Features
The Legal Landscape of Gambling in Canada: What You Need to Know

Canada’s online gambling landscape is a complex and evolving field, shaped by federal and provincial regulations. The Canadian Criminal Code, provincial laws, and international influences create a unique legal environment for online gambling.
This article delves into the intricacies of these regulations, highlighting how provinces like Ontario and Alberta manage online gambling, the impact of iGaming, and the legal status of offshore operators.
It also addresses practical aspects for Canadian gamblers, such as financial transactions, tax implications, and safety measures. Understanding these legal nuances helps ensure a secure and compliant online gambling experience for Canadian players.
Canada’s legal framework for online gambling has seen significant evolution, with recent legislation specifically aimed at enhancing player protection and providing a more regulated market.
Now, provinces have the authority to license and oversee online casinos, ensuring these platforms operate with transparency and fairness. For instance, the regulations governing Ontario online casinos mandate strict adherence to these comprehensive laws, which guarantees a reliable, secure, and legally compliant gaming experience for players throughout the province.
The Canadian Criminal Code and Online Gambling
The Canadian Criminal Code significantly influences online gambling regulation in Canada. While it does not explicitly prohibit online gambling, it bans gambling at establishments not owned or licensed by a provincial government. Additionally, the Code prohibits Canadian companies from offering online gambling to Canadians. However, this restriction does not extend to overseas companies, creating a legal grey area for online gambling.
Canada’s approach to online gambling is complex and decentralized, with provinces holding the authority to regulate gambling within their territories. Unlike South Africa, where national laws uniformly govern online gambling, Canada allows each province to license and regulate its gambling industry.
The Criminal Code provides an overarching framework, while provinces manage specific regulations. Canadian players can legally access offshore online casinos licensed by jurisdictions like Malta, Gibraltar, or the UK, contrasting South Africa’s National Gambling Act of 2004, which prohibits such activities.
Modern Laws Affecting Online Gambling in Canada
The legality of offshore operators taking bets from Canada remains complex and ambiguous. While no specific laws prohibit Canadian players from using international sites, the Canadian Criminal Code allows certain forms of gambling conducted and managed by provinces or licensed charitable organizations.
Consequently, while Canadian players can access overseas online casinos without breaking Canadian laws, the legal status of offshore operators accepting bets from Canadians remains uncertain.
In Canada, each province has its regulations for online gambling. For example, Alberta permits legal online gambling through Play Alberta, a government-regulated site. In British Columbia, provincial authorities regulate gambling and commercial gaming, with a legal gambling age of 19. In Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, gambling regulations permit individuals aged 19 and above to gamble legally. In Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, gambling policies cater to residents with varying minimum gambling ages.
Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories also regulate gambling through their respective authorities, allowing residents to access internationally regulated sites without legal consequences.
iGaming and Online Casinos in Canada
Ontario’s iGaming market is a well-regulated industry overseen by iGaming Ontario (iGO), a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Operators must have their games and systems certified by an Independent Testing Laboratory (ITL) to ensure quality and fairness.
Additionally, operators must register with the AGCO and secure a Letter of Agreement with iGO. Advertising iGaming in Ontario is legal but must comply with AGCO’s strict standards.
The iGaming industry significantly impacts Canadian players, supporting over 12,000 full-time jobs and contributing over $900 million in labor income. Popular online casinos for Canadian players include JackpotCity Casino, PokerStars Casino, Leo Vegas Casino, 888casino, and Royal Vegas Casino. These platforms offer a wide range of games, payment options, and promotions, catering to Canadian players’ preferences.
For online casino operators in Ontario, participating in the iGaming market involves registering with the AGCO and obtaining a Letter of Agreement with iGO. Operators are subjected to registration fees, which vary based on the type and scope of gambling services offered. This process ensures that only reputable and compliant operators participate in the market, maintaining high standards of operation.
Practical Information for Canadian Gamblers
Canadian gamblers engage in various activities, from casinos to horse racing and lotteries. In Canada, gambling winnings are generally tax-free, but interest on winnings is taxable. Professional gamblers, however, are taxed on their winnings as business income, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between casual and professional gamblers when considering tax implications.
