Is Online Gambling Legal in Canada?
So, you just won a few hundred bucks playing blackjack at one of the big resort casinos in Canada. It was a decent win, but it barely amounts to a hill of beans after you add up food, hotel, and entertainment. Wouldn't it be nice, then, to be able to win the same kind of money online, in the comfort of your own home? There's just one problem: you're not sure if it's safe or legal.
Don't worry. We've got all your legal Canadian online gambling questions answered right here. Read on to see how easy it is to play at an online casino in Canada, and then browse our expert guide to the best legal online gambling sites to play at.
Of all the online gambling sites that are legal to play at in Canada, our top pick is Spin Palace.
Here's what you need to know about the Canadian legal online gambling situation:
- Canadian citizens are NOT AT ANY LEGAL RISK by gambling online.
- Online gaming operators can legally be based outside of Canada.
- Only online gaming operators located within the country's borders are at risk of legal repercussions.
And we ONLY recommend you the operators not located within country's borders. - Using third-party money transfer sites is recommended when playing at a Canadian online casino, but all reputable sites will accept every major banking option.
- All our recommended Canadian casinos are safe and legal to play at.
- Here's what Justice Laws Website
(Official Canadian Government website)
has to say about gambling. Essentially
the same as all of the above, just in "legalese".
Taking into account all of the above, here's the top list of gambling sites which are legal in Canada and which offer the best bonuses, best playing experience and which you can trust to easily and safely deposit and withdraw your winnings. We have checked and compared all of them, made sure all of them are legal in Canada, and here are the best five:
TOP ONLINE GAMBLING SITES FOR CANADIAN PLAYERS
The legal Canadian online gambling perspective
Well, the Canadian internet gambling laws are a bit sketchy, to say the least. It's illegal for companies to operate online casinos and poker rooms from Canada, yet the majority of offshore gaming servers are actually located just outside of Montreal - perfectly legally, we might add - on the Kahnawake native reserve. And here's another interesting legal Canada gambling online titbit. Canadian Gaming Commissions like the OLG in Ontario and the BCLC in BC, which oversee gaming in Canada, want a piece of the pie. Provincial governments have been complaining about the ruthlessness of online casinos for a decade now, yet both the Quebec and British Columbia governments now operate online casinos - and Ontario is about to follow in 2013 with its own online gaming site.
So, Can I Play My Favorite Betting Games Online in Canada?
Clearly, everyone wants to get in on the action of online gambling. Legal - and not so legal sites are out there asking you to sign up. But before you do, you want to know the online gambling Canada legal truth.
From a player's standpoint, it's not illegal to play casino games on the web. It's only illegal to operate a betting house from Canada. We've already established that the offshore sites whose servers are based on a native reserve or elsewhere are technically operating from outside of Canada. There is a law on the books that says it is illegal to be found in an illegal betting house, but if the casinos aren't actually based in Canada, legal experts would argue that you weren't found in a Canadian betting house. So, in a nutshell, the rules on legit gaming are murky. The provincial governments want to play, too. And hundreds of thousands if not millions of Canadians are placing bets at online casinos.
Recent Gambling Winners
Name
Winnings
Date
Game
Casino
Banking at legal online Canada gambling sites
Since all legal Canadian online gambling sites are based outside the country, getting your loonies in and out of your account isn't always easy. Visa is not accepted at every site offering online gambling. Legal sites may make you set up an account with a third party transfer site. Some casinos prefer wire transfers. We recommend playing at good sites that offer the exact banking method you want to use. You shouldn't have to jump through hoops to deposit and withdraw funds. That's why our legal Canadian online gambling casino picks offer every payment method you can think of. As we test and review sites to create our list, we remove all the casinos that don't offer the banking methods Canuck casino players demand. That means that no matter how you want to deposit and receive funds, it's as easy as using an ATM at a Niagara Falls casino.
We find the best Canadian legal online gambling sites
You shouldn't have to jump through hoops to deposit and withdraw funds
With so much, you should only play at legal gambling sites that are properly regulated. Our great casino picks offer secure Internet gambling and are regulated through international gaming commissions. That means you can take comfort knowing that they're honest, reputable, and trustworthy. Therefore, you can comfortably make a deposit and withdrawal without having to worry about whether your CA currency is safe.
In addition to pointing you in the direction of secure online gambling sites, we've made sure that our reviews and site comparisons offer a high-end online casino experience, complete with rich graphics, fast gameplay, high payouts, and the best legal casino bonuses in Canada. Ready to try out a legal gambling online Canadian casino for yourself now? Good – just use any of our links on this website to find a casino online that works for you. Remember, you can play casino games for free, so try out the games for nothing first, then make a real-money deposit when you're ready to use your own funds.
Legal FAQ
What is the legal gambling age in Canada?
The legal online gambling age actually varies depending on where you are in Canada! The age requirement to enter a casino or partake in gambling in a province or territory is the same as its drinking age. In Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec you can enter a casino at age 18 but everywhere else you must be 19 or older.
When it comes to gambling online, you should abide by the same rules. However, some Canadians choose play on the web from the age of 18 onwards even if the legal age in their province is 19 and up. We've never heard of anyone getting into trouble or having their winnings seized for doing so, but we'd still recommend waiting until you hit the legal age of your province.
Does this apply to different gambling games?
Some lotteries have a minimum age of 18, even where other forms of gambling are only legal from the age of 19 and upwards. Other than that, you're very likely to find that all games match up with the legal age of the province you're in.
This makes sense because, if things were different, every single croupier and dealer would have to check IDs before accepting any real money wagers from players...which would be pretty time-consuming and frustrating for them.
How can I avoid rogue sites?
Fortunately, rogue gambling sites are quite rare. It's expensive to set up an online casino and involves extensive marketing costs, which makes it a poor choice for scammers looking to make a quick buck. Additionally, online casinos are subject to audits and inspections by third party organizations. Any casino found to be tipping the odds in their favor is quickly shut down.
If you're still concerned, stick with the top rated sites and only play with casinos that have been around and offering their services to Canadian players for a long time. If a casino appears too good to be true, we recommend that you err on the side of caution and avoid it unless you can find information on the web assuring you that the site is safe.
What is in store for the future of gambling in Canada?
With a number of successful and well-trafficked land-based casinos spread across Canada and hundreds of legal online gambling sites servicing Canucks, it's clear that betting and casinos aren't going anywhere.
As smartphone technology improves, more Canadian players than ever are gambling on the go using mobile betting options offered by top online casinos. It's very likely that we'll see better and better mobile gambling offerings as more players include mobile gaming in their habits. Beyond that, developments in virtual reality mean that we may not be all that far from fully rendered virtual casinos!
