Real Money Gambling in Canada: Is It Legal or Not?

First, it’s worth mentioning gambling history in Canada. Actually, the territory was friendly to this entertainment long before since Indigenous peoples used to play different games of this kind as a form of their social life and culture. That’s why you can meet Indian casinos and the Kahnawake licence today. The 18th and 19th centuries were also a good time for gambling development since early Canadian settlements used to play card games and dice. Plus, horse racing was a popular sports betting form. 

However in 1892, things changed since The Criminal Code of Canada prohibited almost all forms of gambling, though bets on horse races were still allowed. Moreover, this direction was considered the most promising, so the government provided legislation for this area and had enough facilities to build racetracks for legit bets. In the 1960s, lotteries were also added to the list of legal forms. Finally, in the 1980s, the country legalized a range of land-based casinos to boost the local economy and attract tourists. 

Of course, the rise of the internet couldn’t remain unnoticed, so some provinces started to provide local licences for Canadians. For example, AGCO for Ontario. This way, Canadians can find many forms of legal online gambling to enjoy slots, sportsbooks, and other variations.

In fact, this aspect is quite complex and still evolving since the answer can depend on your province and the software type you pick. As for the general position, in most cases, when the site is registered offshore and has an international license (eg. Malta Gaming Commission, Curacao, UKGC), the site can operate in the country and Canadians can even play for CAD there. To find out whether your operator accepts CAD, you can view our casino reviews. In addition, it’s worth noting that some provinces, such as Columbia, Quebec, and Ontario, have their own regulators and laws. Below, we’ll take a look at the examples we find the most essential.

Our investigations show that some Canadian provinces have legalized gambling within their own jurisdiction, which means that players from only a certain province should follow its laws. So, let’s find out where online gambling is legal in Canada!

Actually, our BetSquare project is more about online operators, including new casinos in Canada. However, it’s also worth mentioning land-based operators since it’s also about legit Canadian gambling. It’s a legal form of gambling entertainment with certain things being different for varied territories. Entertainment you’ll find in these casinos will include slot machines, table games (blackjack, poker, video poker, roulette), poker rooms, and sportsbooks. 

The legal age for gambling in land-based casinos is mainly 19 years old, though Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec allow 18+ players to gamble. Looking for popular legal land-based Canadian casinos? Then here are some examples:

• Casino de Montréal (Montreal, Quebec), the largest casino in Canada
• River Cree Resort and Casino (Enoch, Alberta), resort and casino complex with a wide range of gaming options
• Casino Rama Resort (Orillia, Ontario), located in the scenic region of Lake Country
• Casino Niagara (Niagara Falls, Ontario), a vibrant gaming floor next to the iconic Niagara Falls
• River Rock Casino Resort (Richmond, British Columbia), not far from Vancouver
• Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino (Windsor, Ontario), visitors can enjoy the view of the Detroit River

Here at BetSquare, we stand for safe, regulated, and accessible gambling. When working on our casino rating for Canadians, we test all the recommended sites, make sure that their terms don’t prohibit gamblers from Canada from joining the site, and check whether all the other local regulations can be met. As for the standard terms we also double-check, these are transparent terms, loyal bonuses with no sky-high wagering requirements, convenient navigation, varied games, including live shows 2023, 24/7 customer support where Canadians can clarify different topics, including the legal position of a certain casino, and much more. As a result, we consider the country’s regulations, share our own experience, and make sure that our readers play on trustworthy sites without violating the law.

So, is online gambling legal in Canada? In fact, it’s not only legal but also popular among players in different provinces. Below, we’ll add some statistical details and numbers to explain how popular this market is:

• Revenue in the Canadian online gambling market is projected to reach €4.2bn in 2024.
• There are lots of casino and bookmaker events planned for 2023 and 2024, so Canadians can use a sports betting calendar for this
• The projected market volume for the future, specifically by 2027, is estimated to reach US$417.50 million, with an anticipated annual growth rate (CAGR 2022-2027) of 7.30%.
• The average revenue per user (ARPU) in the Online Gambling market is projected to amount to €200.00 in 2024.
• Over 90% of Canadian online casinos are mobile-friendly to let users play on iOS and Android mobile devices.
• In 99% cases, new players in Canada can claim a welcome bonus, which is legal. The average wager for a welcome package is about 40x.
• Statistically, 63% of male and 37% of female users reported spending funds on gambling on a monthly basis in 2022.

From our experience, the main things making land-based and online gambling in Canada not only accessible but also safe are the responsible gaming approach and the range of simple tips our readers can follow:

• Checking a license is a must, as well as considering additional tools, including eCOGRA and GLI certificates for the casino’s software
• Before you sign up, it’s necessary to confirm whether you accept the casino’s terms, so it’s essential to really read them and make sure that all the positions suit you
• Good sites have a range of responsible gambling tools, including self-exclusion, limits for deposits or losses, and other things you shouldn’t ignore
• Players who want to gamble often can opt for fast-payout casinos in Canada not to wait for their frequent cashouts too long
• When winning real funds and processing a withdrawal, consider the regulations of your province regarding taxes
• Don’t ignore the requirements of paying taxes in your region not to face problems with frozen transactions then

To operate legally, Canadian operators need licensing from the regulatory body of the province where they want to work. This process is quite complex since the government wants to get all the details about the company and its product to make sure that they won’t harm players. For this reason, lots of details are thoroughly checked so that the regulator gets all the necessary information. These are a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with iGaming, iGaming’s Financial Information Submissions, and others. Moreover, operators face certain fees when getting a licence, which shows that they are serious about operating on the market for a long time. In Ontario, the annual fee is 100,000 CAD for operations, while casino providers of online slots and other games pay from 3,000 CAD to 15,000 CAD, depending on the products they provide.

So, it’s time to sum up online gambling in Canada: legal or not? In most cases, this industry is legal and even regulated by some local authorities, depending on the province. These can be The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), and The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). These regions can feature some differences regarding their laws and requirements. For example, AGCO doesn’t allow operators to promote cryptocurrency or bonuses when they don’t highlight wagering conditions.

As a result, you can play at Canadian online casinos with no risks (except for the risks you need to consider in terms of responsible gambling) and be sure that the country will do its best to regulate the industry and make it safe, while our BetSquare experts will help with choosing top casinos online and some more tips. That’s the goal of our project. Play responsibly, play exciting casino games in Canada from award-winning operators, and enjoy your legit experience!