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    Canada
    18+Gamble responsibly

    Canada · Betting laws

    Is Sports Betting Legal in Canada?

    Each province controls gambling. Ontario (since 2022) and Alberta (since July 2026) license private operators; the other provinces offer online betting only through their government lottery site, such as PlayNow, Espacejeux or Proline+.

    Legal age
    19+
    Licensed sportsbooks
    4
    Tax on winnings
    None

    By Legal Betting Reviews editorial team · Updated

    At a glance

    Minimum age
    19+ in most provinces; 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec
    Tax on winnings
    Recreational gambling winnings are generally not taxable in Canada.
    Operator tax
    Ontario takes 20% of operators' gaming revenue; rates elsewhere differ by province.
    Help
    ConnexOntario Helpline · 1-866-531-2600 · connexontario.ca

    The main laws

    • 1985

      Criminal Code, section 207

      Allows only the provinces to conduct and manage lottery schemes, which includes betting.

    • 2021

      Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act (Bill C-218)

      Legalised single-event sports betting from 27 August 2021.

    How to check a sportsbook's licence

    1. Work out which province you are betting from.
    2. In Ontario, check iGaming Ontario's list of regulated operators; in Alberta, check the AGLC registrant list.
    3. In other provinces, use only the provincial lottery corporation's official site.

    Open the official licence register

    Recent changes

    1. Bill C-218 legalised single-event sports betting.

    2. Ontario banned active athletes from gambling advertising.

    3. Ontario launched the BetGuard centralised self-exclusion tool in May.

    4. Alberta's private online betting market opened on 13 July, regulated by the AGLC.

    Sources

    This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the regulator's website for the latest rules.