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Gambling sites Canada are getting a lot of attention in recent years. Canadians like to gamble online and thatās no lie, with the industry weighing almostĀ C$2 billion annually. The numbers keep growing each year, and if youāre looking to join, youāre in the right spot. In this guide to the best online gambling sites, you can read our online gambling reviews and determine which casino is the right fit for your wants and needs.
Thanks to the Kahnawake Gaming Commission we can see an increase in games with a prime focus on Canada. There are over 50 licensed online companies, which make up for over 250 online casinos andĀ bingo sitesĀ that can freely offer their services toĀ CanadianĀ players. More and more casinos are granted licenses by the governing authoritiesĀ thanks to the fact that Canadians love playing casino games online.
But itās not all about online gambling when it comes to the gambling market. There are provincial lotteries, many offline casinos like Caesars Windsor, Casino de Montreal, Casino Nova Scotia; sports betting bookies like Betway, 888 Sport, Pinnacle, Sporting Bet; various lotteries, and so on. Canada has some of the most lenient gambling laws in the world, enabling gaming establishments to thrive across the country. Our recommended casinos are a great fit for anyone reading this page.
Canadian Gambling Laws
Online gamingĀ in CanadaĀ is not illegal.Ā Canada is, in fact, one of the countries that does not take a firm stance on online gaming ā at least in the matter of legislature. Players can enjoy playing some of the worldās best casino gamesĀ on the Internet as it isĀ completely legalĀ by Canadian laws. They can also earn welcome bonuses, which will surely be a great boost for your bankroll at the best gambling site, in case you remember about wagering requirements.
Online Gambling for Real Money
However, whatās illegal is to register an online casino or a mobile casino. This means that there arenāt any online casinos that are native to this country. So, whatās the solution to this problem? Online casinos registered in off-shore countries such as Malta.Ā Players are expecting a revisit of Canadian online gambling laws soon. They should be able to liberalize the market further and keep rogue online casinos off it.
Legal Gambling Age in Canada
The legal gambling age at the safest online gambling sites in Canada is 19. Thatās the official age ā every province can set the bar for Canadian bettors as it sees fit. For example, in Manitoba, Alberta, and Quebec, you can access Neteller Canada gambling sites from ages 18 and over. Many online casinos will require you to verify your account before you claim casino bonuses or withdraw winnings. KYC checks are common and require sending proof of identity and address and proof that you own the payment methods youāve used on the website.
Canadian Regulators and Gambling Authorities
There are several different regulators in Canada that authorize Canadian betting sites. They oversee the licensing and operations of online gambling sites in Canada and allow them to host online slots, poker, table and card games, and live dealer games too.
They provide the gambling laws in certain regions of the country and provinces that fall under that jurisdiction. Of course, their coverage includes online casino sites:
Region
Regulators
New Brunswick
New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation (NBLGC)
Manitoba
Liquor, Gaming & Cannabis Authority of Manitoba
Ontario
Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario
Alberta
Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission
British Columbia
Gaming Policy & Enforcement Branch (Ministry of Finance)
Nova Scotia
Alcohol, Gaming & Tobacco Branch of Service Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Consumer, Corporate & Insurance Division (Department of Justice & Public Safety)
Quebec
Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming Commission
Yukon
Professional Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Division (DoCS)
Nunavut
Department of Health
Newfoundland & Labrador
Consumer Affairs Division (Digital Government & Service)
They regulate everything from the best sports betting site to the best Canadian online gambling sites. Without these regulatory bodiesā approval, no casino can operate out of that province.
Provincial Gambling Laws in Canada
Manitoba:Ā all forms of gambling (such as online casino games) is regulated by the Liquor & Gaming Authority of Manitoba, with one official online casino (PlayNow Manitoba).
Saskatchewan:Ā online casinos are banned from the province, but residents can play at an offshore online casino site. Sports betting is regulated too, including offshore online sportsbooks.
Alberta:Ā has 25 brick and mortar casinos and sportsbooks, but residents can play in Canadian online casinos freely. The Alberta online gambling laws are pretty lenient.
Quebec:Ā has the most liberal gambling laws in Canada. The only official betting site is Mise-O-Jeu.
Ontario:Ā Ontario residents can play in Canadian gambling sites online and in offshore casinos that accept Canadian dollars.
Prince Edward Island:Ā online casinos are not regulated, while sports bets are only available via a special service.
Nova Scotia:Ā Nova Scotia residents can legally play in online slots and other casino games in the best Canadian online casino sites.
New Brunswick:Ā residents can bet in Canadian sportsbooks and any online casino located offshore.
Newfoundland & Labrador:Ā gambling is not regulated, but residents can access different online casinos located offshore.
British Columbia:Ā has 15 land based casinos, with the only way to play gambling games online or enjoy online betting being via the PlayNow gambling software.
