Is Gambling Online Legal in Canada?

As far as gambling is concerned it is legal in Canada though it is regulated. While other countries gravitate from one extreme to the other on the issue of gambling, Canada has managed to take an even-handed approach to the practice. In most cases, the laws remain flexible while still keeping the welfare of the public in mind at all times.

Gambling in Canada is as diverse as its culture. It has a wide range of gambling pastimes throughout its provinces and territories giving residents a free hand on where they will indulge.

Casinos are prevalent and legal throughout the country, especially in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. They range from those owned by Native American tribes to establishments operated by the Canadian government. People are encouraged to patronize them.

Sports betting

Sports betting is a very popular form of gambling for average folks who may not have the luxury to go to casinos and is widely available throughout Canada. However, this form of gambling is commonly limited to parlay bets, requiring customers to successfully wager on two or more games in order to receive a cash payout.

Illegal Gambling
As far as Canadians are concerned, any kind of gambling is considered illegal if it is not licensed or managed by the government, whether on a provincial or federal level. Canada’s laws on gambling are mainly aimed at curbing illegal gambling.

In comparison to their neighbor the United States Canada’s gambling laws are more lenient due to the reason it wants to maintain its image as a progressive country. For instance, the most one can spend in prison is two years while the minimum is six months in jail and a fine of Canadian $5,000.

Deterring organized Crime

One of the reasons why gambling is being regulated and some forms banned is not only to protect the public, but also to deter organized crime, which has had their hand in the trade, controlling it for the sake of profits. Not only do they control mainstream gambling in casinos, they go as far as rigging sports events, which has also become a subject of gambling as well. Furthermore, they do not pay taxes and this has gotten the attention of the authorities.

In 1985, these provinces and territories, were empowered to regulate gambling in their locales. Regulations may vary from one province to another.

For instance, in lottery, residents of Ontario can take part in provincial drawings administered by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation while lotteries in Saskatchewan is operated by Saskatchewan Lotteries, and in Alberta, they are supervised by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation.

All in all, Canada seems to have an ideal approach to regulating gambling. Most forms of gaming are allowed, although regulated to keep it from causing harm to society. While it may not be perfect, the model employed may be considered the best example to the rest of the world.