area can more than accommodate the list of venues. Approximately 73% of Nova Scotians participate in at least one betting activity.

All of the proceeds from gambling within the province, which amounted to $136.5 million in the 2019-2020 calendar year, go directly to local programs and services.

Like New Brunswick, Nova Scotia is part of the Atlantic Lottery online gambling programs, so residents also have home and mobile access to slots, lottery tickets, sports betting, etc. Land-based gaming covers the landscape with 600 VLT licensees and 3,000 machines in play.

  • Gambling oversight: Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.
  • Ontario gambling legislation: Ontario Lottery and Gaming Act
  • OLG website: https://www.olg.ca/en/home.html
  • Legal gambling age in Ontario: 19
  • Official online gambling site: Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG)

The OLG website is Ontario’s Atlantic Lottery. It’s a full-service online gambling go-to for pretty much anything and everything betting-related in the province. You can buy lottery tickets, bet on sports, and play casino games.

Ontario residents have an edge compared to their provincial neighbors. OLG’s casino not only has more games but uses IGT software. IGT is behind some of the most well-known slot titles, like Cleopatra and LobsterMania (both available on olg.ca). Slots also cover major progressive jackpots like the Power Bucks series seeded at a million.

Along with British Columbia, Ontario said no to VLTs. However, the province is currently home to 28 casinos, including four resort-style properties, like Fallsview Casino-Resort. Casino Woodbine is amid a significant expansion project slated for 2022 completion. And, the casino count will soon hit 29 when the new Pickering Casino-Resort opens its doors.

All but five of Ontario’s casinos are Vegas-style with slots and table games. The other five stick to gambling machines.

  • Gambling oversight: Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission
  • Prince Edward Island gambling legislation: Lotteries Commission Act and Gaming Centre Control Regulations of 2005
  • PEI gaming regulation website: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/legislation/lotteries-commission-act
  • Legal gambling age in Prince Edward Island: 19 for VLTs and casino; 18 for lottery tickets
  • Official online gambling site: Atlantic Lottery

With a population of only 157,000, two casinos, a few hundred VLTs, and bingo halls should accommodate Prince Edward Island residents who enjoy gambling activities.

Even the Red Shores Racetrack and Casino, one of two Red Shores properties, is relatively small with about 300 slots. However, it also offers table gaming and a poker room. If the lottery retailers, VLTs, and casinos aren’t enough, though, Prince Edward Island is also part of the Atlantic Lottery program.

Atlantic Lottery gives residents a regionally-regulated, legal Canadian online gambling site for everything from slots to sports.

  • Gambling oversight: Loto-Quebec
  • Quebec gambling legislation: Société des lotteries du Québec
  • Société de lotteries du Québec website: https://societe.lotoquebec.com/en/home
  • Legal gambling age in Quebec: 18
  • Official online gambling site: Loto-Quebec

If you want to know anything and everything about legal gambling in Quebec, Loto-Quebec is the site to discover. It’s one of the most detailed resources in the country and explicitly spells out what’s available according to Canada gambling laws.

Everything from VLTs to casino gaming to the Loto-Quebec online gambling site runs through the Société de lotteries du Québec.

Loto-Quebec, like the Ontario and Atlantic Lottery sites, covers the gamut. You can play slots, tables, instant lottery, and place sports bets. But if you’re in the mood to take a drive, two gambling halls and four casinos are premier attractions.

  • Casino de Montreal
  • Casino du Lac-Leamy
  • Casino de Charlevoix
  • Casino de Mont-Tremblant

The Casino de Montreal is the largest in Canada with more than 3,000 machines, 100 tables, a 25-table poker room, and a VIP gaming area.

As far as other land-based betting opportunities, Quebec takes the top spot with 12,000 VLTs, although it has plans to reduce that number in the near future. Historically, though, the VLTs have contributed a half-billion annually to the provincial economy.

  • Gambling oversight: Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority
  • Saskatchewan gambling legislation: The Alcohol and Gaming Regulatory Act
  • SLGA website: https://www.slga.com/gaming/
  • Legal gambling age in Saskatchewan: 19
  • Official online gambling site: n/a

The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority runs seven out of the nine casinos in the region, including the newest, Gold Horse in Lloydminster, which opened in December 2018. The remaining two (Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw) are under the Saskatchewan Gaming Authority.

