The Best Gambling Websites – Choose a Gambling Site and Sign Up
Welcome to Gamble Online’s guide to safe, legal and trusted gambling sites in Canada. Gambling is often confusing when it comes to regulations and legality – we’re here to set the record straight that Canadian gambling websites are completely legal. We’ve covered everything there is to know from legalization timelines to tax obligations and more. If you’re looking to learn more about legal gambling in Canada, look no further.
Best Gambling Sites Canada for 2024
We’ve listed our favorite casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites accepting players from Canada below. Pick a site and start playing!
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Our Guide to Canadian Gambling Sites
Canadian gambling sites in Canada are very popular among players. Therefore, you should know that you can play at any gambling site in Canada without any fear of prosecution. You cannot run your own gambling website, such as a sportsbook, a casino or a poker room. However, you will not go to jail for gambling at online casinos, betting on sports and playing at poker rooms.
We have all the important information you need to know about Canadian gambling sites, and we keep it up to date in a landscape that is constantly changing.
History of Gambling in Canada
A timeline of key moments in Canada’s gambling history.
Quebec’s First Lottery
1970
With a modest jackpot of $125,000, Quebec hosted its first lottery drawing and would award over $15,000 in prizes.
Manitoba’s First Lottery
1970
Manitoba’s first lottery in 1970 was followed by the Lotteries Act the following year that allowed religious and charitable organizations to hold lottos of more than $3,000 along with raffles and bingo.
Ontario Lottery
1975
The province’s “Wintario” lottery first drawing occurred in May of 1975
Great Canadian Casino Co
1982
In British Columbia, the Great Canadian Casino company forms which runs pop-up casinos and trains new employees on site from city to city.
Several land-based Canadian casinos would open in the next 5-10 years.
First Permanent Casino in Canada
1984
Nothing temporary about The Casino at the Centre as it becomes Winnipeg’s first permanent land-based casino.
The Casino at the Centre was converted to Canada’s first resort-style casino, Crystal Casino, in 1989.
WCLC Adds Sports Betting
1990
The Western Canada Lottery Foundation added sports betting to its offerings, but did not allow single-event wagering.
Casino de Montreal Opens
October 9, 1993
Quebec’s first casino opened in fall 1993 on a small island near downtown Montreal.
Today, Casino de Montreal hosts over 3,200 slot machines and a 115 table games.
Niagara Falls Gets its First Casino
December 9, 1996
The first full-service casino in tourism mecca Niagara Falls, Ontario opened in late 1996.
Casino Niagara is now one of two casinos operating in Niagara Falls and features over 1,300 slots as well as table games and sports betting.
Ontario Lottery and Corporations Act
1999
Helped introduce responsible gaming measures just as the internet was starting to take off.
Espacejeux Launches
2010
The Quebec lottery went live with its own online gaming website with eight type of poker, baccarat, sic bo and more game offerings.
Spirit Sands Casino
2014
The Spirit Sands casino, owned by 64 First Nation tribes celebrates a grand opening.
Canada Legalizes Single-Game Betting
June 22, 2021
For the first time ever, Canadians will be able to legally bet on the outcome of single sporting events.
Parliament approved a bill that allows single-event wagering after nearly ten years of debate on prior legislation. Provincial governments will be allowed to set their own rules for single-game betting.
What Does the Law Say About Gambling Sites in Canada
The laws about gambling sites in Canada are pretty standard and straightforward across the board federally. However, provinces might have some tweaks to its regulations and if you want dive deep into that subject, we recommend you to visit our dedicated reviews for each province.
Five provinces are legislating gambling websites, but online casinos operating from inside these provinces may only be operated by the provincial governments. They are Alberta (AGLC), British Columbia (BCLC), Ontario (OLG), Manitoba (MBLL) and Quebec (Loto-Quebec).
Source(s):
Online Gambling
It is illegal to operate a gambling site within Canada. However, it is not illegal to play at an online gambling site. This is good news for you as a player and it means you can put your worries behind you and focus on having a good time and, hopefully, winning some money.
Alberta
In Alberta, gambling is regulated under the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act and is currently overseen by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis.
British Columbia
British Columbia gambling regulation falls under the Gaming Control Act.
Manitoba
Manitoba gambling regulations are monitored under their Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act and Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act.
Ontario
Ontario gambling laws are determined by the Gaming Control Act of 1992 and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporations Act 1999.
Quebec
Quebec gambling laws fall under the Act respecting the Societe des Loteries du Quebec and Act Respecting Lotteries Publicity Contests and Amusement Machines.
Legal Gambling Age in Canada
The legal gambling age in Canada basically reflects the legal minimum drinking age across the country. For the vast majority of Canadians, you will have to wait until you turn 19 before you can start gambling.
However for residents of Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, the minimum gambling age is just 18! Regardless of the minimum age for gambling in Canada, always enjoy your time at gambling sites responsibly.
How We Rate Canada Gambling Webites
You can be assured that Gamble Online’s casino reviews are unbiased and independent in their critique. Our experts look at the following factors when ranking casino sites:
Casino Bonus
The best casino sites offer generous bonuses to boost your bankroll.
Casino Games
We look for sites which offer a wide variety of table and card games, so you won't get bored.
Mobile Casino
Convenience is key. That's why the casinos featured on this site are optimized for Apple and Android play.
Safe Online Casino
Security is a top priority. We recommend only casino sites with strong encryption as well as third-party licenses and regulation.
Gambling Sites Deposits
Good casino sites accept a wide range of deposit options such as cryptocurrency, credit cards and bank transfers.
Customer Service
You might never need them, but it's important to know that if you have a question, casino customer service will respond quickly.
Payment Methods in Canada
There are plenty of safe banking methods offered to Canadian Players from the best online casinos. At our recommended casinos, your transactions will be fast and secure. You are likely to encounter the banking methods listed below in our recommended casinos.
Top Land-Based Casinos in Canada
Canada is home to some extraordinary land-based casinos. These establishments operate under the jurisdiction of the provincial or territorial government, though visitors from all over Canada are welcome to visit, of course. While a majority of Canadian provinces and territories house land-based casinos, you won’t find any gambling establishments in Newfoundland and Labrador or the territories of Nunavut and Northwest Territories.
In this table, you can find the number of land-based casino in each province or territory plus the top land-based casino in the province or territory.
| Province/Territory | #of Land-Based Casinos | Top Land-Based Casino Name and Location |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 28 | Stoney Nakoda Resort and Casino, Kananaskis |
| British Columbia | 35 | River Rock Casino Resort, Richmond |
| Manitoba | 8 | South Beach Casino and Resort, Scanterbury |
| New Brunswick | 2 | Casino New Brunswick, Moncton |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 0 | n/a |
| Northwest Territories | 0 | n/a |
| Nova Scotia | 11 | Casino Nova Scotia, Halifax |
| Nunavut | 0 | n/a |
| Ontario | 73 | Casino Niagara, Niagara Falls |
| Prince Edward Island | 2 | Red Shores Racetrack and Casino, Charlottetown |
| Quebec | 11 | Casino de Montréal, Montreal |
| Saskatchewan | 9 | Casino Regina, Regina |
| Yukon | 1 | Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall, Dawson City |
Mobile Gambling Sites in Canada
Players in Canada can enjoy their favourite casino games from the comfort of their couch via their mobile devices. Canadian players can play online slots, roulette, baccarat, video poker and blackjack from their iPhone and Android devices. Take a look at our recommended mobile casinos for real money to find the casino that suits your needs best.
Casino Games You can Play in Any Gambling Site
Here are our most popular casino games you can play:
