1. Ontario’s Conservative government has revealed plans to end the current online gambling monopoly and also legalise single event sports betting in the Canadian province. In the 2019 provincial budget, the government has said it intends to establish a competitive market for online legal gambling “that will reflect consumer choice while.
2. Gambling Licence – Ontario With a gambling history that dates back to the 14ht century, Canada has a rich history in gaming and Canadians enjoy the sport as much as any other country. In Fact, statistics show that 8 out of 10 Ontarian residents enjoy gambling on a regular basis.
3. TORONTO, April 12, 2019 – theScore, Inc. (TSX Venture: SCR) (“theScore”) today welcomed proposals by Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government to legalize online gambling in the province. The plans, presented in the provincial government’s budget, also included support for the legalization of single event sports wagering at the.

Sports betting is popular throughout the entire world, and Canada is in no way an exception. Canadian residents frequently enjoy betting on their favourite sports such as ice hockey, curling, football, soccer, basketball, horse racing and others.

Sports betting online in Ontario is 100% legal and so easy to get involved in. Any Ontario resident can gamble online as long as they are over 18 years of age and have an active email address and phone number. Canada’s online gambling laws are both straightforward and confusing. On the one hand, online gambling, whether sports betting or casino gaming, is legal as long as the provider is licensed within the country.

However, just like any other country out there, Canada has its own set of online sports betting laws that all citizens must abide by.

These laws can sometimes be a bit confusing, so there isn’t a straight answer to the question of whether sports betting is legal in Canada or not.

There are also individual laws that each Canadian province and territory has, as well as some special laws that relate to their Native reservations.

In short, understanding Canadian sports betting laws is not as easy as you might have thought. Therefore, I decided to make a detailed article explaining the complexities of Canadian sports betting laws and regulations.

I will also provide you with a list of trusted and legal Canadian betting sites and offshore online sportsbooks that accept Canadian players. Read on!

The History of Canadian Betting Laws

Before we dive into the present-day betting laws in Canada, let’s reflect on the history of legal gambling in this country.

Like with any other country, casinos and gambling in Canada has a long, twisted, complex history. Going back, when it started off, gambling in all its forms was completely legal in Canada. The first known document that relates to Canadian gambling laws dates back to 1892 when the Canadian Criminal Code was written. The Code suggested that all forms of gambling are illegal in the country of Canada. Initially, the law was straight forward – gambling in all its forms was a big no and there was no two ways about it. However, a lot has changed in the previous century, as betting laws started to loosen up over time as the coppers just turned a blind eye to some more socially acceptable forms of betting and gambling even though it was technically illegal.

Bingo games and raffles were legalised in the early 1900s, although they were only allowed for charitable purposes. During the 1920s, horse racing was legalised as well. As the Canadian government saw many potential financial benefits from gambling, they also made way for federal and provincial-run lotteries during the late 1960s and 1970s. At the same time, first land-based casinos started to appear all around the country and slot machines were getting increasingly popular.

However, one of the biggest turning points came in 1985 when gambling machines such as slot machines were made legal. Legalisation of gaming machines meant that there were places you could go to where you could play on these machines, and this paved the way for land based casinos. Not too many years after the legalisation of gaming machines, slowly but surely, land based casinos started popping up across the country.

Is It Legal to Bet on Sports in Canada Today?

Canadian sports betting laws are largely outdated and need restructuring, especially after online betting reshaped the industry in the past several years.

As mentioned, the law states that companies should not operate any illegal online gambling service within Canada. However, it does not specify anything about Canadian players and residents playing such games and partaking in online gambling. Since nothing has been exclusively mentioned about this, it simply means that there is no restriction per se. Therefore, it is not illegal for anyone living in Canada to play at online casinos or even make online sports bets.

The laws do state that players should not be found in an illegal betting house, however, when it comes to online betting houses or casinos, it is simply unreasonable to expect a player to know where the server of the service is located and then determine whether the casino is legal or not as per Canadian law. Therefore, once again, the laws are anything but crystal clear. To give you a perspective, let’s just have you know that never has an online casino player from Canada been arrested for playing at an online casino. According to the Government of British Columbia, anyone 19 years or older may gamble in the state at casinos, horse racing tracks, bingos, and lottery retailers, while the BC Lottery Corporation manages and conducts all commercial gambling including online gambling.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Canada

In short, it is not illegal to place sports wagers online in Canada, as long as the website you’re betting on is operated from within the country or province and holds a valid online gambling license issued by the federal government. Also, depending on the type of gambling and your current location, the minimum legal betting age can be either 18 or 19.

