That is a good question. Likely, the lessons learned in Canada can easily be adapted to fit any circumstance. In this article, we will take a closer look at how Canada regulates gambling in general, and how online gambling has developed there over time.
The Criminal Code of Canada
All laws in Canada are covered in a massive document known as the Criminal Code of Canada. Not counting addendums and additions, the Criminal Code of Canada has 28 different parts outlining the details in 849 different sections. There are just a few that deal directly with gambling, and internet gambling at a real money online casino in Canada fall under a grey area. Four major events have taken place over the past 129 years that addressed gambling specifically in the Criminal Code. They were:
1892
This was when gambling was first outlawed in Canada under the Criminal Code section that focused on “offenses against religion, morals, and public conveniences.”
1969
It was this year when the Criminal Code underwent a slight makeover to permit lotteries that were being used to raise funds for worthy causes.
1976
Sports lotteries were introduced at this time and the Criminal Code had to be altered to allow for the change.
1985
This was a huge year for change in Canada regarding gambling. The federal government chose to give each province and territory control over all gambling activities under their jurisdiction. That included lotteries and lottery schemes that reference computer and video devices, slot machines, and horse racing wagers made via telephone.
Casinos In Canada
The first-ever casino to open in Canada was located in the frozen north…literally. Known as Diamond Tooth Gertie’s, this casino venue popped up in the Yukon Territory (north of British Columbia) in 1971. It was the only one of its kind for years and the Criminal Code change in 1985 led to the growth in the casino industry. That started in 1991 when the first government-owned casino was launched in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was called the Crystal Casino and didn’t even have its own building. Instead, the Crystal Casino occupied the seventh floor of the Fort Garry Hotel. Although the Crystal Casino closed in 1999, Manitoba has expanded its casino industry to where five different venues still operate.
Online Gambling In Canada
Here’s where things get a bit confusing. Online gambling is legal in Canada, as long as it is provided by an operator with a license from a Canadian gaming authority. This is the same situation regardless of the type of online gambling being offered. The confusing part comes from the flood of offshore online gambling sites that have targeted Canadians as new players. With attractive promotions, bonuses, and offers, a lot of Canadians have chosen to join offshore online gambling sites. The issue here is that the majority of those offshore sites do not have licenses to operate in Canada. This makes them technically illegal to join and use. What do Canadian gamblers think about that? Well, chances are, the average Canadian gambler has no clue that a site is offshore or not. Even if the provincial or territorial governments ran an ad campaign explaining that offshore gambling sites are not legal for Canadians to join, there is little in the way of enforcement. So, Canadians get to play wherever they want online and have no fear of penalty. Talk about Canadians being polite! They may apologize for doing it, but they won’t quit doing it.
Provincial/Territorial Gambling Sites
This is probably why so many Canadians turn to offshore gambling sites. First off, not every province or territory has government-run online gambling sites. And the ones that do well, the game selection is sparse, the jackpots are limited, and you would almost conclude that the provincial/territorial sites are designed to repel Canadian gamblers rather than attract them. Sure, no one can compete fairly with the offers, bonuses, and features one can easily find at an offshore site. However, you would think that the provinces and territories would ban together and create one extremely huge online casino site that would blow away all the offshore offerings. But, no. Canadians are too polite to go that route.
Oh, And One More Thing
Canadian bettors have no issue with placing sports bets at online sites based outside of Canada for one main reason. In Canada, sports betting is regulated to the point where only certain types of bets are allowed. It dates back to 1976 when sports lotteries were first introduced. At the time, betting was restricted to parlays – no straight bets. That is still the case 45 years later. Sure, there are sports betting opportunities online in Canada but without being able to place straight bets, and offshore sites accepting them, it’s not hard to figure out what is going on here. The upside is that at least the provincial/territorial sites offer some sports betting options along with casino games ranging from slots and table games to scratch cards and lottery-type games. They just aren’t as pretty or fancy or rich as the same things offered offshore. If there is anything to celebrate in Canada about online gambling, it will be that the internet is fast enough and developed enough in the country that online casinos can be easily accessed with a mobile device.
Final Thoughts
Nevada can learn a lot about online gambling from Canada. First, the regulations should be clear and penalties enforced when violated. The types of online casinos offered in Nevada should have the right kind of bonuses, promotions, and extras to attract local gamblers. Finally, sports betting options must match those being offered at sportsbooks in other parts of the world to remain competitive. There is nothing really wrong with how online gambling is conducted in Canada. If anything, they have a blueprint that can be helpful if used in other jurisdictions. All Canada needs is to tweak a couple of things because we all know Canadian gamblers love their slots, casinos, bingo, and sports betting.
