What Is the Legal Gambling Age in Canada?

As with most legal questions, the question of how old someone is legally required to be to gamble in Canada does not have a straight black-and-white answer. Instead, it is dependent on a few factors, such as where in Canada you live or where in Canada you are planning to take part in some gambling fun and games.

You will not only learn the legal gambling age in Canada requirement across all the major metropolitan areas, but you will also learn what to be on the lookout for so that your gambling hobby stays a light-hearted and fun pass time. Online gaming is great fun, but there are some key elements to understand and be sure of before you can truly enjoy the best experience.

What Is the Minimum Legal Gambling Age in Canada?

As we alluded to earlier, it all depends on where you live in Canada. For brick-and-mortar casinos, it’s dependent on where they are situated in Canada, as the local governments set minimum legal age. So, for example, the legal age of a gambler in Toronto, Ontario, is 19. In contrast, the minimum age in Montreal, Quebec, is 18. The full list of different age limits per province is as follows:

Territories and Provinces Where the Minimum Legal Age Is 18

Territories and Provinces Where the Minimum Legal Age Is 19

It is worth remembering that when playing at online casinos, the legal gambling age in Canada is determined by where you live. Furthermore, all licensed online Canadian casinos will require you to produce a proof of age document during the account registration process, whether that is a passport, driver’s license or government-issued ID. Brick-and-mortar casinos will also ask for age verification, usually as you enter the building.

Things To Lookout For As A Young Or New Gambler

There is good reason for these restrictions surrounding the legal gambling age in Canada, be it online, offline or anything in between. The safety of your money and well-being is the priority above all else. However, despite all the tools and resources out there to gamble responsibly, there are some signs to look out for to help you keep your or a loved one’s favourite hobby as precisely that, a fun and exciting hobby.

Other signs to look out for are mood swings, depression, and anxiety. This can be tricky as being alive in the historical times of today and feeling overwhelmed in the world we live in can be easy without any external influences. The one thing to be aware of, and one area that is prioritised when discussing the legal gambling age in Canada, is not to use gambling as a crutch to deal with those emotions.

Talk to friends, family and others about how you are gambling and having fun. They can be a great resource to keep you on the light and breezy side of gambling. However, if you do need more official resources to reach out to, there are many:

How to Keep Safe While Using Legal Online Casinos

Remember, gambling should be fun and exciting. However, you need to keep yourself and your information safe. All the legal casino sites in Canada set up various security and safety protocols to help you keep on the right side of responsible gambling.

Ensure the online casino you use is fully licensed and uses SSL encryption. You can check this in two ways. The quickest and easiest way is to make sure the URL of the casino starts with HTTPS and that there is a lock icon before the URL. The second way is to check the casino’s FAQ section. You may also be wondering if you should only use Canadian-based online casinos.

The truth is that as long as the casino is fully licensed and originates from a country or territory where gambling is considered legal, Canada has no laws preventing you from using them. However, if you want to stay as safe as possible, you can stick to online casino websites with URLs ending in .ca – if they are available in your area. Sticking to licensed casinos also ensures the site adheres to the laws covering the legal gambling age in Canada.

All Popular Types of Gambling in Canada

Casino

To kick things off, let’s talk about going to a casino, which is the most common kind of gambling in Canada. When you enter a casino, you’ll immediately feel immersed in the glamour and excitement of the gambling atmosphere, and you’ll find an unbelievable variety of games. Canada has a thriving casino culture, complete with the latest and greatest slot machines and classic table games.

Poker

It’s no secret that Canadian markets have caught on to the fact that poker is the most popular card game in the world. While on-table play still plays a role, poker in Canada has moved online, where there is plenty of competition. No matter what kind of poker you’re looking for, you can find it at one of Canada’s many online poker sites.

Lottery

The lottery is the most basic type of gambling, and the lottery market in Canada is one of the most competitive in the world. If you’re one to put your whole confidence in the numbers, you’ll have no trouble doing so in Canada since the country’s lottery system extends from province to province and even includes a special lottery for NHL games.

Bingo

And from one form of number-based faith to another, it’s clear that bingo has been making a resurgence in recent years. Helping this rebirth, bingo in Canada is perhaps just as prominent as in other big-time gambling areas such as the United Kingdom. Bingo, formerly only a pastime for the elderly, is increasingly popular with people of all ages.

Sports Betting

Online sports betting is the latest inclusion of the gambling entertainment world, available to many residents in multiple provinces. Single-wager bets are now legal, and we expect more options to become available as the years pass, generating even more betting experiences for Canadians everywhere.

