Is Sports Betting Legal In Canada
Legal sports betting in Canada is unregulated on the federal level but gives the legislative power to the provinces. Each of them has their own unique laws for sports betting. When it comes to online gambling though, any gambling site based or located in Canada must hold a government-issued license. If you want to place bets at a brick-and-mortar establishment in Canada, you cannot bet on single sporting events. Instead, the country has an outlet similar to what Oregon offered their residents a few decades ago. A service known as Pro-Line allows bettors to wager on parlays on three games or more, in which all must be correct for bettors to win their wager.
Is Sports Betting Illegal In Canada
In Canada, sports betting laws, are governed by the federal government and the 10 provincial governments.
Offshore sports betting companies offer a much wider array of betting options than the provinces and territories are permitted to. In a positive look, the Canadian government has seemingly ignored the offshore companies, as they focus on their own in-state policies. Overall, when placing bets in Canada there are strict regulations, limits on bet sizes, and better odds available offshore than the government maintained Pro-Line.
Legality Of Sports Betting In Canada
- Sports Betting Laws (parlays) One of the quirks of the Criminal Code is that it stipulates that it is against the law to bet on a single sport event or athletic contest. Authorized betting operators only permit sports punters to bet on the outcome of multiple matches in, say, the.
- Online Sports Betting is Legal in Canada Currently citizens of Canada are free to open up online sports betting accounts anywhere they wish online. The important thing to do is to review and find the best online sportsbook or bookmaker who has been in the business a long time.
- Technically speaking, single-game sports wagering is illegal in Canada at the moment, and has been all along. There are no retail sportsbooks in the country, and online sportsbooks can’t operate from within the country. The only truly legal sports betting in Canada for now is through its provincial lotteries.
The legality of sports betting in Canada has seen drastic shifts in legislation throughout its history. In 1892, Canada banned all forms of gambling in its Criminal Code but a major shift took place nearly 100 years later. In 1985, provinces and territories were given the right to oversee activities such as slots, charitable gaming, and lotteries. Canadian law currently prohibits single-game sports betting, so bettors are largely limited to parlay bets. This has driven a large segment of the Canadian market to online sportsbooks.
However, things are looking to change, as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act was introduced in 2016. This federal proposal looked to make single-game wagering legal but was struck down by the Canadian government. In the next year, Canada saw another change, as Ontario looked to add esports and live betting options for sportsbooks in Canada. The explosion of legal sports betting throughout the United States over the past two years has reignited the push to legalize single-event wagering in Canada, with prominent industry leaders publicly calling for legislative change. HeadsUp Entertainment Intertnational Inc. wants to enter the Canadian sports betting market, showing much interest to future revenue.
2021 Sports Betting Bills In Canada Update
Canadian Parliament has two bills they are considering that will legalize sports betting in the country in 2021. The first is Private Members Bill C-218 that would make single sporting event wagers available through retail and mobile platforms on a province-to-province basis. C-218 passed in the House of Commons after its second reading on February 17. It will move on to the next committees on its path toward legalization in 2021. Bill C-13 requests the same legalizations as Bill C-218 but on a federal level. Bill C-13 will be discussed at some point during the year.
Best Super Bowl Betting Sites In Canada
When it comes to betting on the Super Bowl in Canada, you can’t go wrong with the best betting sites. These sports betting sites offer betting lines throughout the season, making them the ideal places to wager on futures bets. Outside of the many wager options, which makes online sports betting such a major attraction to Canadian bettors is the ability to bet on the go. This is what makes top sports betting sites like MyBookie so appealing. These sites can be accessed via your mobile device’s web browser, allowing for anytime anywhere on the go Super Bowl betting. With the Super Bowl being one of the biggest sports betting events of the year, it makes sense that sports bettors will want the option to wager wherever they are.
Is Online Sports Betting Legal In Canada?
Thanks to online sportsbooks, anyone in Canada can legally bet on sports in 2021. Through international sports betting operations, Canadian sports bettors are able to get in on the action of all the major sporting events. These sportsbooks are regulated and legal and are able to provide some of the best odds you can find in Canada. Some of the top online sportsbooks, Bovada, BetOnline, and MyBookie are able to provide sports betting to all Canadian players. There is no legal barrier stopping sports bettors in Canada from partaking in legal sports betting. With this in mind, online sports betting in Canada is indeed legal.
