Casinos in Canada – the online situation explained
Online gaming regulations vary from one country to the next – and from one state to another. And yet, when it comes to Canada, the country presents a conundrum. On one hand, it is illegal to operate an online casino in Canada – and on the other, figures show that the online gambling sector in Canada was worth $12.75bn in 2020, with a 2021 forecast hitting $12.54bn. However, that conundrum requires clarification. Because, unlike what a first reading would hint, online casino gambling in Canada is legal. But first things first. Brick-and-mortar gambling in Canada is legal. Moving online, the situation is a bit more complex. For players, it is not illegal to play games online. And this is why, like in most countries, online gambling has seen a significant increase in popularity in recent years. For operators, it is illegal to operate a web-based casino from Canada – but it is perfectly legal to do so if the casino is hosted offshore. That said, every province can legalise types of gambling within their borders. This explains why the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, which is located just outside Montreal, has permission to provide its own casino website to players. Also, a lot of...