Canada's Online Casino Market
Canada operates a provincially regulated gambling market. Since April 2022, Ontario is the only province with a fully open, privately licensed online casino market, regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) through its subsidiary iGaming Ontario (iGO). Players in other provinces — Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, and the rest — either use provincially run sites (PlayNow.com in BC and Manitoba; PlayOLG in Ontario pre-April 2022) or access offshore international platforms.
Alberta has announced plans for a private iGaming framework with full launch targeted for 2026. Until then, Alberta players use international sites under a legal grey framework — offshore operators are not prohibited from accepting Canadian players, but they are not provincially licensed.
How We Assess Canadian Casinos
- Ontario players: iGO registration confirmed at igamingontario.ca
- Other provinces: MGA, UKGC, or Kahnawake commission licence as the benchmark
- Interac e-Transfer deposit support
- CA$ account currency available (no forced USD conversion)
- 19+ age verification for Ontario (18+ for some provinces)
- Self-exclusion tools connecting to GameSense or ConnexOntario
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is online gambling legal in Canada?
- Online gambling is legal in Ontario under the AGCO/iGO framework. In other provinces, players legally access offshore international platforms that are not prohibited from serving Canadians, but which are not provincially licensed. No Canadian province criminalises individual player participation at offshore sites.
- What is iGaming Ontario (iGO)?
- iGaming Ontario is the market subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). It operates the framework through which private operators apply to offer online casino and sports betting in Ontario. iGO-registered sites must sign operating agreements with iGO and meet ongoing compliance standards.
- Are casino winnings taxed in Canada?
- Generally, recreational gambling winnings are not taxable in Canada. The Canada Revenue Agency does not consider casual gambling income as taxable income. Professional gamblers whose primary income is gambling may be assessed differently — consult a tax professional for specific advice.