Canada Law Gambling

The Criminal Code of Canada makes it illegal to gamble or conduct any gambling activities within Canada unless they fall within exceptions set out in the Criminal Code.

Canadian gambling law doesn’t prohibit gambling on the internet so long as the operator or service provider has a license. That’s on the federal level. But every province or territory also sets their own gambling laws. The result is that one form of gambling might be legal in one area while illegal in another. Canada is known for its beauty and peace and has maintained itself extremely well. To continue peace and harmony, along with gambling entertainment, the government has made efficient gambling laws in Canada to continue gaming effectively. A fair approach toward the formation of laws has maintained unanimity between lawmakers and Canadian gamblers.

The Criminal Code of 1892/1910
First enacted in 1892, the Criminal Code has undergone many changes over the years to tolerate gambling under certain conditions. A 1910 amendment permitted pari-mutuel betting, which is a form of gambling in which winners get paid from a pool after the authorities take their cut first. The 1910 amendment allowed occasional games of chance provided that all profits were used for charitable or religious purposes and, also, games at agricultural fairs and exhibitions.

The Canadian Government Law
The Canadian government made betting-related changes to the Criminal Code in 1970, expanding the exceptions and leading to the creation of a multi-billion dollar gambling industry in Canada. For example, Canada’s first commercial casino opened in Winnipeg in 1989 and now they are such facilities in most of the country’s provinces. A large number of local governments are operating what are known as video lottery terminals, which, instead of vending coins to winners, pay out in coupons that are redeemable for cash. Also, many local governments are running profitable lotteries.

Sports Betting Laws (parlays)
One of the quirks of the Criminal Code is that it stipulates that it is against the law to bet on a single sport event or athletic contest. Authorized betting operators only permit sports punters to bet on the outcome of multiple matches in, say, the National Hockey League. This bet is called a parlay. Consequently, hundreds of thousands of Canadian gamblers bet online with bookmakers not licensed in their country, which is illegal.

There are moves afoot to amend the Criminal Code once again to enable Canadian sports punters to bet on single events legally, at least with Canada-based organizations, thanks to the work of Bob Runciman and his colleagues.

Recently Senator Runciman, an ex-provincial Leader of the Opposition in the Ontario Legislature and a Conservative Party member of the Canadian Senate since 2010, moved the third reading of Bill C-290 that aims to change the Criminal Code in relation to sports betting and, in doing so, gave an impassioned plea for his Senate colleagues to pass something that made it through the House of Commons unanimously.

Quotes ‘pro’ sports betting

“Voting against this bill ignores the testimony of those who treat problem gamblers. Voting against this bill ignores the submissions of those with experience enforcing the laws against illegal gambling. Voting against this bill plays to what I consider the baseless claims of the professional sports leagues. Voting against this bill ignores the reality of sports betting today, a reality that has been played out in the headlines of this city in recent weeks with the arrest of 21 area people charged with bookmaking in connection with a multi-million-dollar, Internet-based sports betting operation,” said Senator Runciman.

“Make no mistake: if you vote against this bill, you are not voting to put a stop to single-event sports gambling, but you are voting to ensure it remains in the shadows, with the money going offshore and to organized crime.

“What else did the experts who testified before Senate Committee tell us? Well, they agreed that the incidence of problem gambling has stabilised at around one per cent of the population in recent years, despite a vast increase in gambling opportunities. Legalized single-event sports betting is unlikely to move those numbers.

“In fact, problem gambling is more likely in the illegal environment, where responsible gambling measures are not in place, a fact confirmed by Doctor Kelly when he told us about two studies his organisation did in 2001 and 2005.

“I do not want to minimise the problems caused by gambling in our society but I do want to ensure things are kept in perspective. The dire social consequences predicted by opponents of this bill are not supported by the facts.

Canada Gambling Law

“Also, we received submissions from the NFL, the NHL and the NBA. These leagues provided strongly worded briefs, all apparently written by the same person, that suggest legalised betting is destructive to the social fabric, a threat to the integrity of sports and damaging to the bonds of trust between sporting organisations and their fans.

“This is from Major League Baseball, which looked the other way as steroid-fuelled players rewrote the record book ‚Äî the same Major League Baseball where the all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, has admitted he bet on 52 games of his own team in a single season. This is from the NHL, which allowed a convicted bookie, Rick Tocchet, to become head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. This is the same NHL that allowed the Edmonton Oilers to sign an advertising agreement with Bodog, a gambling website, which included rink board advertising, concourse and other signage and radio spots. This is the same NHL that promotes the PRO-LINE Dash for Cash between periods of Ottawa Senators games. This is from the National Football League that plays games in London, England, a country that has had single-event sports betting for many years. It seems to me, honourable senators, that these leagues are doing a pretty good job of threatening the integrity of sports all by themselves.

“What we have in North America are sports leagues that believe that if they pretend gambling does not exist they do not need to worry about it. Let us get real here. Why do they think newspapers print the point spreads for games?

“I will conclude by addressing the moral argument and the belief that we should not encourage an activity such as gambling. There is an argument that we do not legalize drugs and prostitution simply because people want to engage in these activities, so why should we legalize gambling? Honourable senators, that is a false analogy. Gambling is already legal. In fact, sports betting is already legal.

