Canadian gambling laws can take some time.

Gambling is extremely popular in Canada — a booming, $11 billion industry. However, beginners may have a hard time understanding the gambling laws of their country.

Although more relaxed compared to other countries, some aspects of the gambling law in Canada can be confusing.

With this thought in mind, we’ll be helping you understand the laws and regulations in every Canadian province.

Is Gambling Legal in Canada?

Yes, it is. Since 1985, Canadian provinces have had the right to regulate casinos within their territories. As such, multiple forms of gambling are legal in the country.

With the rise of online casinos, the situation became more complicated.

Online casinos fit into somewhat of a grey area of the Canadian gambling law. While not illegal, the law requires online casinos to be owned by provincial governments.

Yet, these licences are scarce, forcing players to opt for off-shore casinos. Most of those casinos are licensed by other gambling commissions, so they are considered safe.

Canada Gambling Commissions

Canada has two main gambling commissions that are responsible for the issue of online-based gambling licences. Take a look at them below and learn what is required to become licensed by these entities.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission

Up until recently, the Kahnawake Gambling Commission was the only regulatory body for online gambling in Canada. They’re responsible for issuing licences for every web-based casino in the country.

Operating out of a Mohawk territory in Quebec, this gambling commission also regulates three land-based casinos in the province.

To receive a Kahnawake licence, online casinos must feature the best software providers in the industry, include a detailed “About Us” section and clear, concise terms.

On top of that, they need to employ encryption technologies such as 128-bit SSL.

iGaming Ontario

Recently, the government of Ontario announced its plans to issue gambling licences. Through iGaming Ontario (iGO), the province aims to provide a safe gambling market to players.

Casinos must be registered with iGO before they can start offering their services on April 4, 2022. To begin operations, casinos must comply with the commission’s terms.

There are still other lesser-known gaming authorities such as the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba and the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

If you wish to learn more about gambling laws in Canada or other countries, take a look at Lawyer Aalborg.

Gambling in Canadian Provinces

Since each of the 10 Canadian provinces is self-governing, gambling activities are regulated differently across the country. Here are the significant differences in every Canadian province.

Ontario

Ontario is the most populated Canadian province. As such, it’s home to a wide variety of casinos and gambling halls.

In total, Ontario has 25 land-based casinos, racetracks, sports-based lottery centres both online and offline, national lotteries and other types of gambling.

Quebec Gambling Laws

Quebec was one of the first provinces to move towards legal gambling.

Here, you’ll find nine brick-and-mortar casinos, a horse racetrack, several lotteries, offshore and Quebec-based online casinos and an online/offline legal sportsbook called Mise-O-Jeu.

Nova Scotia

Despite its small size, the inhabitants of Nova Scotia are huge gambling fans. Gambling activities are legal for residents from the age of 19.

The province has two land-based casinos, three racetracks, and a state-owned sportsbook.

While there are no online casinos licensed here, gamblers can opt for thousands of offshore casinos without issues.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick doesn’t have a ton of options when it comes to gambling. The province only has a government-owned casino, a state-regulated sportsbook called Pro-Line and several lotteries.

When it comes to online casinos, people of New Brunswick must resort to offshore casinos.

Canadian Gambling Laws – Manitoba

Gambling in Manitoba is overseen by a special commission – the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba. This authority regulates a gambling site and two land-based casinos.

Yet, there is still a horse racetrack, several lotteries and a legal sportsbook. In the latter, players may only bet a maximum amount of CAD 250.

British Columbia

Players have plenty of options if they’re in British Columbia, including 15 casinos, a legal bookmaker, a horse track and a state-based lottery.

There’s also a legal gambling site that’s been online since 2004, one of the first in the nation.

Prince Edward Island

Despite being the smallest province in the North American nation, PEI has allowed gambling since 1976. The province features the Pro-Line sportsbook for players 19 or older, a lottery, two horse tracks and one casino.

For online casinos, gamblers can turn to offshore casinos without any fear of repercussions.

