Hello, players and welcome to casinosforcanada.com. In the following review, we will provide an honest evaluation of online casino licenses and regulators, and explain to Canadian players why it is important to choose a safe online casino.
List of the Best Safe and secure Gambling Sites for Canadian Players
Online gambling legislation in Canada
In order to ensure that gambling is a safe and fun activity for its citizens, each province in Canada legislates and regulates its own gambling industry. With regard to online gambling, Canadians are legally permitted to play at online casinos located outside of Canada, on provincial casino sites, and at online casinos that are hosted on native reserves, such as Kahnawake. Generally, casinos in Canada run as charitable and commercial operations to ensure that local communities benefit from the proceeds of gambling.
Given these variations, provincial gambling laws can be confusing for players. While we always recommend consulting the official provincial legislation for guidance, our overview of gambling laws for each Canadian province is a helpful guide for anyone who is curious about basic gambling restrictions in Canada.
Alberta
Individuals must be 18 years of age or older to gamble online and play in land-based casinos.
- Overview of Gambling Law
Gambling is popular in Alberta – more than 4% of the province’s revenue is sourced from betting. The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission oversees all gambling regulations in the province.
Residents of Alberta can gamble online at casino sites and sportsbooks, with no limitations. Alberta is one of only two provinces that does not offer any regulated online gambling services. However, Albertan officials may change this soon.
Albertan players do not have to pay any taxes on winnings from casino games, sportsbooks, or poker sites.
British Columbia
Individuals must be 19 years of age or older to gamble online or in land-based casinos.
- Overview of Gambling Law
People have been gambling in British Columbia for years, but it wasn’t until July 2010 that the British Columbia Lottery Corporation established the first government-run online casino. Today, British Columbians can gamble on casino games, sports betting, and poker at both land-based operators and online provincial and foreign casino sites.
Players are not required to pay taxes on their winnings unless they are professional gamblers.
Manitoba
The legal age for gambling in Manitoba is 18 years of age.
- Overview of Gambling Law
The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba regulates all casinos, sports betting and poker games in the province. Only professional bettors are required to pay taxes on winnings from gambling, which is good news for most players.
New Brunswick
The legal age for gambling in New Brunswick is 19 years of age.
- Overview of Gambling Law
New Brunswick players can enjoy sports betting and casino games, including slots, table games, and poker. All gambling in the province is regulated by the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation.
If you aren’t a professional gambler, you are not required to pay taxes on winnings from online gambling or land-based casinos.
Newfoundland and Labrador
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the legal age for gambling is 19 years of age.
- Overview of Gambling Law
Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province in Canada that does not have any land-based casinos. However, First Nations tribes can open their own casinos.
The Atlantic Lottery regulates all sports betting, lottery, and charitable gambling in the province. Although there are no provincial online casinos in Newfoundland and Labrador, residents can legally bet with casino sites that are located abroad.
Northwest Territories
Players must be 19 years of age or older to gamble in the Northwest Territories.
- Overview of Gambling Law
Casino games, sports betting, and lotteries are legally permitted and regulated by the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Lotteries. While casino gambling is legal in this province, there are currently no land-based casinos in the Northwest Territories. However, players can legally gamble online at casino sites that are based overseas.
Nova Scotia
The legal gambling age in Nova Scotia is 19 years of age.
- Overview of Gambling Law
The Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Division oversees all gambling in the province, apart from horse racing. Casinos, sports betting and lotteries are permitted to operate in the province, but can only be located in age-restricted venues.
Nunavut
Residents of Nunavut must be 19 years of age or older in order to gamble.
- Overview of Gambling
Nunavut is the least-populated territory in Canada. While Yukon law states that the province is legally allowed to operate casinos, racetracks and sportsbooks, the sparse population means that there are no casinos or racetracks in Nunavut. The lottery is the only form of land-based casino gambling in Nunavut, and it is regulated by the Department of Community and Government Services.
Ontario
Players must be 19 years of age in order to gamble. This includes online casinos and sportsbooks.
- Overview of Gambling Law
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) is responsible for gambling in the province. Players in Ontario are permitted to engage in casino games, sports betting, and poker games. Players do not have to pay taxes on their winnings from online gambling or land-based gambling sites.
Prince Edward Island
The legal gambling age in Prince Edward Island is 19 years of age.
- Overview of Gambling Law
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is the smallest province in Canada and has one of the lowest gambling rates in the country. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation in PEI regulates all land-based gambling in the province, which includes sports betting and “racinos,” which combine harness racing and casino games. PEI residents are legally permitted to gamble online at sites that are based overseas.
Québec
The legal gambling age in Québec is 18 years of age.
- Overview of Gambling Law
Québec has offered its residents gambling opportunities for more than four decades. Casino games, sports betting and poker are all regulated by the Québec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming Commission. The province currently has nine land-based casinos, a racetrack, and various sports betting outlets. As gambling becomes increasingly popular in Québec, the number of operators is growing. Québec residents are legally allowed to gamble online, either through government-regulated sites or casinos and sportsbooks that are located outside of Canada.
Unless a player is a professional gambler, they do not have to pay taxes on their winnings.