Canada Sports Betting Markets
The most popular sport to bet on in Canada is hockey. Hockey is Canada’s national winter sport, and the NHL has several franchises in Canada to help spur the excitement of betting on hockey. A second sport that sees frequent wagers being placed by Canadians is basketball, more specifically the NBA. With the Toronto Raptors bringing Canada their first NBA championship, the popularity of the NBA is at an all-time high in the country leading to surge in bets on basketball. Football is also a big sport to bet on in Canada. The NFL is the league that garners the most wagers but it’s not uncommon to see many Canadians betting on their favorite Canadian Football League teams as well.
Canada’s Sports Betting Revenue
Since the Canadian government has allowed the provinces to decide what they do with their revenue, it’s tough to gauge where the revenue goes. However, in the province of Alberta, it is estimated that around 4% of their budget comes from gambling revenue, which is more than any other province in Canada. With sports betting being such a huge stream of revenue for countries, Canada has seen that there is an estimated $10 billion bet on sports in Canada every year. Unfortunately, for the country, most of that money goes into the pockets of offshore operators.
With single-game betting still illegal in Canada, it’s hard for Canadians to support the Canadian sportsbooks. The country has already started losing money to the US and offshore online sports betting sites due to this missing link. With Canada slowly starting to shift its stance on sports betting it’s only a matter of time before they start creating new cash flows for their country. When this happens, the tax benefits of legal sports betting in Canada will help fund various government programs and infrastructure repairs.
Can I Bet With A US Sportsbook From Canada?
No, as US law dictates, US-based sportsbooks can only operate in the state they are regulated in. The Wire Act is a federal law that prevents the transfer of funds across state lines or country lines that are wagered on sports. You have to physically be in the state in order to bet on sports at the sportsbook. Canadian sports bettors aren’t completely out, however, as international betting sites offer some of the best betting options available. These sites offer betting lines as good if not better than those available at regulated US-based sportsbooks. There are many options for Canadian bettors even though they can not wager using US sportsbooks in Canada.
Find Your Country:
Sports betting is popular throughout the entire world, and Canada is in no way an exception. Canadian residents frequently enjoy betting on their favourite sports such as ice hockey, curling, football, soccer, basketball, horse racing and others.
However, just like any other country out there, Canada has its own set of online sports betting laws that all citizens must abide by.
These laws can sometimes be a bit confusing, so there isn’t a straight answer to the question of whether sports betting is legal in Canada or not.
There are also individual laws that each Canadian province and territory has, as well as some special laws that relate to their Native reservations.
In short, understanding Canadian sports betting laws is not as easy as you might have thought. Therefore, I decided to make a detailed article explaining the complexities of Canadian sports betting laws and regulations.
I will also provide you with a list of trusted and legal Canadian betting sites and offshore online sportsbooks that accept Canadian players. Read on!
The History of Canadian Betting Laws
Before we dive into the present-day betting laws in Canada, let’s reflect on the history of legal gambling in this country.
Like with any other country, casinos and gambling in Canada has a long, twisted, complex history. Going back, when it started off, gambling in all its forms was completely legal in Canada. The first known document that relates to Canadian gambling laws dates back to 1892 when the Canadian Criminal Code was written. The Code suggested that all forms of gambling are illegal in the country of Canada. Initially, the law was straight forward – gambling in all its forms was a big no and there was no two ways about it. However, a lot has changed in the previous century, as betting laws started to loosen up over time as the coppers just turned a blind eye to some more socially acceptable forms of betting and gambling even though it was technically illegal.
Bingo games and raffles were legalised in the early 1900s, although they were only allowed for charitable purposes. During the 1920s, horse racing was legalised as well. As the Canadian government saw many potential financial benefits from gambling, they also made way for federal and provincial-run lotteries during the late 1960s and 1970s. At the same time, first land-based casinos started to appear all around the country and slot machines were getting increasingly popular.
