Published by Programme B
Online casinos have made it possible for Canadian players to gamble conveniently from wherever they are and whenever they want to do so. However, before signing up at any online casino, it is advisable to understand the legality of gambling at the specific casino and the Canadian government’s laws on online casino gambling. This article provides an insight into the legality of online casino gambling in Canada.
Are Online Casinos Legally Allowed to Operate In Canada?
There’s no clear-cut stance on whether online casinos can legally operate in Canada. This can be better defined by differentiating two types of online casinos. Firstly, online casinos with their servers in Canada are not legally allowed to carry out online gambling in Canada.
On the other hand, online casinos with offshore licenses from Malta, Gibraltar, UKGC, and other offshore gambling licenses can offer online gambling services to players from Canada. Despite the many ambiguities surrounding online casino gaming in Canada, players can join online casino sites that have been regulated and licensed offshore and play online casino games for real money.
History of Gambling Laws in Canada
Gambling is a favorite pastime for players in Canada and worldwide, but there have always been limitations to which games Canadian players can access and where they can gamble from.
Limitations on gambling date back to 1892, when gambling was considered illegal in Canada’s territories. The laws were relaxed in the early 1900 when charitable events such as Bingo games were allowed. Fast forward to the 1960s and gaming machines joined the list of games that players from Canada could gamble on.
However, as casino gambling became more popular, more casino games from diverse varieties were offered in land-based casinos. The operations in these casinos are regulated and licensed by specific provinces and territories. The legalization of online gambling, however, remains a matter for further discussion for the Canadian government.
Who can sign up at Canadian Online Casinos?
To sign up at any online casino such as Black Spins or Jackpot City in Canada, you must have met the legal age of players from your specific location of residence. Different provinces and territories in Canada have regulations that govern the legal age of gamblers from their locality.
To encourage responsible gambling, online casino sites also require you to provide identification documents such as a passport and driving license to verify your age during the sign-up process
Which Casino Games Can I Play in Online Casinos in Canada?
Online casinos in Canada stock hundreds of casino games from diverse varieties. This means that you can play table and card games like blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and video poker. You can also play live dealer games if the live casino supports live table and card games.
Hundreds of the best online casino slots and other instant win games are also available. While one may be able to access games from multiple software providers, players should not be surprised to find some giant software provider’s games missing from their casino games lobby.
Can One Play Online Casino Games On The Mobile Platform?
Despite the small ambiguity in regards to online casino gaming, there is no reason you cannot play casino games on your mobile device. Most online casinos have developed mobile apps that you can download and install on your smartphone or tablet. Alternatively, if the casino is mobile optimized, you can access its games on the phone’s web browser without any need to download any software.
What is the Future of Online Casino Gambling in Canada?
There is hope for the legalization of online casino gambling in Canada if the present trends are to be considered, particularly with payment processors such as Interac enabling online transactions easily. Online gambling has become very popular in the recent past, and online casinos with offshore gambling licenses are reaping huge revenues from online gambling.
Moreover, with most gambling forms such as lotteries, bingo being allowed in land-based casinos, though regulated by the government, the next step could be legalizing online gambling.
However, this is merely speculation, and we aim to keep you updated on any new developments in online casino gambling regulations. This includes notifying you when this becomes a reality in Canada. Stay tuned.
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