Gambling in Canada has a long and turbulent history. While players can now enjoy online free spins and other exciting casino bonuses, gambling was not always like this in Canada.
Casinos are one of the biggest branches of gambling in Canada. Gambling in turn is the biggest entertainment industry in the country. Millions of players play gambling games across the country. Casinos are on the rise in the country, with the number of casinos in the country increasing every year.
The reason why casinos are popular in Canada is traceable to the history of gambling in the country. This article concentrate on the history and evolution of casinos in Canada.
The Beginning
Gambling is as old as Canada. It is not a new entertainment form, rather it existed before the formation of Canada. How? During the early period, European settlers brought with them famous gambling activities, games of luck, and chance. This is long before the land-based casinos became a reality.
The first official record of gambling activity in the region happened in 1947. John Abbot discovered the indigenous tribes played games of chance. The game he saw is nothing like the modern ones, it had a primitive feel to it. What we have today is an advanced form of the game of chance played by the native tribes in the Canada region.
Periods of Casino Bans
The history of Casinos has its turbulent periods. One of such is the periods of the various casino bans in the country. In 1892, there was a ban on gambling in Canada. The ban also affected casinos. It was the Canadian Criminal Code that enforced the ban, prohibiting all types of gambling activities.
The ban only lasted for 8 years. In the year 1900, some forms of gambling got legal status. The new law only recognized some gambling games such as raffles and Bingos. 10 years later, the ban on horse racing got lifted. By 1925, fairs and exhibitions could host their gambling events.
The First Gambling Commission in the World
Here is a fun fact about gambling in Canada. Do you know that the first-ever gambling commission in the world started in Canada? The Mohawk Territory Kahnawake Gaming Commission is the first. It is still operational to date!
Early Gambling Games
The native tribes enjoyed games of chance before the Europeans arrived. The most popular games are Stick game and Slahal, which involves the use of sticks.
The Klondike Gold Rush in 1896 saw an influx of people into the Yukon region. A popular card game called faro became popular. Unfortunately, as soon as the gold rush ended, Faro lost its appeal.
The History of Modern Gambling in Canada
Canada is a fertile ground for gambling. Canadians love playing their favorite casino games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, and Baccarat. Land-based casinos dominated the casino industry in Canada for many years. When online gambling came, it took some time before it could gain a foothold. Now, online casinos are dominating the casino industry in Canada.
With the advent of online casinos, land-based casinos are still an attractive option. Some land-based casinos still attract thousands of visitors yearly!
In 1985, gambling moved from state to federal jurisdictions. This opened the opportunity for many land-based casinos to be set up.
Online casinos started in 1996. Initially, the first online casino only had a small number of online casino games. The first demonstration proved a success and was able to amass some interest in the public. 1996 marked the year a lot of popular online casinos came into the market. InterCasino, one of those casinos formed in 1996 is still operational to date.
The year 1996 is the year of many firsts in Canada’s casino history. The first-ever online gambling regulator, the Mohawk Territory Kahnawake Gaming Commission emerged in the same year. Its job is to regulate all casinos and their activities.
History of Online Casinos in Canada
Initially, online casinos did not get a positive reception from players in Canada. Players did not feel its appeal and instead preferred to use the land-based casinos. However, this problem did not last long.
As the internet grew popular and accessible for everyone, players became acquainted with the idea of using online casinos to enjoy their favorite games. The casino industry experienced a massive expansion around 2000, with many land-based casinos opening their websites. Some casino games also became available to play online.
The Present
Today, Canada is a haven for online casinos. The land-based casinos are still relevant and enjoying patronage. However, the online casino industry is growing at a rapid pace.