What Happened

Canada’s gambling landscape is shaped by provincial jurisdiction — each of the ten provinces administers its own gambling framework under the constitutional authority to license lottery schemes. The federal Criminal Code sets boundaries through Section 207, which permits provinces to “conduct and manage” lottery schemes, but the form that management takes varies dramatically from province to province.

The result is not a single Canadian gambling market but a patchwork of different models: some competitive with multiple private operators, some operating as Crown monopolies, and some in transition.

Why It Matters

For anyone following gambling policy, regulation, or business development in Canada, understanding provincial differences is essential. A regulatory development in Ontario has no automatic application in British Columbia. A market performance figure from Quebec says nothing about Manitoba. The federal scaffolding is shared; the buildings on top are distinct.

Ontario launched a competitive iGaming market in April 2022 under the AGCO and iGaming Ontario framework. Multiple private operators hold registrations and offer online casino games, sports betting, and poker. As of reported figures, Ontario’s market has grown significantly and is now cited as one of the largest regulated online gambling markets in North America by revenue, though precise figures are disclosed in aggregate only.

British Columbia operates through the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), which runs PlayNow.com as the province’s authorized online gambling site. Private operators are not authorized in BC, and Canadians using offshore platforms do so outside the regulated framework. BC has studied expansion options but has not enacted a competitive model.

Quebec operates Loto-Québec, which includes Espacejeux.com as its online platform. Quebec has taken an aggressive stance on offshore gambling sites, implementing internet blocking through a list administered by the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux (RACJ). The blocking regime has faced legal challenges. Private operators are not licensed in Quebec.

Alberta operates PlayAlberta through the AGLC. As discussed separately, the province has signalled interest in reviewing whether to allow private operators. No competitive framework has been enacted as of publication.

Saskatchewan operates through the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) for First Nations gaming and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) for provincial gaming. Online gambling is conducted through BCLC’s PlayNow platform under a formal agreement, one of the few interprovincial arrangements in the sector.

Manitoba operates through the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation, which runs PlayNow through the same BCLC arrangement as Saskatchewan.

Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador) each have their own lottery entities and retail operations. Online play for Atlantic residents has historically been directed to their provincial lottery portals. No Atlantic province has announced a competitive iGaming market.

Key Structural Differences

Several axes of difference shape how these models function:

Who can hold a licence: Ontario is currently the only province where private international operators can obtain a licence to offer iGaming to residents. All other provinces confine authorized online gambling to Crown-operated platforms.

Product mix: The available product mix varies. Sports betting has expanded nationally since the 2021 federal Criminal Code amendment allowing single-event wagering, but the platforms offering it differ. Online casino games and poker availability depends on what each Crown platform has chosen to develop.

Responsible gambling tools: Each province implements some form of responsible gambling program. The tools available (spending limits, self-exclusion, reality checks) and how they are structured differ. Ontario’s regulated operators are required by AGCO standards to offer specific tools; Crown platforms have their own programs.

Revenue destination: In Crown monopoly provinces, the entirety of net gambling revenue flows to the provincial government (minus operating costs). In Ontario, the revenue-share arrangement means a portion goes to the government through iGO, while private operators retain their margins. The precise proportions are not fully public.

What’s Next

The outstanding question in Canadian gambling market structure is whether other provinces will follow Ontario. Industry associations representing private operators have advocated for competitive markets in Alberta, BC, and elsewhere. Consumer advocates have offered mixed assessments, with some viewing competition as driving better product and responsible gambling tools, others arguing Crown monopolies offer more direct public accountability. The fiscal pressures provinces face may make the revenue case for regulated private markets more compelling over time. No province has announced a firm timeline for such a transition as of publication.

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