Offshore Gambling Sites in Canada – Just How Safe Are They?

Millions of Canadians gamble online. If you count yourself among them and live in Halifax (or pretty much any city that’s not in Ontario), you likely play at an offshore gambling site. Though offshore online gambling isn’t anything new in Canada or even illegal, that doesn’t mean it’s always safe.

“…hold on…what do you mean by offshore online gambling?”

If this question suddenly ran through your mind, not to worry. This article defines what offshore online gambling is, explains why so many Canadians play at these sites, and explores the security issues and pros and cons associated with offshore internet gaming.

What is offshore online gambling?

It is any form of gambling (e.g., sports betting, event betting, slots, casino games, poker, bingo, scratch cards, lottery, etc.) that takes place at a commercial website operating outside of Canada.

Offshore sites do not have a license specific to your province. They are unregulated. This means they are not governed by the authority responsible for implementing and upholding gambling laws and rules where you live. In short, offshore gambling sites are not controlled or bound by Canadian gambling laws.

Is offshore online gambling legal in Canada?

Although it’s illegal in some nations across the globe, like Australia, for instance, in Canada there is no strict law against offshore online gambling. But is it legal?

For all intents and purposes, yes. However, it’s not so much that offshore betting and gaming is legal in Canada, it’s simply not prohibited. In general, governments do not stop residents from playing at these sites and operators are not restricted or penalized for advertising to and/or accepting Canadian customers.

Why? Most of Canada falls into a grey area within the global iGaming market. Meaning no national or provincial laws (expect for Ontario) exist or are enforced to prevent commercial betting and gaming at unregulated offshore sites.

As such, Canadians across the nation have been digitally risking money on sports betting, casino games, bingo, lotto games, etc., for decades. In fact, there are more than 19.3 million active online gamblers in Canada today. Most of them, play at offshore gaming sites.

Why is offshore online gambling so popular in Canada?

There are two main reasons:

1. Online gambling in Canada is not federally regulated.
2. There are thousands of offshore sites offering a wide variety of entertainment.

There is no sole governing body in Canada that regulates gambling nationwide like there is in the UK, for instance, where all gambling (offline and online) is federally regulated by the Gambling Commission (UKGC). In Canada, gambling laws differ from one province to the next.

Each province has its own laws. All provinces have strict rules for the operation of offline (land-based) gambling establishments within their jurisdictions. Some have also implemented laws that extend to online gambling. According to the National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association of Canada (NFCA Canada) – except for Saskatchewan, which has no provincial online gambling laws – these provinces include:

• British Columbia – Permitted on BC-regulated sites (offshore sites not strictly illegal)
• Alberta – Permitted on provincially regulated sites and licensed offshore casinos
• Manitoba – Permitted on provincially licensed sites (offshore gambling not prohibited)
• Ontario – Online gambling is legal on offshore sites that have an AGCO license and iGO operation agreement*
• Québec – Legal through Loto-Québec (gambling offshore permitted)
• New Brunswick – Legal through Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) (offshore gambling allowed)
• Prince Edward Island – Legal through ALC (offshore gambling sites allowed)
• Nova Scotia – Legal through ALC (offshore gambling sites allowed)
• Newfoundland and Labrador – Legal through ALC (offshore gambling sites allowed)

*As of this writing, so far Ontario is the only Canadian province to have created an official internet gaming (iGaming) market that licences and regulates online casinos and sport and event betting commercially. Since April 2022, if an offshore gambling operator wants to offer its products and services to Ontarians, it must obtain registration from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario (iGO). In a nutshell, compared to other provinces, residents of Ontario are legally permitted to only gamble online at sites licensed by the AGCO with an iGO agreement. Regulated online gambling affords Ontarians broader gaming variety and access with the protection of Canadian law.

How can offshore online gambling be unsafe?

To be clear, unregulated offshore gambling doesn’t mean unsafe gambling. Unregulated means that you aren’t protected under the laws of the gambling authorities where you live.

This is the main safety issue associated with offshore online gambling. Depositing and betting real money at unregulated sites opens you up to potential security and scam risks without the additional protection of Canadian laws. Among these risks include:

• Theft of personal information and financial details – There may be no anti-fraud measures in place, your information could be sold to third-party sources, etc.
• Stealing money – You may not be able to withdraw money you’ve deposited, the operator could refuse to payout your winnings, the site could suddenly shutdown and take your money with it.
• No player protection services – Lack of responsible gaming measures may not be in place to safeguard vulnerable players, including minors and those at risk of problem gambling behaviors.

For example, offshore sites with Curaçao licenses, in particular, have gained a bad reputation among Canadian players and players around the world. Due to how quick and cheap it is for operators to obtain a Curacao license, and the lax governing laws, this opens the door for fraudsters keen to engage in nefarious practices like those mentioned above. Although not all offshore sites with Curaçao licenses are disreputable and unsafe, over the years, thousands have been blacklisted.

What are the safest offshore gambling sites for Canadians?

Overall, online gambling operations licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) tend to offer Canadians the best and fairest offshore betting and gaming experiences today.

Why? Based in Malta, the MGA is a highly respected gaming control board in Europe and throughout the global iGaming industry. It is renowned for its rigid and structured laws. The authority prides itself on being transparent, fair, and honest to both operators and players. It has several safeguards in place to prevent crime and corruption as well as protects minors and vulnerable players from the risks of gambling.

Most of the best rated offshore gambling sites in Canada are MGA-licensed. Examples include:

• LeoVegas
• ComeOn
• Spin Casino
• 888 Casino
• Royal Panda
• Casumo
  

Note: The easiest way to find out which license(s) an offshore online casino, online sportsbook, etc. holds, is to scroll to the bottom of the site’s homepage. This is where you’ll typically find info and logos of the offshore gaming control board(s) that apply to Canadian players.

Should you gamble at an offshore site – Pros and Cons

That’s an entirely personal choice. It also might be your only choice depending on where you live in Canada. To help you to decide, consider the following pros and cons.

Pros

• More variety – There are few Canadian-based casino sites, and the number and types of games are limited. Comparatively, you can choose from loads of offshore sites, an array of games, and various types of gambling.
  
• Better promotions – Offshore casinos usually have generous offers and regular, ongoing promotions. This can give you more playing power.
  
• Accessible across the nation – You can play at offshore sites 24/7, at home or on the go, no matter where you are in Canada (even if your travels take you to Ontario – as long as you have a VPN!).

Cons

• Unregulated – Offshore sites are not regulated by Canadian authorities. If something goes wrong, you’re on your own.
• Risk of scams – Not all offshore operations are legitimate, even if they seem to be on the surface. Playing at a fraudulent site could lead to loss of personal data and money.
• Limited legal protections – Since they aren’t regulated, even if you do have a legitimate dispute with an operator, you cannot rely on Canadian authorities to help you take legal action. Outcomes may be unfair and there probably won’t be anything you can do about it.

It’s up to you to be safe.

Since you provide your personal and financial information when gambling online, your safety is dependent on you. The security of a site and the reputation of the operator and the offshore regulator are all important aspects to consider before signing up and making a deposit.

Conclusion

Unregulated offshore online gambling in Canada is commonplace. It will likely remain so until more provinces choose to regulate iGaming like Ontario has. As for their safety, ultimately, how safe you are gambling real money at an offshore site boils down to your own due diligence. Learn all you can about the offshore operator and regulator before you play. Always remember that it’s up to you to protect yourself, because you don’t have the additional safeguard of Canadian laws to shield you should a problem arise.