Online Gambling Ontario Canada

Posted on
Ontario Online Casinos

Ontario is a big part of Canada in many ways. It holds the countries capital city, Ottawa; its largest city, Toronto; and has the largest population of any of the provinces and territories, with 14.32 million people.

There are many attractions in the province that bring people from all over the world, like Parliament Hill and the CN Tower, and is a great place to live. From beautiful lakes, to big cities, to scenic views – Ontario truly has it all.

Deposit Bonus up to $1600

Ontario’s Conservative government has revealed plans to end the current online gambling monopoly and also legalise single event sports betting in the Canadian province. In the 2019 provincial budget, the government has said it intends to establish a competitive market for online legal gambling “that will reflect consumer choice while. The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLGC) is the government body that oversees all lottery, casino, and racetrack operations in the province. This group makes it illegal to gamble under the age of 18. The OLGC has implemented lenient laws towards the online gambling industry. In 2015, they launched their own online gambling website. Providing sponsorship support to worthwhile community events is one way that OLG helps make life better for people across Ontario. How We Give Back GET HELPFUL TIPS ON ODDS, STRATEGIES, AND HOW TO PLAY PlaySmart is your gambling encyclopedia, with information you need to make smart choices and keep fun in the game.

4.9
Welcome Bonus $1200
4.8
Exclusive Bonus up to $1000
4.8

By having such a large population, Ontario also has some of the nicest casinos in North America. The province is a popular place for gambling and its a profitable business. Below, we will talk about everything you need to know about gambling in Ontario.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regulate all gambling together. Because of the amount of gambling that happens, and how much money is involved, they are very involved in all activity. To gamble at a casino in Ontario, you must be 19 years old. This applies to online casinos as well as brick-and-mortar locations. To buy lottery, you only have to be 18.

Information on Casinos Located in Ontario

As to be expected in a province that is so populated, and attracts lots of tourists, there are many great casinos here. To be expect, they have 72 casinos that hold almost 33,000 machines. There’s almost 900 gaming tables throughout the province.

Below, we will highlight the top 5 most popular casinos in Ontario:

1. Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagra Falls

With 3,000 slot machines and 130 table games, the Fallsview Casino alongside the beautiful Niagra Falls is the biggest and best. From the moment you pull up, a valet can take your car and you’ll enter a beautiful building.

  • 7 restaurants to choose from;
  • Spa, fitness centre, nightclub, and theatre also in the building;
  • Niagra Falls Hotel on the premises;
  • Poker room is very popular.

The Fallsview Casino is very highly rated and is busy all year long. You can also enjoy the amazing Niagra Falls when you need a break from gambling.

2. OLG Slots at Woodbine Racetrack near Toronto

This casino opened up in 1956, and has been a hotbed of activity ever since. It’s located alongside the historic Woodbine Racetrack.

  • 3,000 modern gaming machines to enjoy;
  • Open 24/7;
  • Champions Bar and Patio is also in building, as well as 3 other restaurants;
  • There are no table games available here.

If you enjoy machines and betting on horse racing, the OLG Slots at Woodbine is perfect for you.

3. Casino Rama in Toronto

Another large location near Toronto is Casino Rama. This might be the most visited place in the province.

  • 2,500 slot and video machines;
  • 110 table games;
  • 10 restaurants in the building;
  • Performance Centre holds musical shows and MMA Fighting sometimes.

Casino Rama is a very impressive place that tourists and locals enjoy all year round.

4. Caesars Windsor Hotel & Casino in Windsor

This is the only Vegas-owned location in all of Canada. It might be because it is so close to the United States, with Detroit being just across the water. The Caesar is a 23 floor building that has 2,300 video machines, 100 tables games, and a 14 table poker room.

    • 6 million visitors each year;
    • A place for serious players to play;
  • Hotel, restaurants, and more in the same building.

This casino mostly competes with places across the border in the U.S. It is a major place that has lots of big gamblers come through it’s doors.

5. Rideau Carleton Raceway & Casino in Ottawa

Many people are attracted to this casino because it is in the capital city of Ottawa – a smaller, laid back city that is beautiful. The Rideau Carleton has a beautiful track for horse racing and a lot of history.

  • 1,300 video slot and poker machines;
  • 30 electronic table games;
  • Sports bar on location.

If you are traveling with your family, and they want to enjoy the unique sites only available in Ottawa, you’ll be able to enjoy the confines of the Rideau Carleton Casino.

Gambling in person has become more important in Canada over the last 10 years, and so has Internet gambling. The major reason behind that is because there are so many secure websites that you can trust with your credit card info.