The laws about accessing and betting on offshore sites are murky and don’t clearly state whether pursuing this activity is legal or not. Nevertheless, there have been no persecutions or arrests made due to illegal offshore betting in Canada to date.

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Contents

• Is It Legal to Bet on Sports in Canada Today?
• Provincial Sports Betting Laws in Canada
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan

The Criminal Code of Canada

The Criminal Code of Canada is essentially the name given to a piece of legislation which is responsible for defining exactly what is legal and what is illegal in terms of gambling, both online and offline on Canadian soil. Canadian provinces have been vested with the power to grant licenses, revoke licenses and regulate these licenses for both land based casinos as well as online casinos.

Specifically, the regulations which outlaw the certain gaming in Canada may be found under part 7 of the criminal code, and there is more relevant statements regarding gaming which also appear in section 207.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission

Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a gaming regulatory body in Canada that enjoys a special status. It’s in charge of operating land-based casinos and betting sites situated in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. The gaming laws of this territory are not challenged by the federal laws of Canada and are therefore very favourable to online operators.

To be eligible for a gaming license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, there are several standards and eligibility criteria which the applying casino must satisfy.

The association itself and its powers to regulate are essentially a result of the Canadian governments push to make the legal atmosphere more accepting of gaming and more tolerant of the already thriving Kahnawake Internet gambling communities.

The residents of this territory are free to play on all websites regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Online sportsbooks that operate under the Kahnawake license offer many more betting options than other official provincial betting sites. It is estimated that around 250 online gaming sites in Canada are licensed by this commission.

Even though most forms of gambling is now legal in Canada, online gambling is still not completely out of the clutches of the law provided that the Government still refuses to issue local companies to operate web based gaming rooms. However, considering the trend and the history, it is clear that it is only going to be a matter of time before the Government is confronted with the fact that there are plenty of overseas companies that will still reap the benefits of the demand for online casinos amongst Canadian players and so it would actually just be better to allow Canadian companies themselves to start online casinos to serve the country’s growing online gamer base.

Provincial Sports Betting Laws in Canada

Sports betting laws in Canada are regulated by the federal government and the individual provincial governments of the country. The ten provincial governments include Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Alberta

All gambling activities in Alberta must be in line with the province’s Gaming and Liquor Act that saw its latest changes in 2013. There are several official sports betting games, but there are no online betting sites operating from within Alberta.

Nevertheless, Alberta residents have plenty of alternative options where they can bet safely and legally.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Alberta?

The legal gambling age in Alberta is 18.

British Columbia

Sports betting in British Columbia is regulated by the Gaming Control Act of 2012. Officially, the only recognised legal website in BC is PlayNow.com, where you can play only up to six sports betting games with heavily restricted bet sizes and limits.

Of course, you can circumvent this by playing on some other Canadian or offshore websites where the offers are much better, and you would still avoid the risk of breaking the law.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In British Columbia?

The legal gambling age in British Columbia is 19.

Manitoba

All gambling operations in Manitoba are regulated by the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba, alongside Manitoba Lotteries Corporation that regulates lottery games in the province.

The legal sports betting games include Pro-Line, Pro-Picks Props, Pro-Picks Pools and Point-Spread. Manitoba residents can also access and use PlayNow.com.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Manitoba?

The legal gambling age in Manitoba is 18.

New Brunswick

Governing bodies overseeing online betting activities in New Brunswick include The New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation, as well as The Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

There are several sports betting games regulated by the ALC, and they can be played at their official website ProLineStadium.com.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In New Brunswick?

The legal gambling age in New Brunswick is 19.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Sports betting laws in Newfoundland and Labrador are regulated according to the Lottery Licensing Regulation that was constructed in 2002.

Service NL also governs gambling activities in the province. There are several Pro-Line websites where the residents of this province can enjoy sports betting legally.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Newfoundland and Labrador?

