Legal casino gambling age in CanadaGambling Industry Overview in Canada
The following approaches will be presented
- Gambling legislation in Canada
- Gambling authorities in Canada
- Online casinos in Canada
- and more
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Gambling is the biggest single component of the entertainment industry in Canada and is responsible for generating significant revenues. Currently, more than 135,000 Canadian citizens are directly employed in the country’s gaming industry, according to the Canadian Gaming Association.
Both real-money gaming and betting are popular among Canadians. The matters of gambling regulation, however, can be complicated. While some form of gambling is legal throughout Canada, because it is regulated separately by each of the country’s 10 provinces and three territories, what type of gambling is legal or not legal depends on where you are. Subsequently, a large portion of the laws that regulate the industry, especially those pertaining to companies based in foreign countries, remain unclear.
Offline vs Online Gambling
To no surprise, online gambling in Canada has been steadily growing in popularity over the past decade and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. As technology has improved, online casinos are now able to provide seamless mobile experiences that have been widely accepted by customers.
Land-based gambling, in contrast, hasn’t necessarily decreased and still outperforms online gambling in terms of gross gambling turnover, however, it would not be surprising if that were to change within the next few years.
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Overview
Canada is one of the countries that is considered to have a unique approach when it comes to gambling activities’ regulation. The gambling markets within the territories of Canada are currently monitored and controlled by provincial and territorial governments.
Various kinds of land-based gambling activities have already been legalized by the government, while online gambling is currently in the process of being legalized in different parts of Canada.
Canadian Gambling and Online Gambling Laws
The gambling legislation in Canada is very strict and this can be seen in the past laws of the country. At first, there were very few gambling activities permitted by the country’s laws. This was until the 1970s when the Canadian legislation went through some great changes.
In 1969, the Criminal Code of Canada (pdf) was reformed in a way that provided the separate provinces within the territory of the country with the opportunity to gather extra funds for beneficial causes through regulated lotteries. All provinces were allowed to regulate gambling within their own borders. The legal age for gambling at both brick-and-mortar and land-based casinos is 18 in Manitoba, Alberta, and Quebec. If you reside in any of the other seven provinces, you can start gambling at the age of 19.
The changes in the Criminal Code led to the opening of numerous land-based casinos throughout Canada, and some provincial governments have started their own lotteries that are still functional today. Moreover, a few sports betting outlets, which are known under different names in the various provinces, have got the approval of the government. They offer a perfectly legal way to make bets on sports but the betting options which they provide are very limited.
When it comes to online gambling activities, there are usually some complications and a lot of gray areas. There are no legal authorities that can prevent Canadian players from placing bets online. It may sound confusing but every Canadian province does have the right to assert and create its own regulations and rules regarding online gambling. Playing at an online casino in Canada is legal, in fact, no one has ever been fined or prosecuted simply for playing on a gambling website.
Some of the provinces within the country manage their own web-based casinos, as most betting outlets that are legalized by the government offer players the opportunity to bet over the Internet. In addition, making purchases of lottery tickets online is legal for Canadian citizens.
Online gambling operators that offer their services without having a government license are illegal. Still, some companies and operators are trying to look for loopholes and avoid the legislation issues by settling their operations overseas. The paradox here originates from the fact that if a company is based in a country where online gambling is legal, then it can be said that Canadian laws do not apply.
When it comes to regulating online gambling operations, the Canadian Government has put forth some effort into finding a way to regulate this sector of the industry. That is why it has proposed Bill C-290 as a part of its attempt to legalize and regulate all matters related to web-based gambling.
Although this bill was passed through the House of Commons in 2012, it was stalled in the Senate for a few years. This led to the expiration of C-290 in 2015. In September 2016, Bill C – 221 was defeated at the House of Commons. It replicated the former C – 290, and had it passed through the House of Commons, it would have amended the Criminal Code to authorize a territory or province to conduct betting on a single sports event. This is the so-called ‘head-to-head betting’.
Steps towards Legalization
The government of Canada has been making steps towards creating a worthy rival to the gaming operators located overseas since 2009. Still, online gambling is legal in the country since services offered via provincial governments are allowed by the law.
This became the reason why Canadian players have been trying to find loopholes in the law, which proclaims gambling at local online casinos illegal. However, the law says nothing about making a bet at any other online casino located outside the territory of Canada. This is why more and more foreign virtual casinos accept Canadian players. To make payments easier, many online operators accept the country’s currency.
