Regardless of land-based or online, every casino operating in Canadian territory needs a license from the gambling authority for being active. From 1900 to 1925, games like raffles, bingo, and horse racing got their approval, and in 1981, the first legal land-based casino was established in Canada’s Winnipeg.
When it comes to setting up casinos, Canadian territory is unique from a licensing point of view. In Canada, each provincial government has the authority to decide the number of gaming facilities that can be registered within a year. Thus, the license of casino gambling becomes a contract between the casino and the provincial regulating body.
Young gamble-loving people, who want to start gambling in Canadian casinos, need to be 19 years old or more. However, this rule is not valid for the casinos in Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba, where a punter can enter if they are at least 18 years old. These age restrictions are valid for casino restaurants and theatres as well.
For sports betting, Canada has several sports betting outlets, most of which are operated by an organization called Sports Select. Betting Operations are known by various names in different regions, and one can just wager on legitimate things.
It was 1985 when the leaders from all Canadian provinces came together to form a lobby. The Criminal Code was amended to declare that all forms of betting are illegal unless it is legalized by the provinces. Since then, Canadian provinces have had the power to regulate gambling services. These provinces are also eligible to hand out licenses to other companies or charities to operate, but they need to remain under strict provincial regulations.
Gambling legality in Canada today
Currently, the Federal Government is responsible for horse racing events, and all the other forms of gambling such as lotteries, poker, bingo, and casino, fall under the province’s control. The nation of Canada has ten provinces, including Labrador, Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Ontario. Each of these provinces is self-governed.
Few names of gambling regulatory bodies, responsible for gambling operations are Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba, Gaming, Liquor and Security Licensing Branch, Consumer Affairs Division, Consumer Affairs, Alcohol Gaming Fuel and Tobacco Division, Gaming Commission, Consumer Affairs, Alcohol and Gaming Commission, and more.
The Canadian provinces
In Canada, gamble-loving people will find over 100 casinos, mostly governed by the provinces in which they are situated. Private companies operate some of them. Besides, around 17 of them are the properties of First Nation tribes.
Online casinos here are authorized for Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, and British Columbia.
BCLC of British Columbia offers a casino website and a lottery website. This website is available for legal-aged residents. Besides, gamblers from Ontario can gamble from OLGH’s online casino and lottery website.
Offshore gambling is also allowed in Canada, and Canadians have been playing gambling games on offshore websites for 20 years back. This is possible, since according to the Criminal Code, only if a casino is based in Canada and is not licensed by the regulatory authority is illegal.