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It’s time to put our cards on the table and face the facts – Canadians love to gamble in one form or another. The population seems drawn to gaming like moths to a flame (or the moon) – the attraction just appears to be part of citizens’ DNA.

Why do Canadians love to gamble?

According to a survey by Canada West Foundation, people gamble for many different reasons. Some gamble as a social activity, others for entertainment or to help charities. Others say they enjoy a flutter as it allows them to escape their life in the moment, and some say they gamble for profit. Those can be broadly categorized into entertainment, the thrill of winning, charity, and social reasons. Most people expressed their strongest motivations as a desire to donate to good causes and entertainment.

The motivation of Nova Scotians is no different from that of the majority of the country’s population. However, the province’s geography and population distribution mean that some things are different, and some are similar.

Land-based casinos

Almost half of the province’s population lives in Halifax, which is home to one of two land-based casinos operated by the government. The other land-based casino is in Sydney, Cape Breton, where around 10% of the population lives. However, depending on whose figures you believe, between 65 and 85% of Nova Scotians will participate in at least one game of chance per year, so clearly, it is not all going down in land-based casinos.

Horse racing

Horse racing is also incredibly popular. Despite the province’s small size, there are three horse racing tracks with regular meets at Northside Downs, Truro Raceway, and Inverness Raceway. While none of these are located within the city of Halifax, betting is available via tele theatres and Casino Nova Scotia, Halifax has recently announced that it will be providing off-track betting on horse racing in the coming months.

Lottery and VLTs

Lottery gambling and video lottery terminals are ubiquitous, with solutions brought to the population by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. There are around 3,000 VLTs in retail locations across the province. They are linked to a centralized computer system, and a share of the revenue goes to government coffers. Many feel the state is missing a trick by not having something similar for online gaming.

Online casino gambling

While there are no government-run online gambling sites or officially approved third-party operators, residents are at liberty to visit international online casinos and sports betting sites.

Sports betting

Sports bettors in Nova Scotia have a choice. They can access British Colombia’s Play Now Pro-Line system or visit internationally licensed sportsbooks to bet on athletics, hockey, football, or whatever sport appeals to them.

Mobile gambling – on-the-go fun

Considering all of the options, it is hard to tell what the ‘traditional gambling scene’ is as all forms of betting seem to be pretty central to most Nova Scotians. Admittedly, more casino games are now betting online, but this is not necessarily at the expense of land-based venues. People are just choosing to play differently. There is no doubt, however, that the convenience of mobile gambling is an enormous draw.

Many players are learning to be much more savvy. With so many playing for enjoyment rather than profit, it is not uncommon for gamblers to shop around to find the best online casino bonuses in Canada. Bonuses allow players to stretch their budgets further – while they do not improve the chances of winning or shorten the odds in the player’s favour, they are a great way to extend playing time without any additional spending.

Casino bonuses help extend the budget

Some casino bonuses even allow you to play for free with the chance of winning real money prizes – these No-deposit bonuses are rather like hens’ teeth, but savvy players know where to find them. Less rare are free or bonus spins, which give you something extra and stretch out the entertainment budget. Online and mobile gaming are not necessarily an alternative to traditional gaming; they are more of an addition.

It is worth noting that not all casino bonuses are equally good, and many are not as attractive as they initially appear. Those with very high deposit requirements or excessive and onerous play-out terms and conditions might be unachievable, so players do need to exercise caution.

The benefits of a regulated market

One of the criticisms of not having a regulated online market like Ontario or a province-run gaming portal like Alberta is that gamblers can be easily preyed on by unscrupulous operators. While there are plenty of great platforms out there that adhere to internationally approved safe gambling practices, there are plenty that do not. Some sites are simply fronts for data mining or phishing scams, while others are operated by greedy people who have no interest in protecting players’ interests.

While most players say they have a gamble for the thrill of playing, it is only fun if it is genuinely entertaining and players stand a fair chance of winning. Everyone recognizes that not all players can be winners and that, ultimately, the house always wins. However, some offshore sites never had any intention of paying out in the first place. Online gamblers need to have their wits about them to make sure they are playing at legitimate sites.

Seeking out great sites

If a traditional gambling outlet was not any good, the chances are word would spread quickly, people would stop going, and it would not last very long. It is much easier for bad operators to survive online as they can cast their web much more widely. The advice is to choose well-known names and to check out reviews. There are plenty of affiliate sites that will give honest feedback on which to trust and which to avoid. You can also get a good idea from peer reviews.

Do not be tempted by massive jackpots or enormous bonuses if something about the site feels a bit off. Gut feelings can be very useful when assessing a site. Does it have licenses from reputable jurisdictions? Are there plenty of recognized payment partners and options to choose from, like Scotiabank and Interac? How easy is it to access customer services?

Stay safe

Whether you are playing with friends at a traditional Halifax gambling haunt or trying out something new online, remember to set your entertainment budget in advance and never gamble more than you can afford to lose.