Canada has legalized most forms of gambling on its territory, but online gambling remains a grey area because the government does not issue licenses to operate online casinos. Provinces have the right to decide whether to permit poker or gambling on their territories. Some of them started organizing lottery games and building casinos after receiving this right from the federal government.
According to the Canadian Criminal Code, it’s illegal to host an online gambling site in the country, but each province may legalize different kinds of computer-operated gambling within its borders. One section of the Code states that only governments can run any form of gambling, which adds to the confusion. A notable exception involves the Kahnawake Mohawks, who may operate an online casino. Canadians can gamble at offshore sites without limitation.
Online gambling: an exciting pastime in Canada
In general, the laws are supportive when it comes to gambling in Canada. The Canadian government allowed each territory and province to make their own gaming laws almost 40 years ago. People in Canada can gamble online legally. Still, there are a few considerations in the process.
Rules to follow
Your online casino of choice should be located outside the country or be operated by the province you are located in. For example, if you live in Ontario, you can only play at online casinos in Ontario. Some territories and provinces provide state-run online casinos, and it’s legal to gamble online through these. However, it’s illegal to play on any other platform controlled by a company in the country.
Obviously, the Canadian government is unable to exercise oversight over international gambling websites, which is why their use can’t be outlawed. As a player, you need to make sure you are using the services of a reputable, fully licensed provider.
Payments at Online Casinos
Not every casino site accepts popular payment options like Visa. You might have to open an account with a third party to process your payment. You also need to consider the fact that some online casinos prefer wire transfers. Make sure you check the platform’s accepted payment methods.
Visa
Visa remains a leading payment method among online casinos. The vast majority will accept Visa credit cards as a deposit method. Once your deposit is approved, you can start playing. Still, do exercise caution. Criminals can exploit weaknesses in even the most reliable payment methods.
MasterCard
MasterCard is known for its high security, diverse products, and reliability. It’s no accident that it is accepted all over the world for online purchases. You can use various credit, debit, or prepaid cards to make online casino deposits.
Final Thoughts
According to estimates, there may be thousands of unlicensed operators that work offshore. Only a few are secure, trusted, and safe for Canadian players. While they aren’t licensed in Canada, most of them do have a license on another territory. So far, no Canadian has been punished for gambling through an international, licensed, and legal online betting site.
Thank you for reading this article about the regulation of online casinos in Canada. Hopefully, it has helped guide you in the right direction. We wish you good luck!
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