Online Gambling Regulations Ontario
- Online Gambling Regulations Ontario 2019
- Online Gambling Regulations Ontario 2020
- Online Gambling Ontario Legal
- Online Gambling Regulations Ontario Canada
Online Gambling Advertising Guidelines. The following is a summary, compiled from the statutes and regulations from the corresponding government websites. It is meant as a guide to assist in placing campaigns related to online gambling advertising. In Ontario, it is completely legal to play at a land-based casino, plus many other venues also offer slot machines. The rules regarding online casinos are pretty relaxed, therefore residents can play at any foreign casino site - there is only one online casino regulated in Ontario though, and it’s PlayOLG. Online Gambling Laws in Canada Canada’s online gambling laws are both straightforward and confusing. On the one hand, online gambling, whether sports betting or casino gaming, is legal as long as the provider is licensed within the country. But on the other hand, Canadians use plenty of offshore online sportsbooks and casinos.
- With more than 50 licensed operators that have a total of over 250 sites in Canada, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is the biggest regulatory body for online poker rooms, online casinos,.
- Since gambling is legal across the entire territory of Ontario, both in a retail location and online, it may seem redundant to offer tips and tricks to making the most of it. Still, there is something to be said about the proper way to go through your player bankroll in order to maximize your winnings, as well as reliable guidelines towards the.
Unless you’re from the Great White North, you might not consider it Canada to be a gambling mecca. But both land-based and online gambling are in full swing, sanctioned by provincial gambling laws in Canada.
The landscape features nearly 100 casinos, and 38,000 VLTs fill in the gaps. Punters can submit their parlays at lottery retailers or online, and bingo, charity gambling, and homegrown online gambling sites for sports and casino gaming are all on the approved list.
Like many countries, Canada’s gambling laws have some clear-cut provisions, as well as some gray areas left to interpretation. So, we’ll do our best to demystify the situation.
We’ll touch on some game-changing judicial decisions too. As Canadian gambling legislation is now in the provinces’ hands, you’ll soon see what each has to offer and the specific Canada gaming laws in play.
If you look at the history books relating to legal gambling expansion throughout Canada, they focus on 1892, 1969, and 1985. But we’re going to add 1976 to the list as well.
- 1892 – The Criminal Code outlaws gambling under the section “Offenses against religion, morals, and public conveniences”
- 1969 – The Criminal Code was initially altered to allow for lotteries that raised funds for worthwhile causes
- 1976 – Sports lotteries were introduced
- 1985 – The federal government turned control over to the provinces for gambling activities, including lotteries and lottery schemes, which cover computer, video devices, slot machines, and horse racing wagering over the phone
The Criminal Code was the be-all, end-all of Canadian gambling legislation for decades. The 1969 move to approve lotteries got the ball rolling in the other direction.
We include 1976 because sports lotteries have been a mainstay in the country since then. Although betting is exclusively parlay-based, players have plenty of access through provincial-governed programs that extend to retail locations and, now, online betting as well.
1985 took Canada’s gambling and online gambling laws to a new level. Although the first gambling venue, Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, popped up in Yukon Territory in 1971, the post-1985 era prompted the casino boom.
Winnipeg’s Crystal Casino was the first government-owned casino, opening its doors in 1991. It didn’t even have its own structure but instead occupied the Fort Garry Hotel’s seventh floor. Manitoba now has five other gambling venues, but the historic Crystal Casino’s reign was short. It closed in 1999.
Online Gambling Laws in Canada
Canada’s online gambling laws are both straightforward and confusing.
On the one hand, online gambling, whether sports betting or casino gaming, is legal as long as the provider is licensed within the country. But on the other hand, Canadians use plenty of offshore online sportsbooks and casinos.
While it’s illegal to operate an online casino in Canada without a license, nothing is spelled out explicitly prohibiting Canadians from using non-licensed services. Many people do, without penalty. No one has been prosecuted for using an out-of-area gambling website.
There are licensed Canadian online gambling sites that operate within the country. Sports Interaction was one of the first and is still going strong. Although it’s categorized as a sportsbook, players can take advantage of casino games as well.
Additionally, Canada is a unique country with its online gambling presence. As the provinces control the gambling and online gambling, most have their own virtual service, like Quebec’s Loto-Quebec or Alberta’s Play Alberta.
Province-run gambling sites include casino gaming, instant lottery, and sports betting. Not all residents are enthused about these services.
The in-region sites tend to have just a small sample of games compared to competitive offshore online casinos. However, new betting opportunities are consistently added, and Loto-Quebec even has some millionaire-makers in its virtual slot banks.