Here are the 5 best online casinos you should play if you are in Ontario (from most popular down): Jackpot City, Spin Palace Casino, Ruby Fortune, Betway Casino, Mansion Casino.

Online gambling is now legal in Ontario, but users are warned about being extra careful when gambling online.

Ontario Online Casinos FAQ’s

Frequently Asked Questions
'>Is it true that Ontario has its own government-run gambling site?
Yes, the government has its own website. It is a nice website, especially for new gamblers, but most people will eventually turn to more popular sites like the 5 listed above.
While in Ontario, all popular credit cards will work. We recommend Visa or Mastercard, but others are safe to use as well.
Bank transfers work as well. You can use eChecks, InstaDebit, and other popular direct bank transfers.
'>What if I’m not in the province – can I still play at an online Ontario casino?
You have to live in the province to play at an Ontario online casino. When you signup, it’ll ask you where you live. So to use the government run site, you need to be from Ontario. The other Internet gambling options we listed above do not require you to be from Ontario though.
'>What’s the different between the sites you recommended and the government one?
The jackpots are much bigger on the other online casinos compared to the government site. This is the major difference between the two options.
'>What does it cost to play at an online casino while in Ontario?
You can create a free account to any of the websites we recommened above. Once your on, it will just be the money you spend while gambling.
'>Where’s a list of the best casinos in Ontario, Canada?
I already listed the 5 best brick-and-mortar locations, and the 5 best online platforms above. Scroll up and read!
It’s all up to you. Try to do both and pick what you enjoy the most.
'>Ontario likes sports – but what sports do they bet on the most?
All sorts of sports are bet on here. Obviously, hockey and football are the most common. But they also bet on horse racing, baseball, and basketball.
You use your credit card. Most people use a Visa or Mastercard.
Ontario has a huge library of lotteries. In total there are 9 available. The most popular are Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max, Ontario 49, and Lottario.
If gambling is the main source of your income, then you will have to claim your winnings. If it isn’t, and you just gamble for fun, you won’t have to claim it.
'>I’m 18 years old, am I too young to go to a casino?
Yes you are, but you’re almost there. You have to be 19 to gamble at a location or on an online platform.
'>I heard the Casino Rama is a good casino. Where is it?
The Casino Rama is in Toronto, the countries biggest city. Above, we list the 5 best places to gamble at and you can see more about the Rama and the other top places to visit.

You should now see that Ontario is a great place to gamble. It is a popular place to go and there are many great casinos here. Whether you like to gamble at a location or using an online website, Ontario is the place to be.

Sports betting is popular throughout the entire world, and Canada is in no way an exception. Canadian residents frequently enjoy betting on their favourite sports such as ice hockey, curling, football, soccer, basketball, horse racing and others.

However, just like any other country out there, Canada has its own set of online sports betting laws that all citizens must abide by.

These laws can sometimes be a bit confusing, so there isn’t a straight answer to the question of whether sports betting is legal in Canada or not.

There are also individual laws that each Canadian province and territory has, as well as some special laws that relate to their Native reservations.

In short, understanding Canadian sports betting laws is not as easy as you might have thought. Therefore, I decided to make a detailed article explaining the complexities of Canadian sports betting laws and regulations.

I will also provide you with a list of trusted and legal Canadian betting sites and offshore online sportsbooks that accept Canadian players. Read on!

The History of Canadian Betting Laws

Before we dive into the present-day betting laws in Canada, let’s reflect on the history of legal gambling in this country.

Like with any other country, casinos and gambling in Canada has a long, twisted, complex history. Going back, when it started off, gambling in all its forms was completely legal in Canada. The first known document that relates to Canadian gambling laws dates back to 1892 when the Canadian Criminal Code was written. The Code suggested that all forms of gambling are illegal in the country of Canada. Initially, the law was straight forward – gambling in all its forms was a big no and there was no two ways about it. However, a lot has changed in the previous century, as betting laws started to loosen up over time as the coppers just turned a blind eye to some more socially acceptable forms of betting and gambling even though it was technically illegal.

Bingo games and raffles were legalised in the early 1900s, although they were only allowed for charitable purposes. During the 1920s, horse racing was legalised as well. As the Canadian government saw many potential financial benefits from gambling, they also made way for federal and provincial-run lotteries during the late 1960s and 1970s. At the same time, first land-based casinos started to appear all around the country and slot machines were getting increasingly popular.

However, one of the biggest turning points came in 1985 when gambling machines such as slot machines were made legal. Legalisation of gaming machines meant that there were places you could go to where you could play on these machines, and this paved the way for land based casinos. Not too many years after the legalisation of gaming machines, slowly but surely, land based casinos started popping up across the country.

Is It Legal to Bet on Sports in Canada Today?

