Gambling in Canada is a popular pastime, with sports betting and casino games all being popular throughout the country. However, while many residents do gamble, there are laws and regulations against how this can be done. In Canada, laws are set by induvial provinces. This means that what’s legal in one part of the country isn’t necessarily legal somewhere else. As a result, gamblers do need to be careful that they’re always following the rules. Although players have never been prosecuted, it makes sense to stay within the confines of the law.
Gambling laws in Canada have changed recently, with new federal rules meaning that provinces have more freedom to set their own laws. Online casinos in Canada are now starting to become more common, letting people enjoy casino games from their own homes. While some provinces allow these sites and other forms of gambling, others have laws against them. Below are the laws for each Canadian province.
Gambling in Ontario
Ontario is the best state in Canada when it comes to gambling. The province allows both land-based and online gambling, making it relatively easy to enjoy a wide range of gambling fun. There are more than twenty land-based casinos throughout the province, and online casino gaming is also available through the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) website. Through this site, residents of Ontario who are at least eighteen can play lottery games as well as slots and table games.
Ontario has also recently legalized sports betting, which was previously only available for parlay betting. Ontario residents can now use the proline+ betting app from the OLG. In the future, more sportsbooks may be launched across the province.
Gambling in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia may be one of the smallest provinces in terms of size, but it has a lot of gambling options available to residents. There are two land-based casinos available in Halifax and Sydney, both of which are owned by the government and offer slots and table games. Horse race betting is also offered at multiple racetracks throughout Nova Scotia.
When it comes to sports betting, residents who are at least nineteen years old may sign up to use the Proline lottery gambling terminals. These are available across the province and provide single-game betting options on a wide range of sports. Online gambling isn’t currently offered in Nova Scotia, but it’s possible to sign up and play casino games online at offshore sites.
Gambling in Quebec
Compared to Ontario, Quebec doesn’t have quite as many options, but it has been offering legal gambling in some form or another since the 1970s. Currently, the province offers several land-based casinos, which feature slots and plenty of table games. Horse race betting and lottery games are also available in Quebec, with betting available at the racetrack as well as off-track locations.
Sports betting in Quebec is available through the state-run Mise-O-Jeu. Previously, this only offered parlay-type betting, but it’s now possible to place single event bets too. Online casino gaming is currently not allowed, though Quebec residents do sometimes play at offshore sites.
British Columbia
British Columbia has a long history of gambling, with government-operated games offered since 1985. Gambling is restricted and only available to those who are at least nineteen years old, but there are quite a few options. Online casino gaming is offered through the PlayNow site, and there are also lots of land-based casinos available.
Sports betting is now available in British Columbia through the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, which includes single-game betting now that the law has changed.