Canadian punters tend to “virtually” leave the country to place bets because Canada’s gambling laws don’t account for straight bets. Since 1976 when sports lotteries emerged, betting has been restricted to parlays.
Aside from Sports Interaction, there are provincial-approved betting services across the country. The national program is called Sport Select, although it’s known by different names, depending on the location.
Sport Select usually operates in conjunction with lottery retailers, and some provinces have extended the service to mobile players. Hence, it falls under both gambling and online gambling legislation in Canada.
Canadians appreciate more than just online sports betting, though. As we mentioned, the majority of provinces host their own online gambling sites featuring casino games, like slots, table games, virtual scratch cards, and lottery-type gaming.
Province-run online betting sites are geofenced. Players can use their mobile devices to play from home or anywhere in the region but will lose connectivity when they cross into another jurisdiction.
Summary of Canada’s Online Gambling Laws
- Online casinos and sportsbooks licensed in Canada are legal.
- Sport Select is the national sports betting program, allowing for parlays in retailers and some provinces to provide online access.
- It’s illegal to operate an online casino in Canada without a license, but nothing is spelled out regarding players using outside online betting services.
- Most provinces have dedicated full-service gambling sites for residents but are geofenced, so Canadian punters in other areas can’t access the service – they have to stick to their local website.
Since 1985 when the Canadian government relegated gambling legislation to the individual provinces, there’s been continuous expansion. More than 80 casinos have surfaced and there are now nearly 40,000 VLT machines worth millions to the local economies.
The following are the nine provinces and one territory with casinos and subsequent oversight.
Alberta
- Gambling oversight: Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC)
- Commission established: 1996
- Alberta gambling legislation: The Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act
- AGLC website: https://aglc.ca/
- Legal gambling age in Alberta: 18
- Official online gambling site: Play Alberta
Alberta has 28 licensed casinos within the region. Vegas-style casinos are prevalent, totaling 24, and the other four stick to machine-based gambling.
When it comes to VLT gaming in bars and clubs, Alberta takes the nation’s second spot with 6,000 machines at more than 1,200 locations. Quebec is the only province with more, as it totals 12,000. Electronic gaming provides a half-billion dollars in annual revenue to the government.
The province participates in the WCLC, or Western Canada Lottery Corporation but doesn’t allow for online lottery sales. However, Alberta does have a provincial-run online casino, Play Alberta, with slots and lottery-type games. Players can deposit to their betting account with Visa or Mastercard.
- Gambling oversight: British Columbia Lottery Corp.
- British Columbia gambling legislation: Gaming Control Act
- BCLC website: https://www.playnow.com/
- Legal gambling age in British Columbia: 19
- Official online gambling site: Play Now
The British Columbia Lottery Corporation is a three-part service consisting of casino games, lottery, and e-gaming.
Play Now is the official online gambling service, which extends to lottery ticket sales and slots, and other virtual machine-type gaming. Unlike Alberta’s online casino that’s limited to Visa and Mastercard acceptance, Play Now offers a wide range of payment options, including PayPal, Web Cash, and Online Bill Payment.
Land-based gambling in British Columbia features 34 casino venues, but only 18 with traditional table games. There are also three bingo halls, but British Columbia has opted out of the VLT program, so machine gaming isn’t available at bars, taverns, and other liquor-licensed establishments.
- Gambling oversight: Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba
- Manitoba gambling legislation: The Liquor Gaming and Cannabis Control Act of 2018
- LGCA website: https://lgcamb.ca/
- Legal gambling age in Manitoba: 18
- Official online gambling site: Play Now
While Crystal Casino, the first commercial casino in the area, closed in 1999, five replacements have been added since. Manitoba is also home to Assiniboia Downs’ flat track thoroughbred racing under the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission’s supervision.
The Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba handles other gambling license applications, including lottery and VLTs. While Manitoba isn’t at the top of the list for VLT revenue, it has nearly 600 licensees, 4,400 machines and generates around a quarter-billion in revenue for the area.
Manitoba is the exception with the Western Canada Lottery Corp, as it also utilizes the Play Now online services for tickets. Both lottery and VLT retailers go through an application process but aren’t charged licensing fees to get started.
- Gambling oversight: New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corp.
- New Brunswick gambling legislation: Control Act of 2008
- NBLGC website: https://www2.gnb.ca/
- Legal gambling age in New Brunswick: 19
- Official online gambling site: Atlantic Lottery
The NBLGC oversees most of New Brunswick authorized gambling activities, except VLTs. VLT supervision is under the Department of Justice, which has recently implemented changes in the program.