Canadian sports betting laws are largely outdated and need restructuring, especially after online betting reshaped the industry in the past several years.

As mentioned, the law states that companies should not operate any illegal online gambling service within Canada. However, it does not specify anything about Canadian players and residents playing such games and partaking in online gambling. Since nothing has been exclusively mentioned about this, it simply means that there is no restriction per se. Therefore, it is not illegal for anyone living in Canada to play at online casinos or even make online sports bets.

The laws do state that players should not be found in an illegal betting house, however, when it comes to online betting houses or casinos, it is simply unreasonable to expect a player to know where the server of the service is located and then determine whether the casino is legal or not as per Canadian law. Therefore, once again, the laws are anything but crystal clear. To give you a perspective, let’s just have you know that never has an online casino player from Canada been arrested for playing at an online casino. According to the Government of British Columbia, anyone 19 years or older may gamble in the state at casinos, horse racing tracks, bingos, and lottery retailers, while the BC Lottery Corporation manages and conducts all commercial gambling including online gambling.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Canada

In short, it is not illegal to place sports wagers online in Canada, as long as the website you’re betting on is operated from within the country or province and holds a valid online gambling license issued by the federal government. Also, depending on the type of gambling and your current location, the minimum legal betting age can be either 18 or 19.

The laws about accessing and betting on offshore sites are murky and don’t clearly state whether pursuing this activity is legal or not. Nevertheless, there have been no persecutions or arrests made due to illegal offshore betting in Canada to date.

Our Top Recommended Sportsbooks:

CAD 250

5/5
2

CAD 200

CAD 200

4.9/5
4

CAD 500

CAD 2500

4.9/5
6

CAD 125

CAD 200

4.8/5
8

CAD 200

CAD 500

4/5
10

CAD 2500

Contents

  • Is It Legal to Bet on Sports in Canada Today?
  • Provincial Sports Betting Laws in Canada
    • Alberta
    • British Columbia
    • Manitoba
    • New Brunswick
    • Newfoundland and Labrador
    • Ontario
    • Prince Edward Island
    • Quebec
    • Saskatchewan

The Criminal Code of Canada

The Criminal Code of Canada is essentially the name given to a piece of legislation which is responsible for defining exactly what is legal and what is illegal in terms of gambling, both online and offline on Canadian soil. Canadian provinces have been vested with the power to grant licenses, revoke licenses and regulate these licenses for both land based casinos as well as online casinos.

Online Gambling Ontario Canada

Specifically, the regulations which outlaw the certain gaming in Canada may be found under part 7 of the criminal code, and there is more relevant statements regarding gaming which also appear in section 207.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission

Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a gaming regulatory body in Canada that enjoys a special status. It’s in charge of operating land-based casinos and betting sites situated in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. The gaming laws of this territory are not challenged by the federal laws of Canada and are therefore very favourable to online operators.

To be eligible for a gaming license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, there are several standards and eligibility criteria which the applying casino must satisfy.

The association itself and its powers to regulate are essentially a result of the Canadian governments push to make the legal atmosphere more accepting of gaming and more tolerant of the already thriving Kahnawake Internet gambling communities.

The residents of this territory are free to play on all websites regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Online sportsbooks that operate under the Kahnawake license offer many more betting options than other official provincial betting sites. It is estimated that around 250 online gaming sites in Canada are licensed by this commission.

Even though most forms of gambling is now legal in Canada, online gambling is still not completely out of the clutches of the law provided that the Government still refuses to issue local companies to operate web based gaming rooms. However, considering the trend and the history, it is clear that it is only going to be a matter of time before the Government is confronted with the fact that there are plenty of overseas companies that will still reap the benefits of the demand for online casinos amongst Canadian players and so it would actually just be better to allow Canadian companies themselves to start online casinos to serve the country’s growing online gamer base.

Provincial Sports Betting Laws in Canada

Online Gambling Ontario Canada Casino

Sports betting laws in Canada are regulated by the federal government and the individual provincial governments of the country. The ten provincial governments include Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Saskatchewan.

Alberta

All gambling activities in Alberta must be in line with the province’s Gaming and Liquor Act that saw its latest changes in 2013. There are several official sports betting games, but there are no online betting sites operating from within Alberta.

Nevertheless, Alberta residents have plenty of alternative options where they can bet safely and legally.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Alberta?

The legal gambling age in Alberta is 18.

British Columbia

Sports betting in British Columbia is regulated by the Gaming Control Act of 2012. Officially, the only recognised legal website in BC is PlayNow.com, where you can play only up to six sports betting games with heavily restricted bet sizes and limits.

Of course, you can circumvent this by playing on some other Canadian or offshore websites where the offers are much better, and you would still avoid the risk of breaking the law.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In British Columbia?

