North America
iGaming regulation in Canada
Canada: gambling is a Criminal Code offence unless conducted and managed by a province; each province sets its own online gaming model.
- Licensing model
- State-by-State
- Currency
- CAD
- Official language
- English, French
Key points for operators and suppliers
- 1
No federal gambling licence: market access is decided by each province under Criminal Code s.207
- 2
Online and machine-based games may only be conducted and managed by a provincial government (s.207(4)(c))
- 3
Single-event sports betting has been lawful in province-run schemes since 2021-08-27
- 4
Ontario and Alberta run registration-plus-contract models for private operators and suppliers
- 5
Bill S-211 (sports betting advertising framework) is pending in the House of Commons
What Canada asks of a licensee
The four questions that decide whether a market is worth entering.
Section 206 of the Criminal Code makes lotteries and games of chance an offence, and section 207 carves out lottery schemes conducted and managed by a provincial government (alone or with other provinces) under provincial law. Schemes run on a computer, video device or slot machine can only be conducted by a province itself, so online gambling is organised province by province rather than under a national licence. The Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act (S.C. 2021, c. 20) removed the federal ban on single-event sports betting from 2021-08-27, while bookmaking on horse races remains outside provincial lottery schemes. Official regulator pages show competitive, privately operated online markets in Ontario (AGCO and iGaming Ontario, live since 2022-04-04) and Alberta (operators registered with AGLC and contracted with the Alberta iGaming Corporation). A federal Senate bill for a national framework on sports betting advertising (S-211) is in committee in the House of Commons.
Where Canada sets the rules locally
Licensing is decided at province level, so the detail lives on these pages rather than here.
Which verticals are legal in Canada
Status is the position for a licensed operator, not for offshore supply.
Daily Fantasy Sports
Not stated
Determined by each province under Criminal Code s.207; see the province pages.
Esports Betting
Not stated
Determined by each province under Criminal Code s.207; see the province pages.
Horse Racing / Pool Betting
Not stated
Bookmaking and pari-mutuel betting on horse races is excluded from the Criminal Code definition of a provincial "lottery scheme" (s.207(4)(b)).
Land-based Casino
Not stated
Casino games using slot machines, video devices or dice can only be conducted and managed by a provincial government (s.207(4)(c)); models vary by province.
Online Bingo
Not stated
Determined by each province under Criminal Code s.207; see the province pages.
Online Casino
Not stated
Games operated through a computer or video device may only be conducted and managed by a provincial government (s.207(4)(c)); legal status is set province by province.
Online Lottery
Not stated
Determined by each province under Criminal Code s.207; see the province pages.
Online Poker
Not stated
Determined by each province under Criminal Code s.207; see the province pages.
Online Sports Betting
Not stated
Single-event sports betting is lawful when conducted and managed by a province (or its licensee) since the 2021 Criminal Code amendment; availability depends on the province.
Retail Betting
Not stated
Determined by each province under Criminal Code s.207; see the province pages.
Skill Games
Not stated
Determined by each province under Criminal Code s.207; see the province pages.
Social / Sweepstakes Casino
Not stated
Determined by each province under Criminal Code s.207; see the province pages.
Compliance requirements by area4
What the regulator expects once a licence is granted.
Technical & Certification requirements
- Computer, video and slot-machine games reserved to provincesAll Licensees
- Charities, fairs and other provincial licensees may not run lottery schemes operated on or through a computer, video device, slot machine or dice game; only a provincial government may conduct and manage these.Source
Other requirements
- General prohibition on lotteries and games of chanceAll Licensees
- Conducting, advertising or selling chances in a lottery, game of chance or similar scheme is an indictable or summary offence unless it falls within a section 207 exception.Up to 2 years imprisonment (indictable)Source
- Provinces conduct and manage lottery schemesAll Licensees
- A provincial government, alone or jointly with another province, may lawfully conduct and manage a lottery scheme in its province in accordance with provincial law.Source
- Single-event sports betting permitted; horse racing excludedAll Licensees
- Betting on a single sport event, athletic contest, fight or non-horse race may form part of a province-run lottery scheme; bookmaking and pool betting on horse races stays outside the provincial exception.Source
Recent regulatory changes
Newest first. Each entry links to the notice it came from.