Online Gambling Legal RegulationĀ in Canadian Provinces
Entrepreneurs cannot register online casinos in any of the individual provinces and territories of Canada. But there is still a way to serve the market ā as more than a thousand offshore online casinos exist to serve the needs of the CanadianĀ gamblers.Ā The provinces that have regulated gambling one way or another are:
There are land-based casinos in practically every province and territory in Canada. But some provinces, like British Colombia and Manitoba, have government-owned gambling websites that deal with provincial lotteries. Other provinces have strictly regulated land-based casinos.Ā Sports betting is popular in many Canadian provinces as well, and with so many online gambling sites, thereās no shortage of options.
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Online Casinos in Canada
Thereās no question that players love to gamble in Canadian casino sites. The best Canadian gambling sites come with sets of features and great game collections that make them much more entertaining than the countryās land based casinos. Online casinos in Canada are gaining a lot of traction, contributing with nearly 50% of the overall annual gambling revenue in the country.
The fact that you canāt register an online casino in Canada isnāt a major obstacle. Offshore casinos and online betting sites can freely offer their services to Canadian players. Best online casinos licensed in Malta offer thousands of games, including slots, online poker, live dealer games, and more, all available to play with Canadian dollars.
They also come packed with welcome bonuses and promotions. Each casino site develops its own promotions, but the fact remains that theyāre a major draw for Canadian players. With trusted banking options and on-the-go apps also available, itās no wonder why the average Canadian players prefers a Canada gambling site than a night out in a land based casino.
Top 5 Online Casinos in Canada
Rank
Online Casino
RTP
Year
Casino License
1
Spin Casino
97.41%
2001
MGA
2
JackpotCity
96.97%
1998
MGA
3
Ruby Fortune
97.16%
2000
MGA
4
Magic Red
95.88%
2014
MGA
5
Wazamba
96.54%
2019
Curacao
Online Bingo Market in Canada
Before online casinos made a splash in Canada, the country was hooked on bingo. It was a thriving industry that was more or less assimilated online, just like any other gambling site. Todayās best online casino sites feature numerous bingo variants. In short, Canadians have lost nothing with bingo moving to the Canadian online casino industry.
Bingo rooms are very popular across the country. They give players a chance to experience the game unlike bingo halls, with more betting options and surprisingly great features and payouts. Every online gambling site offers 75- and 90-ball bingo. The best online Canadian casinos will also have a few bingo specials that you donāt get anywhere else.
You can play games without waiting for a particular day, and thatās the biggest draw. Bingo gambling games online are available several times per hour, and itās so easy to buy tickets online. Thatās why bingo sites in Canada are so big, in addition to the fact that some of these games can make you a millionaire.
Betting Market in Canada
The betting market in Canada makes up for a great part of the overall gambling revenue.Ā Legal land-based bookies alone employ over 130,000 people across the territory of Canada. One of the most popular betting events in the country is Horse Racing. There areĀ over 44 race tracksĀ in the country, meaning that thereās always some race to bet on. This makes horse racing the number one event when it comes to legal betting,Ā but you can bet on all kinds of betting markets.
Betting at online bookmakers is also popular among players. Itās estimated that around 30% of the revenue online gambling make falls toĀ sports betting. At the same time, horse racing amounts to only 20% of all bets made at best online casinos by Canadian players. But thatās not all. Canadians can also bet on a variety of sports events. One of the most popular ones being hockey. There are seven teams in total in the National Hockey League from Canada and with Canadian teams in the NBA and MLB, thereās always some action going on. The best sports betting sites will have all these markets on offer with great odds in tow.
Another major betting event in Canada isĀ Lacrosse, with the biggest bet pool in the world. Canadians also love to bet on soccer, especially on the World Championship or the League of Champions. Last but certainly not least is American Football. And what about eSports bets?
eSports Betting Market in Canada
eSports bettingĀ is constantly growing in size across the world and in Canada. It seems that the younger generation of gamblers would rather bet onĀ eSportsĀ than on traditional games.
There are many events that you can bet on in eSports. One of the most popular ones for Canadians isĀ The International, which is a Dota 2 tournament with a prize pool of $25 million. Some other betting events worth mentioning are the Fortnite World Cup and the League of Legends World Championship. Another event that is slowly rising among sports bettors is CS:GO. With that said, aged Canadians tend to prefer the good old lotteries.
Online Poker Market in Canada
Poker is still very popular within Canada.Ā There is a lot of land-based casinos that have poker rooms that host daily tournaments. One of the most popular ones is theĀ Playground Poker ClubĀ in Montreal, which hosted several World Poker tournaments.
Canada also has a number of pro poker players, the leader being Daniel Negreanu with a total of 6 WSOP bracelets. Hereās theĀ top 5 poker playersĀ from Canada:
Daniel Negreanu: $ 42+ million
Timothy Adams: $ 24+ million
Sam Greenwood: $ 22+ million
Jonathan Duhamel: $ 18+ million
Daniel Dvoress: $ 15+ million
For now, the most popular poker variant played across Canadian casinos is Texas HoldāEm. But Canadians also like to play 3 Card Poker and Caribbean Stud. Poker is certainly gaining back its popularity after a significant drop a few years ago.Ā The best payout gambling sites are a big reason for this, where Canadians can also freely play video poker.Ā But you can play traditionalĀ poker gamesĀ in land-based casinos as well.