VLT machines and retailers have been reduced to a maximum of 2,000 devices spread out amongst 300 locations. New Brunswick’s other land-based gaming includes the Casino New Brunswick with Vegas-style gaming and Grey Rock, which sticks to gambling machines, including electronic table games.
Online gambling is legal in New Brunswick through the Atlantic Lottery site, covering all of the bases from lottery tickets to casino games (slots and tables), bingo, and a link to Pro-Line for sports betting.
- Gambling oversight: Nova Scotia Gaming Corp.
- Nova Scotia gambling legislation: The Gaming Control Act
- NSGC website: https://gamingns.ca/
- Legal gambling age in Nova Scotia: 19
- Official online gambling site: Atlantic Lottery
There’s plenty of bingo action throughout Nova Scotia in addition to the two Casino Nova Scotia locations in Sydney and Halifax. According to reports by the NSGC, the area can more than accommodate the list of venues. Approximately 73% of Nova Scotians participate in at least one betting activity.
All of the proceeds from gambling within the province, which amounted to $136.5 million in the 2019-2020 calendar year, go directly to local programs and services.
Like New Brunswick, Nova Scotia is part of the Atlantic Lottery online gambling programs, so residents also have home and mobile access to slots, lottery tickets, sports betting, etc. Land-based gaming covers the landscape with 600 VLT licensees and 3,000 machines in play.
- Gambling oversight: Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.
- Ontario gambling legislation: Ontario Lottery and Gaming Act
- OLG website: https://www.olg.ca/en/home.html
- Legal gambling age in Ontario: 19
- Official online gambling site: Ontario Lottery and Gaming (OLG)
The OLG website is Ontario’s Atlantic Lottery. It’s a full-service online gambling go-to for pretty much anything and everything betting-related in the province. You can buy lottery tickets, bet on sports, and play casino games.
Ontario residents have an edge compared to their provincial neighbors. OLG’s casino not only has more games but uses IGT software. IGT is behind some of the most well-known slot titles, like Cleopatra and LobsterMania (both available on olg.ca). Slots also cover major progressive jackpots like the Power Bucks series seeded at a million.
Along with British Columbia, Ontario said no to VLTs. However, the province is currently home to 28 casinos, including four resort-style properties, like Fallsview Casino-Resort. Casino Woodbine is amid a significant expansion project slated for 2022 completion. And, the casino count will soon hit 29 when the new Pickering Casino-Resort opens its doors.
All but five of Ontario’s casinos are Vegas-style with slots and table games. The other five stick to gambling machines.
- Gambling oversight: Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission
- Prince Edward Island gambling legislation: Lotteries Commission Act and Gaming Centre Control Regulations of 2005
- PEI gaming regulation website: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/legislation/lotteries-commission-act
- Legal gambling age in Prince Edward Island: 19 for VLTs and casino; 18 for lottery tickets
- Official online gambling site: Atlantic Lottery
With a population of only 157,000, two casinos, a few hundred VLTs, and bingo halls should accommodate Prince Edward Island residents who enjoy gambling activities.
Even the Red Shores Racetrack and Casino, one of two Red Shores properties, is relatively small with about 300 slots. However, it also offers table gaming and a poker room. If the lottery retailers, VLTs, and casinos aren’t enough, though, Prince Edward Island is also part of the Atlantic Lottery program.
Atlantic Lottery gives residents a regionally-regulated, legal Canadian online gambling site for everything from slots to sports.
- Gambling oversight: Loto-Quebec
- Quebec gambling legislation: Société des lotteries du Québec
- Société de lotteries du Québec website: https://societe.lotoquebec.com/en/home
- Legal gambling age in Quebec: 18
- Official online gambling site: Loto-Quebec
If you want to know anything and everything about legal gambling in Quebec, Loto-Quebec is the site to discover. It’s one of the most detailed resources in the country and explicitly spells out what’s available according to Canada gambling laws.
Everything from VLTs to casino gaming to the Loto-Quebec online gambling site runs through the Société de lotteries du Québec.
Loto-Quebec, like the Ontario and Atlantic Lottery sites, covers the gamut. You can play slots, tables, instant lottery, and place sports bets. But if you’re in the mood to take a drive, two gambling halls and four casinos are premier attractions.
- Casino de Montreal
- Casino du Lac-Leamy
- Casino de Charlevoix
- Casino de Mont-Tremblant
The Casino de Montreal is the largest in Canada with more than 3,000 machines, 100 tables, a 25-table poker room, and a VIP gaming area.
As far as other land-based betting opportunities, Quebec takes the top spot with 12,000 VLTs, although it has plans to reduce that number in the near future. Historically, though, the VLTs have contributed a half-billion annually to the provincial economy.
