Online gambling has become popular across the world. Several countries have regulated online gambling to make it available to citizens in recent times. Canada is no exception. People of Canada take part in sports betting, online casino games, and more.
The legal status of online gambling in Canada will put players at ease. It means it is completely legal for an online casino to operate in Canada. In this article, you will learn about the online gambling scene in Canada in detail. So, let’s dive in.
Is Gambling Legal in Canada?
Gambling has seen consistent growth in Canada. With time, more and more players are signing up for betting sites and online casinos. But before you can try your hand at these casinos, you should know if gambling is legal in Canada.
Well, online gambling was taken to be illegal in Canada even a few years back. But the government has now modified the laws. So, today people from Canada can easily play their preferred casino games from the comfort of their homes.
There are two gambling laws in Canada the Provincial Law and the First Nations Law. The former will offer each territory or province complete control over the regulation of online games. Thus, local regulations tend to be stricter than federal laws.
The First Nations Gaming Act turned into law in 1995. It enables indigenous communities and tribes to create gambling establishments. Also, it helps them run online gambling sites.
Statistics of Online Gambling in Canada
Online gambling is one of the most rapidly-growing industries in Canada. There are more than 19.3 million active online players. The country ranks eighth among countries spending the maximum amount of money by gambling online.
Several provinces in Canada are taking advantage of the profitable industry, including Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The people of Canada spend over $4 billion on offshore casinos every year. According to the report of the Canadian Gaming Industry, the players of Canada pay $16 billion in land-based casinos.
As more than 20 million Canadian players are playing online games, it isn’t surprising that Canada earns such huge revenue from the industry.
The Top Gambling Types in Canada
Online sports betting have captured a large part of the online gambling market in Canada. The sports betting enthusiasts in Canada are happy to invest in their favorite sports. They prefer hockey, football, and many other games when it comes to betting. Men prefer sports betting, while females prefer luck-based games, such as slots and lottery.
Even though land-based casinos are popular, people are turning toward online casinos in Canada. These days it is easier to access online gambling sites. They offer generous and convenient bonuses.
Online casinos have become highly popular and this has led to the decline of revenue from the land-based casinos. The 2020 pandemic has accelerated the decline. In Alberta, the revenue from land-based casinos dropped by 24% from 2018 to 2019.
You will be surprised to know that the provincial government has introduced its own online casino for increasing revenue. Soon other provinces followed the lead.
Gaming Authorities and Regulators
The changed criminal code of 1970 opened up gambling to allow individual provinces in Canada to license and regulate gambling in their region. It led to the development of various land-based casinos and lotteries run by provincial gaming authorities. The provincial gaming authorities are given below;
- Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
- Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
- Liquor and Gaming Commission of Manitoba
- Loto Quebec
- BCLC
- New Brunswick Gaming Control
- Service NL
- Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority
- Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission
You should know that the gaming authorities have their own gaming portals that often feature casino games.
The Kahnawake Commission is located in Quebec, Kahnawake’s Mohawk Territory. It saw the perspective of online gaming in 1996 and so it set up the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Being a sovereign legal entity, the Mohawk commission isn’t bound by Canadian law. Thus, it has the right to license and regulate offshore gaming websites. onlinecasinogroups.com has an extensive database regarding the online casino groups and gives you a fair idea about the legally operating and the best N1 casinos for Canadians.
What Is the Future of the Canadian Online Gambling Industry?
The growth of online casinos in the country can be attributed to various factors. They include adoption, penetration, and improved need for convenience. So, the future of the gambling industry in Canada appears to be bright.
Let’s take a look at some of the trends you can expect in the future.
1. A Shift in the Online Games Marketing
In time to come, Canadian casinos are going to see a shift in the online gambling platforms promoting themselves. With further legislation being enacted, there is a focus on problem gambling. Casinos are now providing tips to players for promoting themselves. The sites will be implementing measures, such as the use of gaming tools for helping users control their age restrictions and experiences.
2. Rise in eSports Betting
eSports is expected to grow in the future and become one of the most popular sporting games in Canada. Online casino games are interactive in nature and this is what can fuel their growth. Players can see what’s going on in real-time and be a part of the action.
3. More Live Dealer Games
With the increase in competition, more Canadian casinos are going to provide live dealer games. They are looking for opportunities to offer players an authentic gambling experience. With live dealer games, you can interact with the dealers and other players through the chat option. So, online gambling doesn’t have to be lonely anymore.
Bottom Line
The government hasn’t shown any inclination to tighten its gambling laws to stop Canadian players from playing at online casinos. Every genuine casino operating in Canada comes with a regulator. They have licenses from different licensing authorities. The gambling regulator does a background check to make sure that it is safe for the players to access and play.