Legal Gambling Age in Canada
Canada does not have one gambling age. Online casinos are 18+ in three provinces and 19+ in seven. Retail lottery rules can differ from casino rules, so the table keeps each product separate.
Updated18+ in Three Provinces, 19+ in Seven
These groups refer to regulated online casino play. Lottery tickets and casino floors have their own columns below.
Gambling Age by Province and Territory
A blank age is not turned into a number. It means the jurisdiction has no current comparable route or, for Nunavut charitable casino events, the approved event rules determine the restriction.
| Province or territory | Online casino | Casino floor | Retail lottery | Current rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British ColumbiaBC | 19+ | 19+ | 19+ | You must be 19 or older to gamble on PlayNow, enter a casino, or buy BCLC lottery products in British Columbia. |
| AlbertaAB | 18+ | 18+ | 18+ | Casino gambling, regulated online gambling and WCLC lottery products are restricted to adults aged 18 or older in Alberta. |
| SaskatchewanSK | 19+ | 19+ | 18+ | You must be 19 or older for PlayNow and Saskatchewan casinos. WCLC retail lottery products use an 18-plus policy. |
| ManitobaMB | 18+ | 18+ | 18+ | PlayNow, casinos and WCLC retail lottery products are for people aged 18 or older in Manitoba. |
| OntarioON | 19+ | 19+ | 18+ | Ontario online casinos, online sports betting and land-based casinos are 19-plus. Retail lottery and in-store sports products are 18-plus. |
| QuebecQC | 18+ | 18+ | 18+ | Loto-Québec online gambling, casinos, gaming halls and lottery products are restricted to people aged 18 or older. |
| New BrunswickNB | 19+ | 19+ | 19+ | Atlantic Lottery products and New Brunswick casino gambling are for people aged 19 or older. |
| Nova ScotiaNS | 19+ | 19+ | 19+ | Atlantic Lottery products and Nova Scotia casino gambling are restricted to people aged 19 or older. |
| Prince Edward IslandPE | 19+ | 19+ | 19+ | Atlantic Lottery online gambling and retail products, and Red Shores gambling, are 19-plus. |
| Newfoundland and LabradorNL | 19+ | No current route | 19+ | Atlantic Lottery online casino and retail lottery products are 19-plus. Newfoundland and Labrador does not have a provincial land-based casino route. |
| YukonYT | No current route | 19+ | 18+ | Diamond Tooth Gerties and licensed casino events are 19-plus. WCLC retail lottery products are 18-plus. Yukon online casino age: unknown. |
| Northwest TerritoriesNT | No current route | 19+ | 18+ | WCLC lottery participation is 18-plus. Licensed charitable casino events are 19-plus. The current online casino route and applicable online casino age are unknown. |
| NunavutNU | No current route | Event rules | 18+ | WCLC lottery products are 18-plus. Licensed charitable casino events use approved event rules. Territory-wide casino-event minimum age: unknown. |
Casino Age and Lottery Age Can Differ
The legal minimum follows the product, not just the province.
Need limits, self-exclusion or local support?
The responsible-gambling directory separates direct help and self-exclusion coverage for every province and territory.
Legal Gambling Age in Canada: FAQ
Direct answers on the 18-plus and 19-plus rules, product differences and online verification.