Slots

Slot machines, especially those played online, are a thrilling type of gambling because they combine the thrill of fast action with the possibility of large prizes. Canadians of the legal gambling age may find these games in both brick-and-mortar establishments and online equivalents, and they’ll always deliver a thrilling experience.

Proving Your Age

In order to legally bet in Canada, either physically or digitally, you will likely be asked to provide proof of age. The purpose of providing evidence of your identity and legal gambling age in Canada is to ensure that you are who you claim you are when placing a wager. You will likely be asked for this either during registration or even when you try to withdraw any wins.

Different casinos will accept different forms of identification as evidence of age. However, there is a handful that seems to be accepted worldwide.

Just keep in mind that proving your age is a requirement for gambling in Canada, so be prepared with your necessary paperwork.

Do I Have to Meet the Minimum Age Requirements to Work at a Casino?

It will come as no surprise that land-based casinos have to enforce the same legal gambling age in Canada restrictions to employees as they do to patrons. As a result, when working at a casino, you will not only be handling cash and transferring it for gambling chips.

You will also likely have to handle alcohol, which comes with its own minimum age requirements. This means that you can use the information above when job hunting. There are many reasons why one would seek to gain employment in the exciting casino industry.

The pay is rather respectable, not to mention it is a fun and exciting atmosphere to work within. Many casinos also offer excellent employee benefits and teach transferable skills that one could use in a later career path.

Useful Tips For New Gamblers

After taking care of the legalities around the legal gambling age in Canada, let’s move on to something a little more enjoyable: advice for having a fantastic first gambling experience. For a successful gaming session without spending too much money or wasting too much time, follow these useful steps:

Proper Casino Behaviour

Prior to anything else, you need to get familiar with the proper behaviour at a casino. For instance, you should always dress appropriately, give the dealer a tip, be familiar with the rules and etiquette of the game you’re playing, and refrain from bothering the other players around you. Additionally, never touch the chips of another player!

Make a Limited Budget

A budget can assist you in cutting your losses and provide you with a better understanding of how much you’re spending so you can stop going overboard. You should set one in addition to a time restriction, which we’ll talk about next. We advise sticking to a modest budget of $50 to $100 if this is your first time. Always stop after spending it.

Assign Timed Sessions

Setting a small time restriction for yourself when playing a game is a smart idea because you can easily lose track of time. By doing this, you’ll be less likely to get carried away and end up spending more than you meant to. Set a timer for 15 minutes or less for your initial gambling session, and then take a break.

Play Games with a High Odds Ratio

Keep playing the games that provide you with the best odds if you want to increase your chances of winning. Slot machines, for instance, have a greater house edge and the lowest probability of winning, whereas blackjack and baccarat both have very modest house edges.

Utilize Strategy Cards

Use strategy cards to your advantage if you want to improve your blackjack winning odds. You can keep a strategy card in your wallet or pocket or even as a printout when playing online. It will advise you on the right thing to do in each given circumstance. Additionally, as blackjack is a skill-based game, sometimes you’ll need the experience to know what to do.

Take Breaks Frequently

You should take pauses from playing every hour or so, in addition to every 15 minutes of gambling. As a result, you’ll be able to maintain your energy levels and prevent burnout, which can impair your judgment and encourage irresponsible behaviour.

Think Before You Drink

You are of legal drinking age as well as being of the legal gambling age. Casinos frequently provide complimentary beverages to their customers as a result. Gambling is not the time to let your inhibitions down and have a few drinks.

Decide When To Stop

The last and maybe most crucial piece of advice is to know when to give up and do it quickly. Gambling is addicting. Therefore it’s important to establish boundaries early on. If you feel like you’re losing control or if you find yourself thinking about gambling even when you’re not really enjoying it, then that would be a good time to reassess your situation.

Conclusion – Legal Gambling Age in Canada

There is much to learn about the exciting and fun world of gambling, whether online or offline. The key is to keep yourself informed. This is the first step to keeping yourself on the right side of the law and the fun side of playing slots and other casino games.

Whether you are looking to get in on all the booming fun of playing immersive, beautifully detailed slot games or improve your growing poker, blackjack, or baccarat skills as a player, it is worth remembering to be patient, as all good things come to those who wait.

Above all else, you want to be playing legally and not put any of your winnings. The best way to ensure this is to adhere to the latest laws surrounding the legal gambling age in Canada.