Online gambling is a thrilling pastime, and many people flock to the best Canadian online casinos intending to win big. But is it legal to play casino online games in Canada?
When it comes to online gambling in CA, the laws are fairly lax. In 1985, the Canadian government gave each territory and province complete control over their gaming laws.
So, the short answer is yes. It is OK to gamble online in Canada. However, there are several factors to take into account to ensure you are playing legally:
- The casino site should be operated by the province you reside in.
- The casino site should be located outside of Canada.
More on the legality of online gambling in CA
Currently, there is no particular law directly related to online casino games, and Canadian law doesn’t explicitly ban online gambling. However, online casinos are required to be owned by a provincial government if they are based in Canada.
Some territories and provinces provide government-operated casino platforms, and playing online via these casinos is legal. Gambling on any other site controlled by a Canadian company is deemed illegal.
On the other hand, international gaming websites are not subject to government regulation. As a result, these websites are not prohibited. That said, players should make sure these offshore sites they are playing at are trustworthy and licensed in their territories.
The Canadian provincial gaming authorities
Each Canadian province has its own regulatory body in charge of online gaming, lotteries, and sports betting. The following is a list of regulatory bodies by province:
- Atlantic Lottery Corporation (Nova Scotia)
- Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario)
- Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick)
- Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming Commission
- Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba
- Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission
- Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation
- Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (Alberta).
It’s worth emphasizing that indigenous people are not subject to general regulations. They are free to open casinos, sports betting facilities, horse racetracks, and other gambling ventures on their property without legal repercussions. For this reason, the Kahnawake Commission was established. The Commission functions as a backdoor into the Canadian market, allowing offshore or foreign brands to operate with no risk of being fined or banned.
What online casino games can you play in Canada?
If you keep up with gambling news in the United States, you’re aware that the games available vary by state. This is not the case in Canada.
In Canada, you can find all casino games your casino of choice is licensed to offer. Yes, that’s right. Casino sites operate via licenses that limit the games they can provide.
But that’s not a major issue. The real issue comes in finding the best Canadian online casinos that offer your favorite slots and table games. More so, you need to find highly entertaining and paying games developed by reputable software providers such as:
- Microgaming
- NetEnt
- Evolution gaming
- Play’ n Go.
The easiest way to locate the best online gambling platforms is through casino review websites. They usually do the heavy lifting of authenticating licenses and finding other important information about your preferred site.
Legal gambling age in Canada
To legally play online casino games in CA, you should be 19 years, except in Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba, where you can play from 18 years.
Conclusion
As you can see, online casinos in the country are still unregulated. One thing is certain: as long as these sites are offshore, gamers can register, claim bonuses, and have a good time playing on them. This includes casinos run by First Nations tribes.
All said and done, the country’s future legislation appears promising as it prepares to regulate online casinos wholly. Given that more Canadians are gambling in online casinos, there is a lot of interest from both the players and the government.
