Toronto Mike

What regulatory frameworks govern casino apps in Canada?

Canada is one of the most intriguing regulatory markets in the online casino scene. Segmented by province, casino regulatory frameworks in the country vary and adapt to local needs, creating a patchwork of legislation that can take time to follow for new players. In this guide, we break down the different laws that apply to casino apps in Canada and how they impact your player experiences:

Current regulations on online casino

Gambling is illegal in Canada under the Criminal Code unless regulated by a province. So, while there is no federal gambling law in the country, most provinces have frameworks that govern how casinos and online casino apps operate in their region. These frameworks typically do not apply to online casino providers like Betway not based in the country, but this depends on the province.

In February this year, Ontario banned using athletes and celebrities to advertise gambling activities. Canadian lawmakers have also placed limits on when providers can show gambling ads on television and how these ads reach (or don't reach) vulnerable audiences, such as children.

Other significant developments in Canadian gambling legislation include:

·       The 2012 Criminal Code amendment that allowed provinces to regulate and license casinos

·       2021’s Bill C218, which allowed single-event betting and legalized sports betting in Canada

·       The PCMLTFA (Proceeds of Crime Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act) requires residents who earn more than C$10,000 from gambling to report their earnings to FINTRAC

Gambling regulatory bodies in Canada

Because gambling in Canada is regulated at the provincial level, most provinces have their regulatory bodies and frameworks. The three most robust are:

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)

Ontario has the most comprehensive casino regulatory framework in Canada, which is implemented through the AGCO. While the AGCO does not run any casinos itself, it sets down rules for responsible gaming and player protection for all the operators it licenses. It defines a casino as any ‘gaming-related supplier’ that produces, provides, installs, tests, maintains, or repairs gaming machinery.

In April 2022, Ontario became the first province in Canada to regulate the igaming market, creating a new framework to govern and license online casinos and online casino apps.

British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC)

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) controls gambling activities in Canada through the Gaming Control Act. Like Ontario's framework, this policy's primary focus is player protection. It limits the operation of online and land-based casinos to activities that promote "safe and fair gaming" for players.

Unlike the AGCO, the BCLC operates a casino called PlayNow.com, which offers lottery, sports betting, and online casino markets to British Columbia residents.

Cannabis and Gaming Commission of Quebec

Quebec’s gambling regulatory framework offers some of the strongest protections for problem gamblers. It sets out rules for self-exclusion, player education, and addiction support. Through the Cannabis and Gaming Commission, Quebec also runs a legal online casino called Loto-Québec.

Future Gaming Regulation in Canada

In September this year, the Canadian Gaming Association released a policy study calling for regulators to do more research on the igaming market and revise their policies.

The reason for this call is the ever-evolving nature of online gambling. As player preferences change and innovations like AR and VR come into play, providers like Betway adjust their approach and expand their operations to include more casino formats and player options. Online casinos become more immersive, social, and personalized by the day. According to the study authors, “Many considerations about the current state of the market are dynamic and may change without regulatory intervention.”

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