The Patchwork: Canadian Gambling Law Is Provincial
There is no single answer to “is online gambling legal in Canada?” because Canadian gambling law is provincial, not federal. The Criminal Code of Canada (§207) gives provinces and territories the authority to “conduct and manage” gambling within their borders, creating a patchwork where the rules depend entirely on where you live. [Source 9]
This page provides a comprehensive province-by-province breakdown of the current legal landscape as of February 2025, written specifically for Canadian players who use credit cards at online casinos. It is not legal advice — consult a lawyer for your specific situation.
Federal Framework: Criminal Code §207
The foundation of all Canadian gambling law is Section 207 of the Criminal Code (RSC 1985, c C-46). This section doesn’t legalise gambling directly — it creates exemptions from the general prohibition. The key provisions:
- §207(1)(a): Provincial governments may “conduct and manage” lottery schemes, which includes casino gambling, sports betting, and online gambling.
- §207(1)(b): Charitable and religious organisations may conduct and manage lottery schemes under licence from the province.
- §207.1: Added in 2021 (Bill C-218), this allows provinces to offer single-event sports betting — previously only parlay bets were permitted.
What the Criminal Code does NOT do: It does not criminalise individual Canadians for playing at offshore-licensed online casinos. The offence provisions in §§206-209 target operators and those who “conduct and manage” unlicensed gambling operations. Players are not the target of these provisions, and no Canadian has been prosecuted simply for playing at an offshore site.
Province-by-Province Breakdown
Ontario — Regulated Private Market
Ontario is Canada’s only province with a regulated private iGaming market. Since April 4, 2022, private online casino and sportsbook operators can apply for registration with iGaming Ontario (iGO), a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). [Source 10]
What this means for players:
- Private operators registered with iGO are fully legal for Ontario residents aged 19+
- Players have regulatory recourse through AGCO’s complaints process if a registered operator mistreats them
- Advertising is restricted under AGCO Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming, Rule 2.03 [Source 11]
- Registered operators must implement responsible gambling tools including deposit limits, self-exclusion, and reality checks
- Players can self-exclude from all iGO registered operators simultaneously
Provincial operator: OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation) operates proline.ca and the OLG online casino.
Credit card implications: Deposits at iGO registered sites are legal transactions. However, your bank’s MCC 7995 policies still apply — TD and Scotiabank may still block deposits even to regulated Ontario sites, depending on how the processor presents the transaction.
British Columbia — Provincial Operator Only
BC does not have a regulated private iGaming market. The province operates PlayNow.com through the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC). PlayNow is the only online gambling site operated under BC provincial authority.
What this means for players: BC residents can legally play on PlayNow.com. Playing at offshore-licensed sites is not prohibited for individual players, but these sites operate without BC regulatory oversight. If something goes wrong at an offshore site, your recourse is with the offshore regulator (MGA, UKGC, Kahnawake), not the BC government.
Age requirement: 19+
Alberta — Provincial Operator Only
Alberta operates PlayAlberta.ca through the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC). No regulated private market exists.
What this means for players: PlayAlberta is the only provincially sanctioned online gambling option. Offshore sites are accessible but unregulated in Alberta.
Age requirement: 18+ (one of three provinces with a lower gambling age)
Quebec — Provincial Operator Only
Quebec operates Espacejeux.com through Loto-Québec. Quebec has historically taken a more aggressive stance toward offshore operators — in 2016, the province passed Bill 74 attempting to require ISPs to block access to non-Loto-Québec gambling sites. This provision was struck down as unconstitutional (telecommunications are federal jurisdiction).
What this means for players: Espacejeux is the provincially sanctioned option. Offshore sites remain accessible despite the government’s preference otherwise. No individual player has been prosecuted for using an offshore site in Quebec.
Age requirement: 18+
Manitoba — Provincial Operator Only
Manitoba operates online gambling through the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MLLC), using PlayNow.com (shared platform with BC’s BCLC).
What this means for players: PlayNow is the provincial option. Offshore sites are accessible but unregulated.
Age requirement: 18+
Saskatchewan — Provincial Operator Only
Saskatchewan operates through the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) and Sask Lotteries. Online offerings are more limited than other provinces.
What this means for players: Provincial online gambling options are limited. Many Saskatchewan players use offshore sites, which are accessible but unregulated.
Age requirement: 19+
Nova Scotia — Provincial Operator Only
Nova Scotia’s gambling is managed by Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC), which serves all four Atlantic provinces. ALC operates ProLine+ for sports betting and limited online gaming.
What this means for players: ALC’s online offerings are primarily sports-focused. Casino-style online gaming options through ALC are limited. Offshore sites are accessible but unregulated.
Age requirement: 19+
New Brunswick — Provincial Operator Only
New Brunswick, like Nova Scotia, falls under the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. The same ALC products and limitations apply.