- Gambling oversight: Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority
- Saskatchewan gambling legislation: The Alcohol and Gaming Regulatory Act
- SLGA website: https://www.slga.com/gaming/
- Legal gambling age in Saskatchewan: 19
- Official online gambling site: n/a
The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority runs seven out of the nine casinos in the region, including the newest, Gold Horse in Lloydminster, which opened in December 2018. The remaining two (Casino Regina and Casino Moose Jaw) are under the Saskatchewan Gaming Authority.
Saskatchewan has an active charity gaming department and one of the more lucrative VLT programs. With 4,200 VLTs in 569 locations, it’s easy to see how they could contribute more than $155 million annually to the province.
A lottery is in full swing with Sask Lotteries, which also links to Sport Select for parlays. However, the lottery is a retailer-only service. You can’t buy tickets or play casino games on the Sask Lottery website like you can in Quebec or Ontario.
- Gambling oversight: Yukon Lottery Corp
- Yukon gambling legislation: n/a
- Lotteries Yukon website: https://lotteriesyukon.com/en/programs
- Legal gambling age in Yukon: 19
- Official online gambling site: n/a
There’s not a whole lot happening gambling-wise in the Yukon Territory. But we’d be remiss if we left it off the list as it’s home to Canada’s first casino.
Diamond Tooth Gertie’s was opened by the Klondike Visitors Association in 1971 and has done its job to attract visitors to the area. With just 64 slots and some table games, you wouldn’t compare it to a venue like Casino de Montreal, but you don’t need to, as it’s one-of-a-kind.
While Yukon Territory has a small lottery program with 43 retailers, there’s no VLT program. So, Gertie’s is the go-to for gambling machines.
Canada’s online gambling laws provide for casino gaming, iLottery, and parlay-based sports betting. But the question is, what’s off the list?
The answer is straight bets and other sports wagering. Canada has noticed what’s happened in the US after PASPA (the Professional Amateur Sports Protection Act) was overturned.
As neighboring states are going all-in with sportsbooks and mobile betting, it’s time for the Great White North to get competitive.
Single-game sports betting has been a hot topic for years in Canada. Licensed sportsbooks and online bookmakers have been pushing for another modification to the 1892 Criminal Code for quite some time.
But the United States’ status change might be enough to alter legislation on a national level soon.
Interesting Facts about Gambling in Canada
Gambling and online gambling laws in Canada provide a combination of white-listed activities and those in the gray area, like online gambling offered through off-shore operators. That leaves residents and visitors with questions, as things can change as soon as you cross from one province into another.
So, we’ve got a few notable gambling-related items that you may find useful in addition to the detailed province-by-province breakdown above.
- The legal gambling age in Canada varies from province to province
- While the minimum age doesn’t swing wildly, some areas allow players 18 and over, while others require 19.
- Current sports betting legislation in Canada is for parlay-based betting only
- One of the contention points regarding legal sports betting is that it could encourage teams or players to cheat. With parlay bets, it’s less likely that someone would throw a game.
- The Mohawk Territory Kahnawake Gaming Commission isn’t just behind the Canadian-licensed Sports Interaction site
- The Kahnawake Gaming Commission was one of the first official regulators of online gaming, starting in 1996. Its client list has dwindled over the years, but it still maintains 21 active licensees.
- Canadians aren’t charged taxes on winnings
- The no-tax gambling law in Canada applies to both land-based and online gambling and the lottery.
- VLTs are responsible for nearly a quarter of all gambling industry income in Canada?
- Even without VLTs in Ontario or British Columbia, they’re behind billions in local governments’ annual revenue.
- A new casino is opening in Ontario in 2021
- The Pickering Resort-Casino was slated for a 2020 opening, but the COVID-19 pandemic slightly postponed the big reveal. Canadians will soon have access to more than 2,000 slots, 167 live dealer stadium game terminals, and 100 table game offerings.
Recapping Gambling and Online Gambling Laws in Canada
As you can now see, you’d need an entire book to list what’s on and off in terms of the gambling and online gambling laws in Canada. Each province develops its individual gambling strategy, which typically includes at least a few casinos, sports betting, a lottery, and an online presence.
Canadians aren’t taxed on gambling winnings, which is a win on top of a win. The legal gambling age is either 18 or 19, depending on the region. That requirement sticks with both land-based and online betting.
Some Canadians balk at their homegrown gambling sites, like Play Now or the Atlantic Lottery. But those full-service websites cover the gamut with sports betting, slots, table games, and lottery tickets. Canadian nights can get cold, so it’s always good to have options.
