How New Canadian Residents Can Legally Enjoy Online Gambling

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How New Canadian Residents Can Legally Enjoy Online Gambling

February 20, 2025
11:12 pm

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Last Updated On 20 February 2025, 11:02 PM EST (Toronto Time)

Let’s assume you love to play casino games, and you had to take a trip or move to Canada. It’s only natural that you want to immerse yourself back into your old hobbies as you settle into your new environment. At first, this may seem simple, but things can get complicated believe it or not.

Though Canada has plenty of legal online gambling options, the rules aren’t the same everywhere — each province does things a little differently, and not every online casino plays by the rules.

The safe way to go about this is to find round-up lists of Canadian casinos available online for your specific province.

The review sites are there to help you find secure casino sites, identify active promotions, or folder brands based on games and banking options. To learn more about the legal landscape and how all of this works keep reading.

The short answer? Yes, but it depends on where you are. Canadian gambling laws aren’t unified under one national policy. In essence, each province sets its own rules, and what’s legal in one region might not be in another. The good news is that all of the urban and densely populated provinces are regulating online gambling. But even if you aren’t there it’s still possible to play on offshore sites that accept Canadian players.

Here’s how this looks from province to province:

Ontario: This is the only province with a fully regulated open market. Even brands based outside of Canada can get certified and offer services within Ontario.
British Columbia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan: Residents can legally play on PlayNow.com, which is operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and approved by local regulators.
Quebec: The province runs Espacejeux, a government-licensed online casino under Loto-Québec.
Alberta: The locally regulated operator is PlayAlberta.ca, managed by Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis (AGLC).
Atlantic Canada: The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) offers online casino games, but the selection is more limited compared to other provinces.

Another thing to note is that Canada doesn’t ban offshore casinos. However, since they don’t regulate them the consumer protection laws won’t apply if you choose to play there. The exception is iGaming Ontario, where you can play without concerns on offshore sites that are in their register.

Can Newcomers Enjoy Online Gambling Just Like Canadian Citizens?

Yes! Newcomers can legally gamble online just like Canadian citizens, provided they meet the legal age requirement. But if you are just a tourist and want to make a new account, the verification process might get tricky. Users are required to provide proof of address, which is something you won’t have in that case. Without that document, you won’t be able to complete the verification and make a withdrawal.

Here’s how to choose a casino that’s legit and safe, whether it’s provincially licensed or offshore.

1. Use Government-Regulated Sites

As stated, there are a few government regulated casinos Canada has to offer. These are the safest options without a doubt. Not only that but the proceeds will go toward the betterment of the province and improving its economy.

2. Do Your Due Diligence for Offshore Sites

Offshore sites aren’t necessarily a dangerous choice. Just do some research to make sure they are monitored by a reputable authority:

Malta Gaming Authority
UK Gambling Authority
Curacao eGaming
Kahnawake Gaming Commission

Licensed or legal online casinos have to use SSL encryption and gaming software that’s audited and certified for fairness. Furthermore, read the terms and conditions, especially if you plan on making big deposits. Here you’ll find how much you can withdraw, and how many times you need to wager your money to be eligible for cashout.

3. Always Stick to Secure Payment Methods

All safe online casinos Canada offers have reliable deposit and withdrawal options. Most gamblers use Interac, but some prefer other methods like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and other e-wallets or vouchers.

If you play on offshore sites, then crypto might be a better option due to faster cross-border processing. Nowadays, a lot of coins are semi-regulated, so it’s safe to purchase them. However, this might also pose a problem for Canadians, since they need to pay tax on crypto assets. In other words, your gambling winnings will be taxed if you transact in crypto,

Gambling winnings are not taxed here. This won’t apply if you’re a professional gambler and this is your main source of income. Also if you win cryptocurrencies and/or NFTs through gambling you will be taxed depending on the value of those digital assets. To be precise, the Federal Income Tax rate applies to 50% of your total capital gains. On the other hand, your fiat winnings are considered a “windfall’’. This means they aren’t classified as taxable income.

Before you start playing, ask yourself how much are you willing to lose for the sake of entertainment. Don’t treat that money as an investment or think about how much you can win. Teat it as money that’s already spent.

If you are impulsive and prone to getting angry then you might want to lower those limits further or opt to gamble with bonus funds only. After all, if you lose the bonus cash you got through a promo it won’t feel as frustrating.

Most legal online gambling Canada platforms offer responsible gaming features to help you stay on track. These include reality checks or loss counters, time limits, as well as self-exclusion programs.

If you feel gambling has a negative impact on your life, there are helplines and resources you can use:

ConnexOntario: 1-866-531-2600
Problem Gambling Helpline (Canada-wide): 1-888-230-3505
Gamblers Anonymous Canada: gamblersanonymous.org

All things considered, you shouldn’t have problems finding reputable gambling sites. There are plenty of user forums out there where you can seek advice or feedback from your peers. If you don’t like taking risks stick to government-regulated casinos, and you’ll be good.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.