Canada is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and it is amazing landscapes and spots make it attractive to tourists across the globe. Being the second-largest country on the planet means it houses capable of housing millions of residents.
However, this great country won’t function properly without some regulations and legislation. They have been embedded into several sectors operating within the borders of the country, including gambling (online and offline). The regulations surrounding the gambling industry are quite robust in Canada.
Gambling has always been a recurring issue in the lawmaking of countries across the world. That’s why its legislation is always different from one country to another, with Canada having its set of rules and regulations for the gambling industry.
The Regulation of Online Gambling in Canada
In Canada, gambling services are only possible if the provider is owned and licensed by a government of the province within its borders. However, there are thousands of offshore providers that accept Canadians on their platforms and no restrictions or regulations are being imposed on them. Canadians can gamble online freely on these offshore platforms. Another thing to note is that, aside from the federal laws, every province has different views about online gambling. This also means that each province across Canada has different regulations for the gambling industry operating within its borders.
Canada has ten self-governing provinces: Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia and New Brunswick, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec. Gambling from any of these provinces must practice responsible gambling and read the regulations of online gambling in these provinces before playing them. For example, Ontario, which has the highest population in Canada, has different regulations for online gambling and it even launched its new online gambling market in 2022. Ontario’s regulations for online gambling are widely different from every other province in Canada.
A Blessing Or A Curse?
The Canadians have a long and deep history with gambling, so deep that it has become a culture in the country. Statistics Canada revealed that over 70% of the country’s population indulges in one form of gambling activity or the other. This shows how entertaining the Canucks found gambling despite the strict laws regulating it.
Back in the day, the laws governing the online casino industry in Canada were so strict that people don’t even know if online gambling was legal or not. But over the years, the laws were being relaxed bit by bit till the passing of the C-218 bill which finally legalized single sports betting in the country. This bill meant that the Canucks can now finally bet on their favorite sports teams without any form of restrictions and they are not restricted to betting on parlays and horse racing. But what does this mean for the country, a blessing or a curse?
The regulation of online gambling means that the government will see an increase in tax revenue coming from the gambling industry, and gamblers in the country will have access to thousands of games. Its regulation in Canada also means that the country will have more control over the gambling activities in the country as the Canadians will seek fewer offshore platforms and more online providers licensed within their borders, which adhere to the strict rules of responsible gambling. From this, you can consider the regulation of online gambling in Canada to be more of a blessing than a curse, as it will improve the country’s economy while creating a safe gambling environment for the Canucks.
The Future of Online Gambling
With the changes happening in Ontario, you can already predict that online gambling has a great future in Canada. With Ontario creating its new online gambling market, it’s only a matter of time before other provinces follow its lead after analyzing the future revenue and safe gaming environment it provides for the government. Canadians have always been the ones to prioritize public health and liberal values, so the online gambling market is destined for a bright future in the country. And of course, there will be obstacles.