And while online gambling is still an issue in Canada, massive amounts of money are being spent by Canadians on wagering on foreign websites on an annual basis. This is a key point of one of the arguments in favor of the legalization of online gambling in Canada.
Canadian Criminal Code, Federal Jurisdiction
The Canadian Criminal Code sets a definition for types of gaming activities that are illegal in the country. According to the Criminal Code of Canada, gambling and conducting any gaming activities within the country are illegal, unless they are included in the recognized exceptions that are specifically pointed in the Criminal Code itself. The provinces within the country’s borders are provided with the responsibility to operate, regulate, and license legal forms of gaming.
Gaming, in general, is prohibited in Part VII of the Code, still, section 207 points out a number of exceptions, and more specifically, the so-called “lottery schemes”. The latter are put among the exceptions to the general prohibition for three major reasons. First, they are “managed and conducted” by each province in correspondence to province laws in action. Second, there are lottery schemes that are “conducted and managed” by certain organizations that are provided with a valid license by the authority responsible. And last, such lottery schemes are “managed and conducted” by a licensed board or by a certain concession’s operator.
Other exceptions from the general rule also include bets made between individuals who are not related to any betting business. Another exception is pari-mutuel betting on horse races, which are currently regulated by the federal Minister of Agriculture. According to section 204 of the Criminal Code, pari-mutuel betting does not constitute illegal gambling actions under sections 201 and 202. This is why this type of betting system continues to be governed by the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency.
The Canadian laws, however, allow provincial governments to organize and control lotteries and games of chance, which are operated on or through a computer. Such websites would have to be managed by the provincial governments themselves in case the latter wants to offer online gambling operations.
According to the gambling legislation of the country, online gaming services advertising, which involves any money exchange, is also illegal. Anyone who gives some type of notice of any offer or makes an invitation to bet on the results of a contest commits an offense.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission
The Kahnawake jurisdiction is located within the boundaries of the Mohawk reserve in Quebec. When online gambling was established, it was Kahnawake that was among the first regions that recognized the potential of this industry. In the following years, it became one of the first gambling licensing jurisdictions and it is the region where the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is located.
It is operating servers for thousands of interactive casinos and also provides a regulation model for the online betting platforms. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission does operate many virtual casinos on their own terms and is not subject to the regulations of other agencies.
Currently, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission licenses gambling websites in the event these sites are local (i.e. operate from within Kahnawake) and meet certain criteria. The body appoints a number of Approved Agents whose duty is to investigate whether a person who wants to apply for a license is suitable to operate a gambling platform on the territory of Kahnawake.
The new Kahnawake online gambling legislation model has come as a result of the government’s efforts to create a favorable environment for Kahnawake Internet gambling. This is why the legislation model in question was considered suitable for Canada and also beneficial for facilitating the collaboration with some other international regulating jurisdictions. When preparing the new legislation, the government used the basis of the Interactive Gambling Act of 1998 (pdf), which was passed in Queensland, Australia.
The commission is the organization responsible for monitoring compliance with the Kahnawake Internet Gambling Legislation (pdf) and enacted its Regulations concerning Interactive Gaming for the first time on July 8, 1999. Those Regulations assure that all virtual casinos that operate on the territory of Kahnawake satisfy a few principles. The Commission makes sure to provide a lawful basis for the regulation and control of interactive gambling platforms that are located in Kahnawake. Fair and responsible gaming is also a concern for the organization. Another responsibility of the Commission is to protect persons under the age of 18 as well as other vulnerable individuals.
The local authority is also put in charge of providing online sportsbooks, poker and casino operators with licenses.
The Commission has based its entire activity on three principles including fair gaming (the online games provided to players are supposed to be always delivered in an honest and fair manner), payouts guarantee (all gains must be paid to the winners) and geographical reference (gambling services within the jurisdiction are permitted to be used by local individuals and entities only).
