What are the gambling laws in Canada, and more specifically, can you gamble in Ontario? We dissect the changing gambling laws in Canada and look at some new changes that could open the Canadian gambling industry to an international market of casinos and sportsbooks.
Is gambling legal in Canada?
Canadian gambling laws state that it is legal for a resident to gamble at an authorised venue within the country, or residents can use a loophole to become members at online casinos and sportsbooks that have licenses overseas. The former includes an abundance of restrictions, with some games and services prohibited. And the latter is seen as a loss of potential tax revenue and licensing money for the nation.
Ontario and other jurisdictions are given the authority to govern their own gambling laws and policies, and they have been recently handed even more to consider. Canada recently overturned a law that stated sports betting was illegal. Now it can be legal to bet on single-event sporting occasions, but the final say will be given to each state. Ontario is expected to pass the new sports gambling law as a measure to cater to demands, but mainly to raise more money for the authorities.
At first, no external sportsbooks were able to offer gambling services in Canada, but that is about to change. As of April 2022, private online casinos and sportsbooks will be allowed to apply for a license to operate in the state and accept bets from locals. Many of these groups have already declared an interest in serving the emerging sports betting market in Ontario, including Entain, which owns PartyCasino.
A similar situation to the USA?
The changes to the Canadian gambling laws are almost identical to the changes which played out south of the border. The US Federal Government decided it was going to legalise much of the sports betting market but give individual states the right to determine, which is usually done via ballot papers.
But the US states did not immediately restrict the new sports betting market to local companies. External vendors were allowed to apply for a license and enter the market. Some of the biggest companies have entered it as a joint venture with US-based entertainment businesses. For example, local MGM Resorts partnered with the aforementioned Entain to launch an NFL-endorsed sportsbook.
Ontario gambling laws FAQs
How old do you need to be to gamble in Ontario?
You must be at least 18 years old to participate in legal gambling activities in Ontario, including entering a casino or buying a state lottery ticket.
Is online gambling legal in Ontario?
It was illegal to gamble online at a casino in Ontario that the local government does not recognise, but as of April 2022, you can bet on any licensed Ontario online casino.
What are the most popular casino games in Ontario?
The most popular casino games in Ontario are slot machines and poker.
