At the legislative level, Canada has no federal framework to regulate online casinos. The Criminal Code, in articles 197 to 212, provides a list of permitted games and liability for illegal gambling.
Gambling games in which the player needs to show special skills and abilities to win are allowed. They are called “mixed odds games”.
Ranking of online casinos in Canada
In Quebec, the only legal operator is the state-owned Loto-Québec (Montreal, Canada). A list of online casinos with a license issued by the Kanawake Gaming Commission can be found on the regulator’s official website.
The most relevant and detailed information about online casinos in Canada you can get on our official portal BestCasinosInCanada Net, where we regularly publish the best online casino reviews for Canadian gamblers for real money
Top 10 Casino Games in Canada
When registering at Canadian online casinos, bingo halls or poker rooms, you need to provide personal information, proof of identity and bank account number.
Under federal law, individuals who are of legal age (18) are eligible to gamble. Most provinces have raised the age limit for players to 19 years, but in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec it is 18.
Player data and transaction information must be retained by operators for a period specified by local law.
Top casino developers in Canada
Getting permission to supply casino software is local and not in all provinces. Therefore, international developers are practically not represented on the resources with the national domain name *.ca. A list of certified operators is available on the page of the Kanawake Gaming Commission.
Canada: regulation of online casinos and betting
There is no generally accepted definition of online casino, mobile, electronic or digital gaming in Canada. The provincial government has the right to independently authorize the activities of digital game organizers, subject to federal legislation.
Under section 204 of the Code, it is considered legal to:
Placement of bets on horse racing, as long as no more than 10 people place bets.
Private betting between individuals not involved in the gambling business.
Betting made at a legalized racetrack or through a licensed establishment.
Betting on individual sporting or random events is prohibited in Canada (Code section 207, paragraph 4).
The law does not regulate online casinos with cross-licenses. Access to resources with international permits issued by regulators in other jurisdictions is not prohibited.
There is a regulator Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission, which issues licenses for online casinos on a legal basis. The Commission is governed by Kahnawàke Gaming Law.
According to the Regulations Concerning Interactive Gaming, there are five types of licenses:
Withdrawals from online establishments to bank cards are not restricted, internet providers are not blocked. Residents of Canada do not pay taxes on profits and are not prosecuted for unauthorized gambling activities.
In 2016, Quebec’s local government tried to limit residents’ access to internationally licensed online establishments in the province. But in 2018. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that such actions were illegal.
Help with Gambling Addiction
Find a gambling addiction facility in Canada at the official government website.
Local authorities in Canada are taking action to combat gambling addiction. In Nova Scotia, players have the opportunity to request a suspension from playing online casino games for 6 months, 1 year, 3 years or forever. You can download the form from the regulator’s website and submit it electronically.
In Alberta, under the auspices of the gambling regulator there is a psychological support service. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-866-332-2322. A list of individuals who have self-reported a desire to stop gambling has been created. On the GameSence website, a player can apply to be put on the list for 6 months to 5 years.
Canadian provinces have adopted regulations to protect players’ rights. Check local regulators’ websites for the responsibilities of service providers and principles of responsible gaming.
To report online casino fraud, visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s website or call 1-888-495-8501.
You can complain about the actions of a Kanawake Commission-licensed operator by sending an email to the regulator