Ontario is considered one of the more progressive provinces in Canada. It’s got an MLS team, two NHL teams, three CFL teams, and the only NBA and MLB squads in the Great White North. Also, with over 14 million, Ontario is the most populated area and the second-largest in total area with an amazing number of lakes, 250,000 freshwater lakes.
With so many sports fans, it’s a shame that they have to deal with some really inferior sports betting products served by the government which can also be found in the other provinces as well all over Canada. This is why some of the wiser sports betting enthusiasts try to discover some better online options that are not tied to the official sports betting lottery in the country.
Recommended Canadian Sports Betting Sites In Ontario
CAD 250 | 5/5 |
2 | CAD 200 |
CAD 200 | 4.9/5 |
4 | CAD 500 |
CAD 2500 | 4.9/5 |
6 | CAD 125 |
CAD 200 | 4.8/5 |
8 | CAD 200 |
CAD 500 | 4/5 |
10 | CAD 2500 |
Sports Betting in Ontario
Contents
The residents of Ontario have access to some of the best sports teams in the country. Both pro and second level teams are very much exciting. Unfortunately, the wagering system provided and controlled by the government is of a lower caliber. It doesn’t offer the same excitement as off-shore online sports betting options do.The current OLG Proline betting system provided is considered caveman today because people have to use paper and pencil to complete their selection process. This form is still present in some other countries too, but that doesn’t mean it’s supported.
And although wagers can be placed fairly easy by going to the nearest retail store which can be any store, there are much better and more accessible options online that doesn’t include leaving your home to make the bet. To make things worse, you can’t do that through the OLG Proline website. You can preview the selections list, but you still have to make the trip to place the bet.
Online Gambling Regulations Ontario 2019
The main features that characterize this system are:
- Five different odds categories
- No single game betting is allowed
- Tickets have to be purchased in your local retail store
But, the biggest drawback is not the trip making or the no single game betting rule. It’s the odds. They are really inferior when comparing them to the odds found at off-shore sports betting websites, where the competition is fiercer, which results with more favorable odds. It’s as if the OLG Proline group is guided by the “something is better than nothing” thought.
On top of that, some of the betting rules are downright unfair. For example, NFL bettors must choose whether the visitor or home team will win, which is OK. But, they have to predict that the team will win by at least 8 points. They can also make a Tie bet, but in that case the game must be decided by 3 points or less. In the online sports betting world this is considered completely unfair.
Gambling Law in Ontario
Despite all of the drawbacks with the government controlled sports betting lottery, Canada is considered one of the more relaxed countries towards gambling and sports betting. All gambling forms are legally regulated with the 1992 Gaming Control Act. With the Act, a way was made open for the first ever land-based casino in the province of Ontario.
Online Gambling Regulations Ontario 2020
So, sports betting is legal. And not only offline, but online too. There is a legal grey are in Ontario and all over Canada regarding online betting, which has not been addressed in any provincial law. The law says that it’s illegal for players to bet at unlicensed betting houses, but considering all off-shore sports betting websites are licensed somewhere, this does not concern bettors.
As a result, online betting is considered legal, and the citizens of Ontario or Canada in global are not persecuted for placing wagers at off-shore sports betting websites. On top of that, their winnings are not taxed at all.
Licensing Authorities in Ontario
The gaming law is enforced by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Some provinces share the same agency, but Ontario has its own. It was established in 1998 and its job is to care for the public interest and oversee all gambling activities so that they are considered socially responsible.
Population of Ontario
Ontario is the second-largest province in Canada in total area, but the biggest in population. This province has 14 million residents and accounts for nearly 40% of all Canadians. The majority of Ontarians are of European decent, which means English, Scottish, Italian, Irish and French. The majority of the people in Ontario consider themselves Catholic and Protestant, but there is also a great deal that have not professed any religious affiliation. The official language is English, while French is largely spoken in the northeastern parts.
Online Gambling Ontario Legal
Offline Betting Venues in Ontario
All of the offline venues that provide gambling services are owned and co-owned by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. They manage 10 land-based casinos and directly operate with:
The other are operated by private companies which are licensed by the OLG such as Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Caesars Windsor, and Niagara. When sports bettors want to play some slots or table games, they can do that outside of the casinos too at some of the racetracks across the province. There are also poker rooms in each of the 10 land-based casinos operated by OLG. The largest of all venues is the Casino Niagara.
Online Gambling Regulations Ontario Canada
Conclusion
Ontarians like other Canadians have almost total freedom where to bet on sports. They have the option to make Proline bets, which is considered an inferior betting system, or to bet online where the variety is much bigger and the odds are much more favourable. At the moment sports betting is available only through retail stores, so players can’t bet on sports in casinos like in Las Vegas.