Legal Gambling Age Across Canada
18+: Provinces & Territories
In Canada, only three provinces set the minimum legal gambling age at 18 years old: Alberta, Manitoba, and Québec. Once you’ve become an adult, you can legally play in casinos, offline and online, buy lottery tickets, and bet on sports.
19+: Provinces & Territories
Most Canadian provinces and territories set the minimum legal gambling age at 19 years old. Once you’ve reached this age, you can freely gamble in casinos, play on online casinos, buy scratch cards and lotteries, do sports betting, and other kinds of betting, unless otherwise specified.
Special Case: Ontario
Ontario stands out as a unique exception in Canada because it enforces two different minimum ages depending on the type of gambling you do.
Age 18: Lotteries and Bingo
Residents can legally purchase lottery tickets and participate in charitable bingo games at the age of 18. This lower threshold aligns with the age of majority in Ontario for certain regulated gaming activities.
Age 19: Casinos, Online Gambling, Sports Betting
You must be 19 years old to enter a casino, place a bet on sports, play poker, or play on Ontario online casinos through regulated platforms.
This rule is strictly enforced through ID checks and online verification systems in physical casinos and digital platforms. Note that any online casino you access from Ontario must also uphold this law.
Regulation and Oversight
Gambling in Ontario is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
iGaming Ontario, a subsidiary of AGCO, oversees the province’s licensed online gambling market, ensuring compliance with age restrictions, player protection, and responsible gambling measures.
Legal Framework
Canada’s gambling laws are shaped by a shared responsibility between the federal government and the provinces and territories.
While the Criminal Code of Canada provides the overarching legal foundation, it delegates much of the authority for regulation and enforcement to provincial and territorial governments.
Federal Role
The Criminal Code makes operating a gambling venue or betting activity illegal unless it is licensed and regulated by a province or territory.
This ensures that all offline gambling activities across the country remain controlled, licensed, and legal.
Provincial and Territorial Authority
Each province or territory has the power to:
- Set the minimum legal age for gambling.
- Regulate casinos, lotteries, sports betting, and online gambling.
- Enforce player protection standards and responsible gambling initiatives.
Online vs. Offline Gambling
Whether gambling takes place in a land-based casino or on an online casino, the minimum legal age requirements remain the same across Canada.
However, how these rules are enforced differs between offline and online environments.
Offline (Land-Based) Gambling
Offline gambling laws apply to casinos (inc. resorts), horse racing tracks, bingo halls, and lottery retailers.
- Age limits are enforced through ID checks at casino entrances, ticket counters, or when purchasing lottery products.
- Anyone caught underage can be denied entry or fined, and establishments face penalties for failing to enforce age restrictions.
Online Gambling
Age restrictions mirror those for offline gambling in each province.
Online operators must use strict verification tools to confirm a player’s age and location, including:
- Government-issued ID checks
- Banking information verification
- Geolocation technology to ensure the player is within the province’s borders (if playing in Ontario)
Enforcement and Penalties
If an underage person is found attempting to gamble online, their account is immediately closed, and any winnings are forfeited.
Providing false information to access an online casino can result in suspension, permanent bans, and even legal consequences.
In addition, licensed operators who fail to properly enforce age verification can face heavy fines, loss of license, or regulatory action by the provincial gaming authority. So it’s in their best interest to verify your age, and casinos that don’t do that should be avoided at all costs.
Consistency Across Platforms
You cannot bypass age laws by playing online, because provincial regulators ensure that digital platforms follow the same rules as brick-and-mortar establishments.
This unified approach helps protect minors while maintaining fairness across gambling channels.
Responsible Gambling
Age restrictions in Canada are not just a matter of law but a cornerstone of responsible gambling practices.
By setting the minimum legal age at 18 or 19, depending on the province, regulators aim to protect young people from the risks associated with gambling before they are legally considered mature enough to make informed decisions.
Why Age Restrictions Exist
Age restrictions are kept in place for 3 main reasons: to protect minors, to support a healthy way of gambling, and to reduce the harmful side effects.
