Online gambling at casinos is huge. Reports suggests that as many as 20 million Canadians are online gamblers, adding $1.2 billion to the online gambling industry. This definitely isn’t a niche market, and it might be time Canadian gambling laws caught up with the reality of online casinos and sports betting sites.
So, how did we get here? And where are we headed?
Where we have been
Gambling has existed in one form or another in Canada for eons. From Slahal which was played with animal bones thousands of years ago, to being able to wager on complex games like Craps using Cryptocurrencies. Out of interest’s sake, Slahal is still played to this day!
People in Canada have been betting on horse racing since 1767 when the first big racing event was held in Quebec City.
Back in the 1970s new regulations came into place that resulted in the ripple affect of what we know as the gambling industry today. The first land-based casino was opened in Winnipeg in 1989. Since then, casinos have opened in Québec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan. Both Video Lottery
Terminals (VLTs) and provincial run lotteries have grown in popularity over the years.
The first websites offering real money casino games started popping up worldwide in the mid-1990s.
Where we are now
Since then, the popularity of online casinos across the globe has been growing exponentially. There are several factors that might appeal to players to take gambling online, and the law on the subject seems to be in flux at the moment. So, where we are now, can change from day to day.
Online casino vs Land based casinos
First and foremost, the biggest benefit of online casinos in relation to land-based casinos is convenience. There’s no need to get dressed, you don’t have to worry about closing times, and you can play from your smart phone anywhere you find yourself.
Online slots tend to offer a much better Return to Player (RTP) than land-based slots, meaning that you have better chances to win over the long run (or rather that you are likely to lose less than you would at a land-based casino).
And then, of course, there is the added benefit of casino bonuses. Online players can receive regular bonuses, for depositing, regularly playing, and sometimes just because… it’s a Tuesday.
Canadian online Gambling Laws
It’s up to each province to set their own regulations when it comes to online gambling. Canada’s gaming laws are split into First Nations regulations and provincial regulations.
Because of strict provincial legislation in same cases, you won’t be able to play at Canadian casinos online, but you might still benefit from the loophole of joining an offshore casino.
While federal law is quite lenient, it’s always a good idea to look into your local laws. For example, one of the strictest is the Ontario Gaming Law which puts a city-wide ban on gambling. This one is so strict that many online casinos outright ban players from Ontario.
Gambling licenses
Within Canada online casinos must acquire gambling licenses at provincial level. These licences only apply within the province and can be restrictive. However, many international sites also give you the chance to gamble online. When finding one of these casinos, it’s always a good idea to look for a casino with a reputable licence.
The UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority are both great examples of reputable licences. To hole such a licence an online casino needs to ensure that they are safe and secure, protect players against fraud and use tested Random Number Generators to ensure the fairness of their games.
Responsible gambling
Another important aspect that a casino must ensure in order to obtain a licence is responsible gambling. This is a pledge that an online casino takes on to make sure that players who might experience problem gambling behaviours will be protected.
This includes setting deposit limits and time limits on games. Online casinos must also give players the chance to self-exclude from marketing materials and to close down their account if they wish to do so.
Where we are going
Even though there are still several local restrictions on online gambling in the state, there is still every chance that this might change in the near future and allow for legalised and regulated gambling throughout the country.
In the meantime, there are a few exciting new trends in the gambling industry that are changing the way we play games and adding to the overall excitement.
Virtual Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have started to trickle into online casinos. You won’t find these games in every casino, and there aren’t that many games currently available, but just like everything else in the gambling industry, there’s room for improvement and growth.
In a year’s time things may well be very different with a load of VR games to pick from.
A great example of AR in online casinos is a Live Casino, giving you the chance to get ever closer into the action.
Live Dealer Games
Speaking of Live Casinos, this revolutionary form of online casinos has rapidly evolved over the last few years.
