Short answer: Yes—online gambling is legal in Canada, but the rules change from one jurisdiction to the next. The federal Criminal Code allows provinces and territories to operate gambling themselves or license others to do so on their behalf. That’s why play in Ontario doesn’t look the same as it does in Alberta or Quebec.

Below is a plain-English, province-by-province guide to who runs what, how the systems are set up, and what to know before you log in.

How Canada Regulates Online Gambling

By default, most gambling is illegal unless it’s “conducted and managed” by a province or territory (or by an operator they authorize). In practice, that hands control of online gambling to local governments.

In 2021, a change in federal law allowed single-event sports betting (not only parlays). Since then, provinces have folded sports betting into their existing online frameworks.

Age rules aren’t uniform: some jurisdictions set the minimum at 18, others at 19. Check local requirements before you register.

Ontario: The Open Market

Ontario is the outlier. Since April 2022, private brands can operate if they meet the province’s standards and sign on to its oversight model. The result is a competitive marketplace with multiple legal options across casino, poker, and sports.

For players: more choice, stronger consumer protections, and clear ways to confirm that a brand is operating under provincial oversight.

British Columbia: Government-Run Model

British Columbia uses a single, government-operated platform. Casino games, live dealer tables, and sports all run under one crown-corporation umbrella.

Manitoba: Same Platform, Local Control

Manitoba uses the same core platform concept as BC, but it’s operated locally by the provincial lottery authority. The experience is familiar, while oversight and operations are handled inside the province.

Saskatchewan: Partnership Approach

Saskatchewan delivers online casino and sports through a partnership model in which the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority operates the platform in cooperation with the provincial government. Everything sits inside a regulated, made-in-Saskatchewan framework.

Alberta: One Official Site

Alberta offers a single, provincially operated site for regulated slots, table games, and sports betting. If you want the official route, this is where residents play.

Quebec: Provincial Lottery Platform

Quebec operates its own online platform, offering casino games, poker, bingo, and sports. The province builds in responsible-play tools and oversees the offering through its lottery corporation.

Atlantic Provinces: Shared Operations

New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador share a regional setup. A single platform serves all four, giving residents access to the same suite of regulated casino games and sports betting.

Territories: Limited Access

Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut don’t operate full online-casino platforms like the provinces. Residents typically have access to retail lottery products; territory-run, full-service iCasino platforms aren’t currently part of the picture.

Special Case: Kahnawà:ke

Within Quebec, the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke maintains its gaming commission, which has regulated online gambling for decades. This framework operates alongside—rather than inside—the provincial system.

Is It Legal to Play?

On your province’s official platform or in Ontario’s licensed market: Yes. That’s precisely what the laws are designed to allow.

Elsewhere, Canadian law focuses on unlicensed operation, not individual players, but only official, locally regulated platforms come with built-in consumer protections.

Who Runs What

• Ontario: Licensed market under provincial oversight
• British Columbia: Government-operated platform
• Manitoba: Government-operated platform
• Saskatchewan: Operated by the provincial authority in partnership with SIGA
• Alberta: Provincial gaming commission
• Quebec: Provincial lottery platform
• Atlantic Canada: Shared regional platform for four provinces

Before You Sign Up

• Check the operator’s status. Make sure your province authorizes it.
• Confirm age and location rules. The minimum age is 18 or 19, and you must be physically present in the province to play.
• Read the terms. Wagering requirements and withdrawal limits vary between jurisdictions.
• Use the tools. Deposit limits, time reminders, and self-exclusion exist on all regulated platforms.

Bottom Line

Canada doesn’t run one national system. It has ten provincial systems—plus three territories with limited options. Ontario uses a competitive licensing model; most other provinces operate a single, government-run platform. Stick to your province’s regulated framework and you’ll be playing legally, with the consumer protections that come with it.

This overview is informational, not legal advice. Rules can change; when in doubt, check your local regulator’s current guidance.