Gambling is alive and well in Canada. If you like to gamble, you’ll find the type of gambling you prefer in each of the country’s three territories and 10 provinces. However, each provincial and territorial government regulates gambling and determines what is legal and illegal within their jurisdiction.
Types of Gambling Found in Canada
There is a wide range of gambling types in Canada, so people who want to try their luck are bound to find something that suits them. There are casinos, racetracks, ticket lotteries, slot machines, charitable gaming (such as bingo) and Video Lottery Terminals across the country, subject to the rules of the state.
Casinos in Canada
Casino gambling is probably most popular type of gambling for tourists in the country, and it is available in all Canadian provinces except for Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.
The province of Quebec has at least eight casinos, the grandest of which are the Manor Richelieu and the Mont Tramblant; both are equal to the best establishments in Las Vegas. In Ontario, tourists and locals can choose from among 25 casinos when they want to try their luck, or they can spend time to simply relax in Ontario’s resort casinos.
Other Types of Gambling
Of course, casinos are far from the only way to gamble in Canada. Online gambling has become very popular in Canada, and you can always get your thrill through online poker, online slots, or online bingo.
For those who like to dream of huge winnings without putting up big stakes, Canada has two nationwide lottery games, Lotto 6/49 and Lotto MAX. Those who like to bet on horses can visit the racetracks or do a little off the track betting.
Canadian Law and Gambling
When Canada’s Criminal Code was changed in 1969, lotteries became legal for the purpose of raising funds for worthy causes. Since then, gambling has gained acceptance in Canadian communities. Today, legal gambling has become available through private operators, charities and Canada’s First Nations.
Regulations on gambling can vary from state to state with some states prohibiting certain gambling types so that in some areas the establishment of casinos is prohibited. Regulations pertaining to gambling are by no means uniform. While in most provinces and territories 19 is the age requirement for entry to a casino, Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba have lowered this requirement to 18. This requirement applies not only to people who want to gamble; it is to be followed even by people who want to enter the casino to eat or shop.
Gambling has become part of the legal entertainment scene in Canada, and though illegal gambling still exists in Canada, both licensed operators and the government work at keeping the industry attractive and above board. Casinos, for example, can now offer more than just a spin of the roulette or a chance of hitting the jackpot at the slot machines; many are packaged as resorts or high end establishments with deluxe accommodations, good food and amazing shows.