If you’re into gambling, you probably know that Canada has a long and complicated history with it. However, we won’t go too far back — rather, we will focus on the last two decades and the evolution of online casinos in the Great White North.
Since the rise of the internet has brought along many changes, we’ll focus on how it has affected the appearance of online gaming. We will also discuss what this industry looks like today. Let’s dive in!
Early History of Gambling
The Canadian Criminal Code was the country’s first official document related to gambling. It dates back to the 19th century. At the time, Canadians did not appreciate this form of entertainment. They banned it completely until 1969, when Canadian governing bodies adjusted the Criminal Code, making lottery and gambling legal.
This marked the beginning of a new era in Canada’s gambling history. The following few decades saw an uninterrupted expansion of the land-based gambling industry. However, in the 1990s, everything changed, thanks to the introduction of the internet. With the rapid growth and interest in technology, the first online casinos appeared and marked the beginning of a new era.
First Online Casinos in Canada
The first online casinos in Canada offered a limited number of games due to restricted technological solutions at the time. These included slots, poker, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat in most cases. Still, even such an offer was quite revolutionary.
However, the number of homes with the equipment necessary to play these games was limited. Unlike today, not many households had computers they could use for such purposes, meaning a small number of people could access those games online.
Lastly, the first online casinos faced a lot of legal issues due to the lack of regulators. Operating an unregulated online casino was a problem not only in Canada but also in many other countries around the world. That is why many of them took matters into their own hands and passed laws that would be more beneficial to them.
Regulation of Online Casinos in Canada
Canadian authorities went through plenty of struggles to allow players to access platforms like 5Dimes, sports betting & online casino site in Canada. Even so, they did not entirely succeed in overcoming the obstacles. There are still a few things that need to be clarified before online gambling in Canada is completely legalized.
So, at this point, you might be wondering whether online casinos are actually legal in Canada? Well, even though it’s difficult to give a straightforward answer to that question, we’ll try to break it down. The country offers a number of state-owned and regulated gambling sites, which are mostly used for regional funding. Not many true Canadian gamblers love playing there.
Unfortunately, private casino operators cannot offer their services within Canada’s borders. Still, that doesn’t mean Canadian residents are restricted from playing high-quality games like those on Mega casino Canada — after all, international casinos are there to save the day.
Offshore Online Casinos in Canada
Although Canadian authorities are struggling with online gambling and its regulation, Canadians can still access multiple top-notch gambling sites. Namely, international or offshore online casinos are open to Canadian gamblers. These casinos are legal and regulated worldwide, meaning they offer a safe and secure gambling environment.
And since Canada’s law doesn’t impose any restrictions on accessing these sites, Canadian gamblers can try numerous platforms and play high-quality games at any time. If you’re on the fence about joining these sites, you shouldn’t be — they have plenty to offer.
However, players still hope that Canadian laws will bring more changes in the foreseeable future, thus continuing the country’s long history of gambling.