A total of four types of licenses are currently issued by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission under the Regulations related to Interactive Gaming of September 22nd, 2010:
- Interactive Gaming License (IGL)
The license may be issued by the commission anytime and refers to the approver’s hosting facilities on the territory of Kahnawake. There is only one holder of the license to date, the Mohawk Internet Technologies. - Client Provider Authorization (CPA)
The license provides the approved entities with the opportunity to offer a range of interactive gaming services through a locally-based facility. There is no limited amount of this license type to be given by the Commission. The holder of CPA is called an Authorized Client Provider (ACP). An ACP should be hosted at the facility that holds the Interactive Gaming License (IGL). - Inter-Jurisdictional Authorization (IJA)
This Authorization is issued to an entity that holds a valid license for interactive gaming granted by another jurisdiction and wants to locate some or its entire equipment and personnel within the territory of Mohawk, Kahnawake. - Key Person Licenses (KPL)
The Key Person License information is confidential but what is known is that the license is granted to at least one person who is related to the management and control of some issues in a certain entity with Client Provider Authorization.
There have been some discussions related to the authority of this organization but the Commission is currently regarded as a sovereign nation in its own right, which is exactly the reason why it is not regulated by Canadian laws. Although the jurisdiction of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission still remains a controversial issue for the Canadian government, it might set an example for the rest of the country.
Popular Games
Canadian players can easily enjoy a large variety of games provided by worldwide renowned software developing companies. Game developers such as Microgaming and IGT provide a wide variety of gaming solutions for Canadian gambling enthusiasts and they are well known for their amazing slot games.
Recently NetEnt obtained a license as a software provider in the Canadian province of British Columbia. This gives some of the Canadian virtual gamblers the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful graphics and entertaining content of its games. Evolution Gaming and NetEnt offer live dealer games to Canadians via some of the more popular online casinos. No matter which interactive casino Canadian players choose, they will be able to enjoy a virtual gaming experience that offers amazing graphics, massive jackpots, and entertaining variations of casino classics.
Slots
This is probably the most popular category in every Canadian online casino. Take a look at a few of the top gaming platforms and you will see that they are all powered by leading software providers such as Microgaming and Playtech. The majority of interactive casinos offer Canadian players classic 3-reel slots as well as 5-reel slot games which can make their gambling adventure more exciting. Immortal Romance, Hot as Hades and Jurassic Park are just a few of the hot slots that online gamblers can play in the majority of Canada-friendly casinos.
Progressive slots are also very popular among Canadian virtual players. These are games that have constantly growing jackpots. Each player who tests their luck on one of these games contributes to the accumulative prize with a small percentage of their bet. Players can see whether luck is on their side by playing some of the most popular progressive slots such as Mega Moolah, Cash Splash, Major Millions, and many more.
| Game | Paylines | Free Spins | Wild Symbol | Scatter | Progressive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Good To Go | 20 |  | | |  |
 What A Hoot | 20 | | | | |
 Thunderstruck | 20 | | | | |
 5 Reel Drive | 20 | | | | |
 Tomb Raider | 20 | | | | |
 Secret Admirer | 20 | | | | |
 Agent Jane Blonde | 20 | | | | |
 Hellboy | 20 | | | | |
Table Games
Online casinos definitely provide plenty of gaming solutions to fans of classic table games. That is why Canadian players can find different variations of roulette, blackjack, baccarat and poker at the majority of the top gaming platforms. Software providers such as Microgaming and Playtech know how to impart the authentic feel of landbased casinos to their games. Players can experience the thrill of making advanced bets and play all variants of roulette as well as a few more exotic versions with two roulette balls or multiple wheels. Blackjack and Baccarat are also among the table games that top online casinos provide.
| Game | Multihand | Split |
|---|---|---|
 Vegas Strip Blackjack Gold | | |
 Classic Blackjack Gold | | |
 Multi-hand Blackjack Classic | | |
| Game | Double Zero | Jackpot |
 Premier Roulette | | |
 Euro Roulette Gold | | |
 American Roulette by Microgaming | | |
 French Roulette by Microgaming | | |
Live Dealer Games
No matter what your preferred web-based casino is, you can be sure that the best ones provide live dealer games that are available for Canadian players. This is definitely a feature that gives you the chance to enjoy an authentic gambling experience without stepping out of your house.
Evolution Gaming is a popular software provider of Live Casino Games and has recently launched its first Live Casino in Canada. This will allow online players in the province of British Columbia to enjoy the provider’s state-of-the-art live-dealer games. Canadian gamblers can choose from different variations of Live Roulette, Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat as well as Live Poker.
Video Poker
Video poker is another popular category in many interactive casinos. It is an interesting combination of slots and table poker. The thing that differentiates video poker from slots is the fact that players have some control over the gameplay. This means that the outcome of the game depends both on the player’s luck and on their moves and strategies.
