Gambling Laws in Canada: What’s Legal in Your Province

The Criminal Code of Canada  sets out the foundational national rules around betting and gaming, while leaving provinces and territories the right to licence and regulate gaming locally.

Each province or territory has its own regulatory body and governance for gambling (including online casinos, sports-betting, lotteries). This ensures compliance with local laws, and promotes responsible gambling. Key variations are factors such as legal age, types of games, licences, responsible-gaming rules.

Online gambling has long been a point of discussion, with some provinces operating their own online casinos or partnering with private operators, while others are still refining their approach to regulating this sector. The overarching goal across all jurisdictions is to provide a safe and fair gambling environment for Canadians while generating revenue for public services.

Choosing a licensed operator matters. Licensed platforms must meet standards around fairness, security, consumer protections (self-exclusions, deposit limits etc) and responsible gambling.

Your responsibilities:

1. Gamble only via operators licensed in your province when available
2. Verify the casino’s licence, check if it is registered
3. Be aware of the legal gambling age in your jurisdiction
4. Understand tax treatment: generally, casual gambling winnings in Canada are not taxable unless you’re considered a professional gambler.

Operating outside provincial licensing means reduced oversight, fewer consumer protections and greater risk of fraud or payout issues.

This is the primary law that governs gambling activities in Canada. It outlines the legal framework for gaming, betting, and lotteries. The Code has undergone several amendments over the years to address the evolving nature of gambling in the country.

Each province and territory in Canada have their own Gaming Act or equivalent legislation that regulates gambling within its jurisdiction. These acts cover licensing, operation, and regulation of casinos, including online platforms if they exist.

The Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, located just outside Montreal, has its own gaming commission and regulates online gambling under the Kahnawake Gaming Law. They have a significant number of Kahnawake-licensed online casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks.

A recent amendment to the Criminal Code, this bill legalizes single-event sports betting in Canada, which was previously restricted to parlay betting (betting on multiple events).

While not a gambling-specific law, FINTRAC regulations require casinos, both land-based and online, to report suspicious transactions as part of Canada’s anti-money laundering efforts.

This U.S.-based act has implications for Canadian Indigenous communities that operate casinos near the U.S.-Canada border, especially in terms of cross-border patrons.

Several provinces, such as British Columbia (PlayNow.com) and Quebec (Espacejeux.com), have launched their own online gaming platforms, which operate under provincial regulations and oversight.