Canadian players can typically access international online casinos without legal repercussions. The legality of online gambling in Canada remains a grey area, with federal laws not explicitly prohibiting residents from participating in international gambling sites. As long as players are aware of potential tax implications if they generate income from their winnings, they can enjoy their favorite online gambling activities.
For online gambling in Canada, financial transactions should be secure and convenient. Common payment methods include credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. Players should choose payment methods that best suit their needs. Gambling winnings are not taxed in Canada, but income generated from those winnings, such as interest, is taxable. Players should be mindful of these potential tax implications.
Many online casinos cater to Canadian players by allowing transactions in Canadian dollars (CAD). This convenience eliminates currency conversion fees, making it easier for players to deposit and withdraw funds. While not all international casinos support CAD transactions, players should prioritize those that do for a smoother gambling experience.
Safety and Fairness in Online Gambling
Fund security is a top priority for online gambling operators and regulatory bodies. Online casinos must use advanced encryption software to protect players’ personal and financial data. Additionally, provincial regulatory bodies oversee operations to ensure strict adherence to standards, further bolstering security in the Canadian online gambling landscape.
The fairness of casino games in Canada is ensured through licensing, regulation, and independent audits. Online casinos use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to guarantee impartial outcomes.
Reputable regulatory bodies, such as the AGCO, oversee casino operations to uphold integrity. Players with concerns can submit complaints to relevant regulatory authorities, ensuring their rights are protected and the overall fairness of the industry is maintained.
Responsible gaming resources in Canada promote healthy gambling habits and address potential issues. Online gambling providers offer self-exclusion programs, deposit limits, and other features to help players maintain control over their activities.
Support networks, such as helplines and counseling services, are available for those in need. This comprehensive approach ensures a supportive and regulated environment for legal online gambling in Canada.
Canada‘s online gambling landscape continues to evolve, providing a regulated and secure environment for players. By understanding the legal nuances and regulations, Canadian gamblers can safely and legally enjoy their favorite online gambling activities.
Features
I Speak “Jew”

By MARK E. PAULL I grew up in Montreal. Born in 1956. Anglo by birth, sure. But that never quite fit. I don’t speak “Anglo” the way they mean it. My real language is Jew.
And I don’t mean Hebrew or Yiddish. I mean the language of reading the room before you enter it. The code-switching, shame-dodging, laugh-first-so-they-don’t-pounce dialect we pick up early. It’s a language built on side-eyes and timing and ten generations of tension.
I speak French—enough to make myself understood. Enough to charm a dinner table, crack a joke, get someone’s uncle to nod. I’m not fluent, but I’m fast. Doesn’t matter. In Quebec, language isn’t grammar—it’s inheritance. It’s who your grandfather cursed out in a hardware store.
To the Francophones, I’ll never be one of them. My accent betrays me before I say a word. I’m just an Anglo. And not even that, really. Because when the lens tightens, when they look closely, I’m just un Juif. Just a Jew.
And to the Anglos? Same thing. I can wear the suit, speak the Queen’s English, order the wine properly—still a Jew. Even in rooms where I “pass,” I don’t belong. I’m not invited in to be myself. I’m invited in to behave. To be safe. To not say the thing that makes the air stiff.
We’re the only people still called by our religion. No one says “Orthodox” for a Greek. No one says “Vatican” for an Italian. No one calls a Black man “Baptist” before they see his face. But “Jew”? That sticks. That’s the label. Before passport. Before language. Before hello.
I’ve mostly made peace with that. But there’s still this ache—knowing you can live your whole life in a place and never really be from there.
Let me tell you a story.
We had this block party once—the folding-table, paper-plate kind. Kids zipping by on scooters. Music low. Everyone asked to bring something from “your culture.”
The Greek guy brought lemon potatoes and lamb—felt like it came with a side of Byzantine history. The Italians brought two lasagnas—meat and veggie—with basil placed like confetti. The Vietnamese couple brought shrimp rolls that vanished before they hit the table. Even the German guy—built like a fridge—brought bratwurst and a six-pack with gothic lettering.
And then us.
My partner made Moroccan fish. Her grandmother’s recipe. Red with tomatoes, garlic, cumin. Studded with olives and preserved lemon. I brought a bottle of white wine. Dry. Crisp. From the Golan Heights. Not Manischewitz. Not even close.