Age requirement: 19+
Prince Edward Island — Provincial Operator Only
PEI is served by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. As the smallest province, PEI has the most limited gambling infrastructure but the same legal framework as the other Atlantic provinces.
Age requirement: 19+
Newfoundland and Labrador — Provincial Operator Only
Newfoundland and Labrador completes the Atlantic Lottery Corporation quartet. Same framework, same limitations as the other Atlantic provinces.
Age requirement: 19+
Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut
The three territories have minimal gambling infrastructure. There are no territorial online gambling operators. Gambling is regulated at the territorial level but with very limited scope — primarily lottery tickets and charitable gaming. Online gambling at offshore sites is accessible but entirely unregulated at the territorial level.
Age requirement: 19+ (all three territories)
The Grey Area: What “Not Illegal” Actually Means
Outside Ontario, playing at offshore-licensed casinos occupies a legal grey area. The Criminal Code (§207) gives provinces authority over gambling within their borders, but does not criminalise individual players for using offshore sites. The practical implication:
- You won’t face criminal charges for playing at an offshore casino. The Criminal Code targets operators, not players.
- You won’t have Canadian regulatory protection if something goes wrong. Your recourse is with the offshore regulator — the Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, or wherever the casino is licensed.
- Your deposits are legal transactions from a banking perspective. Banks block casino deposits for their own policy reasons (MCC 7995), not because the transaction is illegal.
- Your winnings are legal income — and in Canada, they’re not taxed (see below).
Tax Implications: Gambling Winnings in Canada
This is one of the most common questions we receive, and the answer is good news for Canadian players: gambling winnings are generally not taxable income in Canada.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) considers gambling winnings to be a windfall — an unexpected gain that is not the result of a business activity. Windfalls are not taxable under the Income Tax Act. This applies to casino winnings, lottery prizes, and sports betting payouts.
The exception: If gambling is your primary source of income or you gamble as a business (professional poker players, for example), the CRA may classify your winnings as business income, which is taxable. The test is whether gambling constitutes a “pursuit of profit” carried on as a business. For the vast majority of recreational players, this exception does not apply.
Important notes:
- Interest earned on gambling winnings (if you invest or save them) is taxable — the windfall itself isn’t, but the investment income it generates is.
- If you gamble at US casinos, the US may withhold tax on your winnings. Canadian-US tax treaty provisions may allow you to recover some or all of this withholding.
- Keep records of significant wins and losses — not for tax purposes, but in case the CRA ever questions whether your gambling is recreational or professional.
Age Requirements by Province
| Province/Territory | Minimum Age |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 18+ |
| Manitoba | 18+ |
| Quebec | 18+ |
| British Columbia | 19+ |
| New Brunswick | 19+ |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 19+ |
| Northwest Territories | 19+ |
| Nova Scotia | 19+ |
| Nunavut | 19+ |
| Ontario | 19+ |
| Prince Edward Island | 19+ |
| Saskatchewan | 19+ |
| Yukon | 19+ |
Player Rights and Recourse
At iGaming Ontario registered sites
Ontario players at iGO registered operators have formal regulatory recourse. If a registered operator fails to honour a withdrawal, misrepresents terms, or violates any Registrar’s Standard, you can file a complaint with AGCO. AGCO has enforcement authority including fines, licence conditions, and revocation. [Source 11]
At offshore-licensed sites
Your recourse depends on the licensing jurisdiction:
- Malta Gaming Authority (MGA): Has a formal player complaint process. Considered one of the stronger regulatory bodies. MGA can sanction operators and has revoked licences for player protection failures. [Source 7, 8]
- UK Gambling Commission (UKGC): Strong regulatory framework with mandatory alternative dispute resolution (ADR). UKGC-licensed sites must offer players access to an independent dispute resolution service.
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission: Based in Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, Quebec. Has a dispute resolution process but is considered less robust than MGA or UKGC. [Source 7]
- Curaçao eGaming: Minimal regulatory oversight. Complaint resolution is unreliable. We do not recommend sites licensed only by Curaçao.
Credit card chargeback as recourse
Regardless of jurisdiction, if you deposited with a credit card, you have chargeback rights through your card issuer. This is one of the genuine advantages of credit card deposits — see our transaction guide for details on the chargeback process.
Verify a casino’s licence yourself
Every regulator maintains a public register where you can verify a casino’s licence status. We check these registers as part of our testing methodology (Step 1). Links to all regulatory databases are available on our Sources & Data page.
Based on Criminal Code of Canada §207 [Source 9], iGaming Ontario public records [Source 10], AGCO Registrar’s Standards [Source 11], and our regulatory monitoring. This is informational content, not legal advice. Last updated February 14, 2025.