Evolution Of The Canadian Gambling Industry
Gambling has a long, rich history in Canada. The casino industry has traveled a lot of miles to become the booming online realm that it is today. In 2022, a fresh world of casino games is available at the tap of a finger, thanks to the rise of mobile gambling.
Gambling was banned in Canada in 1892. It was allowed in 1900, but only for charity. In 1910, horse race betting was made legal. Up until 1969, gambling in the country was limited to pari-mutuel horse betting, charitable bingo, lottery schemes, and games of chance at town fairs. Lotteries were legalized in 1969.
In 1970, Canada's gambling laws were changed to allow provinces to oversee gambling within their borders. Quebec was the first province to establish its own Crown corporations to run lotteries and horse races. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia followed suit in 1971. The four provinces collaborated in 1974 to launch the Western Canadian Lottery Foundation. In 1973, the Canadian government created the Olympic Lotterie Corporation to raise funds for the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Canada has its first commercial casinos in Winnipeg in 1989 and Montreal in 1993.
Technological advancements in the 21st century transformed the way Canadians gamble. British Columbia started letting people buy lottery tickets and bet on sports online in 2004. In 2009, it added poker and in 2010, casino games and bingo to its site. Manitoba, Quebec, Alberta, and Ontario all offer the same kinds of online gambling. The Atlantic Lottery Corp. is in charge of selling lottery and Bingo tickets for the Maritime provinces. Private casino operators are not permitted to operate online casinos within Canada’s borders. Canadian residents can join offshore licensed gambling sites.
The pandemic has had a positive impact on the online gaming industry in Canada. Online casinos are more popular than ever. New gambling laws in the country are also contributing to the growth of the industry. The pandemics has been a major impact of this industry and has led to a rise in online casinos.
Bill C-221 amended the Criminal Code and legalized single-event sports betting in Canada. Bill C218 came into force in August 2021. Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority will launch online gambling at the end of 2021, and Ontario has become the first Canadian province to regulate betting sectors popular around the world. Online video casinos and virtual reality casinos are also growing in popularity. Bitcoin, Etherum, Litecoin and other digital currencies are accepted for deposits and withdrawals. They offer players complete anonymity.
In 2022, there will be more than 100 different types of online casino games available to Canadian players. The online gambling industry in Canada will continue to grow.
