For many Canadians, gambling and playing in real-money casinos are two of the most popular leisure activities. However, Canada’s local gambling laws are complex, like other nations.
The country’s government has authorized several forms of land-based gambling activities. The same is true for a few types of Internet gaming. Nevertheless, some regulations regarding casino and gaming services provided by foreign firms are unclear.
The picture gets even more complex when it comes to internet gambling. Companies are not allowed to run any online casinos or poker rooms in Canada. However, there’s the catch: most offshore gaming servers are located on Kahnawake territory, which is still part of the country.
Furthermore, Malta Gambling Authority and UK Gambling Commission have licensed some of the biggest online casinos.
It’s not illegal to play at an online casino from a player’s standpoint. It is only prohibited to establish and operate a web-based casino from Canada. The offshore websites, which are hosted in Kahnawake’s native territory, provide evidence for this.
Even under the current circumstances, South Africa is still a desirable gaming environment and is considered a relatively safe location to play online casino games.
What Are The Gambling Laws in Canada?
Playing casino and poker games within the Canadian borders is legal. However, it is still illegal to run or operate an online gaming website from Canada or for a Canadian citizen to become employed by one. Many offshore gambling websites accept Canadian players. Several of them are based in Kahnawake territory, which is located on the St. Lawrence River and is an Indian reserve within Montreal, Quebec.
Despite the allure of immediate cash, Canadian citizens and lawmakers have managed to take an even-handed approach to the issue of gambling, maintaining a balance between ethics and prosperity. In most cases, the rules are adaptable while still considering the public’s wellbeing at every step.
Similar to other countries, the legal scenario of gambling in Canada may change rapidly. It is advisable to verify the information you read from a site because even the most well-intentioned information may become outdated in a matter of days. If you want to be cautious, it’s always a good idea to contact an attorney or submit a government agency directly before becoming a high-roller Canadian gambler.
The Canadian Criminal Code on Illegal Gambling
The Criminal Code of Canada is the legislation that establishes a definition of prohibited gaming activities in Canada. Several jurisdictions, including web-based casinos, are currently allowed to operate, regulate, and grant licenses by the provinces.
In general, the Criminal Code of a country describes gambling and conducting gaming activities as illegal unless exceptions are carved out in the Code itself.
Part VII of the Code contains rules that prohibit gaming operations in Canada. In Section 207, some exceptions may be found. However, things are a bit more convoluted because the provincial governments have the authority to organize and regulate lotteries and certain games of chance run on or via a computer (online gambling). According to current Canadian legislation, such activities are allowed only with the proper license.
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What is the Kahnawake Gaming Commission?
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a non-profit entity that oversees the regulation and licensing of online gaming sites. The Commission was formed in 1999 to protect gamblers from being scammed at offshore casinos. These websites are not allowed to grant licenses for their activities directly, which means that if they want to operate in Canada legally, they have to receive a permit from the Commission.
Some of the most notable online casinos licensed by this Commission include Bodog, BetClic Everest, The Professional Poker Tour, and World Sports Exchange.
Present Situation of Online Gambling in Canada
The legal situation of online casinos and poker games is very similar to land-based card rooms. Canadian law does not prohibit offshore websites from operating web-based gaming services, nor does it criminalize the act of participating in such activities.
It’s important to remember that playing at an unlicensed gambling site is illegal, even if those sites are hosted offshore. According to the Criminal Code of Canada, this makes those websites unlawful. Operating a website hosting slot machines, blackjack tables, card rooms, poker games, or any other prohibited game is a criminal offense that may result in serious legal consequences.
There are no laws that prohibit the residents of Canada from participating in online betting activities, either for fun or for real money. Sites that are only accessible from Canada cannot offer poker rooms, casinos, bingo halls, etc. unless they have obtained all necessary permits and licenses.
If your goal is to gamble online, it’s best to seek out the information of a legal Canadian betting site. Many reputable new locations are on the market, including several which won awards for their services in 2011.