The legality of online casino gaming in Canada is still unclear. There are some ambiguous laws that have led to a thriving grey market. However, the Canadian government has shown no signs of prosecuting illegal operators. A number of provincial governments have embraced the opportunity to launch iGaming offerings.
Online gambling was initially illegal in Canada. In the 1990s, when the Internet was first introduced, there was no law prohibiting the use of sites outside of the country. This meant that Canadians could play at casinos overseas, or visit websites that were not registered with the government. But, this did not prevent criminal gaming operations, or illegal bookies, from operating.
During the early 2000s, Canada began to lift some of the regulations on gambling. By 2007, it was possible for people in the provinces to place bets on sports, as well as parlay bets and lottery games. It was only in the latter part of the decade that gambling was made legal in Ontario.
Gambling in the provinces is regulated by each government. In Quebec, for instance, the Mise-O-Jeu site is the only regulated sports betting site. Some other provincial gambling options include Espacejeux and Pro-Line. If you’re a player in Manitoba, you can use PlayNow. These gambling sites offer a variety of games and features.
The Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, located in Quebec, is a sovereign government, and it established an independent regulatory authority in 1999. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission grants licensing for online casinos. Moreover, the tribal government has established processing facilities and houses servers for the licensed sites.
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation is another entity that allows gambling. In 2022, the corporation will allow single-event sports betting and online casino games for Nova Scotia residents. As part of this effort, it has also partnered with video lottery game providers to enhance its online gambling offerings.
Currently, there is no federal law that explicitly bars offshore casino operators from operating in Canada. Even though the Criminal Code says it is illegal to provide gambling services in the country, many offshore operators have no connection to Canada and are operating legally.
To be able to operate an online gaming site in Ontario, companies must register with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Once a company has been registered, it must enter into a commercial relationship with iGaming Ontario to become a licensed operator. iGaming Ontario will notify third parties that a new licensed casino app or website has been launched. Operators that accept action from iGaming Ontario under supervision will be allowed to operate.
Although the majority of online casino offices are located abroad, most provincial jurisdictions have their own local rules. For example, in Saskatchewan, players can gamble at the two government-run casinos. Nonetheless, some provincial gambling authorities have been moving at their own pace. While some provinces have yet to legalize online casino gaming, there are a number of reputable brands that are in the process of launching.
