There has been much discussion surrounding the casino legislation in Canada. The laws in the country are not as clear cut as somewhere as the United Kingdom, where regulated and licensed casino gaming is legal, both in land-based casinos and online. However, we have analysed the information, and, on this page, you will find a beginners guide to the casino legislation in Canada.
The Federal Regulations
According to the Criminal Code of Canada 1985, all forms of gambling are prohibited so that clearly includes casino games. That makes it a crime under Canadian law for any person to participate in casino gaming or any organization to offer casino games for real money. The reason why this is not straightforward is because the Criminal Code of Canada 1985 does not apply to individual provinces. Under section 207 of the Criminal Code, the provinces have the right to regulate all forms of gambling within their own borders. It is worth noting that games based on pure skill are not included in the Criminal Code and are therefore not illegal. However, there is always an element of chance involved when playing games at an online casino ca so casinos do not fall in that category.
Casinos in Ontario
The province of Ontario is one of the biggest in Canada in terms of population and territory and is a good example of the provincial regulations of casino gambling. Ontario is one of the leading provinces for those who want to play casino games in Canada. Both those who live in Ontario and visitors can legally play casino games. Casino gaming is licensed and regulated in land-based casinos and online. The regulating authority in Ontario is the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario so when playing casino games online in the province, you can look for this information in the footer of the website. Online casinos created within the province and those based abroad are legal in Ontario and that gives players a tremendous choice when it comes to playing casino games online.
Casino Legislation in Other Provinces
There are other provinces in Canada where casino gaming is legal. The Alberta regulator is the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, and they oversee both land based and online casino gambling in the province. The Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of The Ministry of Finance is the regulator in British Columbia and again, there are both land-based and online legal casino gaming opportunities. Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, the Yukon Territory, and the Northwest Territories all follow the same legal pattern as Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia.
However, there are some differences elsewhere, with Newfoundland and Labrador being a good example. Land based casinos are illegal in this province, but online casino gaming is legal and the same applies to the Nunavut Territory. It is also worth noting that each region has its own consumer protection laws, and it is good practice to know what they are before playing casino games, especially online.
