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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n1. \nWhat constitutes gambling in\nCanada?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before we can even start to unpack this\nquestion, it\u2019s important that we give a clear definition of gambling as defined\nby Canadian law. In order to qualify, an activity needs to have three elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The player has to bet money or\nmoney\u2019s worth on the outcome of an event.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- There has to be an element of\nchance on whether the event is outside the control of the player.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- There has to be an opportunity for\nthe player to win the prize.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is also what constitutes a difference\nbetween betting and gambling. For instance, you could place a bet on your next\nhand in darts, but since this is clearly not outside of your control, it\u2019s,\ntechnically, not gambling. On the other hand, the outcome of a hand in roulette\nis clearly out of your control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. \nIs online gambling legal in\nCanada?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Online gambling is not illegal in Canada;\nhowever, you\u2019re obliged to do so at an establishment owned or licensed by a\nprovincial government. So, all you need to do is find an online casino<\/a> that fits this description. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Canadian companies are prohibited from\nproviding online gambling to Canadians; however, overseas companies have no\nsuch restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most important thing to remember is that\nthese gambling laws are mostly decentralized, which means that provinces have a\nlot of autonomy to locally govern online gambling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a smart legal and economic strategy,\nthat\u2019s the opposite of what some other countries and states are doing. In some\nother regions, they allow gambling as long as the casino is not hosted within\nthe country. This way, they don\u2019t reduce the number of players, they facilitate\nthe rate at which the money is leaving state\/province\/country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. \nProvincial rules and regulations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As we\u2019ve already mentioned, provinces make\ntheir own decisions regarding gambling. So:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Alberta: <\/strong>Individuals older than 18 are allowed\nto partake in gambling, and online gambling<\/a> is legal through a\ngovernment-regulated site.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- British Columbia: <\/strong>The rules on online gambling\ndepend on local (provincial) authorities, and the legal gambling age is 19.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Labrador:<\/strong> The legal gambling age is 19, and online gambling is not that well\nregulated, which means that it falls under the \u201cgrey market.\u201d <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan:<\/strong> These provinces have states that cater to their residents. In other\nwords, all residents over 19 have access to licensed and regulated third-party\nonline gambling sites. In Quebec, however, the gambling age is 18 instead of\n19. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories:<\/strong>\nOnline gambling is a \u201cgrey market,\u201d while there are land-based establishments\nthat the locals have access to. The gambling age in these provinces is 19. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
While the differences are great, legal\nrestrictions are not that stern, and they\u2019re always in the hands of the local\ngovernment. This just further strengthens the argument that Canadian\nprovinces have more authority than the US states<\/a>. This is, at least,\nthe case when it comes to laws that directly impact their citizens the\nmost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Canada gambling statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories:<\/strong>\nOnline gambling is a \u201cgrey market,\u201d while there are land-based establishments\nthat the locals have access to. The gambling age in these provinces is 19. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan:<\/strong> These provinces have states that cater to their residents. In other\nwords, all residents over 19 have access to licensed and regulated third-party\nonline gambling sites. In Quebec, however, the gambling age is 18 instead of\n19. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Labrador:<\/strong> The legal gambling age is 19, and online gambling is not that well\nregulated, which means that it falls under the \u201cgrey market.\u201d <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- British Columbia: <\/strong>The rules on online gambling\ndepend on local (provincial) authorities, and the legal gambling age is 19.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Alberta: <\/strong>Individuals older than 18 are allowed\nto partake in gambling, and online gambling<\/a> is legal through a\ngovernment-regulated site.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- There has to be an opportunity for\nthe player to win the prize.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- There has to be an element of\nchance on whether the event is outside the control of the player.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n