Is Gambling Legal in Canada? Laws & Regulators

Is gambling legal in Canada? Yes, but only through channels that a province runs itself or has licensed. The federal Criminal Code makes gambling an offence in principle, then hands the right to run lotteries, casinos, sports betting and online gaming to the provinces. As a result the same activity can look completely different from one province to the next: in Toronto you can bet with several licensed private platforms, while in Vancouver there is exactly one legal gambling website, run by the provincial lottery corporation.

For PRC passport holders who are studying, working or settling in Canada, four questions matter most: who regulates gambling in your province, the minimum age (19 in most provinces, 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec), whether winnings are taxed (casual prizes for individuals usually are not), and what Chinese criminal law says about organising or recruiting PRC citizens to gamble abroad. This page covers regulation only, as of October 2026, and does not recommend any casino or platform.

C$103bn+wagers in Ontario’s regulated online market (iGaming Ontario, FY 2025-26, unaudited)

C$4.2bn+gaming revenue in the same period (iGaming Ontario, FY 2025-26)

91.1%of Ontario online players using regulated sites (Ipsos/iGO, May 2026)

13 July 2026Alberta’s private online gaming market opened (Government of Alberta)

Legal framework: federal ban, provincial monopoly or licence

Section 206 of the Criminal Code makes lotteries and games of chance an offence; section 207 sets out the exceptions. A provincial government may “conduct and manage” a lottery scheme in accordance with provincial law, and may license charities, religious organisations, fairs and exhibitions for limited gaming. In law a “lottery scheme” covers casino games, slot machines and online gaming, so the core rule in Canada is simple: gambling is legal when the province runs it (usually through a Crown corporation) or has authorised it.

For sports, the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act of 2021 (Bill C-218) removed the ban on single-event sports betting. Since 27 August 2021 provinces may offer single-game bets. Pari-mutuel betting on horse races remains under a separate federal regime.

The practical consequence: a website that is not authorised by your province is not a legal channel there, whatever licence it claims to hold (for example from an offshore jurisdiction, or from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission in Quebec). The official lists published by provincial regulators are what counts. We do not explain how to use unauthorised sites. For visas, work and daily life, go back to our Canada country guide.

Regulators and minimum age by province

Province	Regulator / operator	Legal online channel	Minimum age
Ontario	AGCO (regulator); iGaming Ontario (contracts with private operators); OLG (provincial)	AGCO-registered private platforms + OLG	19
Alberta	AGLC (regulator); Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC)	Play Alberta + registered private platforms since July 2026	18
British Columbia	Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO, replacing GPEB); BCLC (operator)	PlayNow.com only	19
Quebec	Loto-Québec (operator)	Loto-Québec’s official platform	18
Manitoba	LGCA (regulator)	Provincial platform	18
Saskatchewan, the four Atlantic provinces, the three territories	Provincial authorities	Provincial platforms (Atlantic Lottery Corporation in the Atlantic provinces)	19

The rows for Saskatchewan, the Atlantic provinces and the territories are based on a media summary; check the local official website.

Ontario and Alberta: two open online markets

Ontario was the first province to let private companies into online gaming: since 4 April 2022, private operators can register with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and then sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario (iGO). On 12 May 2025, under the iGaming Ontario Act, 2024, iGO became a stand-alone provincial agency rather than an AGCO subsidiary (summary by law firm Gowling WLG). According to iGO, 49 operators ran 84 gaming websites in FY 2024-25.

Ontario regulated online wagers by product (FY 2024-25, C$)

Online casinoC$69.6bn

Sports and other bettingC$11.4bn

Peer-to-peer pokerC$1.7bn

Source: iGaming Ontario, FY 2024-25 market performance report (published April 2025, unaudited, excludes OLG)

Alberta passed the iGaming Alberta Act (Bill 48) in spring 2025. AGLC regulates and registers operators, the Alberta iGaming Corporation handles commercial agreements, and the private market officially opened on 13 July 2026. Both provinces require players to be physically inside the province when they bet: the AGCO standard says games “shall be provided only within Ontario” and operators must keep checking player location. In all other provinces only the provincial platform is legal. For land-based venues and entry rules, read our guide to casinos in Canada; online rules are covered in online casino laws in Canada.

Age and ID checks

The AGCO standard sets the gaming age in Ontario at 19 (people aged 18 may only buy lottery tickets). The Government of British Columbia requires players to be 19 or older. Alberta and Manitoba set the age at 18, and Quebec’s casinos also admit guests from 18, accepting only a physical government-issued photo ID; photos on a phone or photocopies are refused. Chinese visitors should carry their original passport.

Are winnings taxed?

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) states that lottery winnings of any amount are not reported as income, unless the prize is in fact income from employment, a business or property; interest earned once the money is invested must be reported as usual. Casual gambling gains of individuals are generally treated the same way, while people who gamble as a profession or business may have their gains treated as business income. Canada has no equivalent of the US 30% withholding on non-residents’ winnings.

If you are still a Chinese tax resident, foreign income may raise reporting questions under Chinese law; see our article on tax residency and consult a professional.

Advertising rules

Ontario has the strictest rules on online gambling advertising. Since 28 February 2024 the AGCO has banned licensed operators from using active or retired athletes in advertising (except solely to promote responsible gambling), and it also bars celebrities, influencers, cartoon figures and similar content likely to appeal to minors; see the AGCO announcement. Alberta’s rules prohibit ads that target minors or reach self-excluded people. At federal level, the Senate passed Bill S-211 (a national framework on sports betting advertising) in October 2025; after second reading in the House of Commons in April 2026 it was sent to committee and, as of October 2026, it is not yet law.

What Chinese citizens should know: PRC law

Article 303 of the PRC Criminal Law covers the crimes of gambling and of operating a gambling establishment. Criminal Law Amendment XI, in force since 1 March 2021, added the offence of organising PRC citizens to gamble abroad: where the amounts are large or the circumstances serious, it is punished in the same way as operating a gambling establishment. These provisions mainly target organisers, operators and recruiters, but gambling abroad can still lead to frozen funds, fraud and problems at the border. This page is for information only; see our disclaimer.

If you are planning a long-term move, our Leaving China section covers passports, foreign exchange and other formalities.

Responsible gambling and help

In Ontario, ConnexOntario runs the problem gambling helpline on 1-866-531-2600, answered live 24/7, free and confidential. Regulated platforms in Alberta must connect to the province’s central self-exclusion programme, and the provincial platforms elsewhere also offer limit-setting and self-exclusion tools. Gambling is for adults only (18+/19+); play within your means.

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