The legal gambling age in British Columbia is 19.

Manitoba

All gambling operations in Manitoba are regulated by the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba, alongside Manitoba Lotteries Corporation that regulates lottery games in the province.

The legal sports betting games include Pro-Line, Pro-Picks Props, Pro-Picks Pools and Point-Spread. Manitoba residents can also access and use PlayNow.com.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Manitoba?

The legal gambling age in Manitoba is 18.

New Brunswick

Governing bodies overseeing online betting activities in New Brunswick include The New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation, as well as The Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

There are several sports betting games regulated by the ALC, and they can be played at their official website ProLineStadium.com.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In New Brunswick?

The legal gambling age in New Brunswick is 19.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Sports betting laws in Newfoundland and Labrador are regulated according to the Lottery Licensing Regulation that was constructed in 2002.

Service NL also governs gambling activities in the province. There are several Pro-Line websites where the residents of this province can enjoy sports betting legally.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Newfoundland and Labrador?

The legal gambling age in Newfoundland and Labrador is 19.

Nova Scotia

The Gaming Control Act of 1995 is still in power in Nova Scotia, and it is regulated by the province’s Alcohol and Gaming Division, as well as the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation. The ACL’s website ProLineStadium.com provides official sports betting games in the province. The legal gambling age in Nova Scotia is 19.

Ontario

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario was established in 1998 with the goal of regulating sports betting and other gambling activities in Ontario.

Today, both land-based and online betting is under the watch of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG).

The OLG offers several sports betting games but excludes single-game wagers, as well as some other popular options found on offshore sites.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Ontario?

The legal gambling age in Ontario is 19.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island Lottery Commission and the ACL are in charge of regulating sports betting operations in Price Edward Island.

Due to limited sports betting options offered by the official governing bodies, many PEI residents seek their luck on offshore websites.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble On Prince Edward Island?

Online Gambling Ontario Canada Free

The legal gambling age on Prince Edward Island is 19.

Quebec

Quebec offers several government-run lotteries and online sportsbooks that are regulated under the Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming commission formed in 1993.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Quebec?

The legal gambling age in Quebec is 18.

Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority oversee all betting activities in the province of Saskatchewan.

As is the case with many other provinces, the choice of sports betting games is very limited compared to offshore sites.

What Is The Legal Age To Gamble In Saskatchewan?

The legal gambling age in Saskatchewan is 19.

Is Online Betting Legal in Canada?

When it comes to the legality of online gambling in Canada, there is no straight forward answer. The fact is that it is a complicated issue, a grey area, if you will. In fact, when it comes to gambling laws, it isn’t only Canada where the situation is rather complex, it’s pretty much more or less the same in the rest of the world too.

Land based casinos and gambling in some forms for the most part is legal in Canada. In a nutshell, the same thing can be said for online and internet gaming as well.

However, the laws aren’t exactly clear when it comes to online gambling services which are offered by companies based overseas.

As per the current law, companies cannot lawfully operate online casinos and poker rooms in the nation of Canada. However, ironically, most of the gaming servers used exclusively for online gambling are actually located in the Kahnawake native reserve itself which is most certainly a part of the country. Therefore, it would not be an overstatement to say that even though the law says one thing, what actually happens in Canada is a completely different story, in terms of online gambling.

The bottom line – even though the law relating to online casinos are murky, there is absolutely no legal issues when it comes to Canadian players who play at online casinos.

FAQ

Sports betting is considered legal in Canada as long as you are of legal age and are playing on official government websites. However, due to a lot of confusing and outdated laws, accessing offshore betting sites in Canada is not considered an illegal activity, and you can feel free to play on them. I provided a list of sites that accept Canadian players above.
Yes, there are no restrictions regarding individual sports when it comes to online betting in Canada. Therefore, Football betting is legal and very popular among Canadians.

Online Gambling Ontario Canada Online

Matched betting is not as illegal as it is frowned upon by betting sites. If you are caught match betting, you can be banned from the website, but that’s pretty much it.
Horse race betting has been legal in Canada since 1969, and it is still legal today. Canadian online sportsbooks often have some of the most popular horse racing events in their offer, together with competitive odds.

Online Gambling Ontario Canada Official Site

If you are going across the border to neighbouring Michigan, you should know that sports betting is considered an illegal activity in this state. Michigan is one of the first states to allow casinos in the country, but their online sports betting laws are still pretty strict.

As a Canadian resident, you will have hundreds of different websites to choose from, both the ones run from your country and province, and the ones that are operated offshore. I have made a list of all sports betting sites that accept Canadian players, so check it out and start betting today.