Lotteries Market in Canada
TheĀ lotteries market in CanadaĀ is still a big business. The number of players has certainly diminished over the years, from an estimated 70% in the 1990s to about 40% today. But even so, these loyal players create revenue anywhere from 7 to 10 billion CAD each year.
When we look at theĀ revenues for each province, Ontario takes the lead. In 2019, they contributed over 4 billion CAD to the total revenue which was close to 9 million CAD. The rest of the provinces with significant lottery revenue were British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta.
The lottery market in Canada is highly competitive, so operators are always struggling to keep their loyal players and attract new ones. One of the most successful ways to do this has proved to be bigger prizes and payouts for players. It has a positive impact on the lottery market, as it has resulted in a steady growth of players.
Overview of Best Land-Based Casinos
Gambling was legalized in Canada back in 1975.Ā Since then, there have been more than 75 land-based casinos operating across the country. Youāre free to gamble in this country ā provided you are of the legal age and provided you arenāt banned from various casinos where you want to enter. Hereās our list of some of the best land-based casinos in this country:
Are They Better Than the Best Gambling Sites Canada?
Yes, the best online betting sites have numerous advantages over brick and mortar casinos.Ā These casinos offer some of the best gambling experiences ā because they have some of the top games ā roulette tables, baccarat tables, blackjack tables ā all of them with professional and friendly croupiers and dealers. And they have hundreds of the best slot games for the players to enjoy,Ā even on your mobile device.
Trends in the Canadian Gambling Market
TheĀ onlineĀ gambling industry in Canada is definitely on the rise.Ā Various statistics madeĀ by independent bodiesĀ certify that this is the case:
The Canadian casino gambling industry earned over C$2 billion in revenue in 2024, and C$1.2 billion came via online gambling. The total earned by gambling including sports betting, racebooks, and electronic gaming machines is over C$14 billion.
With the advent of online gaming, more and more people have caught on to the fact of how interesting gambling can be.
Statistics show that nearlyĀ 20 millionĀ Canadians gamble online,Ā ranking it on the 8th spot among countries with most money spent on online games.
Itās estimated that more than 45,000 Canadians are employed in the ever-expanding local gaming industry.
Alberta has the highest GDP gambling income rate than any other Canadian province ā with 4% of its GDPĀ comingĀ from gambling.
As demand increases, the government will update its laws to accommodate players and operators.
Responsible Gambling in Canada
There are many different organizations that aim to help players in need. The Responsible Gambling council is the main one, of course, but there are others that should also be mentioned, including:
OLG PlaySmart
Connex Ontario
Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)
Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines (from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction)
If youāve begun noticing symptoms of gambling addiction, talk to any casinoās customer support team. They will point you to one of these organizations, which you can also contact on your own.
Safe & Secure Gambling in Canada
RNG
casino testing
We regularly check the random number generator (RNG) of the software used. This way, you can be sure that casino games are fair, safe and secure.
200+
Hours
Over 200 hours have been spent checking all the information provided in casinos.
RTP
90 ā 99,9%
The games and slots that you will want to play will have these values on average in tested Canadian online casinos
Conclusion:Ā Legit Gambling SitesĀ in Canada
Be sure to consult our Citeulike guide anytime you need an explanation about anything regarding online gambling. Follow our guidelines and you will have a safe, secure, and fun experience at some of the best online gambling sites.Ā Be sure to take things lightly and to gamble responsiblyĀ ā as this is the only way to increase the longevity of your gambling career.
FAQs
Yes, it is. While casinos canāt operate from within the countryās borders, offshore online casinos can freely offer their services to Canadians.
A variety of bookmakers, internet casinos, online poker sites, and web bingo and lotteries are legal in Canada. Each casino site on this page is properly licensed so you donāt have to worry about it from a legal perspective.
Thereās no clear number as a new gambling site pops up on the market every day. Online gambling in Canada is on the rise, and the number of options is surely in the high hundreds.
Online gambling in Canada is regulated for a reason. Without any laws in place, rogue casinos will run rampant, stealing Canadian dollars and playersā identities with ease.
Yes, it is. If you choose legit Canadian gambling sites, you can play casino games and progressive jackpot slots legitimately.
The legal gambling age in Canada is 19. However, provinces are free to set the bar on their own, with a few allowing players aged 18 to gamble online.
James Taylor is the chief editor of Citeulike Canada Portal. This is the professional name of our bilingual go-to guy who adds value to all our work. He has been working as editor-in-chief at Citeulike Canada since 2018. Previously, he studied at the University of Quebec in Montreal and worked in market research companies.