Is Playing Online Casino Games Legal in Canada? A Detailed Answer
Online casinos are becoming more popular in Canada. Gambling is rampant in the country and is responsible for some of the revenue. The Criminal Code of Canada states that operating an online casino within Canada is illegal, especially without a license. However, there is no restriction to playing on sites offshore. The gambling laws in each province are specific and vary from province to province. It is not illegal to play online casinos in any part of Canadian. There are no universal laws.
There are over 25 land-based gambling houses in Ontario. Online casinos are also available in the province.
PlayNow Manitoba is the only online platform you can operate from within the borders of the provincial government.
Alberta has a long history of gambling. The legal age for gambling is 18. About 4% of Alberta's budget comes from gambling revenue. Residents of the province are free to play online gambling without restriction.
Quebec's Loto-Quebez organization regulates laws on gambling online in this province. Residents are allowed to play online gambling games as long as the online site is approved and licensed and they are above 18 years old.
Saskatchewan has about eight gaming authorities and a gaming corporation. Online casinos are not permitted to be based within the region, but offshore sites are easily accessible.
There are only two land-based gambling houses in Nova Scotia. Residents can play online without any legal restriction.
There is only one legal gambling site in British Columbia, PlayNow. It is owned by the British Columbian Lottery Corporation.
There is one legal casino in Prince Edward Island that is open to anyone over 19 years. Residents are allowed to play on any online gaming site that permits them.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province in Canada that bans land-based gambling houses. Its residents can play online casinos on over a thousand accessible offshore sites.
There is only one casino in New Brunswick. Its residents can choose to play at any offshore casino. There are no government restrictions or regulations.
Playing at online gaming platforms is becoming mainstream. Kevin N. Cochran, our expert in iGaming, has made clear that you are not putting yourself in legal trouble if you play at an online casino in Canada.