Nova Scotia was the last province to introduce single-game bets to its residents. The Atlantic Lottery Corp. announced it had begun taking single event wagers on Feb. 11, 2023. Yes, Canadians have enjoyed legal sports betting since 1985, but the addition of single-game betting is about to take sports wagering to an unprecedented level in the Great White North. Prior to Aug. 27, 2023, parlay bets — two or more bets rolled into one — and pari-mutuel gambling have been the only types of sports betting permitted in the country. What’s more, these bets are only available through each province’s lottery system.
Although single-game sports betting is live in La belle province, offshore sportsbooks will continue to account for much of the betting action. Beyond Pro•Line, P.E.I. sports bettors are limited to offshore gambling websites. These sportsbooks are licensed to operate in other jurisdictions, and therefore able to operate in Canada as well. While every province has made single-game betting available via their lottery-run platforms, expect a slower rollout for retail sportsbooks.
Are Casino Winnings Taxable in Canada?
Any company that wants to provide gambling services must be licensed in the province they plan to operate. Each province has a local government, and gambling providers must comply with the local laws. Licensing not only provides gaming companies with eligibility, but it’s a crucial part of the safety of gamblers. Single-game sports betting has arrived in the Northwest Territories. As of Nov. 1, 2023, residents can now bet on the result of a single event with Sport Select. In addition to PlayNow, Manitoba sports bettors are free to try their luck with numerous legal offshore sports betting websites.
Alberta sports bettors do already have both online and offline options available to meet their legal gambling needs. Play Alberta is the sole online platform, while Sport Select — a Western Canada Lottery Corporation product — is the retail alternative. Sport Select offers single-game betting, parlays, point spreads, and prop bets. Provincially regulated online betting arrived on Sept. 1, 2023, via PlayAlberta.ca, an online gambling website regulated by Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis . WCLC introduced retail single-game betting on Nov. 1, 2023 — Sport Select now allows Albertans to confirm single-event picks in person. Online casinos are prohibited from being based in Saskatchewan, however residents are not blocked from accessing casinos based in other provinces or countries.
Gambling is regulated by the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Finance of British Columbia. If you’re 18 years old, you can legally gamble on the only regulated online gambling site in Alberta – PlayAlberta.ca. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission is responsible for licensing and managing gambling providers. While gambling facilities must have a provincial license to operate, only government-operated websites offer legal gambling online. Prior to legalization, however, residents were still able to access some overseas sites that offered single-game betting opportunities, like bet365. But in Canada, gambling organizations are required to be regulated by the government.
For this reason, grey market sportsbooks may very well continue to account for much of the sports gambling revenue in the country. It is legal only for provincial governments to have online gambling websites in Canada. In other words, other organizations cannot get licences to offer gaming online. However, it is very popular for Canadians to use unregulated websites from other countries. The law is not clear on how Canada can crack down on or prosecute offshore gaming sites for trying to conduct business in Canada. As the sports betting landscape continues to change in NB, it’s possible one of the province’s two casinos could house a retail sportsbook.
The rules regarding online casinos are pretty relaxed, therefore residents can play at any foreign casino site - there is only one online casino regulated in Ontario though, and it’s PlayOLG. The Pro-Line sports betting service is offered to those looking to bet on sports. Though considered by some to be a grey area, there are no federal laws nor sections of Canada's Criminal Code regulating, or making illegal, online gambling.
This government agency monitors all other land-based and internet gambling activities in the province and runs its own online and land-based betting platforms. Although the province does not have its own gaming sites, people can access thousands of offshore casinos and sportsbooks without fear of legal repercussions. All racetracks, casinos, lotteries, and other gaming establishments must abide by the rules of the province or territory in which they operate. Certain types of gambling are legal in some parts of Canada and illegal in others, and varying age restrictions apply. The Kahnawake Mohawk Nation can essentially run a casino or at least lease space to all sorts of other online casinos from within Canadian borders and not be prosecuted. But private enterprises like horserace companies who operate legally within Canada are forbidden from operating online casinos or poker sites under the Criminal Code of Canada.
