Is Online Gambling Legal In Canada?
Some countries forbid gambling, while in others, it’s still in a grey zone. But is online gambling legal in Canada? Find out here.
Revealing The Mystery: Is Online Gambling Legal In Canada?
Since their first appearance, online casinos have been attracting both good and bad attention. The question of online gambling venues’ legislation is on many punters’ minds. People typically do not have a habit of exercising their rights. Additionally, everyday news bombard players with information which are, to put it mildly, contradictory and confusing.
Consequently, contrary to their apparent desire, many people are reluctant to bet due to numerous myths surrounding online gambling in general. As a result, people often ask: “Is online gambling legal in Canada?” In the lines that follow, we’ll clarify the online casinos legislation in Canada. In addition, we’ll get into how to choose the right online casino.
Online Casino Legislation
As mentioned above, some countries are open to gambling, but on the other hand, some regions strictly forbid it. For instance, it is not legal to gamble in China and Islamic countries. The motives for this decision differ between countries, as there are many reasons why some regions don’t allow online gambling or any type of gambling in general.
What’s more confusing in this entire story is the fact that gambling legislation depends on your local or regional laws. In other words, whether some gambling feature is legal or not will mostly depend on your residence.
Another downside is that there’s no worldwide regulatory body that overwatches the online casino industry. If that were the case, the question “Is online gambling legal in Canada” wouldn’t exist in the first place. Instead, it is up to countries and regions to regulate this industry as they see fit, further confusing players.
The Importance of License
As there’s no global regulatory body, several governmental and independent licensing entities emerged as a result. These licensing bodies exist to ensure a fair and secure gambling environment for all gamblers. Their main job is to prevent scams and reduce risks.
Therefore, we thoroughly recommend you play at a regulated casino. In other words, stay away from casinos that are not approved by your state. By registering in licensed casinos, you’ll prevent any potential inconveniences that may occur.
Furthermore, if you’re wondering if online gambling is legal in your region, just refer to the casino’s licensing section. There, you’ll find information about the regulatory bodies which supervise the operator of your choice. Having that in mind, the list of the most reputable licenses is as follows:
- The United Kingdom Gambling Commission
- Malta Gaming Authority
- The Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner
- Curacao
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission (Which we’ll cover later on)
Also, there are independent entities that are monitoring casino games to ensure their fairness and security. This way, these third-party companies prevent casinos from interfering with the game’s algorithms and maintaining players’ safety.
Online Gambling Legislation In Canada
Now, to get to the bottom of the topic “Is online gambling legal in Canada” let’s first take a look at the history of casino laws in this North American country.
In 1970, Canada allowed individual provinces to regulate gambling in their regions. Consequently, several land-based casinos and lotteries emerged under regional supervision. The list of provincial licensing bodies is as follows:
- New Foundland – Service NL
- British Columbia – BCLCQuebec – Loto Quebec
- Prince Edward Island – Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission
- Manitoba – Liquor and Gaming Commission of Manitoba
- Ontario – Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
- Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority
- New Brunswick – New Brunswick Gaming Control
- Alberta – Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
- Nova Scotia – Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division Service of Nova Scotia
Furthermore, there’s the Kahnawake Commission, a licensing authority that is under the Canadian region. However, legally, it performs outside of its laws.
Kahnawake Gambling Commission
This Kahnawake regulatory body licenses online casinos and sportsbook sites. What’s fascinating about this entity is the fact it’s based on the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. As a result of their geographical location, the Mohawk commission is not bound by Canadian law. Consequently, this licensing body is entirely independent of regulating off-shore online casinos.
Back in the day, the Kahnawake Commission was licensing many Microgaming features. With the increasing popularity of some other regulatory bodies, many casino games developers have decided to license their features elsewhere.
So, Is Online Gambling Legal In Canada?
In a nutshell, gambling in a land-based casino with a local license is not prohibited within the laws of Canada. However, it is illegal to operate an online gambling establishment without a license.
As a result of this law, all online operators are typically located outside of Canada. Therefore, Canadian citizens are allowed to play at any online casino without legal risks. What’s more, whether you’re playing for fun or using gambling as an additional source of income, all your winnings are tax-free. As a result, it is entirely legal for Canadian citizens to gamble online; just make sure the casinos are licensed and regulated for your own money’s safety.
How To Find Online Casino For Canadians
Since we’ve established that online gambling in Canada is legal, the next logical step is to find an adequate online casino. Considering everything mentioned above, the most important thing is to find a regulated and licensed operator. For instance, Jack21 Casino holds dual licenses from Curacao and Cyprus. Additionally, registering with this venue is a way to get the latest bonuses and even more spins. Consequently, as a Canadian citizen, you can enjoy the same perks as everyone else in the world. Therefore, there are no restrictions whatsoever, regardless of region or country, if the casino holds a gambling license.
Final Thoughts
Although Canada has stringent laws, there are no obstacles for players from this region who want to have fun by gambling. Therefore, as long as you look for licensed and regulated online casinos, you’ll have no inconveniences and unpleasantness. What’s more, if you’re lucky enough and win big, all your winnings will be tax-free, another perk compared to brick-and-mortar casinos to consider. If you’re from Canada and have a friend who would like to start gambling asking if online gambling is legal in Canada, just refer them to this text. And last but not least – gamble responsibly.