The legal gambling age in Newfoundland and Labrador is 19.

Nova Scotia

The Gaming Control Act of 1995 is still in power in Nova Scotia, and it is regulated by the province’s Alcohol and Gaming Division, as well as the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation. The ACL’s website ProLineStadium.com provides official sports betting games in the province. The legal gambling age in Nova Scotia is 19.

Ontario

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario was established in 1998 with the goal of regulating sports betting and other gambling activities in Ontario.

Today, both land-based and online betting is under the watch of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

The OLG offers several sports betting games but excludes single-game wagers, as well as some other popular options found on offshore sites.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Ontario?

The legal gambling age in Ontario is 19.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island Lottery Commission and the ACL are in charge of regulating sports betting operations in Price Edward Island.

Due to limited sports betting options offered by the official governing bodies, many PEI residents seek their luck on offshore websites.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble On Prince Edward Island?

The legal gambling age on Prince Edward Island is 19.

Quebec

Quebec offers several government-run lotteries and online sportsbooks that are regulated under the Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming commission formed in 1993.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Quebec?

The legal gambling age in Quebec is 18.

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority oversee all betting activities in the province of Saskatchewan.

As is the case with many other provinces, the choice of sports betting games is very limited compared to offshore sites.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Saskatchewan?

The legal gambling age in Saskatchewan is 19.

Is Online Betting Legal in Canada?

When it comes to the legality of online gambling in Canada, there is no straight forward answer. The fact is that it is a complicated issue, a grey area, if you will. In fact, when it comes to gambling laws, it isn’t only Canada where the situation is rather complex, it’s pretty much more or less the same in the rest of the world too.

Land based casinos and gambling in some forms for the most part is legal in Canada. In a nutshell, the same thing can be said for online and internet gaming as well.

However, the laws aren’t exactly clear when it comes to online gambling services which are offered by companies based overseas.

As per the current law, companies cannot lawfully operate online casinos and poker rooms in the nation of Canada. However, ironically, most of the gaming servers used exclusively for online gambling are actually located in the Kahnawake native reserve itself which is most certainly a part of the country. Therefore, it would not be an overstatement to say that even though the law says one thing, what actually happens in Canada is a completely different story, in terms of online gambling.

The bottom line – even though the law relating to online casinos are murky, there is absolutely no legal issues when it comes to Canadian players who play at online casinos.

FAQ

If you are going across the border to neighbouring Michigan, you should know that sports betting is considered an illegal activity in this state. Michigan is one of the first states to allow casinos in the country, but their online sports betting laws are still pretty strict.

As a Canadian resident, you will have hundreds of different websites to choose from, both the ones run from your country and province, and the ones that are operated offshore. I have made a list of all sports betting sites that accept Canadian players, so check it out and start betting today.

Our neighbors to the north could look to join the United States by bringing legal sports betting to Canada.

A Toronto Sun story last week reported the Finance Minister for Ontario, Vic Fedeli, sent a letter to his federal counterpart Bill Morneau. The letter asked for an amendment to the Criminal Code of Canada that would legalize single-game Canada sports betting in the country’s largest province.

At present, citizens of Ontario can only bet legally via the provincial lottery’s Pro-Line product that allows for parlay betting, with a three-game minimum. The letter cites the turning tide south of the border and legalization threatening to siphon off money from Canadians.

The provincial finance minister also discussed the potential for single-game betting to generate $110 million Canadian per year in tax revenue.

What a difference a few years make

Interestingly, the NBA and Major League Soccer are onboard with the plan to legalize single-game sports betting. As is NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who said:

“The NHL believes that a level playing surface for sports betting is in the best interest of the NHL’s sports betting landscape”

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Ontario Today

(Whatever that is supposed to mean.)

This is an about-face for the NBA. Back in 1995, when the Raptors were awarded to the city of Toronto, there was a condition that Pro-Line not allow wagering on NBA basketball.

The province balked at pulling all NBA games from the lottery product and eventually agreed to a deal. The NBA supplemented lottery revenue losses by donating $1.5 million to medical research and $2 million to television time promoting tourism.

