The gambling industry in Canada is known to be huge and it continues to grow in recent years. This is why it comes as no surprise that Canada is among the top 10 countries with the largest number of gamblers. The lax gambling laws within the country are among the different reasons why this sector is continuing to grow and entice more players.
While some countries have fully legalized online gambling, others have introduced severe punishments for those who try to bet on online casino sites. Meanwhile, there are also countries, such as Canada, where the gambling laws are quite vague and there are many loopholes that players use for their advantage.
Before we take a further look into the legal matters surrounding online casinos in Canada and how the market is regulated, it should be mentioned that the country is comprised of a few provinces and each one of them has the right to determine its own laws and regulations. One example for that is gambling in British Columbia, which is regulated by the BC Lottery Corporation. The rest of the provinces also have their own authorities that have taken upon the task of regulating local gambling events.
Is it Illegal to Offer Online Gambling to Canadian Players?
Although gambling laws may be vague in Canada, there is one thing that is clear and you should pay attention to it if you are located in Canada and you want to play online. It is not legal for companies that are based within the country to offer online gambling to Canadian residents. Despite that, casino operators that have servers located in the Native Canadian Indian reservation of Kahnawake can provide virtual gaming although it is still technically considered illegal.
There is also the alternative to play at offshore online casinos as they are still not considered illegal in Canada. Since there are also no laws that prohibit online gambling to Canadian residents, there is nothing that players in the country can fear and worry about.
Can Canadian Players Get in Trouble for Playing at an Online Casino?
If you are unsure about the consequences of playing at an online casino while you are based in Canada, you should know that, currently, there is no law that prohibits Canadians from playing online.
Although, technically speaking, it is illegal for Canadian-based casino operators to offer online gambling, since there are no real restrictions that apply to Canadian players, one can easily gamble online and suffer no legal consequences for that.
Canada definitely needs to introduce changes to its online gambling laws as the current situation is too questionable. Even though Canadian-based companies are not allowed to offer online casino games to Canadian residents, casino operators that are based in Kahnawake and offshore casinos are still a convenient gaming option for players from Canada.
Age Restrictions and Betting Real Money for Canadian Players
Many countries have a different definition of the legal age that allows gambling. While in many countries one can legally gamble at the age of 18 or older, players from the US will have to be at least 21 to legally gamble. In Canada, however, the legal age is different due to the several provinces and their own laws and regulations. While the legal age in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec is considered 18 and over, in all other Canadian provinces, 19 is the legal age at which you are allowed to gamble. Canadian players need to comply with the age restriction determined by the laws in their jurisdictions and register at an online casino only if they are of legal age.
Since there are still many virtual casinos that accept players from Canada, they also make sure that Canadian casino enthusiasts will enjoy easy payments. This is why you can often set up your casino account in CAD and you can resort to several payment solutions that specifically cater to Canadian residents. In addition to that, there are many popular banking methods that Canadians can also utilize for their deposits and withdrawals at interactive casinos.
Jurisdictions That Regulate Online Gambling in Canada
One organization that is concerned with online gambling in the country is the Canadian Gaming Association. This is a non-profit organization that strives to promote the value of the gaming industry within the country. The Canadian Gaming Association relies on research and technology innovations to help the gaming sector grow even further and help Canada evolve into a country with a thriving gaming industry that is properly regulated. If you want to learn more about the relevant authorities in Canada, you can find more information on iclg.com.
Another important organization that needs to be mentioned is the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. This is the regulator that is responsible for licensing a number of virtual casinos and sportsbooks, many of which accept Canadian players and punters. The Gaming Commission is also regulating three land-based poker facilities based on the territory of Kahnawake.
Since Kahnawake has sovereignty and can govern the laws for its own territory, this also includes gambling activities that are based in Kahnawake. The Gaming Commission has issued licenses to numerous online casino and sportsbook operators and Canadian players can bet at many websites that are licensed by this jurisdiction.
If we have to summarize the current legal situation in Canada, we can say that although companies based in the country are not allowed to offer online gambling, there is no law that prevents Canadians from playing online. Since the gambling laws in the country are still pretty vague, many have no issue betting online at casinos licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission or offshore gaming websites.