According to statistics, the Canadian government accrued $17.3 billion from the gambling industry in 2017. This shows a rapid increase in the betting activities since the same statistics mentioned that $2.73 billion was acquired from slot machines and lotteries among many more in 1992.
However, cyber gambling law in Canada has been seen as a grey area when it comes to legality. Some of the online casinos are stated to be operating illegally even though betting in Canada is legalized.
Going Online
Cyber gambling in Canada struggled at first due to worries of scammers. But over time, security measures on the web were put in place, which led to a drastic change. Canadians now prefer using real money to play in casinos online, since they are assured of their safety. As a result, this led to a fall in revenue in some land-based casinos such as Caesars Windsor and Loto Quebec’s Montreal Casino.
Besides that, cyber gambling in Canada has become a trend with a big percentage of Canadians participating in betting over the past years. Latest technology advances are one of the main reasons for the rise of online betting. With the new HTML5 technology, players can now access any casino games from their tablets and smartphones. All a player need is a good internet connection.
The Specialities of Cyber Gaming Regulations in Canada
The availability of regulations set in every province to ensure responsible gambling is also another reason for the increase in cyber gaming. A total of ten provinces exist in Canada, and each one has set its regulations.
The laws might be similar, but the minimum age and the permitted types of gambling may vary. For instance, in Colombia and Nova Scotia, the legal age for gambling is 19 years, while in Alberta and Quebec, it is 18 years. However, some of these provinces only offer betting regulations for land-based casinos while others offer for casinos on the Internet.
Moreover, the existence of gambling authorities also contributes to the growth of online betting. And since they are province specified, only a few organizations ensure responsible and safe online gaming activities. The available institutions include:
- British Colombia Gaming Policy Enforcement – They are responsible for online and land-based casinos located in Colombia. They also resolve conflicts between players and staking institutions.
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission – One of the authorities that has been in the industry for a long time. They license and regulate online gambling institutions in the Kahnawake Mohawk area.
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario – Besides controlling alcoholic beverages in Ontario, AGCO regulates online and land casinos. They make sure that these institutions offer fair and safe games to all their players.
The increase in demand for cyber gambling is also due to some of these games are not taxed. Any lottery or betting winnings are not subjected to taxes except for poker. Poker games may be taxed depending if the player seems to make a living out of it.
Moreover, most players prefer playing online since it is easier to adapt and is affordable than going to the physical destination. Canadians can access hundreds of table games and slot machines among many more with just one click away.
Concluding Word
In summary, even though cyber gambling is on the rise in Canada, land-based casinos have also managed to survive, and they are fighting to stay in the market. This has led to the introduction of online staking sites by some of the brick and mortar casinos.
But other than that, online casinos have a bigger advantage since they are a preferable option for most players. Canadians can access any games from their portable devices at any place and at any time. The change in technology has also contributed a lot to the growth of cyber gambling in Canada.