Modern-day movement on Canada sports betting

In Parliamentary hearings in 2012 and 2013, on what was titled Bill C-290, various sports league representatives opposed legalized gambling (these submissions were made simultaneously with depositions and declarations in the original iteration of the Christie case).

The NBA, in an undated letter to the Canadian Senate’s Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, wrote:

Eliminating the prohibition on single-game sports betting threatens to injure not only the unique relationship that the NBA enjoys with its existing fans, but also the league’s potential relationship with future fans, who may never form allegiances to a particular team because they are drawn instead to the competing interests of the betting line and the money that can be made from it.

The NHL similarly opposed C-290:

The integrity of our game and our competition is essential to the popularity of NHL hockey with our fans and with young people throughout Canada. We firmly believe that legalized sports betting threatens to compromise that integrity, and that the single-game betting scheme that Bill C-290 seeks to decriminalize poses a particularized and unique threat in that regard.

Such wagering poses perhaps the greatest threat to the integrity of our games, since it is far easier to engage in “match fixing” in order to win single-game bets than it is in cases of parlay betting (as currently exists in Canada), where bets are determined on the basis of multiple game outcomes.

The league then took it an even more hyperbolic step:

This issue is not fundamentally about dollars bet or additional revenues generated for the provinces. If single-game sports betting becomes a publicly fostered and sponsored institution, then the very nature of sports in North America (including in the National Hockey League) will change, and we fear it will be changed for the worse.

Not everyone opposed single-game betting

The major sports leagues, including the NCAA that has only a minor presence in Canada, all opposed the measure to amend the criminal code and allow for single-game betting.

But the legislation did have an advocate in its corner (though perhaps not a cornerstone of integrity) in the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”):

The sports movement is not against regulated betting, which is a major source of financing for sport worldwide. Furthermore, legal betting on sport allows fans to extend their support for athletes and teams, thus helping to build stronger attachments toward sport.

That bill that was championed by New Democratic Party-member for the Windsor West-riding (think congressional district), Brian Masse. Efforts to pass the bill repeatedly failed, in large part because of the opposition of the sports leagues, who appeared just as the bill was sailing through.

Of course, sports-league thinking has “evolved.”

Modern sports league policy

In 2016, the NBA reversed course on its opposition to NBA games being included on Pro-Line, a little less than two years following Commissioner Adam Silver’s op-ed in the New York Times.

The about-face by the NBA translated to somewhere between an estimated extra $5 – $10 million for provincial coffers. The rise of legal sports betting in the United States has piqued a similar interest in Canada sports betting.

Provinces are looking to supplement revenues and single-game betting representing a means of increasing revenue without raising taxes.

Political realities

The political realities of gambling policy around Canada sports betting are that 90 percent of the Canadian population lives within 100 miles of the U.S. border.

As a growing number of states begin to legalize single-game betting, the Canadian gaming industry risks seeing that money flee across the border.

Is Sports Gambling Legal In Ontario Canada

The rise of single-game betting and sportsbook wagering could also serve as a means of propping up the Canadian casino gambling industry, some of which exist minutes from U.S. population centers like Detroit.

What to make of all of this

The big takeaway at the moment is that Ontarians (and other Canadians) should feel cautiously optimistic.

This would be a federal repeal. Criminal law is largely a federal matter in Canada, but the complexity of the differences between the parliamentary system and the U.S. government’s federalist system are beyond the scope of this article.

After C-290 and subsequent efforts to legalize single-game betting failed in 2016, this topic had remained fairly quiet. Section 207 (4) (b) of the Criminal Code of Canada currently criminalizes:

… bookmaking, pool selling or the making or recording of bets, including bets made through the agency of a pool or pari-mutuel system, on any race or fight, or on a single sporting event or athletic contest.

One challenge that could slow progress with the repeal is the political split between the provincial legislature and the federal parliament, with conservatives controlling the provincial lawmaking body and liberals controlling the parliament.

It is not entirely clear how much support a new bill would have. A previous effort in 2016 saw a few dozen members vote against the party-line in favor of legalizing single-game betting. One thing that is certain is that any progress is likely to be slow, so Ontarians shouldn’t hold their breath for single-game betting in time for a Maple Leafs march to the Stanley Cup.