We laid it out. Someone leaned over: “Moroccan? But I thought you were Jewish.”
We smiled. “We are.”
Then: “So… where’s the brisket? Isn’t Jewish wine supposed to be sweet?”
That’s when it hits you. No matter how long you’ve lived here, how many snowstorms you’ve shoveled through, you’re still explaining yourself. Still translating your presence.
Because they don’t know. They don’t know Jews came from everywhere. That “Jewish” isn’t one dish—it’s a whole map. That we had Jews in Morocco before there was even a France. That some of us grew up on kreplach, some on kefta. That some of our mothers sang in Yiddish, others in Arabic, and some in both—depending on who was knocking.
They don’t know. And worse—they don’t ask.
And that’s the part that gets you. Not the slurs. Not the graffiti. Not even the occasional muttered cliché. It’s the blankness. The shrug. The image they already have of you that’s built out of dreidels and sitcoms.
“Jewish” as nostalgic. As novelty. Something they saw once on a bagel.
Sometimes, when those questions come, I float. One version of me walks out. Another turns into a mouse. One turns into a Frisbee. Just gone. Not mad. Just tired.
Because being a Jew isn’t cute. It’s not nostalgic.
It’s ancient.
Before Montreal.
Before France.
Before Poland. Before Spain.
Before pogroms.
Before ghettos.
Before Hitler.
Before even the word Europe.
We were there.
Go back to the 5th century. 2nd century.
Go back to Jesus—our kid, by the way.
Go further—Babylon. Persia.
Keep going—Temple. Exile. Wandering.
And still, after all that, I’m at a table in Quebec explaining why our fish has cumin in it.
It’s almost funny. If it didn’t wear you down a little.
I’m not looking for pity. This isn’t a complaint.
I’m proud. I know what I carry. I walk into any room with five thousand years behind me. I come from people who kept the lights on through every kind of darkness—and laughed through it, too.
But sometimes, I just wish I didn’t have to explain so much.
All I want is to put down my dish…
…and hear someone say:
“That smells amazing. Tell me the story.”
That’s all.
Mark E. Paull, C.A.C. is a Certified ADHD Coach – IPHM, CMA, IIC&M, CPD Certified
Writer | Lived-Experience Advocate | Type 1 Diabetic since 1967
He has been published in:
The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, Folklife Magazine, Times of Israel, CHADD’s Attention Magazine, The Good Men Project
Features
At 104, Besse Gurevich last original resident of Shaftesbury Park Retirement Residence

By MYRON LOVE At 104, Besse Gurevich is the last of the original residents of Shaftesbury Park Retirement Residence. She may also be the oldest member of our Jewish community.
Although her vision and her hearing have diminished considerably, her mind and memory are still intact. A few weeks back, this writer sat down with her in her suite as she recalled a life filled with highs and lows and her many contributions to her community, both in Winnipeg and Fort William before that.
The daughter of Jack and Rebecca Avit, her life’s journey began in 1921 in a home on Carlton Street near Ellice Avenue, near her father’s furniture store. He later operated a cap factory.
When she was ten, the family – she had two brothers and a sister – moved to Manitoba Avenue in the old North End. “My father had put a deposit down on a house on Scotia,” she recalls. “But my parents didn’t feel that the neighbourhood was Jewish enough.”
Her schooling included Peretz School and, like so many of her generation, St. John’s Tech (as it was known back then.) “I was actually supposed to be going to Isaac Newton for high school,” she says. We were living on the wrong side of the tracks for St. John’s. After one day at Isaac Newton, I found a way to transfer to St. John’s.”
In 1940, 19-year-old Bessie Avit married Jack Gurevich, a young man from Fort William. The wedding was marred though, by the sudden, untimely passing of her father.
Following the wedding, Besse moved with her new husband to Fort William where Jack Gurevich worked in retail clothing sales. “We lived in Fort William for 20 years,” she says. “Our three children (Judy, Richard and Howard) were born there.”
She recalls that there were about 200 Jewish families – including her sister and one of her brothers for some years – in town, during the time she lived there. “We were very well known in the community,” she recalls. “I was involved in everything.”
