The online gambling sector is regulated by strict legislation in most countries. In Canada, however, the legal framework for online gambling remains unstable. The sector has undergone several regulatory and legislative changes over time. At present, several regulations are applicable.
Canadian Senate on Gambling and Sports Betting
Is online gambling legal in Canada?
Since the opening of the market in Canada, online gambling has had a legal framework, but it remains rather complex. Indeed, since 1910, horse pari-mutuel betting has been authorised in Canada, but generally benefits charities. Since 1970, legislation based on quasi-autonomous management of gambling at the level of each province has been in place and has remained so until now. However, despite the legal opening of the online gambling sector in most countries, offering this type of gambling in Canada is illegal. There are texts in Canadian law that prohibits the creation of dedicated online gambling websites in the country.
These laws, however, do not prevent Canadian player from playing online gambling. Playing gambling on a site in Canada is therefore not seen as breaking the law. Players can safely visit such sites and place bets. Gambling operators provide everyone with a full list of games, among which there is even entertainment with demo versions. And this option is typical even for sites that are included in the rating of the best online casinos for real money in Canada. That is what experts and players note as a good indicator of a licensed casino. However, the country still faces a problem: several gambling servers on the territory of the Amerindian reserve of the Kahnawake region, which is part of Canada. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is responsible for regulating the industry.
It is responsible for regulating sports betting websites, casinos, and online poker rooms, as well as issuing licences. Similarly, some provinces have the right to regulate and control the online gambling within their borders. In short, online gambling legislation in Canada remains a delicate situation.
Online casino and poker legislation in Canada
Prior to the 2010 adoption of the online gambling jurisdiction by each province, Canadian gambling legislation prohibited the establishment of online poker or casino services by operators based in Canada. This same legislation allowed poker and casino gamblers to play online in complete peace of mind. They were able to go to online gaming rooms hosted outside Canada and play freely without breaking the law. This encourages the expansion of the illegal online casino and poker sector.
As a result, each Canadian province has been given the choice to establish its own regulations regarding these games. Several provinces have created their own online poker rooms, such as British Columbia, Quebec, etc. This was done to provide a fully legal gaming environment for Canadians and to ensure that the money spent by these players would come back to the province rather than going offshore.
This measure is not shared by all provinces. Other provinces prefer to allow players free access to sites run by foreign operators; Nova Scotia, for example, where online casinos are not liberalised.
Still, others prefer to license operators according to certain criteria. Meanwhile, other provinces are still divided as to which legislation to opt for.
Legislation concerning online sports betting in Canada
Unlike most countries where the online gambling market is legally open, Canada does not yet allow all types of online sports betting. So far, only Parlay sport betting is legal. These are sports bets on combinations of results from several matches. And which do not meet the expectations of the bettors. Betting on individual sporting events is therefore seen as illegal.
However, a bill was proposed in 2011 that would allow racetracks, casinos, and some operators to offer sports betting on single matches, which is still not effective. As a result, the majority of Canadian bettors prefer to turn to foreign bookmakers rather than to the legal market offered by provincial sports betting operators. As a result, the majority of the profits from this sector go to foreign operators. This is why the Canadian government is considering the introduction of a legal framework.
In summary, there is no fixed national legislation in Canada regarding online gambling. However, it is advisable to find out about the legislation concerning online gambling in the province where you are located in Canada.
Legislation concerning online casinos in Canada for real money
Real money casinos, can you play one, and what kind of legislation is concerning these types of gaming sites? Are online casinos Canada real money in some way different from other forms of gambling, or is the regulation similar for each?
Gambling is permitted all across the country, but there are some differences between our ten provinces and three territories. This, however, mainly concerns land-based casinos. Online gambling on the other hand is a bit trickier question. Why so? As you can see local laws concerning gambling are rather complicated. However, such a situation is known in different countries all over the world, not just in Canada. Real money casinos are more straightforward in comparison with land-based casinos in line with different types of gambling though.
Basically, companies have no ability to operate online casinos in Canadian provinces for real money. Nevertheless, a great number of foreign casino operators is located mainly on the Kahnawake native reserve. This gives them an opportunity to offer service in the territory of Canada. What does this mean to real money casinos then? From the users’ point of view- nothing. It is absolutely legal to play online games. The only restriction is to start your own real money online casino from Canada. This means, that there can be no local online-based casinos in our country.
For gamblers, this is not that big of a problem, as there are so many online casinos for real money operating outside the borders, and as said, in the Kahnawake native reserve. This means that Canadian gamblers can play online slots, table games, place bets for sports and play at live casinos as well.
Safe online casino Canada
There is no need to remind people that security is the key to all gambling. Thus, Canadian players should check that the casino is licensed to operate in Canada.
Also, the gambling establishment should be marked with the seal of authority such as the Kahnawake Gambling Commission or eCOGRA. Finally, it is highly recommended to choose a reputable casino in the iGaming market.
Various online casino games
Unsurprisingly, serious casino sites offer a wide range of titles and entertainment. In other words, the best Canadian online casinos offer several types of games such as roulette, slots, or even live dealer games.
Attractive bonus offer
In fact, we recommend gaming sites that offer breathtaking bonuses. For example, you will benefit from signing up with a Canadian casino that offers a no deposit bonus, loyalty bonus, or even free spins.
Wide range of payment methods
In any case, credible online casinos offer a variety of ways to deposit funds or withdraw winnings. These include bank transfers, credit cards, cryptocurrencies, and e-wallets.
The best online casino games in Canada
As a beginner in the online casino business, it can seem complex to know which titles to play. Here is a selection of the most popular games for Canadian gamers.
Best Casino Games in Canada
Slots
Unquestionably, slots are the most popular type of casino game. There are sometimes hundreds of them in every online casino. These slot machines do not require any experience and they allow you to have fun while making profits. In addition, it is possible to play slots for free and enjoy a high payout rate.
Free casino games
In this category, you have slot machines and table games. It is worth mentioning that free casino games allow you to develop playing tactics before you invest any real money.
Casino games with bonuses
More importantly, new players can receive sign-up bonuses at some Canadian online casinos. With free spins, they can have fun while increasing their winning expectation.