Online Gambling Laws in Canada

Online gambling in Canada is regulated at both the federal and provincial levels. The Criminal Code of Canada establishes the national framework, while each province and territory has the authority to conduct and manage its own gambling activities — including online casinos and sports betting. Whether you're looking for the best online casinos in Canada or just want to understand your rights as a player, knowing the legal landscape is essential. For tips on evaluating casino sites, see our guide on how to choose a safe casino.

This guide breaks down federal legislation, provincial regulatory bodies, the legality of offshore sites, tax obligations, and age requirements so you can gamble with confidence and clarity.

Federal Gambling Laws in Canada

At the national level, gambling in Canada is governed by Section 207 of the Criminal Code of Canada. This section does not outright ban gambling; instead, it establishes that only provincial and territorial governments (or entities licensed by them) may legally conduct and manage lottery schemes — a term that broadly encompasses casinos, slot machines, sports betting, and online gambling.

In practical terms, the Criminal Code makes it illegal for anyone other than a province or its licensee to operate a gambling business in Canada. However, the law is directed at operators, not at individual players. There is no provision in the Criminal Code that criminalises the act of placing a bet.

The 2021 Single-Event Betting Amendment (Bill C-218)

Until 2021, Canadian law required that sports wagers be placed as parlays (multiple-game bets). Bill C-218, also known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act, received Royal Assent on June 29, 2021, and amended Section 207 to allow provinces to offer single-event sports betting. This was a landmark change that brought Canada in line with the regulated U.S. sports betting market and opened the door for a massive expansion in legal sports wagering.

FINTRAC and Anti-Money Laundering

Canadian casinos — both land-based and online — are subject to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. They must register with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) and comply with know-your-customer (KYC) requirements, including verifying player identities and reporting suspicious or large transactions.

iGaming Ontario: The Regulated Market

Ontario made history on April 4, 2022, when it became the first Canadian province to launch a fully regulated, competitive online gambling market open to private operators. The market is overseen by iGaming Ontario, a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

Before this launch, Ontarians could only legally gamble online through the province's own platform, PlayOLG. Now, dozens of private operators — including well-known international brands — are registered and regulated to offer online casino games, poker, and sports betting to Ontario residents.

What This Means for Players

• Consumer protection: Registered operators must meet strict standards for fair play, responsible gambling tools, data protection, and advertising.
• Dispute resolution: Players at registered sites have access to formal complaint and dispute resolution mechanisms through the AGCO.
• Self-exclusion: Ontario offers a centralized self-exclusion system that applies across all registered iGaming sites.
• Revenue stays in Canada: Tax revenue from regulated operators funds public services, healthcare, and responsible gambling initiatives.

For players who prioritise safety and regulation, Ontario's iGaming market represents the gold standard in Canada. You can view the full list of registered operators on the iGaming Ontario website.

Province-by-Province Gambling Regulations

Each province in Canada manages gambling through its own regulatory body and, in most cases, operates a government-run online gambling platform. Here is how gambling is regulated across the country.

Ontario

Regulatory body: Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
Online platform: PlayOLG (government-run) + iGaming Ontario (private market)
Minimum age: 19

Ontario has the most advanced online gambling framework in Canada. In addition to the government-operated PlayOLG, the province's iGaming market allows licensed private operators to compete for players. The AGCO enforces strict rules on advertising, responsible gambling, and fair play standards.

British Columbia

Regulatory body: British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC)
Online platform: PlayNow.com
Minimum age: 19

BCLC operates PlayNow.com, which offers online casino games, sports betting, lottery, and bingo to B.C. residents. British Columbia does not currently have a private iGaming market, so PlayNow is the only provincially regulated online option. BCLC is also responsible for GameSense, a responsible gambling program available at all B.C. casinos.

Alberta

Regulatory body: Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC)
Online platform: PlayAlberta.ca
Minimum age: 18

Alberta launched PlayAlberta in 2020, making it the province's first legal online gambling site. The AGLC regulates all gambling in the province, including land-based casinos, VLTs, and online gaming. Alberta is one of only three provinces with a minimum gambling age of 18.

Quebec

Regulatory body: Loto-Québec
Online platform: Espacejeux.com
Minimum age: 18

Loto-Québec oversees all gambling in the province and operates Espacejeux, which offers online casino games, poker, and sports betting. Quebec notably attempted to pass legislation requiring ISPs to block access to unlicensed gambling sites, but a 2018 Superior Court ruling found this to be unconstitutional as telecommunications regulation falls under federal jurisdiction.

Manitoba

Regulatory body: Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA)
Online platform: PlayNow.com (operated by BCLC on behalf of Manitoba)
Minimum age: 18

Manitoba partners with BCLC to offer online gambling through PlayNow.com. The LGCA is responsible for regulating all gambling in the province, including casinos, VLTs, and bingo halls. Manitoba is one of three provinces where you can legally gamble at 18.

