Which Canadian Provinces Have Legalized Online Betting

The latest changes to the country's laws result in citizens now having many more alternatives to online gambling.

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Although many provinces have accepted the change, others have taken a while to adapt. We will explain how casino gaming laws in Canada have changed and which areas are implementing the changes.

Canada Opens Up With Online Casino Games

Although changes in Canadian betting have become increasingly visible in recent months, the true switch began two years ago, in August 2021, with the passage of the notorious Bill C-128. This proposal amended the Canadian criminal law to allow sports betting on a single event. Prior to this modification, only matched betting was permitted in Canada.

These sorts of regulations limited the Canadian population's possibilities for casino gambling. The government marketed this shift as a wonderful chance to enhance the country's economy through legitimate online betting sites Canada, allowing wagers on prominent sports such as the NBA, NFL, NHL, and others. This decision was prompted by the fact that many Canadians already have access to single-event internet sports betting via grey market websites, so moving to authorized suppliers makes betting more accessible to many residents.

Another aspect of Bill C-128 to consider is that it authorizes sports betting in both physical and online casinos. The government expects that by enabling other provinces to provide online gaming, the grey market would no longer be a viable option for recurrent players.

Provinces That Allow Online Gambling

With such a significant change in the gaming industry, many of the country's provinces have taken the opportunity to launch or expand their gaming offerings. However, each region has different regulations, and not all areas consider the same limitations.

Ontario

Ontario was one of the first provinces to make full regulation of online gambling with its new provider, iGaming Ontario (IGO). This body is a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of the state of Ontario (AGCO), launched in April of last year. The IGO offers Canadian citizens electronic sports betting and online casinos with third-party operators.

With the new iGaming Ontario launch, the province sets an excellent example of managing systems for the rest of the country.

This news is great for Ontario's residents, as we can see a lot of competition in online casino games. There are so many outstanding betting websites, so much so that players may need help choosing. That is where study websites are beneficial, as they help you choose the best option on the market.

The Atlantic Provinces

New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, and Labrador are part of the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC). Except for Nova Scotia, the provinces that belong to the ALC allow their inhabitants to place single-event sports bets immediately. Nova Scotia waited until February of last year to implement some changes.

The ALC website also allows residents of these provinces to participate in online casino gaming events. So far, there has yet to be a plan to enable third-party competitors to access these events. However, the ALC has been partnering with many video casino game providers over the last half year to improve the quality and security of their online games.

They have also sought methods to improve the event offers. Thanks to these new measures, games of chance in these provinces are becoming increasingly entertaining and much more requested.

The Territories

The Canadian territories of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, and the Yukon are part of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC). Still, they also affiliate with other corporations that grant gaming permits in these provinces. Like the state of Saskatchewan, the territories did not allow single-event betting until November 2021, being one of the last to join the gambling trend in the country.

Although The Territories have been adapting to the new sports betting laws in the country, games of chance will likely have to wait a little longer for renewal. Although all three territories can access WCLC's Sport Select platform, players must still purchase tickets in the physical store.

This province may be one of the least renewed in the country. However, over time, the WCLC will implement measures so that casino games have a more significant impact in these states of Canada. Thus, citizens can enjoy their games without any problems.

Quebec

The province of Quebec has a government-regulated web platform that offers all types of online gambling. Espacejeux began introducing single-event betting as soon as the new law was in motion, being one of the first provinces to get on board with the casino gaming trend and taking full advantage.

Even after the change, the body known as Loto-Québec remained concerned about the influence of the grey market in the country and users' online security. However, this system is making strides to achieve the main objective, which is to crush the competition by partnering with online casino game providers such as High 5 Games. This partnership will give betting platforms more game quality and fun to attract players' attention more effectively.

Alberta

The province of Alberta initially needed to be more open to accepting the new laws approved by Bill C-218. Unlike the previously named regions, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) did not offer its players single-event betting until September 2021.

Similar to Ontario, Alberta also welcomed outside competitors along with its launch. Additionally, citizens of the state of Alberta can also bet online on an app called Play Alberta, which is the only provincially owned web-based online betting system. Undoubtedly, having your players always active and maintaining strength in the market regarding your competitors is a perfect measure.

In addition, Alberta provides a lot of content for casino players. It is the second-best province to bet after Ontario, thanks to the many systems implemented by AGCL.

Jessica Tanner

Update 04 October 2023