Saskatchewan has an active charity gaming department and one of the more lucrative VLT programs. With 4,200 VLTs in 569 locations, it’s easy to see how they could contribute more than $155 million annually to the province.

A lottery is in full swing with Sask Lotteries, which also links to Sport Select for parlays. However, the lottery is a retailer-only service. You can’t buy tickets or play casino games on the Sask Lottery website like you can in Quebec or Ontario.

  • Gambling oversight: Yukon Lottery Corp
  • Yukon gambling legislation: n/a
  • Lotteries Yukon website: https://lotteriesyukon.com/en/programs
  • Legal gambling age in Yukon: 19
  • Official online gambling site: n/a

There’s not a whole lot happening gambling-wise in the Yukon Territory. But we’d be remiss if we left it off the list as it’s home to Canada’s first casino.

Diamond Tooth Gertie’s was opened by the Klondike Visitors Association in 1971 and has done its job to attract visitors to the area. With just 64 slots and some table games, you wouldn’t compare it to a venue like Casino de Montreal, but you don’t need to, as it’s one-of-a-kind.

While Yukon Territory has a small lottery program with 43 retailers, there’s no VLT program. So, Gertie’s is the go-to for gambling machines.

Canada’s online gambling laws provide for casino gaming, iLottery, and parlay-based sports betting. But the question is, what’s off the list?

The answer is straight bets and other sports wagering. Canada has noticed what’s happened in the US after PASPA (the Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act) was overturned.

As neighboring states are going all-in with sportsbooks and mobile betting, it’s time for the Great White North to get competitive.

Single-game sports betting has been a hot topic for years in Canada. Licensed sportsbooks and online bookmakers have been pushing for another modification to the 1892 Criminal Code for quite some time.

But the United States’ status change might be enough to alter legislation on a national level soon.

Interesting Facts about Gambling in Canada

Gambling and online gambling laws in Canada provide a combination of white-listed activities and those in the gray area, like online gambling offered through off-shore operators. That leaves residents and visitors with questions, as things can change as soon as you cross from one province into another.

So, we’ve got a few notable gambling-related items that you may find useful in addition to the detailed province-by-province breakdown above.

The legal gambling age in Canada varies from province to province
While the minimum age doesn’t swing wildly, some areas allow players 18 and over, while others require 19.
Current sports betting legislation in Canada is for parlay-based betting only
One of the contention points regarding legal sports betting is that it could encourage teams or players to cheat. With parlay bets, it’s less likely that someone would throw a game.
The Mohawk Territory Kahnawake Gaming Commission isn’t just behind the Canadian-licensed Sports Interaction site
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission was one of the first official regulators of online gaming, starting in 1996. Its client list has dwindled over the years, but it still maintains 21 active licensees.
Canadians aren’t charged taxes on winnings
The no-tax gambling law in Canada applies to both land-based and online gambling and the lottery.
VLTs are responsible for nearly a quarter of all gambling industry income in Canada?
Even without VLTs in Ontario or British Columbia, they’re behind billions in local governments’ annual revenue.
A new casino is opening in Ontario in 2021
The Pickering Resort-Casino was slated for a 2020 opening, but the COVID-19 pandemic slightly postponed the big reveal. Canadians will soon have access to more than 2,000 slots, 167 live dealer stadium game terminals, and 100 table game offerings.

Recapping Gambling and Online Gambling Laws in Canada

As you can now see, you’d need an entire book to list what’s on and off in terms of the gambling and online gambling laws in Canada. Each province develops its individual gambling strategy, which typically includes at least a few casinos, sports betting, a lottery, and an online presence.

Canadians aren’t taxed on gambling winnings, which is a win on top of a win. The legal gambling age is either 18 or 19, depending on the region. That requirement sticks with both land-based and online betting.

Some Canadians balk at their homegrown gambling sites, like Play Now or the Atlantic Lottery. But those full-service websites cover the gamut with sports betting, slots, table games, and lottery tickets. Canadian nights can get cold, so it’s always good to have options.