Saskatchewan
The legal gambling age in Saskatchewan is 18 years of age.
- Overview of Gambling Law
According to Statistics Canada, Saskatchewan residents spend more on gambling than any other Canadian province. Casino games, sports betting and poker are all permitted in the province, and they are regulated by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority or the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, if the gambling activities are operated by a First Nations tribe.
Unless players gamble professionally, they do not have to pay taxes on any of their winnings.
Yukon
The legal gambling age in Yukon is 19 years of age.
- Overview of Gambling Law
Despite its large population, the Yukon has only a few gambling opportunities. Apart from Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall, permanent casinos are banned in the Yukon. Instead, the territory hosts “three-day casinos,” where charitable or religious not-for-profit organizations host temporary casino games.
Many Yukon residents gamble online, and as long as players are not professional gamblers, they do not have to pay taxes on any of their winnings.
How does an online casino license affect the safety of its players?
The security of online casinos in Canada is of the utmost importance. We therefore advise Canadian players to only play at licensed casinos. Regulatory bodies oversee the licensing, testing and auditing of online casinos in order to ensure that the casinos are safe and the outcomes of all games are fair and random.
Below is a list of legitimate licensing and regulatory bodies:
- Malta Gaming Authority
- UK Gambling Commission
- Curacao license
- Swedish Gambling Authority l
- British Columbia Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission
- Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
- Québec Régie des Alcools des Courses et des Jeux
- Alberta Gaming
How software providers influence the safety of online casinos
Software providers constantly compete with each other and fight to provide the best games for players to enjoy. The best software providers hold operating licenses and are regulated by authorized bodies. Safe online casinos collaborate with these software providers and also use Random Number Generators, a software that keeps online casino games truly random and fair. Casinos regularly have their RNGs tested by the appropriate governing body to ensure that they promote safe gameplay.
Here is a list of online casino software providers:
- Microgaming
- NetEntertainment
- RedTiger Gaming
- Evolution Gaming
- Play N Go
- Aristocrat
- PlayTech
- Novomatic
How deposit and withdrawal methods affect players’ safety
Safe online casinos offer a range of proven, reliable payment methods, which should provide strong security safeguards, and facilitate faster payouts. Players can rest assured that when they complete financial transactions at these casinos, their sensitive financial information is secure.
Deposit and withdrawal methods at online casinos include:
- PayPal
- Bank transfer
- Cryptocurrencies
- Skrill
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Sofort
- Trustly
- Paysafecard
How a careful study of the conditions of online casino games affects
We have found that many online casinos list certain terms and conditions for various games in small print. These conditions are often found after the game is over and they are usually not favourable for the player. In order to avoid this, we have carefully examined these terms and conditions, and prepared honest, detailed reviews of all legal online casinos in Canada.
How casino testing and audit bodies affect Security
Auditing and testing at online casinos are extremely important; even a small mistake can negatively affect a casino’s reputation. Auditing at Canadian online casinos is always carried out with the collaboration of three major entities: the casino’s management (represented by its internal casino auditing team), independent certified public accountants, and regulatory government agencies.
Internal casino auditing teams manage the flow of finances in and out of the casino. They ensure that all chips are properly accounted for and all payouts are managed correctly. The slightest mistake could cause irreparable damage to the casino’s credibility and reliability. The auditing teams are also responsible for strictly monitoring the casino’s workers and players to ensure that there is no cheating whatsoever.
Certified public accountants are responsible for closely monitoring internal casino auditing procedures such as financial reporting, and evaluating whether these procedures and systems comply with the standard requirements of the regulating agency. Certified public accountants also conduct annual audits and oversee the submission of reports to the Security and Exchange Commissions and regulatory agencies.
Government agencies are primarily focused on the casino’s compliance with revenue reports and taxes. Regulatory agencies ensure that the highest standards of quality gambling services are provided to the gambling community. This includes the review and evaluation of the casino’s system of determining the payout percentage, timely payment to casino winners and ensuring that the casino has sufficient funds for payouts.
Casino auditing ensures the financial security and stability of the online casino, which also helps to guarantee that the highest quality financial services are provided in the casino.
FAQ
How are the best safe online casinos in Canada rated?
We rate the safety of online casinos in Canada based on security, encryption protocols and licenses available at the casino.
How do I make deposits and withdrawals at safe online casinos in Canada?
Safe online casinos offer a variety of safe banking/payment methods for deposits and withdrawals. You can choose the method that is most convenient for you.
What kind of licenses are found in the best safe online casinos in Canada?
Safe online casinos in Canada must be licensed by recognized, legitimate regulatory bodies, such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the United Kingdom Gaming Commission, the government of Curacao, the Swedish Gaming Authority, and many others.
Do safe online casinos in Canada offer bonuses?
Yes. A variety of bonuses are available at safe online casinos in Canada. These bonuses include welcome bonuses, no deposit bonuses, cashback, reload bonuses and free spins.
Can we play at safe online casinos in Canada?
Every online casino that we recommend is safe to play at because of its reliability and safe gambling environment.
How do we find the best safe online casinos in Canada?
In order to find a safe online casino to play at, check out our 2021 list of safe online casinos in Canada, which is available on our website.