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Gambling In Canada – The Governments Easy Going Attitude

Everyone knows that Canadians are particularly easygoing. This extends to all areas of life and includes gambling. As such, the Canadian government takes a very laisse fair attitude towards casino games and the players who enjoy playing. All international casinos are equally welcome, in spite of the fact the country has opened its own casinos. Because the Canadian government didn't want anything to do with gambling, all the regulations and rules are handled by the provinces.

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Complete Guide to Gambling in Canada

Since the first settlers arrived in Canada, gambling has always been a popular pastime. On the whole, since the early days, Canada and its provinces have tried to leave gamblers alone. It’s thanks to this attitude that we can see everything, from today’s online gambling phenomena to land-based casinos, being popular across the country.

Today, we thought we take a look and everything a Canadian gambler needs to know. This includes such factors as online casino options, tax obligations, and legislation.

About Legal Gambling in Canada

We know that before westerners arrived, the natives were gambling using sticks for betting games. In 1497 John Cabot landed on the Canadian shores bringing with him western playing cards. The sailors were already playing games like Faro, which later develops into blackjack and jackpot poker. Other popular games with dice include babotte, which was a favourite of Canadians.

From a legal point of view, gambling had an easy ride and only came under government scrutiny in the late 1800s. Nevertheless, government rules and legislation are very limited because all citizens want the freedom to play gambling games. Moving on to more modern times, by 1970 the Canadian government decided to pass the hot potato of gambling legislation to individual provinces. This has allowed individual Canadian cities to build as many land-based casinos as they saw fit. Many decisions with regard to online gambling were left up to the individual players from selves. Today, only on rare occasions will the provinces step in with some form of regulatory oversight.

The First Canadian Gambling Laws

If we look at the history of gambling laws in Canada, then we can see that the Canadian Criminal Code was enacted in 1892. Within this, there are certain provisions which deal with gambling. The Criminal Code was revised in 1910 to allow parimutuel betting on horse racing and other games of chance. These laws were kept very open and loose. As we progressed into the 1900s, gambling became both more acceptable and more popular amongst the Canadian population.

Modern-day Gambling in Canada Laws

The Criminal Code was changed in 1970 in order to give the provinces greater oversight in gambling matters. Soon afterwards others followed in Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Manitoba. But we should point out that before the first casino was built, horse racing was already very popular. Today you’ll find all sorts of betting options available at horse race tracks including such things as video lottery terminals, which generate huge sums of revenue for the Canadian government. Today you’ll find that Canadian lotteries enjoy wide acceptance as a means of generating revenue for charities as well as the government.

Because gambling is a victimless crime, if you’re partaking in illegal gambling then the government doesn’t view it as a threat to its citizens. In fact, you’ll find that gambling enjoys wide acceptance throughout the population and the Canadian government leaves the players to gamble responsibly. To that end, the vast majority of provincial laws are in place to control revenue. As such, they allow government sponsors its own online gambling casinos to help contribute to the overall iGaming industry.

How Is Gambling In Canada Regulated?

The whole gambling industry across Canada is overseen by the Canadian Gaming Commission. Not only do they offer information about gambling and the gambling industry, but there are also tasks with dealing with any serious issues that might arise. In order to show complete openness, the Canadian Gaming Commission communicates with both the government and the public to ensure that the industry remains open and respected. As previously mentioned, laws with regard to the casino industry, sports betting, and online gaming, are all enacted and enforced by the provinces themselves on an individual basis.

About Legal Gambling In Canada

If, as a Canadian, your game of choice is live poker, casino blackjack, or internet gambling, then you’re free to do exactly as you wish without any government interference. An interesting result from this is that Canada has now gained a reputation for being incredibly friendly to gamblers. And especially to online players who have been denied access to online gambling sites in the United States. Many of these players have moved and started gambling in Canada over the last few years. As a result, Canada hosts the fastest-growing online poker market in the world. One of the best casinos to win the jackpot is the excellent 22Bet Casino. For a start, they are happy to accept Canadian players. All new players get a tasty 100% up to $500!

You’ll find that the legal age when gambling in Canada will vary from province to province. Many players are able to enter casinos and start gambling at the age of 18. But you may well find provinces where the gambling age is 19. In order to make revenue of their own, many provinces have also started their own online gambling sites. Many of these websites offer the same facilities as international sites. In spite of starting their own online casino businesses, the provinces have not instituted any restrictions that prohibit Canadian players from gambling offshore or with other casino companies.

How Many Canadians Gamble?

Looking at the numbers, we can see that Canadians love to gamble. For example, a survey from 2000 showed that over 70% of Canadians gamble in some form over the year. In 2002, another survey stated that 18.9 million Canadians love to gamble, including the lottery like Lotto Max. From yet more recent surveys we can see that between 75% – 95% of Canadians take part in some form of gambling activities. When it comes to the provinces, some like Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia, have an even higher percentage of Canadian gambling lovers.

Can Canadians Play On International Online Casinos?

Absolutely! Canada has not inactive any laws that specifically prohibit Canadian online players from going to international casino websites. As a result of this, you’ll find many of the top offshore casinos that target Canada. Obviously, with such high playing figures, it’s not surprising that these companies see the Canadian market as a growing one. Play able to compete in such games says jackpot slots, craps, baccarat, video poker, roulette, blackjack, online poker, and many other casino games.

Can I Legally Deposit And Withdraw Money To Online Casinos?

Thanks to the openness of Canadian provincial governments to online gambling you’ll find that all the top online casinos will offer a huge number of options when it comes to deposits and withdrawals. Apart from this, there will be other convenient online payment processors as well as third-party companies offering their services. Virtually all banks in Canada are happy to make direct transfers to your

Is There Tax On My Winnings When I’m Gambling In Canada?

When it comes to paying taxes on your casino earnings then everything boils down to whether you have declared Canada to be your primary residence. Whether you play the games professionally. If you’re a local player then we suggest that you ask your accountant or tax specialist. This is because each Canadian province would have its own specific tax codes that apply to gambling activities. Having said all of this the answer is yes all winning cameras must pay some form of tax. But the amount will vary considerably from province to province.

Do Online Casinos Pay In Canadian Dollars?

You’ll find a huge number of online casinos that happily accept the Canadian dollar for both deposits and withdrawals. This means that as a Canadian you don’t have to worry about such things as exchange fees when moving money from your bank to the casino account. Also find that the vast majority of international casino sites like 22Bet Casino, which offer their services to Canadian players, will be happy to accept the Canadian dollar.

Secure Online Casino Gambling In Canada

We should point out, that though the Canadian government self-regulates online gambling for Canadian citizens, each province will have its own laws and regulations in place. Here at Jackpotfinder.com, we like to point out that there is always a risk of gambling online with offshore casinos. So before you start gambling in Canada, it’s imperative that you check that gaming licence. Ensure they are from companies that have proper registration and a stellar reputation.

To help check the jackpot games, there are special independent online auditing companies such as eCOGRA. Their job is to perform regular audits at online casino entities. They must ensure that they are both legal and operating games in a fair manner. So, providing you only deal with online casinos with a reputable gaming license, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Especially in terms of your personal or banking security. Or your casino payouts actually reaching you.