Over the years gambling has taken the US and Canada by storm, with players stacking up record-breaking wins in nearly every state. But with gambling laws subject to provincial and territorial laws in Canada, the rules regarding where and when you can play, can be a little confusing. Fortunately, our full guide below should help. On this page you’ll find:

  • A full guide to provincial gambling laws in Canada
  • Understanding illegal gambling
  • Tips on how to stay safe and gamble responsibly

Is Online Gambling Legal in Canada?

Technically, online gambling is legal in Canada, provided the online Casino site you’re playing at is located offshore. Local laws apply, so it’s important to seek out only trusted casinos that are fully licensed and independently regulated.

Where the confusion lies is in the provincial laws, where gambling laws in Canada tends to differ from state to state.

According to gaming law experts, Dickinson Wright LLP

“Each province empowers an agency to act as the gaming regulator, and a separate provincial government-controlled corporation to conduct and manage gaming on the government’s behalf. The sole exception is the province of Alberta which merges those functions into a single government agency.”

published in Gaming, Gambling & Licensing, 2018 (public domain.)

In 2012, British Columbia launched the first regulated and fully legal casino in North America. The PlayNow site offers online casino games and a virtual poker room to anyone over the legal gambling age who wants to play. However, its virtual casino doors are only open to residents of British Columbia.

Canada Gambling Regulations

Prior to 1969, you couldn't bet on anything in Canada other than horse races, charity lotteries, and lotteries that you might find at fairs. But that year, the federal government changed the Criminal Code to allow the federal government and the 10 provinces to hold lotteries.

In 1985, the federal government decided to hand off all gambling to the provinces. But the Criminal Code didn't actually change in terms of what people can and can't gamble on. These were our takeaways:

The Criminal Code

Section 201 - states that it's illegal to run a betting house or to be found in one. But it doesn't make any mention of an online betting house, so it's not clear whether Canadian online casinos and poker sites fall under the code.

Section 203 – exempts people from placing bets on behalf of others.

Section 205 – suggests anyone in relation to lotteries of games of chance is guilty of an indictable offence.

Section 207 – permits provincial governments, as mentioned above, to manage lottery schemes alone or with other provincial governments. It also mentioned that lotteries are lawful for charitable or religious organisations if licenced by the Lieutenant Governor in council.

The Gambling Loophole

While most online gambling offices are located offshore, a majority of the servers for some of the world's most reputable online casinos are actually based right here at home in Canada.

In 1996, a native reserve called Kahnawake Mohawk Nation established the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, offering gaming licenses to online casinos they believe qualifed. While online gambling at the time was technically illegal in Canada, the Mohawk Nation argued that because they are their own sovereign nation, they therefore have the right to operate casinos.

Now here's where it gets tricky. The Kahnawake Mohawk Nation can essentially run a casino or at least lease space to all sorts of other online casinos from within Canadian borders and not be prosecuted. But private enterprises like horserace companies who operate legally within Canada are forbidden from operating online casinos or poker sites under the Criminal Code of Canada. But that's not to say no one hasn't tried.

Illegal Gambling

In 1995, a company called Starnet Communications was created in Vancouver with the goal of developing, licensing, and providing Internet gambling technology and websites for casinos and sportsbooks. Because of the sketchy Criminal Code, the company set up offshore companies to carry out operations of the site. But the RCMP wasn't impressed.

In 1999, they raided the Vancouver offices, arguing that because the email servers were located in Canada, they were in violation of the criminal code even though the gaming servers were located offshore. That's not to say that every company operating from Canada since 1999 has been in violation of the law, but those who just didn’t get away with it.

How to Avoid Illegal Casinos

The only way to avoid illegal casinos is to be aware of the law, and play on reputable, regulated casino sites. Before we endorse any online casino, our team of experts always check to ensure that the casino is licensed and meets our high standards of approval. Making the job for players even easier.

Gambling Laws in Canada Provinces

Alberta

Gambling is exceptionally popular in Alberta, with residents allowed to gamble at online casinos without any restrictions. It is also legal for those over the age of 18 to gamble at any of the 25 land-based casinos in the province. Sports betting is also popular, with players limited to making parlay style bets, and the maximum spend on sports betting is $250 per day.