If you are a fan of All American Poker, Aces and Faces, Jacks or Better or Deuces Wild, you will definitely be able to find all variations of video poker in most of the biggest online Canada-friendly casinos.
| Game | Wild | Multihand |
|---|---|---|
 Deuces & Joker | | |
 Jacks or Better by Microgaming | | |
 Joker Power Poker | | |
 All Aces | | |
Popular Deposit Methods
If you are not sure how to choose the online casino you’d like to play at, taking a look at the payment options may help you to decide. The major Canada-friendly gambling websites offer their customers various secure, flexible, and easy-to-use deposit options. This can help players top up their balance instantly without jeopardizing any sensitive information. Major interactive platforms accept credit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, and a few additional banking options.
Credit Cards
This is one of the most popular and convenient payment methods for players all around the world, including Canadian online gamblers. That is why the majority of interactive casinos accept deposits made via credit cards. The great thing about using this method to load funds into your gaming account is that the transactions are always fast and players can enjoy their virtual gambling instantly.
You will need to provide your card details only once and they will be saved for your next transactions. Most web casinos offer amazing Welcome Bonuses following the first deposit from new players. Using a credit card to make your first payment will enable you to take advantage of the casino’s promotions.
iDebit
This is a fast, safe, and flexible way for Canadians to top up their gaming balance. It allows players to make deposits directly from their bank accounts. It was launched specifically for Canadian consumers who want to enjoy effortless online payments.
Signing up takes only a few minutes and players can load funds into their casino accounts instantly. This means that they can bet real money in the casino of their choice as soon as they make a deposit with iDebit. This method is secure and fast and players can be sure that their sensitive information is always protected and shared only with their bank.
Since you are uploading funds using your bank account, you will not need to provide any credit card information. This is definitely a fast and secure payment method and it is preferred by many Canadian players.
InstaDebit
InstaDebit is actually very similar to iDebit in the sense that this service also allows players to top up their gaming balance from their InstaDebit accounts. The difference is that they must upload funds to their InstaDebit accounts before they can make a deposit to their casino accounts.
The service was specifically created for Canadian consumers and it is widely accepted by virtual casinos.
This gives customers from Canada the opportunity to manage their funds in a safe and convenient way. In order to be able to use the service, you will have to register first. Once you have created your account you can upload money to your balance and use InstaDebit to make a deposit to the casino of your choice.
Other Banking Solutions
Canadian players can also find a few other methods to top up their gaming account. Prepaid cards such as EcoCard can also be used to make a deposit at many virtual casinos. It is a safe method that allows players to load money into their EcoCard card and top up their gaming accounts without providing any credit card or bank information.
Ezipay is also very popular among Canadian players and many Microgaming casinos accept deposits made via this method. Ezipay provides players with an ATM card or virtual debit card that allows them to upload funds to their casino balance. If you use Ezipay to make a payment to the web casino of your choice, your money will appear in your account almost instantly and you will be ready to play right away.
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Yes, it is legal to play in online casinos. In fact, some Canadian provinces launch their own web gambling platforms. For instance, the Kahnawake Mohawk territory is the home of the Kahnawake Gambling Commission which issues licenses and regulates the operation of many interactive casinos.
There are a few things you should look for in your virtual gambling experience. The first is whether the casino is licensed and players from Canada are permitted to play in it. The next is the bonuses and promotions that the casino offers. Choose a platform that will help you get the most out of your gambling experience. Payment methods are also a key point in your search for the best web platform for Canadian gamblers. Look for the deposit and withdrawal options that are accepted by the casino.
It depends on the casino you choose to play at. Most casinos accept a variety of payment methods. Making a deposit via a credit card or e-wallet is the most common option that Canadian players can use.
Most casinos offer players the opportunity to explore the games provided on the platform. The ‘Play for Free’ feature allows casino members to see the graphics, the interface, and the gameplay of most games. If you want to be able to make bets and cash out your winnings, you can start playing for real money.
The majority of online casinos can be accessed on your smartphone as well as your tablet. Some virtual casinos have mobile applications that run both on Android and iOS. Those will allow you to play even when you are on the go.
A lot of online casinos offer players software to download, however, most virtual gambling platforms provide an Instant Play feature which allows you to play all of the casino games from your browser. We advise you not to download any casino software unless you trust the company completely.
