Everything You Need to Know About Casinos in Canada

From strict anti-gambling laws to world-leading games, continue reading to find out everything you need to know about online and land-based casinos.

16:50 09 July 2021

 

Casinos have been a staple in the gaming world for centuries. Canada is no exception. While Las Vegas may be considered the gambling capital of the world, Canada benefits from a rich gambling industry suited to players of all interests and skill sets. But with a wide range of online and live gaming venues to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

 

What’s happened in Canadian gambling history largely reflects what’s happened in many countries and jurisdictions across the world. Land-based casinos’ dominance has been challenged by the rise of their online counterparts. Now, the two experiences are distinct, offering consumers the opportunity to have one or the other, despite them often seeking to replicate aspects of each other. They have the options available to them to do what they want: whether that is to find a land-based casino to holiday at or the best place to gamble online in Canada.

 

How did the country get to this position?

 

A brief history

 

Whilst gambling laws in Canada were once relatively strict, legislation passed in the 1970s has made it much easier for players to gamble online as well as in-person. Canadian provinces were given permission to oversee gambling laws and regulations in 1985. Since then, gaming opportunities in the country have been offered through various charities and private government-licensed operators. Players can now choose from a wide range of games supervised by the Canadian Gambling Commission whilst gaming laws continue to be passed and enforced by each individual province.

 

Land-based casinos

 

The first commercial land-based casino in Canada was established in 1989 in Winnipeg. It was the number one destination for players from all over the country until Montreal built and opened its first land-based casino, and online games took hold in the early 1990s. By 2001, the country had built 59 permanent casinos, amassed 31,537 slot machines, and distributed over 1800 bingo hall permits. Today, there are land-based casinos in almost every Canadian province and the country is known for its high-quality gambling venues.

 

Online casinos

 

Whilst land-based casinos have continued to dominate Canada’s gaming industry, online casinos have revolutionised the ways in which players place their bets. The first online casino, PlayNow, was launched in 2004 and is still one of the most popular gambling sites nationwide today. Private casino operators are currently, however, still unable to operate within Canada’s borders. But with players opting to register for offshore platforms, there is no shortage of games to choose from.

 

The future of casinos in Canada

 

With casinos still a popular pastime for Canadians across the nation, the varieties of play on offer are only set to increase as time goes on. With a wide range of national and offshore venues to choose from, the possibilities are endless. Players of all skillsets are continuing to flock to land-based casinos while a growing number of people are opting to play the latest slot and bingo games from the comfort of their own home.

 

Casinos in Canada have undergone a series of changes in the past century. From the introduction of land-based gambling decades ago to the recent rise of online domains, Canada has proved to be a world leader in the gambling industry. With developments emerging on a regular basis, the future is bright for Canada’s casinos.