Manitoba

The Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba oversees all gambling in the province, including online gambling. There’s only one official online casino in the province, which is PlayNow Manitoba, however there are no laws stopping residents from playing at a casino based overseas. Sports gamblers can bet via the Sport Select site and are limited to a maximum of $250 in bets per day.

Quebec

Quebec has some of the most liberal gambling laws in Canada, with players able to play at a variety of offshore casinos, as well as at the government run Espacejeux. Mise-O-Jeu is the only regulated sports betting site in the province and players must bet on parlay bets. There are nine land-based casinos in Quebec, and they’re open to everyone aged 19 or over.

British Columbia

There are many legal forms of gambling in British Columbia, including 15 land-based casinos. When it comes to online gambling, the only official way to gamble on casino games and sport is via PlayNow, however there’s nothing in the law to prevent players from signing up with sites based abroad. As with most other sites, those betting on sport must place parlay bets.

New Brunswick

Land-based casinos are completely legal in New Brunswick, although there is only one venue in the province. There is no official government run online casino in New Brunswick, however those looking to play casino games online are legally allowed to play at offshore gambling websites. Pro-Line is the only regulated sports betting site offered to residents of this Canadian province.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Land-based casinos are not permitted in this province, plus there are no online casinos regulated there either. There is no law in place to stop gamblers in Newfoundland and Labrador from playing at offshore online casinos though. The Pro-Line service is offered to all sports gamblers, with daily wagers capped at $250, although this cap isn’t found at most sites based abroad.

Northwest Territories

There are no land-based casinos in the territory, however there are no laws to prevent one opening in the future. Online casinos are not blocked, but there are none based in the Northwest Territories. Sports betting is popular, with the only legal service being the one offered by Sport Select, however many choose to play at offshore sports betting sites instead.

Nova Scotia

It is perfectly legal to gamble in one of the two government-owned casinos in this province. Those looking to gamble online can place bets at the Pro-Line site (all bets must be parlays, as is the case in most Canadian provinces), while online casino players are permitted to join any offshore online casino website. The minimum age to gamble in the province is 19.

Ontario

In Ontario, it is completely legal to play at a land-based casino, plus many other venues also offer slot machines. The rules regarding online casinos are pretty relaxed, therefore residents can play at any foreign casino site - there is only one online casino regulated in Ontario though, and it’s PlayOLG. The Pro-Line sports betting service is offered to those looking to bet on sports.

Prince Edward Island

There are no legal obstacles in the way of land-based casinos in Prince Edward Island, however there’s not currently a dedicated casino operating in the province. There is no regulation of online casinos, however those looking to bet on sports legally will have to use the Pro-Line service. The minimum age to bet on sports and play casino games in this province is 19.

Saskatchewan

Online casinos are prohibited from being based in Saskatchewan, however residents are not blocked from accessing casinos based in other provinces or countries. It is legal to base a land-based casino in Saskatchewan though. Sports betting is legal, providing it is done via the Sports Select service, and all wagers placed on sporting events (except horse racing) must be parlay bets.

Yukon Territory

Casinos are prohibited from opening permanently in the Yukon Territory, however licences are granted to temporary gambling venues, which can open for a maximum of three days. It is legal to play at online casinos, however none are licenced and regulated within the territory. Residents will find that Sports Select is the only service offering legal sports betting options.

New Gambling Laws in Canada?

With such disparity between Canadian provincial laws, it’s difficult to say the current laws will be reformed anytime soon. What's more likely is that gambling laws in Canada will become more liberal. With a deeper clarification of the Criminal Code, online gambling could be permitted across all states with no restrictions.

Unfortunately, if the government were to welcome competition with open arms, the provincial governments would be, well, up in arms since they have the exclusive legal right to run online casinos. Only time will tell.

While it might be tough to operate an online casino from Canada, finding a Canadian online casino to play at, which ironically might be located in Canada, isn't difficult at all. We have tons of reputable choices, both in terms of provincially run options and internationally regulated sites. And we're willing to bet that it will stay that way for a long, long time.

The contents of this page are provided for informational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice and it should not be relied on as such. Before making any decision regarding participation in any online activity, users should seek independent formal legal advice.