Newfoundland

Land-based casinos, with the exception of tribal ones, aren’t legal in Newfoundland. Still, the province regulates many forms of gambling, including a lottery, horse racing and the Pro-Line betting service.

Their laws mean gambling fans must resort to offshore casinos. Although unregulated, playing at offshore casinos isn’t illegal.

Canadian Gambling Laws – Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan residents are the biggest gamblers in Canada per capita. The province has a total of eight casinos, six of which are considered tribal.

There’s also a lottery, three horse racetracks, and a special sportsbook called Sports Select.

As per usual, offshore casinos are a must if you’re looking to play online.

Alberta

Over 3% of the government’s revenue comes from gambling. With three horse tracks, 25 land-based casinos and several lotteries, Alberta residents have access to any form of gambling.

The province also has the Sports Select sportsbook and is pretty lax when it comes to online casinos.

Illegal Gambling In Canada Legal Cases

Illegal gambling has been a serious issue in several countries, including Canada. Despite the stringent measures in place to curb illegal gambling, it remains a recurring issue. This narrative has been repeatedly reflected in numerous high-profile legal cases that garnered media attention.

One of the most publicized cases is the “Platinum Sports Book” saga. Platinum Sports Book was an illegal online sports gambling operation. A series of dramatic events led to its uncovering, including the notorious Super Bowl party bust in 2013. It was considered one of the largest illegal sports bookmaking operations in North America. The ring leaders, Paul Carbone and Bill Miller had set up an elaborate operation that extended its network across the borders.

They managed to make millions off unsuspecting gamblers. However, in 2013, during a massive Super Bowl party organized by Platinum Sports Book, Canadian police swooped in, leading to multiple arrests. In the end, the ring leaders were each sentenced to substantial prison terms. This case threw a spotlight on the dark underbelly of illegal online sports gambling in Canada and created a sense of urgency for regulatory reforms.

Canadian Gambling Laws

Another significant case that caught the public’s attention was the infamous E-Pirate investigation. The E-Pirate case revolved around an illegal money laundering operation linked to illegal gambling, among other illicit activities.

At the center of this controversy was the Richmond-based company Silver International. Under the guise of a legitimate financial services company, Silver International facilitated large-scale money laundering tied to organized crime syndicates.

Police alleged that Paul Jin, the man behind Silver International, managed an extensive illegal gambling operation. This operation allegedly involved hundreds of millions of dollars. This case was significant due to its scale and its connections to organized crime and potential national security risks.

Illegal gambling operations in Canada

Although a series of unfortunate errors led to the collapse of the prosecution, this case remains an important example of the gravity of illegal gambling operations in Canada.

More recently, the Canadian media was enthralled by the Casino Rama case in 2019. Unlike the previous cases that involved clandestine operations, this one revolved around a legal and well-known casino.

Casino Rama was embroiled in a lawsuit after a massive data breach that led to the leakage of the personal information of thousands of its patrons. This breach was linked to an illegal offshore gambling website where the stolen data was found. This high-profile legal battle shed light on the complex interconnections between legal gambling establishments, illegal gambling sites, and cybercrime.

The “Project Sindacato” case in 2019 is worth mentioning. This case resulted in the arrest of nine individuals linked to the ‘Ndrangheta, a powerful Italian organized crime syndicate, who were charged with illegal gambling and other crimes. This operation was one of the largest mafia crackdowns in Canadian history. The members were accused of running online and offline illegal gambling operations that raked in millions of dollars. The case highlighted the scale of organized crime’s involvement in illegal gambling in Canada.

Canadian Gambling Laws Conclusion

Even though there weren’t many laws around online gambling in Canada, the situation has started to change. Soon, players will be able to enjoy online casinos without resorting to off-shore operators.

Up until this point, not many online casinos in Canada were regulated or owned by governments, which meant that players had to search for other options.

With the release of iGaming Ontario, we believe the province is taking a step in the right direction.

Please remember that while we can introduce you to the basics of Canadian gambling laws, only a specialized law firm can advise you.

Author: Jeannie Løjstrup

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Understanding Canadian Gambling Laws