- Market Opening
Alberta opens its iGaming market to registered private operators
AGLC states that, as of July 13, all iGaming operators in Alberta must be registered with AGLC and hold a commercial agreement with the Alberta iGaming Corporation. AGLC regulates while the corporation handles commercial agreements, AML and revenue reporting.
- Other
Ontario launches province-wide online self-exclusion (BetGuard)
iGaming Ontario's Centralized Self-Exclusion program, BetGuard, launched and the AGCO's matching standards took effect. Players can exclude themselves from all regulated Ontario online gambling sites in one step.
- Consultation
Bill S-211 referred to House committee
Bill S-211 passed second reading in the House of Commons and is at consideration in committee (Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage). It is not yet law.
- Consultation
Senate passes sports betting advertising framework bill S-211
The Senate completed third reading of Bill S-211, which would require a national framework on sports betting advertising. The bill was sent to the House of Commons, where it received first reading on 2025-11-05.
Canada licensing questions answered
Is online gambling legal in Canada?
The Criminal Code bans lotteries and games of chance except where a provincial government conducts and manages them under provincial law (s.207). Online gambling is therefore legal only through provincially authorised schemes, and each province decides how its market works.
Is there a national online gambling licence in Canada?
No. The federal law only sets the Criminal Code framework; operators and suppliers must obtain access province by province, for example registration with the AGCO and an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario in Ontario.
When did single-event sports betting become legal in Canada?
The Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act (S.C. 2021, c. 20) received royal assent on 2021-06-29 and the amended Criminal Code text applies from 2021-08-27. It lets provinces offer betting on single sport events, fights and non-horse races.
Can private companies run online casinos in Canada?
Games played through a computer or video device may only be conducted and managed by a provincial government. Private operators can take part only within a provincial framework, such as Ontario, where they act under an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario after AGCO registration.
Which provinces have regulated private online gambling markets?
Official regulator pages show private operator markets in Ontario (launched 2022-04-04, AGCO and iGaming Ontario) and Alberta (operators registered with AGLC and contracted with the Alberta iGaming Corporation). Other provinces were not reviewed for this page.
Are there federal rules on sports betting advertising?
Not yet. Bill S-211, which would create a national framework on sports betting advertising, passed the Senate in 2025 and is at committee stage in the House of Commons.
Primary legislation and instruments
The statutes, regulations and technical standards this page is built from.
Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act (An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sports betting))Bill C-218
Act / Law · In Force · 29 Jun 2021
Replaced Criminal Code paragraph 207(4)(b) so that provinces (or their licensees) may conduct and manage betting on a single sport event, race (other than a horse race) or fight.
Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46), section 206 - Offence in relation to lotteries and games of chanceCriminal Code s.206
Act / Law · In Force
Makes it an offence to conduct, advertise or sell participation in lotteries, games of chance and similar schemes, subject to the exceptions in section 207.
Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46), section 207 - Permitted lotteriesCriminal Code s.207
Act / Law · In Force
Allows a provincial government, alone or with other provinces, to conduct and manage lottery schemes under provincial law, and lets provinces license charities, fairs and others for limited schemes; defines "lottery scheme" (s.207(4)).
An Act respecting a national framework on sports betting advertisingNational Framework on Sports Betting Advertising Act (Bill S-211)
Act / Law · Draft / Bill
Senate public bill that would require a federal framework on the advertising of sports betting; passed the Senate and is at committee stage in the House of Commons.
Next in Canada
Compiled from official regulator and government sources, most recently on 26 Sept 2026. It is a starting point for commercial research, not legal advice — confirm the current position with the regulator or local counsel before you act on it.