Americas
Canada
No single national regulator - gambling is a provincial responsibility under the federal Criminal Code. Ontario's private iGaming market is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) together with iGaming Ontario (iGO); other provinces regulate/operate gambling through their own bodies (e.g. BCLC, Loto-Québec, OLG, AGLC)
Regulations & Licensing
Casino
RegulatedOnline Casino
MixedBetting
RegulatedOnline Betting
MixedLottery
RegulatedBingo
RegulatedKey Legislation
- Criminal Code (RSC 1985, c C-46), Part VII, Section 207
- Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act (Bill C-218, 2021)
- Ontario Gaming Control Act, 1992
- iGaming Ontario regulatory framework and Gaming Control Act regulations
Online Gambling
Allowed
- Online casino games and slots via provincially licensed operators (open competitive market in Ontario; government-monopoly platforms such as PlayNow, Loto-Québec, PlayAlberta elsewhere)
- Online sports betting, including single-event wagers, through licensed/provincial platforms
- Online poker through licensed/provincial platforms
- Online bingo and lottery ticket sales through provincial lottery corporations
- Alberta launching an Ontario-style open private iGaming market in July 2026
Prohibited
- Operating an online gambling site targeting Canadian players without provincial authorization (illegal under the Criminal Code)
- Unlicensed operators accepting Ontario players outside the AGCO/iGO framework
- Gambling by minors (legal age 18 or 19 depending on province)
- Unregulated offshore sportsbooks and casinos remain widely accessible in practice outside Ontario/Alberta due to limited enforcement
Taxation
Ontario iGaming revenue share/taxRoughly 20% of gross gaming revenue
Ontario regulatory feeApprox. CAD 100,000 per gaming website annually
Other provinces (monopoly model)Revenue accrues directly to the provincial Crown lottery corporation rather than a separate operator tax
License validity: Ontario operator registration/agreement renewed periodically subject to AGCO standards compliance; other provinces operate via direct Crown ownership rather than third-party licences
Land-Based Gambling
Allowed
- Provincially licensed land-based casinos and integrated resorts
- Racetracks and horse racing wagering (parimutuel, federally regulated)
- Retail sports betting and lottery ticket sales via provincial lottery corporations
- Bingo halls and charitable gaming licensed by provincial authorities
- Gaming machines/slots in licensed casinos and racinos
Prohibited
- Operating a casino, betting shop or gaming venue without provincial authorization
- Private/commercial 'bookmaking' outside the provincial lottery-scheme framework
- Gambling by minors (legal age 18 or 19 depending on province)
Taxation
Casino/gaming revenueRevenue largely flows to provincial governments as owners/operators rather than a uniform GGR tax; private operators (e.g. Ontario commercial casinos) pay negotiated revenue-share agreements
Federal excise tax on lottery/pari-mutuel schemesMinimal residual federal levies; most taxation authority rests with the provinces
Regulation data is editorial and for information only — not legal advice.