Protecting Youth: Younger individuals are more vulnerable to problem gambling and its financial and social consequences. By delaying access, we can help safeguard minors from addictive behaviours that can have long-term impacts on education, employment, and personal well-being.
Promoting Responsibility: Legal age limits align gambling with other adult privileges, such as drinking or signing contracts. This ensures that only those legally recognized as adults, who can make informed choices, can participate in gambling activities.
Reducing Harm: Restrictions help minimize exposure to gambling before individuals can fully understand the risks involved. They give you more time to develop maturity and financial stability before engaging in potentially high-risk forms of entertainment.
How Enforcement Works
There are various ways to check your age and eligibility. To be sure, keep your ID card with you when gambling offline and be ready to provide your personal details when playing online.
Land-Based Venues: Casinos and lottery retailers are legally required to verify government-issued ID when there is any doubt about a customer’s age. Staff are trained to refuse entry or sales if you cannot provide proper identification, ensuring that underage individuals are kept out of gambling environments.
Online Casinos: Provincial operators use digital ID checks, banking verification, and geolocation software to block underage access. These tools create multiple layers of security, making it extremely difficult for minors to bypass safeguards and access real-money gambling sites.
Penalties: Businesses that fail to enforce age restrictions can face fines, loss of license, or other disciplinary action. This strict accountability ensures that both physical and online operators take their responsibilities seriously, keeping the industry fair and safe for eligible players.
Support & Resources
Every province offers programs and resources to promote responsible gambling and assist those struggling with addiction:
- Self-Exclusion Programs (voluntary bans from casinos or online platforms).
- 24/7 Helplines such as ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) or similar regional services.
- Educational Tools provided by provincial regulators to help players set limits and gamble responsibly.
By combining strict age laws with support systems, Canada’s gambling framework is designed to balance entertainment and protection.
Recognizing and Preventing Youth Gambling Problems
While age restrictions are designed to protect young people, some teens may still find ways to access gambling or gambling-like activities. Parents, guardians, and educators play a key role in identifying warning signs early and taking steps to protect youth.
How to Spot Youth Gambling Problem?
If you are concerned that your teen is gambling, watch for these potential red flags:
- Physical changes like trouble sleeping, appearing tired or run down, changes in eating habits, or difficulty focusing and remembering things.
- Emotional struggles like mood swings, depression, or anxiety.
- Problems at school, e.g. declining grades, poor attendance, or behavioural issues.
- Relationship troubles, like strained interactions with family or friends.
- Money issues include missing possessions, frequent requests to borrow money, or sudden increases in spending.
- Substance use, such as increased alcohol consumption or drug use.
How Can I Protect My Teen from a Gambling Problem?
Parents and guardians can take proactive steps to reduce risks and encourage healthy habits:
- Be involved: Talk with your teen about their activities, friends, and places they spend time.
- Set boundaries: Create clear rules and consequences and consistently enforce them.
- Limit exposure: Avoid gambling activities at home and encourage alternative family entertainment.
- Educate: Explain the risks and realities of gambling.
- Model healthy behaviour: Demonstrate moderation, set limits, and show positive examples of responsible play.
- Monitor devices: Keep an eye on your teen’s computers, phones, and gaming consoles for gambling-related apps or websites.
Key Takeaways on Gambling Age in Canada
Gambling in Canada is legal and widely accessible, but the rules about who can play depend on where you are. Across the country, the minimum legal age is either 18 or 19, with most provinces and territories requiring players to be 19. The key exceptions are Alberta, Manitoba, and Québec, where gambling is permitted from age 18.
Ontario is a unique case, allowing lottery and bingo at 18, but requiring players to be 19 for casinos, online gaming, and sports betting.
These age limits are enforced to protect young people, ensure gambling is conducted responsibly, and uphold the integrity of Canada’s gaming industry. Whether in a casino, buying a lottery ticket, or logging into an online casino, you must meet your province’s or territory’s minimum age requirement.
Read casino guides and other resources to learn more about local laws and rules. When you respect age limits and use the support programs available, you can enjoy gambling as a form of entertainment, safely, legally, and responsibly.
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