However, one of the biggest turning points came in 1985 when gambling machines such as slot machines were made legal. Legalisation of gaming machines meant that there were places you could go to where you could play on these machines, and this paved the way for land based casinos. Not too many years after the legalisation of gaming machines, slowly but surely, land based casinos started popping up across the country.
Is It Legal to Bet on Sports in Canada Today?
Canadian sports betting laws are largely outdated and need restructuring, especially after online betting reshaped the industry in the past several years.
As mentioned, the law states that companies should not operate any illegal online gambling service within Canada. However, it does not specify anything about Canadian players and residents playing such games and partaking in online gambling. Since nothing has been exclusively mentioned about this, it simply means that there is no restriction per se. Therefore, it is not illegal for anyone living in Canada to play at online casinos or even make online sports bets.
The laws do state that players should not be found in an illegal betting house, however, when it comes to online betting houses or casinos, it is simply unreasonable to expect a player to know where the server of the service is located and then determine whether the casino is legal or not as per Canadian law. Therefore, once again, the laws are anything but crystal clear. To give you a perspective, let’s just have you know that never has an online casino player from Canada been arrested for playing at an online casino. According to the Government of British Columbia, anyone 19 years or older may gamble in the state at casinos, horse racing tracks, bingos, and lottery retailers, while the BC Lottery Corporation manages and conducts all commercial gambling including online gambling.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Canada
In short, it is not illegal to place sports wagers online in Canada, as long as the website you’re betting on is operated from within the country or province and holds a valid online gambling license issued by the federal government. Also, depending on the type of gambling and your current location, the minimum legal betting age can be either 18 or 19.
The laws about accessing and betting on offshore sites are murky and don’t clearly state whether pursuing this activity is legal or not. Nevertheless, there have been no persecutions or arrests made due to illegal offshore betting in Canada to date.
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Contents
- Is It Legal to Bet on Sports in Canada Today?
- Provincial Sports Betting Laws in Canada
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
Is Sports Betting Legal In Canada 2019
The Criminal Code of Canada
The Criminal Code of Canada is essentially the name given to a piece of legislation which is responsible for defining exactly what is legal and what is illegal in terms of gambling, both online and offline on Canadian soil. Canadian provinces have been vested with the power to grant licenses, revoke licenses and regulate these licenses for both land based casinos as well as online casinos.
Specifically, the regulations which outlaw the certain gaming in Canada may be found under part 7 of the criminal code, and there is more relevant statements regarding gaming which also appear in section 207.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission
Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a gaming regulatory body in Canada that enjoys a special status. It’s in charge of operating land-based casinos and betting sites situated in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. The gaming laws of this territory are not challenged by the federal laws of Canada and are therefore very favourable to online operators.
To be eligible for a gaming license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, there are several standards and eligibility criteria which the applying casino must satisfy.
The association itself and its powers to regulate are essentially a result of the Canadian governments push to make the legal atmosphere more accepting of gaming and more tolerant of the already thriving Kahnawake Internet gambling communities.
The residents of this territory are free to play on all websites regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Online sportsbooks that operate under the Kahnawake license offer many more betting options than other official provincial betting sites. It is estimated that around 250 online gaming sites in Canada are licensed by this commission.
Even though most forms of gambling is now legal in Canada, online gambling is still not completely out of the clutches of the law provided that the Government still refuses to issue local companies to operate web based gaming rooms. However, considering the trend and the history, it is clear that it is only going to be a matter of time before the Government is confronted with the fact that there are plenty of overseas companies that will still reap the benefits of the demand for online casinos amongst Canadian players and so it would actually just be better to allow Canadian companies themselves to start online casinos to serve the country’s growing online gamer base.
Provincial Sports Betting Laws in Canada
Sports betting laws in Canada are regulated by the federal government and the individual provincial governments of the country. The ten provincial governments include Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan.
Alberta
All gambling activities in Alberta must be in line with the province’s Gaming and Liquor Act that saw its latest changes in 2013. There are several official sports betting games, but there are no online betting sites operating from within Alberta.
Nevertheless, Alberta residents have plenty of alternative options where they can bet safely and legally.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Alberta?
The legal gambling age in Alberta is 18.
