Gambling is a popular pastime in Canada. Statistics show that up to 75% of Canadian adults are involved in some form of gambling or the other. This includes lotteries, sports betting, and casino gaming. But what exactly does the law say about gambling in Canada? Is gambling legal in Canada? This post explores the state of gambling regulations across various provinces in Canada.
The short answer to this question is no. Gambling is currently illegal in Canada. Part VII of the Criminal Code prohibits all forms of gambling and all things that have to do with gambling. This includes marketing, gaming, and transmitting information related to gambling.
However, the criminal code also includes some exceptions to these prohibitions. The biggest of these exceptions is that Canadian provinces can to conduct and manage betting activities in their respective jurisdictions. So, commercial gaming and betting are allowed in Canada. That’s as long as it is approved and managed by provincial authorities.
Individual provinces have introduced laws that legalize gambling at the territorial level. This allows gambling businesses to obtain a license. This way they can operate within their territory with oversight from local governing authorities.
The criminal code in Canada empowers individual provinces to regulate gambling activities. In line with this, each Canadian province has established lottery corporations. These bodies manage gaming and betting within their jurisdictions. The lottery corporations are also governed by a separate gaming commission. The commissions act as regulatory and enforcement authorities to oversee related legislation. The laws governing the type of gambling permitted, how to register, and how they operate also vary for individual provinces. Here’s a summary of current regulations in each Canadian province:
In Alberta, online gambling is legal on provincially regulated sites. Gambling activities are regulated by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission. The commission only permits charitable and religious organizations to register as gambling service providers. The only provincially regulated online gambling website in Alberta is PlayAlberta.ca. However, residents are allowed to play in licensed offshore casinos. The legal age for players to register on a gambling site in Alberta is 18 years.
Like Alberta, British Columbia permits gambling as long as the gambling business is licensed. The ambling Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Finance oversees gambling in line with the Gaming Control Act. Currently, the only regulated online gambling website in the province is PlayNow. The legal age that players must be before they can gamble legally in British Columbia is 19 years. Offshore gaming isn’t strictly illegal so it remains an option for players in the province.
In Manitoba, the Liquor and Lotteries Corporation oversees gambling activities. Provincially, licensed operators are allowed to operate legally. They do have to comply with the Liquor Gaming and Cannabis Control Act and the Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act. The province has no laws against offshore gambling which makes it open to players. The least gambling age is set at 19.
The government of New Brunswick provides a regulated lottery to the public through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. The ALC is jointly owned with the government of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia Newfoundland, and Labrador). Third-party gambling service providers can also operate in the province. But they have to register with the Gaming Control Branch of the Department of Public Safety. They must also operate in line with the province’s Gaming Control Act of 2008. This law stipulates the legal age for gambling in the region as 19 years.
The legislation in Newfoundland and Labrador is a bit stricter compared to other provinces. The province provides government-regulated lottery through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. But third-party operators are only allowed to provide non-profitable games of chance. They can also provide bingo, card games, and lotteries for charity purposes. The minimum age to access these lottery and gambling games is 19 years.
As one of the joint owners of the ALC, the government of Nova Scotia provides regulated gaming to players through the corporation. Beyond this, the gambling authority in Nova Scotia only issues gaming licenses and permits for charitable and community purposes. But no permits are issued to businesses. The minimum age for participating in betting activities in the province is set at 19 years old.
Ontario has the friendliest gambling laws in Canada. Recent changes in iGaming laws has further improved accessibility to online gaming in the province. In fact, Ontario has more land-based casinos than other Canadian provinces. Besides allowing regulated gambling, offshore sites are also allowed to operate. But, players must be at least 19 years old to play.
The Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission provides a regulated lottery for the general public in Prince Edward Island through the ALC. The province also allows offshore gambling sites to operate legally. But, players must meet the minimum age requirement, which is 19 years old to play.
Quebec permits both land-based and online gambling operators in the province. The legal age in this provice is set at 18 years. There are two separate authorities in charge of gambling activities in Quebec. The first is the Alcohol, Racing and Gaming Authority. This body oversees public lotteries and gambling on horse races. On the other hand, the Quebec Lottery Corporation regulates the activities of gambling rooms. It also oversees lottery operations and bingo games.
In Saskatchewan, gambling activities are not illegal. The province has a good number of land-based casinos and a lottery. Saskatchewan’s first legal, regulated online gaming site (PlayNow) launched in 2022. It provides casino gaming and sports betting to players. The minimum age for gambling in the province is 19 years of age. Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority oversees gambling in the province.
Although Gambling is illegal on paper in Canada, the government doesn’t really consider gambling activities as a threat to Canadian players. The fact that most provinces have favorable laws that permit gambling in their respective regions further boosts the acceptance of various forms of gambling in Canada. Consequently, citizens have the freedom to gamble responsibly in Canada, especially for entertainment purposes.