Over recent years though it has fallen out of favour somewhat with many e-gaming companies/sites preferring to be licensed by the gaming authorities in Malta or Gibraltar. But as of April 2023, online gambling became legal in Ontario, and it’s exponentially the launching point to a bright future in online gambling. Being that Ontario is the first province to become the first legal gambling market, the future of the gambling industry in Canada looks promising. Since Nova Scotia is part of the ALC, you can gamble online at some of the gambling sites offered by ALC. With such an extensive selection of gambling games at the reach of our palms, it’s really hard to resist the appeal of gambling.
Is it legal to gamble online in Canada?
Next month, several operators have so far been approved to go live in Ontario, removing grey areas in the market. Minors are not permitted to enter a gambling establishment or engage in any form of gambling. Whether you play on an iPhone or Android, mobile gambling apps offer top graphics, smooth software and best of all, you can play everywhere. Taxable if you’re not a professional gambler and don’t make a profit from gambling.
Latest Canada betting news
This allows many grey sportsbooks to operate in Canada without issue. Ontario remains the exception here, as the AGCO and iGO must regulate all legal sportsbooks. Betway’s dedicated mobile app is perhaps the best available in Canada.
These websites allow bettors to make single-game bets and place fewer limitations on users. Yukon bettors received good news on Nov. 1, 2023, as single-game sports betting made its way to the Land of the Midnight Sun. Residents can now submit single-event wagers with Sport Select at participating retail outlets. The Northwest Territories offer legalized sports betting via the same Sport Select platform found in Alberta, Manitoba, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. Northwesters can place bets at participating retail outlets like gas stations and convenience stores, but Sports Select does not allow online wagering.
OnJune 6, 2023, theSaskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority signed an agreement with the British Columbia Lottery Corp. , which will provide its PlayNow.com platform to players in the province. The addition ofPlayNow will help expand legal Saskatchewan sports betting. With no retail sportsbooks in the province, bets must be placed at a participating convenience store or gas station.
In October 2023, Twitch banned the streaming of unlicensed gambling. This followed backlash against streamers who allegedly frauded others to fund gambling addictions. However, concerns about gambling on Twitch had been circulating since before these events.
While online gambling at the time was technically illegal in Canada, the Mohawk Nation argued that because they are their own sovereign nation, they, therefore, have the right to operate casinos. Whether Canadians are interested in live poker or Internet gambling, they are free to do what they please with no repercussion from their government. The latter has become one of the fastest growing online poker markets in the world.
This can be items or outfits, some of which give big advantages for the player. But loot box contents are randomised, can provide advantages over other players, and you can pay for them with real world money. This has raised concerns about whether games with this feature should be regulated like other gambling. Players can access these videogames on consoles like XBox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch. It is tricky to guarantee whether a venue is licenced if you’re playing online. Websites may not be clear on their country of origin or may not show proof of licencing.
Also known as SIA, the online provider is licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Canada. Sports Interaction not only offers competitive betting odds but a wide variety of betting options. Their top-notch customer support and secure banking keep them atop our list of best sportsbooks in Canada.
While Yukoners can research and make their picks online, all sports bets must be submitted at a select WCLC retail location. As an alternative, sports bettors in the north can place wagers with legal offshore sportsbooks. These websites offer a less restrictive betting experience, with the ability to place more bets at more reasonable price points. Saskatchewan sports bettors are currently limited to PlayNow.com for online sports betting and the Western Canada Lottery Corporation's Sport Select platform for in-person wagers. When betting offline, Saskatchewan sports bettors can place wagers at WCLC retail locations such as convenience stores and gas stations. Of course, like all Canadians, Saskatchewanians also have the option of betting online with any of the top offshore sportsbooks operating legally in Canada.
Mise-O-Jeu is the only regulated sports betting site in the province and players must bet on parlay bets. There are nine land-based casinos in Quebec, and they’re open to everyone aged 19 or over. Our interactive map shows where each Canadian province and territory stands on its road to legalizing single-game online sports betting. Keep in mind that many licensed offshore websites offer legal alternatives, and this graphic represents provincially regulated options only. There are no legal obstacles in the way of land-based casinos in Prince Edward Island, however there’s not currently a dedicated casino operating in the province.