Gambling has been a part of life in the Great White North since long before Canada was created. However, it hasn’t always been legal. In fact, most forms of gambling have been prohibited throughout most of the country’s history. Canada’s gambling laws were first laid out in the Canadian Criminal Code in 1892, meaning that gambling fell under the purview of the federal government.
Despite the near-blanket ban on gambling, certain forms were legalized over the years, such as pari-mutuel betting in 1910 and lotteries in 1969. One of the biggest changes to Canada’s gambling laws came in 1985 when sports betting was legalized. This was soon followed by the legalization of land-based casinos.
So, what does the Canadian gambling landscape look like today? What are the rules surrounding Canada online casino sites? Can Canadians legally play casino games and bet on sports online? This guide to Canada online gambling regulations will answer those questions and a few others. After reading this, you will have a better understanding of the landscape of online gambling in Canada.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Canada?
Until 2022, Canadian gambling laws were determined by the Criminal Code. However, the Criminal Code did not address the legality of online gambling in Canada. As such, the rules were pretty murky. On one hand, no laws stated that online gambling was illegal. At the same time, no laws said that it was legal.
The Canadian online gambling laws were clarified in 2022 when the federal government authorized individual provinces and territories to create their own gambling laws. By this time, almost all provinces were already operating legal and regulated gambling sites through their respective lottery corporations. However, Ontario made the bold decision to start offering licenses to online gambling companies. As of 2024, Ontario is the only province to take this approach.
As you can probably deduce by now, online gambling is legal in Canada. The thing is that in Canada, gambling laws vary from province to province. The section below will explain the online gambling rules for each province and territory.
Gambling Laws in Canadian Provinces
If you were to embark on a coast-to-coast gambling excursion, you would encounter different rules each time you crossed the border into a different province. Let’s look at how online gambling works in each province and territory.
Alberta
Albertans have two main options for legal online gambling. The first choice is playing at PlayAlberta, the province’s only regulated online gambling platform. The second option is going to a licensed and regulated offshore site. If you go with an international operator, be sure to choose one of our recommended online gambling sites, as they have been tested and approved by our experts.
British Columbia
The only regulated gambling site operating in British Columbia is PlayNow, which offers online casino games, sports betting, poker, bingo, and a wide range of lottery games. However, British Columbians are also welcome at internationally regulated gambling sites. Again, we strongly suggest that anyone opting for an offshore site only play at one of our featured Canada gambling platforms. This will ensure that you are treated fairly and paid quickly.
Manitoba
The online gambling scene in Manitoba is identical to that in BC and Alberta. You can legally and safely bet on sports, play casino games, and enjoy a few rounds of poker, among other things, at PlayNow Manitoba. It is the only regulated gambling site in the province. Of course, Manitobans are also welcome to play at a huge selection of internationally licensed gambling sites, such as the ones we have rated and reviewed.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick offers access to lottery games, sports betting, DFS, and casino games through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation’s regulated gambling site Pro Line. Unfortunately, the variety of games and sports betting opportunities is pretty limited. This is why many New Brunswick players prefer to bet on sports and play casino games at our top international gambling sites.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador residents also have two options for Canada online gambling. They, too, can access and legally play at the Atlantic Lottery Corporation’s regulated gambling platform – Pro Line. The other option is selecting one of our favourite internationally-regulated sportsbooks and online casino sites.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a small province in terms of population, but residents and visitors still have the same Canada iGaming and sports betting options as the other Atlantic provinces. If you aren’t impressed by the collection of casino games and sports betting options offered at the Atlantic Lottery Corporation’s Pro Line regulated website, then why not visit one of our recommended internationally licensed online gambling sites?
Ontario
Ontario has taken a different approach to online gambling. In 2022, the province invited online gambling companies to apply for licenses. Now, online gambling buffs in the province have about 70 high-quality sports betting sites and online casinos at their fingertips. You can only play at an Ontario gambling site if you are inside Ontario’s borders. Those who try to access the site from outside Ontario are blocked.
You should also know that the gambling regulator, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), has signed agreements with a few other major regulators that aim to keep Ontario gamblers away from foreign sites. This means that Ontarians cannot access as many regulated offshore sites as they once could. For more information, check out our dedicated Ontario online gambling guide.
Prince Edward Island
If you live in or visit beautiful Prince Edward Island, you can get your fill of online gambling entertainment at the regulated Atlantic Lottery site or play at one of our top internationally regulated sites. A lot of folks choose the latter simply because the iGaming and sports betting options offered at the ALC site are pretty limited.
Quebec
In terms of being a top-tier gambling site with a variety of casino gaming and sports betting options, LotoQuebec’s regulated online gambling platform is pretty solid. However, it doesn’t quite match up against what our best international online gambling sites offer. Whichever route you choose, you can rest assured that the site will treat you fairly and keep you safe.
Saskatchewan
Up until 2022, Saskatchewan residents only had one legal online gambling option, which was playing at regulated offshore sites. While that remains the preferred option for many, the launch of PlayNow Saskatchewan gives players in the province yet another legal gambling avenue. This is the same platform that is offered in British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba.
Northwest Territories
Residents of the Northwest Territories have two main legal Canada online gambling options. The first one is the Western Canadian Lottery Corporation’s site. The second option is playing at the internationally licensed gambling sites that we have thoroughly tested and approved.
Nunavut
It should come as a surprise that the Nunavut online gambling community has the same options as their neighbours in the Northwest Territories. Bettors from Nunavut can legally play at the regulated WCLC site or opt for one of our best international gambling platforms.
