Is Online Gambling Legal in Canada? A Province-by-Province Guide
Online gambling is available through provincially authorised services in Canada. Which sites can serve you depends on your province, your age and the product you want to use. A casino accepting Canadian dollars or allowing you to register does not establish that it is authorised in your province.
Start with provincial authorisation
Section 207 of the Criminal Code sets out exceptions to Canada's gambling prohibitions, including provincial governments conducting and managing lottery schemes. It is not a blanket permission for every website that accepts Canadian customers.
Check the exact website address against official provincial information. A familiar brand can operate different sites with different licences and terms. An overseas licence does not replace Canadian provincial authorisation. For advice about your own legal circumstances, consult a qualified lawyer.
Ontario: check the official directory
Ontario has a regulated private online gambling market alongside OLG.ca. Private operators must be registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and have an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario. Use the iGaming Ontario directory to check the exact casino or sportsbook domain. Players must be at least 19 and physically in Ontario to play on these sites.
Our Ontario iGaming guide explains the roles of the regulator and iGaming Ontario, as well as the complaint process and self-exclusion options.
Alberta: use current AGLC information
Alberta's regulated private iGaming market opened on 13 July 2026. Older articles describing Play Alberta as the province's only authorised online option may therefore be out of date. Consult AGLC's iGaming information and its gaming registrant directory before relying on a casino's licensing claim. Registration information should be matched to the operator and the service you intend to use.
Other provinces: check the local service
Do not apply Ontario's rules to the rest of Canada. Provincial lottery and gaming organisations publish information about the services available locally, including location and account requirements. Start with your province's official gaming website, then follow its links to authorised services. Check the applicable minimum age for the specific product before creating an account.
What an overseas licence tells you
A foreign regulator's register can help establish whether a named operator holds a licence in that jurisdiction. It does not establish that the operator is authorised in every country or province where its website can be opened.
Before depositing, read the operator's legal name, restricted-country rules, withdrawal terms and complaint procedure. Check which regulator or dispute service actually accepts complaints about that operator. A review, affiliate listing or payment-method logo is not proof of regulatory protection.
If you have a dispute
Submit a formal complaint to the casino first and retain its response, your transaction records and the terms that applied. For Ontario's regulated private market, follow iGaming Ontario's player support process. iGaming Ontario does not settle individual transaction disputes or act as an arbitrator. Its remit does not extend to unregulated websites.
See our casino warning signs and complaints guide for a practical checklist. We cannot recover money or resolve disputes on your behalf.
Support and self-exclusion
Our responsible gambling page links to provincial support and self-exclusion information. In Ontario, ConnexOntario provides free, confidential support at 1-866-531-2600. Across Canada, call or text 9-8-8 if you are thinking about suicide or worried about someone who may be. Call 911 for immediate danger.
Reviewed 25 September 2026. This guide provides general information, not individual legal advice. Official sources are linked beside the relevant statements.
