Canada’s gambling industry has witnessed steady expansion over the years, with new players ing up and bets breaking records in every province. However, since gambling regulations are subject to regional and provincial jurisdiction, it is easy for players to get confused about exactly when and where they are allowed to partake in the game. If you play at a foreign online casino or use a gambling app authorized by your local lottery company, you may legally gamble online in Canada. Finding the best live casino in Canada can be as easy as conducting a little bit of research in order to find a list of the best casino sites available, as it will provide you with the most reliable and efficient sites.
Gambling Laws in Canada
Prior to 1969, the only types of wagers available in Canada were charity lotteries and horse races, both of which could be seen at fairs. Later the same year, the Canadian government amended the Criminal Code to permit lotteries to be held by the country’s 10 provinces as well as the federal government.
After a lengthy debate, the federal government opted in 1985 to devolve authority over additional forms of gambling, including sports betting and casino regulation, to the provinces.
Gambling Ages Across Canada
Canada’s average gambling age is 19, but each government sets the rules for gambling in their own province. It’s legal to gamble when you’re at least 19. This is the case in Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories. That doesn’t mean you can play games like roulette or blackjack at 18 in Manitoba, Alberta, or Québec. Thus, where you play the game makes a difference. The same rules that apply to gambling in person also apply to gambling online. So, just like in land-based casinos, Canadian online casinos and sports betting sites will need to check your age before you can start betting.
Canadian Gambling Statistics
The gambling industry in Canada generates around C$14 billion in income per year, which is split between casinos, sports betting, lotteries, and the approximately 87,000 electronic gaming machines that are now in operation across the nation. There are 60 land-based casinos, 250 racetracks, 33,000 lottery sellers, and 25,000 operators who are licensed to operate temporary casinos, raffles, and bingos, among other types of gambling establishments. A Canadian family is predicted to spend an average of C$1,000 of their income on gambling each year, according to government estimates.
According to regional statistics, the amount of money placed on sports betting is generally consistent throughout the country as a whole. Manitoba has a low percentage of gambling, but Quebec has the greatest rate of gamblers, according to the data.
These two extremes have a 50 percent and a 69 percent share of the population, respectively. Quebec contains gamblers and gamers from every socioeconomic background, but Manitoba has a smaller group of persons (33 percent) who spend between C$1 and C$20 on gaming on a monthly basis. That is ten percentage points lower than the national average.
Lottery tickets are the most popular form of gambling in Canada, with 65 percent of the population participating in the game. 36 percent of those surveyed like playing instant win scratch tickets, while 22 percent enjoy visiting casinos.