If you’re familiar with gambling laws in Canada, you probably already know that they vary by province. Historically, Nova Scotia has been one of the provinces that are more open to the activity. With that said, let’s look at the province’s current stance on the activity and whether any changes have been made in its gambling laws.
To begin, it’s important to mention that gambling in land-based casinos and online is legal in Nova Scotia. Players can visit two brick-and-mortar casinos, in Sydney and Halifax, where they can spin slots, face other poker players and enjoy other casino games they love.
In terms of online gambling, Nova Scotians didn’t have a place to gamble online until 2022, when the province’s regulated platform was launched. Privately-owned casinos still aren’t allowed though. The best online casinos in Canada have proven to be those based in other locations such as Curaçao. They’re easily accessible to players in Nova Scotia and offer some of the best bonuses and promotions in the industry.
Playing in offshore anonymous casinos also means players from Canada never have to reveal their identity when playing online. They can simply move money onto their accounts and withdraw their winnings using crypto without inputting any sensitive information.
Since 2022, Canadians can also bet on single sports games. Before Bill C-218 was introduced, residents had to rely on parlay their bets, which significantly reduced their chances of winning. The introduction of single-game sports betting was widely welcomed and marked a huge step in the country’s efforts to modernize the sector.
Daily Fantasy Sports are also legal and highly popular in Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada. Popular platforms have been active in the country for a while and have attracted a significant number of players over the years.
While the government offers a self-exclusion program, Nova Scotians don’t seem to have widespread issues with problem gambling. Out of 69% adults in Nova Scotia who reported gambling at least once in the past twelve months, 88.7% did so without reported risk of developing any problems.
With Ontario already rolling the dice on privately-owned casinos, other provinces are expected to follow. Alberta is now officially moving forward with its plans to open the market in a similar way to Ontario.
While nothing has been reported that could indicate Nova Scotia intends to do the same, it’ll be interesting to see how the situation resolves. By doing the same, Nova Scotia could benefit significantly, both economically and socially. The province could adapt regulations from Ontario and adjust them to fit its specific needs.
Gambling in Nova Scotia is currently regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Authority (AGA), which was initially called Nova Scotia Gaming Control Commission. The main goal of this regulatory body is to ensure that everyone involved in the activity abides by the gambling laws in the province.
Another gambling agency operating in Nova Scotia is the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation (NSGC). It’s responsible for regulating the operations of the two casinos owned by the province.