The Canadian Gambling Market
Whether you’re interested in sports betting, online casinos, or just socially responsible gaming practices, you’re sure to find something you enjoy in the Canadian gambling market. And that isn’t even counting the growing number of online games and gambling apps.
Online casinos
Historically, Canada had no legal gambling options. However, with advancements in technology, the gambling industry in Canada has grown. Currently, Canadians make billions of dollars playing online. This is expected to grow even more in the future.
Several Canadian provinces have launched gambling sites. British Columbia has also joined the game. Several popular U.S. operators have also launched online casinos in Ontario. The Canadian government has not prosecuted any online gambling companies. However, the ambiguous laws have created a grey market for online gambling in Canada.
The Kahnawake Mohawk Nation is the host of most online casinos. The tribe has an independent regulatory authority that is responsible for regulating and licensing the casino operators. The tribe collects a licensing fee from the online casinos.
The provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia have also launched gambling websites. Several brands are still awaiting launch. However, it is expected that all provinces will launch a digital market in the next couple of years.
Sports betting
Currently, sports betting is legal in 30 states, plus Washington, D.C., and a number of provinces. In some provinces, it is limited to lotteries, while in others, third-party operators can operate.
The number of provinces with sports betting laws is increasing. In December, the Ontario Provincial Police broke up a ring that accepted illegal wagers for five years. They discovered a total of $2.5 billion in wagers that were accepted by the illegal betting operation. The OPP recovered $131 million in revenue from the illegal betting ring.
Among the provinces with legal sports betting laws, Ontario is expected to account for the largest share of sports betting revenue. In addition, Ontario has already attracted some big industry players to its iGaming market.
The federal government has allowed provincial and regional governments to determine whether or not sports wagering will be allowed in their jurisdictions. Some of the provinces have decided to keep their sports betting markets under the aegis of their lottery schemes, while others will opt to take further steps to regulate the market.
Socially responsible gaming practices
Across Canada, gambling losses have been steadily increasing. The average loss in Canada is $568 a year. These losses add up to more than one-third of total gambling revenue.
Many jurisdictions have implemented harm minimisation policies and policies that promote informed consent. They have also introduced policies that require advertising to be age-appropriate and to avoid targeting high-risk individuals. They have also implemented player protection strategies at government-run Holland Casinos. These include the use of CMS systems to conduct venue player protection interventions.
Canada has 96 000 electronic gaming machines (EGMs), and Canada is also home to more than 70 casinos. There are also more than 30 000 lottery outlets. The gambling industry is a major source of revenue for governments. This revenue is expected to continue growing in Canada. In 2010, gross gambling revenues in Canada totalled $13.9 billion.
Many governments have entered into public private partnership agreements with the gambling industry. These agreements are designed to protect the interests of vulnerable groups, promote responsible gaming practices, and protect customers. These agreements include a wide variety of contractual arrangements.
Legalization of gambling in Canada
Despite the fact that gambling was illegal in Canada before 1985, the industry is now regulated by the Canadian government. While the laws regarding gambling vary from province to province, the basic rules are pretty consistent. Some provinces allow online gambling while others limit the amount of money that can be bet.
The federal government passed a law that would allow individual provinces to regulate sports betting. Currently, only six provinces allow parlay betting, which is two or more bets rolled into one. In 2021, single-game sports betting will also be legal in Canada.
The Canadian government is still considering all aspects of gambling regulation. Although the online market will look different when it becomes fully operational, it is clear that it needs to be regulated by provincial governments. In addition, it will need to distribute licenses to different operators across the country.
In 2022, Ontario will launch its legal electronic gaming market. The province has led the charge in this area. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is responsible for overseeing online gambling in Ontario.
