The online gaming industry has proven to be one of the fastest-growing sectors across different parts of the globe, and Canada is one of the countries that are contributing to this growth. There are plenty of reputable online casino Canada platforms where residents can enjoy hundreds of games available under different categories.
While millions of gamblers place their wagers over the internet in Canada, there are usually a lot of questions surrounding the legality of online gambling in the country. Depending on who you ask about Canada’s online gambling, you’ll end up with a lot of conflicting answers but today, we are going to set the record straight for you. Thus, if you’ve ever had any questions about online gambling and the law in Canada, keep reading for more information.
What Does the Law Say About Gambling in Canada?
When it comes to the lawfulness of online casinos in Canada, the regulations governing gambling are alive with exemptions, conflicts, and blurred lines where various issues are yet to be resolved.
The law of the land in Canada allows the provinces to set up their gambling laws as they see fit. Based on the current laws, land-based gaming establishments must have a license to be able to operate rightfully within Canada, but then, federal law prohibits the operation of an online casino in the country. As such, no province to date has come up with a framework for the regulation of interactive gaming to a scale that’s as structured as that of regions such as Britain for instance. Therefore, while you’ll find plenty of land-based casinos and lotteries across the country, there are no fully-fledged online casinos that are established from within the country.
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission
Nevertheless, there are a few exemptions to gambling laws when it comes to native reservation land, like the Kahnawake native reserve. The kind of autonomy that reservation land in Canada enjoys is the same as that of Native American tribal sovereignty in the USA.
On the subject of Indian reservation sovereignty, the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in Quebec introduces and ingesting twist for gambling in Canada. The Indian reservation had foreseen the potential for interactive gaming as far back as 1996 and the administrators went ahead to launch the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Given that the territory isn’t bound by Canadian law, they have a right to offer licenses and a regulatory framework for offshore online gambling platforms. Therefore, if you’re looking for an online casino that’s licensed exclusively for Canadians, then you should look for the Kahnawake Gaming Commission badge on the platform.
How the United States Affects Canadian Players
Even though the USA holds no particular authority on gamblers in Canada, the indirect impact is realized through monetary transfers. The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement (UIGEA) which was passed back in 2006, makes transactions to web-based casinos illegal, i.e. gambling transactions to and from the United States of America.
As a result of the overlay of widespread North American banking nets, Canadian banks such as RBC have been forced to put into effect several restrictions on debit/credit acquisitions for bettors residing in Canada. That way the bank can avoid conflict with US banking regulations. However, Canadian bettors can still move cash around with third party banking options such as PayPal, Citadel, Interac, PaySafeCard, and Skrill.
A ‘Grey’ Canadian Gaming Market
Generally, Canada is considered a ‘grey’ market when it comes to online betting. This implies that gaming at online casino sites is neither openly illegal nor is it legal as no explicit laws are touching on the matter except for the Kahnawake reservation.
The law is yet to comb through every likely circumstance that involves gambling via the internet. While no private firms are permitted to run an online casino site on the territory of Canada, the law doesn’t prohibit residents from placing wagers via the internet. However, even with the grey areas that put Canadian online betting under a shadow of uncertainty, there are plenty of legitimate offshore online casino sites accepting Canadians.
Therefore, from a bettor’s standpoint, it isn’t against the law to play at an online casino when you are in Canada. If you are interested gambler in Canada, you have total freedom to relish placing wagers online, worry-free. For a guarantee of safety and security, just make sure that you play on a platform that’s regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission or other reputable gaming oversight bodies such as the Malta Gaming Authority and the UK Gambling Commission.