British Columbia
Sports betting in British Columbia is regulated by the Gaming Control Act of 2012. Officially, the only recognised legal website in BC is PlayNow.com, where you can play only up to six sports betting games with heavily restricted bet sizes and limits.
Of course, you can circumvent this by playing on some other Canadian or offshore websites where the offers are much better, and you would still avoid the risk of breaking the law.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In British Columbia?
The legal gambling age in British Columbia is 19.
Manitoba
All gambling operations in Manitoba are regulated by the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba, alongside Manitoba Lotteries Corporation that regulates lottery games in the province.
The legal sports betting games include Pro-Line, Pro-Picks Props, Pro-Picks Pools and Point-Spread. Manitoba residents can also access and use PlayNow.com.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Manitoba?
The legal gambling age in Manitoba is 18.
New Brunswick
Governing bodies overseeing online betting activities in New Brunswick include The New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation, as well as The Atlantic Lottery Corporation.
There are several sports betting games regulated by the ALC, and they can be played at their official website ProLineStadium.com.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In New Brunswick?
The legal gambling age in New Brunswick is 19.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Sports betting laws in Newfoundland and Labrador are regulated according to the Lottery Licensing Regulation that was constructed in 2002.
Service NL also governs gambling activities in the province. There are several Pro-Line websites where the residents of this province can enjoy sports betting legally.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Newfoundland and Labrador?
The legal gambling age in Newfoundland and Labrador is 19.
Nova Scotia
The Gaming Control Act of 1995 is still in power in Nova Scotia, and it is regulated by the province’s Alcohol and Gaming Division, as well as the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation. The ACL’s website ProLineStadium.com provides official sports betting games in the province. The legal gambling age in Nova Scotia is 19.
Ontario
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario was established in 1998 with the goal of regulating sports betting and other gambling activities in Ontario.
Today, both land-based and online betting is under the watch of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).
The OLG offers several sports betting games but excludes single-game wagers, as well as some other popular options found on offshore sites.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Ontario?
The legal gambling age in Ontario is 19.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island Lottery Commission and the ACL are in charge of regulating sports betting operations in Price Edward Island.
Due to limited sports betting options offered by the official governing bodies, many PEI residents seek their luck on offshore websites.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble On Prince Edward Island?
The legal gambling age on Prince Edward Island is 19.
Quebec
Quebec offers several government-run lotteries and online sportsbooks that are regulated under the Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming commission formed in 1993.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Quebec?
The legal gambling age in Quebec is 18.
Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority oversee all betting activities in the province of Saskatchewan.
As is the case with many other provinces, the choice of sports betting games is very limited compared to offshore sites.
What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Saskatchewan?
The legal gambling age in Saskatchewan is 19.
Is Online Betting Legal in Canada?
When it comes to the legality of online gambling in Canada, there is no straight forward answer. The fact is that it is a complicated issue, a grey area, if you will. In fact, when it comes to gambling laws, it isn’t only Canada where the situation is rather complex, it’s pretty much more or less the same in the rest of the world too.
Land based casinos and gambling in some forms for the most part is legal in Canada. In a nutshell, the same thing can be said for online and internet gaming as well.
However, the laws aren’t exactly clear when it comes to online gambling services which are offered by companies based overseas.
As per the current law, companies cannot lawfully operate online casinos and poker rooms in the nation of Canada. However, ironically, most of the gaming servers used exclusively for online gambling are actually located in the Kahnawake native reserve itself which is most certainly a part of the country. Therefore, it would not be an overstatement to say that even though the law says one thing, what actually happens in Canada is a completely different story, in terms of online gambling.
The bottom line – even though the law relating to online casinos are murky, there is absolutely no legal issues when it comes to Canadian players who play at online casinos.
FAQ
If you are going across the border to neighbouring Michigan, you should know that sports betting is considered an illegal activity in this state. Michigan is one of the first states to allow casinos in the country, but their online sports betting laws are still pretty strict.
As a Canadian resident, you will have hundreds of different websites to choose from, both the ones run from your country and province, and the ones that are operated offshore. I have made a list of all sports betting sites that accept Canadian players, so check it out and start betting today.