Her community activism continued after the family’s return to her home town. While Jack went to work as a salesman for Western Glove Works, Besse became an indefatigable community volunteer. At one time or another, she served as vice-president of ORT, Hadassah and National Council of Jewish Women in Winnipeg. She was also a long time B’nai Brith member.
In the business world, the highlight of her career was the building of Linden Woods. “I became involved in real estate development for a time,” she recalls. “I was hired by Genstar to develop Linden Woods. The company estimated that it would take about 20 years to complete. I got it done in two.”
She also taught hair dressing for a while. “I worked with many young Jewish brides,” she says.
Recent years have not been kind to Besse Gurevich. Her beloved husband, Jack, died in 2016 – after almost 65 years of marriage. Older son, Richard, passed away in Vancouver in 2018 and, most recently –six months ago – younger son, Howard, followed. She notes that there were 200 mourners at Howard’s funeral.
(Howard Gurevich was in marketing for many years before turning his talents to the art world. In recent years, he was best known for Gurevich Fine Art in the Exchange District and his support of local artists.)
Besse Gurevich celebrated her 100th birthday – which took place at the height of the Covid shutdown – quietly.
While she used to enjoy reading. she is unable to do so any more. She can still listen to television.
And while she has few family members to visit her any more, she does have a group of friends interesting enough from the local theatre scene. For many years, she was a close friend of the late Doreen Brownstone, one of the leading figures in theatre in Winnipeg for more than half a century. Besse became part of the group that would visit Doreen every week and, since Doreen passed on three years ago, the members of the group have continued to visit Besse on a weekly basis.
Features
Winnipeg author’s first novel gripping tale of romance, action and intrigue, set in 15th century Spain and Morocco

By MYRON LOVE “The Chronos of Andalucia”, a novel just released by first-time author Merom Toledano, is a historical romance set in late 15th century Spain and Morocco, filled with passion, action, intrigue, unexpected twists and turns – and, of course, with the requirement of any medieval story – a quest.
The easy-to-read, 190 page book follows the adventures of Catalina, a young woman living by her wits on the streets of Granada in the year 1487, (just after the Christian armies of Ferdinand and Isabella had recaptured all of Spain from the Moors) – while trying to evade the agents of the Inquisition, who had murdered her Jewish mother and Christian father 10 years earlier. She was left with an insatiable desire to learn about astronomy, along with a mysterious map and an astrolabe (an instrument formerly used to make astronomical measurements) – the importance of which will only be unveiled if she can get to the city of Tangier in Morocco.
Early on, there is a reference to Abraham Zacuto, a prominent Spanish rabbi famed for his knowledge of astronomy and astrology.
The action begins when she has a casual interaction with a former Spanish soldier, Diego. When the forces of the Inquisition approach, she flees with the soldier – who is also her love interest – and who helps her to escape. They turn for help to a childhood friend of Catalina’s – Roberta, a nun, who helps them on their perilous journey to Tangier – a journey that includes being captured by pirates, surviving a shipwreck, being separated for a long period of time and, of course, finding each other again and realizing the success of their joint quest.
In his writing, the author paints vivid word pictures of the different characters and beautifully invokes the colour, sights, sounds and scents of the time and the places.
What I found truly remarkable about the writing of “The Chronos of Andalucia” is that English is not Merom Toledano’s first language. The Israeli-born author – he grew up near Haifa – came to Winnipeg with his young family just eight years ago.
“I have had this book in mind for several years now,” says the satellite engineer whose working career takes him to many different parts of the world.
He notes that he has always felt a connection to Spain, Spanish music and literature – a reflection of his family’s modern origins in that country. His great-grandparents, he relates, lived in Toledo – hence the family name, Toledano. His parents lived in Meknes in Morocco while his father attended university in Tangier before making aliyah.
Toledano just published “The Chronos of Andalucia” in April on Amazon. He reports that the book – which is available here at McNally Robinson – has been selling well –close to 100 copies – with orders coming from a bookstore chain in England, a bookstore in Denmark, and one in Italy.
“I have had between 30 and 40 positive reviews so far,” he reports.
Toledano adds that he envisages “The Chronos of Andalucia” to be the first in a series – a la the writer Danielle Steele. He is already working on a sequel – which is hinted at the end of “The Chronos” and, he reports, he is establishing his own independent publishing operation.