As it stands, there is yet to be anyone prosecuted for online betting without it being related to other illegal activities, such as identity fraud or gambling underage.
However, in Canada, each Province can make their own laws on gambling, and the legal age differs from province to province.
Legal Age of Gambling in Canada
Here’s a breakdown of how old you have to be in each state of residence in Canada:
| Province / Territory | Legal Age of Gambling |
| Alberta | 18 years old+ |
| Nunavut | 19 years old+ |
| British Columbia | 19 years old+ |
| Manitoba | 18 years old+ |
| Yukon Territory | 19 years old+ |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | 19 years old+ |
| New Brunswick | 19 years old+ |
| North West Territories | 19 years old+ |
| Nova Scotia | 19 years old+ |
| Ontario | 19 years old+ |
| Quebec | 19 years old+ |
| Saskatchwan | 19 years old+ |
The Criminal Code of Canada allows you to bet on three or more games in an accumulator (as opposed to betting on single matches). However, various sites reports that there is a strong push being made to change that law to allow for singles to be wagered on.
Per the same source, “the Criminal Code may prohibit Canadians from participating in gambling on a website located in another country, there is no mechanism to effectively enforce the prohibition.”
So a legal issue from offshore sites could arise, but many experts think not, due to the precedent set by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission – where the Kahnawake Mohawk Nation, whilst being a sovereign nation, has been allowed to run online gambling in Canada, and host numerous other betting sites, without being prosecuted.
Sports Interaction, a Canadian-based sports betting site, is declared by many as their favorite sports betting site. Possibly due to the it’s ease of use and neat design (read our Sports Interaction review to learn more).
However, as Canadians are allowed to use any online gambling site, there are more options:
- Pinnacle if you’re a fan of esport (read our Pinnacle review to learn more).
- William Hill if you want to bet but also play casino games (read our William Hill casino review).
You can use a Pinnacle VIP code or William Hill promo code while registering on one of these websites.
Canadian residents should not fear legal ramifications from their participation in online gambling, whether they decide to bet with a company based in Canada or abroad.
The laws are ever-changing but, if the laws are ever amended, it seems as though Canada will remain quite liberal with online sports betting.
But for your own protection, double-check your online gambling provider to see if they have a license – be they based overseas or in Canada.
Check out our article on what’s the legality of online poker in Canada!