iGaming is by no means a new phenomenon throughout Canada. However, it is one that has caused plenty of confusion and headache at times for residents. Many have not always been able to understand the regulations in place, while others simply do not know what regulation is actually in place.
A significant development for Canada’s traditionally sophisticated and regulated gambling sector was the launch and ability to apply for licenses from the alcohol and gaming commission to operate in the province.
What is the law around legal wagering in Canada?
Unless a province specifically regulates it, gambling is prohibited in Canada. Therefore, only activities performed or regulated by the provincial government qualify as legal commercial gaming and betting. Thus, it is required to abide by local rules, which vary with each region, in order to create a platform for iGaming in Canada.
Rather than establishing casinos directly, provincial law authorities register private businesses to run gambling platforms and offer gambling-related services. To address this, areas have set up independent gambling agencies that register and control gambling operators. Due to competition from foreign-based online gaming services, the position for businesses operating in Canada becomes even more difficult. Since they cannot be governed by Canadian laws, foreign businesses that offer gaming services to Canadians are exempt from local licensing requirements.
A brief history of Canadian wagering law
The registration and successful operation of gaming businesses in Canada are severely hampered by this confluence of barriers. However, the nation has relaxed some rules and made some registration processes simpler during the past few years. For instance, in 2021, the Canadian government finally abolished the ban on accepting wagers on individual games.
Since 1985, sports betting has been legal in Canada, but with the introduction of single-game betting, the popularity of sports betting has reached previously unheard-of heights in the land of the long white winter. The only forms of sports betting legal in the nation up until 2021 were parlay bets, which are multiple bets combined into one, and pari-mutuel betting. Only the province’s lottery program offers these wagers. Due to this circumstance, Canadians are looking for more advantageous online possibilities and are reported to be investing $14 billion yearly in offshore gaming websites.
The main factor that led to the authorization of single-game betting in Canada was the decline in sports betting revenue. Many skeptics, including a number of professional sports leagues, have changed their minds as a result of the regulated sports betting industry’s success south of the border.
The majority of Canadian provinces’ plans to govern this new, legal form of sports betting are still being worked out as of 2023. No jurisdiction, with the exception of Ontario and Alberta, has made any indication that it will solicit the services of independent contractors. Commercial sportsbooks may one day become part of British Columbia’s sports betting offering, but bettors should not anticipate this development to be implemented in the nearest future.
Which Province first legalized wagering in Canada?
The first legal internet gambling industry in Canada was established on April 4, 2022, with Ontario as the pioneering jurisdiction. It is a good thing that the regulatory bodies are moving forward in their efforts to create a stable foundation for legitimate internet activities and prevent online fraud.
To stop the underground market for illegal online gambling and offer Canadians a secure and legitimate online casino, this long-needed move was made. In Ontario, wagering is now permitted without the threat of prosecution.
Online gambling has been available in Ontario for almost a year, and the one-year anniversary is fast approaching. The online gaming sector has expanded, with reliable Ontario online casinos now available to enjoy and utilize, which has perhaps led to other provinces having followed suit. So far, there have been prospects in the sports betting, iGaming, and lottery industries.
Numerous US sportsbooks have already begun operations or will soon, in Canada. A number of more iGaming platforms which are based in Europe and the UK are also about to open in Ontario and other provinces. These sportsbooks are a game-changer since they not only offer single-event betting initially but also have a wealth of knowledge from years of experience in the business, including betting recommendations for the Canadian market and a wealth of information on North American sports. These are some of the best online sportsbooks in the world. Both placing bets and collecting rewards are made equally simple.
What Sports can be bet on in Canada?
Your province will have a significant impact on this. A wide variety of sports are available for money lines, futures, parlays, and prop bets in every province where sports betting is permitted. The province of Ontario is leading the way in Canada when it comes to sports betting, and the indicators for the sports you can wager on there are excellent – and quite equivalent to the similar platforms in the US.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>-So, despite some confusion about this, Canada/Ontario didn’t legalize sports betting in April 2022. It was already legal. It just… kinda sucked (for people who like doing it, anyway) because single-game wagering was not allowed until only recently.</p>— Geoff Zochodne (@GeoffZochodne) <a href=”https://twitter.com/GeoffZochodne/status/1618997379306295303?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>January 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Major and big events like the Super Bowl will undoubtedly be well-liked by Canadian sports bettors as well. Depending on whatever bookmaker is chosen in each province, there may be more betting alternatives available. Sports that can be bet on include Football, Basketball, Baseball, Hockey, Horse Racing, and a whole lot of other options.
What is the status of wagering in Canada for 2023?
The majority of Canadian provinces’ plans to govern this new, legal form of sports betting are still being worked out as of 2023. No jurisdiction, with the exception of Ontario and Alberta, has made any indication that it will solicit the services of independent contractors.
Commercial sportsbooks may ultimately become part of British Columbia’s sports betting offering, but punters should not anticipate this to happen anytime soon. However, at least Canadian gamblers are no longer forced to place overly intricate parlay bets. Each province and territory is now responsible for making legal sports betting enticing enough to deter local gamblers from swarming to offshore platforms.
The deployment of retail sportsbooks will be slower, despite the fact that each province has made single-game betting available via their platforms managed by the lottery. There is a chance that some provinces will not decide to drastically change their sports betting options and will instead choose to continue with their current systems. There will only be one specialized retail sportsbook in Ontario as of January 2023.