Legal gambling age in Canada by law 2024

Canada is probably not your first pick when it comes to gambling industry powerhouses, but the country has a surprisingly massive casino business. It goes two ways – the country’s traditional casinos are outstanding, whilst its online gambling niche is also thriving.

We personally visited dozens of digital gaming sites in the Great White North to see what they have to offer. Those who wish to do the same thing should begin by checking the finest options as stated at the online casino Manitoba review page. This is where you will find an exclusive guide on how to pinpoint an ideal website for your affinities.

On the other hand, there is one major issue for younger players: What is the gambling age in Canada? We are talking about the legal age for gambling in Canada for all gaming formats. This post is about to give you straightforward answers to this question

What is the legal gambling age in Canada by province?

It would be perfect if we could just tell you that the legal age for casino in Canada is 18 or 21. Unfortunately, this is not how things work over there since the country lets each of its 10 provinces regulate the business on their own. 

The Criminal Code does regulate the field to an extent, but individual regions are obliged to control their provincial markets. For example, Ontario has its own Alcohol and Gaming Commission (www.agco.ca) with unique policies, but the same goes for other provinces. In a nutshell, we will need to cover the regulations in each province individually.

As you can see, most provinces have similar rules regarding gambling in Canada age rules. All across the country, you must be at least 19 years old so as to legally enter a casino (both offline and online). However, even these regulations can vary based on the type of your gaming activity. That does not make the issue of the legal age of gambling in Canada any less complicated, but we are going to try to make things simpler for you in the next section.

Legal age for gambling in Canada for various activities

The table above focused on traditional casinos and the corresponding age for gambling in Canada. By this point, our task is to dig even deeper so as to uncover the real age of gambling in Canada. Here is the complete list.

Casino

What's the legal gambling age in Canada? We have covered this question in great detail already, so here’s just a quick recap – you must be 19+ in most provinces in order to play casino games without restrictions. Only a few provinces are somewhat looser in this field as they allow individuals who turned 18 to play freely.

For instance, Zodiac Casino clearly states the minimum gaming age (19+) on its website. As a matter of fact, it takes the extra step to warn players about responsible gambling practices followed by helpful online resources. 

Online gambling

What is the legal age of online gambling in Canada? As a relatively new phenomenon, digital gambling often causes controversies among users who are unaware of local regulations. This is pretty much the same in all countries worldwide, not just the Canada.

However, the good thing is that the situation in Canada is similar to playing games in your traditional brick and mortar casino. Should you wish to gamble online in Alberta, Manitoba, or Quebec, you must be 18 or older. In all other provinces, 19 is the minimum.

Lottery and bingo

What’s the gambling age in Canada in terms of playing bingo and lottery games? National authorities consider these games to be somewhat more relaxed, and so they approach these titles in a more flexible manner. That means that the minimum goes down to 18 years for all users.

This is an important threshold since lotteries are a big deal in Canada. We are not just talking about Canada Lotto 6/49 but also about other famous lotteries that attract a surprisingly large number of players.

Sports betting

Placing bets on sports-related events is yet another form of gambling – at least from the authorities’ perspective. In such circumstances, the question “what is gambling age in Canada” has the same answer as above: You ought to be 19 at least so as to place wagers in 7 out of 10 provinces. Once again, Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba are the only exceptions to this rule as they also allow 18 year olds to partake in sports betting.

Poker

What's the gambling age in Canada poker-wise? You can probably guess the answer yourself: It is the same as for other types of casino games (19 or 18 in 3 provinces).

For instance, Casino Regina in the Saskatchewan province features one of the more popular poker rooms in the entire country. This room hosts a few classical tournaments on a yearly basis, but the entry limit remains the same: 19 years. 

Methods casinos use to verify players' age

Casinos of all types – we are talking about offline and online venues – must use different types of verification methods so as to ensure that each gambler is eligible age-wise.

Traditional brick and mortar casinos rely on a simple physical inspection of government-issued identification. For instance, they will ask you to show your passport or a driver’s license so their security officers can confirm your age before you are allowed to enter the premises.

The process is somewhat more complicated when it comes to online gambling sites since they require modern approaches to the problem. After all, they do not possess the ability to verify your identity in a physical manner. In this case, gambling websites in Canada will likely ask you to upload an image of your ID as soon as you start making an account. This is the basis of online verification because gambling sites rely on third-party services to cross-reference personal information with government databases. Moreover, these sites must comply with stringent regulations, which include the substantial gambling license cost associated with obtaining and maintaining legal status. This cost often reflects the rigorous verification processes required to operate legally and securely.

Responsible gambling in Canada

One more thing you ought to understand is that Canadian gaming sites encourage responsible gambling practices. This is not just some official policy they must comply with: On the contrary, we are talking about some serious efforts to prevent problem gaming as many individuals become victims of uncontrolled gambling – particularly in digital environments. According to recent studies, approximately 3% of Canadians are at risk of developing a gambling addiction, with young adults being especially vulnerable.

In such circumstances, you will often see ads as well as online posts dedicated to responsible gambling. These usually warn players (especially young ones) to play with due caution and diligence. In most cases, safe gaming is about following your budget and not spending too much time playing casino games.

The bottom line is that Canada remains a true gambling superpower for everyone aged 19 plus. Three provinces allow you to play even if you are 18+, but we encourage new players to always double-check local regulations before they start playing. After all, regulations tend to change, and it is better to be safe than sorry. 

Disclamer: ​Players must be 18 years + to partake in any gambling, betting or casino activity. Players are urged to seek help if they require it. Players play at their own risk.