Online Gambling Laws in Canada
Canada does not issue one national online casino licence. The federal Criminal Code sets the boundary, then each province or territory determines the regulated route. Ontario and Alberta admit private operators. The other current casino routes are government-run or publicly owned.
UpdatedThe Criminal Code Creates a Provincial Conduct-and-Manage Model
Canada does not issue one national online casino licence. The Criminal Code permits a provincial government, alone or with another province, to conduct and manage a lottery scheme in accordance with provincial law.
This guide maps regulated routes. It does not decide an individual dispute, contract or criminal case.
Current Regulated Online Casino Route
No route and unknown are different conclusions. The table preserves that difference instead of filling gaps with a yes or no.
| Jurisdiction | Market model | Current route | Conduct, manage and gate |
|---|---|---|---|
British Columbia BC · province | Government casino British Columbia uses one government online gambling route, PlayNow. It does not operate an Ontario-style private casino market. | PlayNow | British Columbia Lottery Corporation conducts and manages commercial gambling for the province. The Independent Gambling Control Office oversees gambling regulation and enforcement. |
Alberta AB · province | Private + government Alberta has admitted private operators since July 13, 2026. A private site needs both AGLC registration and an AiGC commercial agreement before it can take wagers in the regulated market. | AGLC-registered private sites with an AiGC commercial agreement; PlayAlberta | Private operators enter through Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis registration and a commercial agreement with Alberta iGaming Corporation. PlayAlberta continues as the government-operated route. Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulates the market. Alberta iGaming Corporation handles commercial agreements, anti-money laundering, finances and income reporting. |
Saskatchewan SK · province | Government casino Saskatchewan's current regulated online casino route is PlayNow. The province does not admit independent private casino sites as a competitive market. | PlayNow Saskatchewan | Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan conducts and manages online gaming, and Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority operates the provincial PlayNow site. Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan oversees the provincial commercial gaming system. |
Manitoba MB · province | Government casino Manitoba uses PlayNow as its government online casino route. It has not opened a competitive private online casino market. | PlayNow Manitoba | Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation manages and operates PlayNow in Manitoba, using British Columbia Lottery Corporation as the platform service provider. The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba regulates PlayNow. |
Ontario ON · province | Private + government Ontario has admitted private online casino operators since April 4, 2022. Registration with AGCO alone is not enough; the operator also needs an iGaming Ontario operating agreement. | AGCO-registered private sites with an iGaming Ontario operating agreement; OLG.ca | iGaming Ontario conducts and manages internet gaming delivered by private operators. Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation separately conducts and manages OLG.ca. A private operator must register with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and execute an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. |
Quebec QC · province | Government casino Quebec's regulated online casino route is lotoquebec.com. The province does not operate an Ontario-style private market. | lotoquebec.com | Loto-Quebec supplies the province's government online gambling platform. The regulated consumer route is the Loto-Quebec platform rather than a directory of private casino operators. |
New Brunswick NB · province | Government casino New Brunswick offers casino games through Atlantic Lottery at ALC.ca. It does not have a competitive private online casino market. | Atlantic Lottery at ALC.ca | Atlantic Lottery Corporation provides the provincially owned online gambling route for New Brunswick. The regulated route is ALC.ca rather than an open directory of private casino sites. |
Nova Scotia NS · province | Government casino Nova Scotia offers casino and live-casino games through Atlantic Lottery at ALC.ca. It does not have a competitive private online casino market. | Atlantic Lottery at ALC.ca | Atlantic Lottery Corporation provides the provincially owned online gambling route for Nova Scotia. The regulated route is ALC.ca rather than an open directory of private casino sites. |
Prince Edward Island PE · province | Limited government casino Prince Edward Island currently has an Atlantic Lottery live-casino route, but the regular ALC.ca casino lobby is not offered in the province. This is a limited government route, not a private market. | Atlantic Lottery Live Casino at ALC.ca | Atlantic Lottery Corporation provides the provincially owned online gambling route for Prince Edward Island. The regulated online casino route is limited to the ALC.ca products enabled for Prince Edward Island. |