Saskatchewan

Regulatory body: Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA)
Online platform: PlayNow.com (operated by BCLC on behalf of Saskatchewan)
Minimum age: 19

Like Manitoba, Saskatchewan has an agreement with BCLC to offer PlayNow.com to its residents. The SLGA licenses and regulates all gambling within the province. Saskatchewan's First Nations also operate a number of casinos through the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA).

Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador)

Regulatory body: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC)
Online platform: Proline+ (sports betting), ALC.ca (lottery and instant games)
Minimum age: 19

The four Atlantic provinces jointly operate gambling through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. ALC launched Proline+ for online sports betting following the passage of Bill C-218, and also offers lottery, instant win, and select casino-style games online. The Atlantic provinces do not currently have a private iGaming market.

Are Offshore Casinos Legal in Canada?

This is one of the most common questions Canadian gamblers ask, and the answer falls into a legal grey area.

The Criminal Code of Canada makes it illegal to operate an unlicensed gambling business within Canada. However, there is no law that explicitly prohibits Canadian residents from placing bets at offshore online casinos. The legislation targets operators, not individual players. No Canadian has ever been charged or prosecuted for gambling at an international online casino.

That said, offshore casinos come with significant caveats:

• No Canadian consumer protection: If a dispute arises with an offshore operator, you have no recourse through Canadian regulatory bodies.
• Unregulated advertising: Offshore sites are not bound by Canadian advertising standards, which can lead to misleading bonus claims.
• Payment complications: Banks and payment processors may block transactions to unlicensed gambling sites.
• Responsible gambling: Offshore sites may not offer the same responsible gambling tools required by Canadian regulators.

If you do choose to play at an offshore site, taking steps to verify its licensing, security, and reputation is critical. Our guide on how to choose a safe online casino covers the key factors to evaluate. Players interested in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency casinos should exercise particular diligence, as many crypto-focused sites operate from offshore jurisdictions.

What Changed in 2021: Single-Event Sports Betting

For decades, Canadians who wanted to bet on sports were limited to parlay wagers — bets that required correctly predicting the outcomes of multiple games. This restriction existed because the Criminal Code classified single-event sports betting as an illegal form of gambling.

Bill C-218 changed everything. Passed in June 2021 with broad bipartisan support, the bill amended Section 207(4)(b) of the Criminal Code to remove the prohibition on single-event wagering. Provinces were given the authority to offer single-game bets through their own platforms and, where applicable, through licensed private operators.

The impact has been substantial:

• Ontario launched its competitive iGaming market in April 2022, with numerous operators offering single-event sports betting alongside casino games.
• BCLC, Loto-Québec, and ALC all updated their platforms to include single-event sports wagering.
• Industry growth: The Canadian sports betting market is projected to generate billions in annual revenue, with much of that money being redirected from offshore operators to regulated, taxed domestic channels.
• Player experience: Canadians can now bet on individual NHL, NBA, NFL, CFL, and soccer games — something that was previously only available through offshore sportsbooks.

Bill C-218 is widely regarded as one of the most significant pieces of Canadian gambling legislation since the original Criminal Code provisions were enacted.

Age Requirements by Province

The legal gambling age in Canada is set by each province and territory. Most provinces require you to be 19, but three set the minimum at 18.

Province / Territory	Minimum Age
Alberta	18
Manitoba	18
Quebec	18
Ontario	19
British Columbia	19
Saskatchewan	19
New Brunswick	19
Nova Scotia	19
Prince Edward Island	19
Newfoundland & Labrador	19
Northwest Territories	19
Yukon	19
Nunavut	19

All reputable online casinos — both provincially regulated and offshore — require age verification during the registration process. Using a fake identity to gamble underage is illegal and can result in account closure and forfeiture of winnings.

Taxes on Gambling Winnings in Canada

Here's the good news: recreational gambling winnings are not taxed in Canada.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) treats gambling winnings as windfalls — an unexpected gain that is not the result of income-earning activity. This means that whether you win $100 or $1,000,000 at an online casino, sportsbook, or lottery, you generally do not owe any tax on those winnings.

This applies to all forms of gambling, including:

• Online casino winnings (slots, table games, live dealer)
• Sports betting payouts
• Lottery and scratch ticket prizes
• Poker tournament winnings

The Exception: Professional Gamblers

The CRA does distinguish between casual and professional gamblers. If gambling is your primary source of income and you approach it as a business — with systematic methods, record-keeping, and a reasonable expectation of profit — your winnings may be classified as business income and taxed accordingly. This is a narrow exception that applies to very few Canadians.

If you are unsure whether your gambling activity could be considered professional, consult a qualified Canadian tax advisor. For the vast majority of players browsing our recommended online casinos, winnings are completely tax-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gambling should always be for entertainment. Regardless of which province you live in or which platform you use, always gamble within your means and take advantage of responsible gambling tools. Visit our responsible gambling page for Canadian helplines, self-assessment tools, and self-exclusion programs.