At the moment, gambling is completely legal in Canada. Advances in technology have made online casinos a popular entertainment in this country, with an audience of nearly 20 million Canadians. This number of players puts Canada in the 8th place in the rating of the top gambling countries in the world.
According to a Canadian Gaming Association report, the industry is responsible for 135,000 full-time jobs and is worth more than $15 billion. Each province creates its laws in this industry and determines which games are a legal gamble in Canada and which ones cannot be played at all. This review covers all the intricacies of gambling in Canada, the licensing and regulatory conditions, as well as the permitted types of gambling.
Canadian Gambling Market – Key Metrics and Specs
Canada is considered to be a promising market for gambling not only because the citizens of the country love gambling but also because of the high standard of living in the jurisdiction. Globally, the position of gambling is determined at the level of nine provinces of the country; the federal law can be changed by making amendments to the constitution. This predetermined the non-linear development of the gambling industry in the country.
The punishment for participating in unauthorized gambling in the form of criminal liability has never been applied to residents of the country, and no tax on winnings should be covered. However, the case when the Canadian nevertheless undertakes to pay the state tax on the funds won is provided. For this, the citizen must declare himself a professional player.
Here is what is important for a gambler:
- Make sure that a particular form of gambling is allowed in the province;
- A casino you want to play at is registered and has a license;
- A player has declared his gambling “occupation.”
The federal gambling law was passed in 1999 and has since been tailored by each province to meet local needs. A classic example is that in Quebec, betting can be made from the age of 18, while in Ontario, only players who are older than 19 can visit a casino. Some provinces authorize the work of private lottery operators, while others support state-owned companies only. Therefore, if you decide to gamble in Canada, spend your time and check local legislation.
Canada Appoints New Online Gaming Regulator
Ontario Canada has amended its Budget Act to empower the Ontario Alcohol and Gambling Commission (AGCO) to conduct and administer online gaming and act as a regulator. Thus, AGCO became the regulator for all types of gambling business in Ontario.
AGCO will work closely with the Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Finance to create a competitive market and consumer protection. The regulatory body is currently considering establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary to address iGaming in order to eliminate a potential conflict between AGCO’s existing role as the gambling regulator and its new responsibility for managing private Internet gaming sites.
Conclusion
Canadian legislation does not make significant distinctions between land-based and online gambling businesses. Provinces offer online games as a variation of their lottery schemes. Online gambling issues are often dealt with by so-called “legal representatives.” Although there are no severe restrictions on gambling in Canada, industry regulation specs vary from one province to another. Therefore, it is critically important to know all the nuances in advance.