Newfoundland and Labrador NL · province | Government casino Newfoundland and Labrador offers casino and live-casino games through Atlantic Lottery at ALC.ca. It does not have a competitive private online casino market. | Atlantic Lottery at ALC.ca | Atlantic Lottery Corporation provides the provincially owned online gambling route for Newfoundland and Labrador. The regulated route is ALC.ca rather than an open directory of private casino sites. |
Yukon YT · territory | Current route unknown Yukon online casino route: unknown. WCLC lottery products, Diamond Tooth Gerties and licensed charitable casino events are confirmed, but they do not answer whether a separate territorial online casino route exists. | Unknown | The territory distributes WCLC lottery products and licenses eligible charitable gaming. Those routes do not create a territorial online casino platform. Government-run gambling and licensed non-profit gaming are confirmed territorial routes. A separate current online casino admission route is unknown. Current territorial online casino route: unknown. |
Northwest Territories NT · territory | Current route unknown Northwest Territories online casino route: unknown. Licensed charitable casino events and WCLC lottery products are confirmed, but they do not answer whether a separate territorial online casino route exists. | Unknown | Municipal and Community Affairs or delegated community governments license charitable lottery schemes. WCLC lottery products are available separately. The documented territorial licensing route covers charitable bingos, Nevada tickets, casinos and raffles. A separate commercial online casino admission route is unknown. Current territorial online casino route: unknown. |
Nunavut NU · territory | Current route unknown Nunavut online casino route: unknown. Licensed community casino events and WCLC lottery products are confirmed, but they do not answer whether a separate territorial online casino route exists. | Unknown | Nunavut Consumer Affairs and delegated communities license eligible charitable or religious lottery schemes. WCLC lottery products are available separately. The documented licensing system covers event-based lottery schemes such as bingo, raffles, casino events and Texas Hold'em poker. A separate commercial online casino admission route is unknown. Current territorial online casino route: unknown. |
Ontario and Alberta Use Two-Step Admission
A provincial registration and the province's commercial agreement are separate gates. Both must be complete before a private site belongs to the regulated market.
A Government Platform Is the Casino Route in Eight Provinces
Seven provinces offer a full government online casino lobby. Prince Edward Island currently has a narrower Atlantic Lottery live-casino route.
British Columbia
British Columbia uses one government online gambling route, PlayNow. It does not operate an Ontario-style private casino market.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan's current regulated online casino route is PlayNow. The province does not admit independent private casino sites as a competitive market.
Manitoba
Manitoba uses PlayNow as its government online casino route. It has not opened a competitive private online casino market.
Quebec
Quebec's regulated online casino route is lotoquebec.com. The province does not operate an Ontario-style private market.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick offers casino games through Atlantic Lottery at ALC.ca. It does not have a competitive private online casino market.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia offers casino and live-casino games through Atlantic Lottery at ALC.ca. It does not have a competitive private online casino market.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador offers casino and live-casino games through Atlantic Lottery at ALC.ca. It does not have a competitive private online casino market.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island currently has an Atlantic Lottery live-casino route, but the regular ALC.ca casino lobby is not offered in the province. This is a limited government route, not a private market.
All Three Territorial Online Casino Routes Remain Unknown
Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut have lottery or event routes, but a separate current online casino route remains unknown in each.
Check the Provincial Gate, Not the Casino's Marketing
The regulated status follows the province where the gambling scheme operates. A brand name or foreign licence is not a substitute for that provincial admission.
Online Gambling Law in Canada: FAQ
Direct answers on provincial authority, private markets, government platforms, foreign licences and territorial status.
Operators and legal entities
Separate the registered company, public brand and provincial offering.
Wagering location rules
See why physical location is checked separately from identity and residence.
Legal age by product
Compare online casino, casino-floor and retail-lottery ages in all 13 jurisdictions.