“There is no moral distinction between betting on multiple games, known as a parlay, which is now legal, and betting on a single game. The only difference is that most sports fans know that parlay betting is for suckers because you have very little chance of winning and that is the reason people are attracted to single-event sports betting and why they will continue to engage in it, whether or not this chamber passes this legislation. The reality is that we cannot shut down the Internet. They have tried that in the United States with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. The money seized under that act is a pittance compared to what is being gambled online by Americans. It is suggested it is over $1 billion a day according to some estimates.”

Conclusion:
Strictly speaking, the Criminal Code makes it an offense for Canadians to bet with gambling organizations not licensed in Canada. It would seem that the Canadian governments are not bothered about enforcing the law as it stands, although that may change if the C-290 passes bill and one of the main excuses for betting overseas becomes a thing of the past.

Canadians have access to a wide range of gambling options, both land-based and online. There are many brick-and-mortar casinos scattered throughout the country and Canadians are also able to use licensed offshore gambling providers. Canada’s Criminal Code has outlined the provisions for the Canadian gambling industry. The decision to host gambling has been left up to the individual provinces. This provincial responsibility also includes licensing and regulatory oversight. It is up to individual bettors to be informed concerning the legal status of gambling in their province and which gambling channels are appropriate.

This guide was created with the intention of being a benchmark resource for Canadian residents to refer to. You will find information on the laws in place and how they affect the Canadian online gambling industry.

Laws For Land Based Gambling In Canada

Canada is an interesting country when it comes to gambling because the laws change with each respective province. The decision to leave the licensing and regulation responsibilities up to individual territories gives them a sense of freedom and control. It also allows provinces to tailor their gambling laws to suit the needs of the population they service. Any laws in place target the gambling providers, not the individual players who use them. Any gambling venue operating without a license is considered illegal in the eyes of the Canadian government.

The only thing residents have to worry about regarding gambling laws is whether they are betting at a legally sanctioned destination. You can find casinos throughout Canada that offer casino-style games, all of which operating within their legal rights.

Canada's Online Gambling Laws And Regulations

The laws governing Canada’s online gambling industry emulate those in place for the land-based casinos. Canadian residents can gamble with online sites so long as they are licensed and regulated by some form of government, whether foreign or domestic. That being said, not every foreign gambling brand accepts Canadian bettors. The Canadian Criminal Code doesn’t say anything about gambling with a licensed and regulated online gambling provider being illegal. There are many online gambling sites, however not all of them possess the necessary licensing to be viewed as legal enterprises in the eyes of the Canadian government. It is important that you verify the online gambling site you are using fits the criteria set out by the proper authorities.

You can find a list of legal online casinos in Canada here which have all been vetted and confirmed to hold legitimate licensing.

Attempts To Amend Criminal Code

Sports betting has long been the black sheep of Canadian gambling law. Canada’s Criminal Code specifically prohibits various types of sports betting throughout the country. The only exception comes through rare allowances of parlay style betting through provincial oversight—Ontario’s ProLine, for example. In 2011, a bill known as C-290 attempted to amend the federal criminal code to allow for single-game sports betting (should the respective provinces choose to host it). The bill passed through the House of Commons but never made it off the Senate floor, dying in the process.

Another bill (C-221) made the legislative rounds in 2016 with the same intent of legalizing single-game betting. This bill failed to make it out of the House of Commons via a 156-133 vote in opposition to its passing. Proponents of the bill argued that it would help create jobs and could potentially bring money into the provinces via taxed revenue, but nevertheless, the effort failed.

FAQ'S

What Forms Of Gambling Are Allowed In Canada?

The answer to this question varies by province, but in most cases you will find casino-style games and poker rooms in land-based casinos. Province-regulated online gambling sites offer similar games. Sports betting is only allowed in parlay format through provincially regulated Lottery forms, such as ProLine in Ontario. Single-game betting is prohibited in accordance with Canada’s Criminal Code.

What Is The Difference Between Using An Offshore Gambling Site V. A Domestic One?

Canada Law Gambling Rules

Offshore gambling sites usually have a wider range of games available to players. From a sports betting standpoint, offshore sportsbooks have more betting lines and wagering types than the domestic alternative. You will also find additional features like mobile betting, live betting (for sports), bonuses and more.

What Is The Kahnawake Gaming Commission?

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission handles the licensing and regulation for gambling activities within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. In short, it is an example of the many different individual provinces that are charged with handling their own gambling markets. This gaming commission licenses Bodog and their sister brands, the largest Canadian online sportsbook and casino providers.

What Does The Future Of Gambling Look Like In Canada?

Canada’s gambling industry is operating smoothly with the exception of single-game sports betting. 2016 saw another effort at passing legislation, though it was shot down in the House of Commons. Lawmakers in favor of sports betting will likely push another bill into the forefront during the next legislative session. As for the other forms of gambling, players already have access to legal online poker in Canada as well as casino and sports betting options.

How Does Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Factor In?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political party came out in opposition of the attempted bill to legalize sports betting. Trudeau has made no explicit mention of anything significant happening with the current status quo as it applies to Canadian gambling laws, so it appears likely things will remain the same.

Canada Sports Betting Laws

How Do I Know If I’m Using A Licensed Gambling Site?

Canada Online Gambling Law

Any reputable online gambling venue will have their licensing information readily available to their users. These brands have reputations for professionalism and strong security.