Yukon
Yukon is the only province or territory that does not have a regulated gambling site. Still, residents and visitors can play at a variety of international sportsbooks and online casinos.
Canada’s Gambling Regulations
As this Canada online gambling regulations guide mentioned earlier, gambling laws are now the responsibility of each individual province. This is why the rules vary from one province to the other. No matter which province we are talking about, an online gambling operator can’t simply set up shop in a Canadian province. They first need to secure a license from the province’s gambling regulator.
While this may seem simple enough, the only province that offers gambling licenses is Ontario. No other Canadian province has the framework in place to copy Ontario’s model. If an online gambling company wishes to enter the Ontario market, it must go through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) along with iGaming Ontario (iGO). The site must also have a base of operation in the province and can only accept action from customers within Ontario’s borders.
Canada sports betting sites and online casinos in other provinces are regulated by that province through their respective lottery corporations. These include:
- Atlantic Lottery Corporation serves Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Labrador.
- The British Columbia Lottery Corporation serves BC.
- The Ontario Lottery Corporation serves Ontario.
- Loto Quebec, which serves Quebec
- The Western Canadian Lottery Corporation serves Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut.
History of Gambling in Canada
Almost all forms of gambling were prohibited when the Canadian Criminal Code was introduced in 1892. With the exception of pari-mutuel betting being legalized in 1910 and lotteries being legalized in 1969, the laws didn’t change much. However, they have changed drastically over the past several decades.
- 1969: The Criminal Code was amended to allow provinces to run lotteries.
- 1985: The Criminal Code was amended to allow sports betting. However, single-game sports betting remained illegal.
- 1989: Canada’s first retail casino opens in Winnipeg. The following decade would see several casinos open in most provinces.
- 1996: The Kahnawake Gaming Commission was formed, making it one of the first international online gambling regulators in the world. It has since proven to be one of the most respected regulators out there.
- 2021: Single-game sports betting is legalized.
- 2022: Ontario grants gambling licenses to several online gambling companies, and regulated online gambling in the province is officially launched.
What is the Legal Gambling Age in Canada?
Because each province determines its own gambling laws, the minimum gambling age varies depending on where you are. Here is a quick reference guide.
| Province/Territory | Legal Gambling Age |
| Alberta | 18 |
| British Columbia | 19 |
| Manitoba | 18 |
| New Brunswick | 19 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 19 |
| Northwest Territories | 19 |
| Nova Scotia | 19 |
| Nunavut | 19 |
| Ontario | 19 |
| Prince Edward Island | 19 |
| Quebec | 18 |
| Saskatchewan | 19 |
| Yukon | 19 |
Bear in mind that these minimum legal ages apply to casino gambling, sports betting, horse racing, and poker. If you want to play lottery games or bingo, the minimum age is 18.
Responsible Gambling in Canada
Almost every region that provides an open and regulated online gambling market has advanced financially and economically. That usually means more money for services like education and healthcare. It also means jobs. Within a year of Ontario opening up the market, online gambling had created over 12,000 full-time jobs in the province.
Online gambling also has a few major drawbacks, with two of the most significant ones being underage gambling and problem gambling. To combat these issues, the most respected licensing authorities like the AGCO, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and the Malta Gaming Authority require license holders to verify all of their customers. This is why you need to verify your identity and address before withdrawing for the first time. The verification process doesn’t completely eliminate underage gambling, but it certainly puts a big dent in it.
Canada sports betting sites and online casinos also promote responsible gambling habits. We urge bettors of all stripes to check out the “Responsible Gambling” link at their Canadian online gambling site. You can immediately assess your gambling health by taking a self-assessment test.
You can also set limits on the amount of money you deposit or spend in a day, week, or month. This prevents overspending. Anyone who feels that their gambling immunity system has become compromised can take a time-out or self-exclude for the short or long term.
In Canada, gambling sites give you all the information you need to get in touch with a variety of gambling support groups. These services are free, confidential, and available 24/7. Our top Canada online casino sites also provide you with links to highly-rated parental controls and other website blockers.
FAQs
- What is legal gambling?
Legal gambling means placing bets in an environment where betting is allowed by law. This applies to both land-based and online casinos. As long as the venue is licensed and legally available in your region, it provides legal gambling.
- Is online gambling legal in Canada?
In Canada, sports betting, casino gaming, poker, and a variety of other gambling games are completely legal. Even though Canadian provincial gambling laws vary, they all allow online gambling. Almost every province has a regulated government-operated gambling site.
- What provinces have legalized gambling?
Gambling is legal on land and online in all Canadian provinces. However, you won’t find many land-based options in the country’s more remote and sparsely populated regions. That’s no problem when you have so many excellent legal Canada online gambling sites at your disposal.
- Is it legal to gamble at home with friends?
Gambling at home with your friends or family is perfectly legal in Canada. However, it is illegal for the host or anyone else to charge a rake or any type of commission from the bets. You’d need an operator’s license to do that.
- When was online gambling legalized?
Online gambling has always been legal in Canada. Well, to be more accurate, online gambling has never been illegal in Canada. While casino gambling and sports betting were legalized in the 1980s, the most recent laws allow Canadians to gamble online.
- Is crypto gambling legal?
You can gamble online using a vast range of cryptocurrencies. However, Canadian-based operators, like those licensed and regulated by the AGCO, do not accept it. Canadians can use cryptocurrency at our top crypto sites.