Online Gambling in Canada: Provincial Licenses

Online gambling in Canada: provincial licenses (full text)

💡 Status as of October 17, 2025. In Canada, online gambling is allowed at the provincial/territorial level: each jurisdiction determines the format of admission, advertising and responsible play.

1) Two market models in Canada

Open Competitive Model (Ontario only): Private operators are allowed online by agreement with iGaming Ontario when registering with AGCO. The market was launched on April 4, 2022.

Crown corporation model (most provinces): the only legal platform belongs to the province (or regional lottery) - PlayNow (BC/MB/SK), Espacejeux (QC), PlayAlberta (AB), ALC (Atlantic).

2) Ontario: open market, strict rules

How it works: the operator registers with AGCO and enters into a commercial agreement with iGaming Ontario (iGO); private brands operate in a "white" field under provincial supervision.

Advertising: from February 28, 2024, it is forbidden to use athletes and celebrities attractive to minors in iGaming advertising (the exception is messages about responsible play).

Scale: In the first year, the market showed significant turnover and revenue for the budget, which consolidated the "Ontarian" model as a benchmark for Canada.

3) British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan - PlayNow ecosystem

PlayNow (BCLC): a single online platform for the only legal operator in BC; the same convention stack is used in Manitoba (via MBLL) and Saskatchewan (via SIGA/SaskGaming).

Status in Saskatchewan: The government explicitly confirms that PlayNow. com is the only legal platform in the province.

4) Quebec - monopoly Loto-Québec (Espacejeux)

Espacejeux/Loto-Québec: official online casino, poker and betting website; model - a separate provincial monopoly without private admission. com.

5) Alberta - PlayAlberta and the liberalisation course

Today: PlayAlberta is the only regulated online site in the province; this is confirmed by the AGLC.

Moving forward: in 2025, the province was publicly preparing a transition to an open market (RFP/negotiation) - a guide for private operators, following the example of Ontario.

6) Atlantic Provinces - ALC Platform

ALC (Atlantic Lottery Corporation): A single regulated online marketplace for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island (alc. ca: casino, betting, bingo, etc.).

7) Provincial Summary (online format for 2025)

Region	Legal online platform/model	Notes
Ontario	Open market (private operators under AGCO + iGO)	Ban on the use of athletes/celebrities in advertising from 28. 02. 2024.
British Columbia	PlayNow (BCLC)	The only legal site in BC.
Manitoba	PlayNow (MBLL)	BCLC/MBLL model; "official" online operator of the province.
Saskatchewan	PlayNow (SIGA/SaskGaming)	Launched 11/2022; confirmed the status of "PlayNow only."
Quebec	Espacejeux (Loto-Québec)	Crown monopoly on online casinos/poker/betting.
Alberta	PlayAlberta (AGLC)	The only legal site; the province is working on the admission of private operators.
Atlantic (NS/NB/NL/PE)	ALC (alc. ca)	Regulated regional platform.

8) Advertising, verification and self-control

Advertising: Ontario sets the tone for protecting minors - banning athletes/celebrities in iGaming ads. Other provinces in the monopoly model rely on crown corporations' own standards.

CCM/geolocation: As in the US, legal play is restricted to physical location in the respective province, accounts confirmed by identity/age checks; crown platforms and Ontarian operators use built-in responsible play tools (limits, self-exclusion, reminders). (See platform and regulator materials e.g. iGO/AGCO, PlayNow/MBLL, AGLC.)

9) What it means for the player

1. Play only on licensed/crown platforms. In most provinces, only the site of the lottery corporation (or ALC) is legal, in Ontario - check that the brand is registered with AGCO/iGO.

2. Check age and geo. Access is possible only if you are actually in "your" province; attempts to bypass the geoblock violate the rules. (See platform help.)

3. Use self-monitoring tools. Deposit/time limits, timeouts, self-exclusion are available on PlayNow/PlayAlberta/ALC/Espacejeux.

10) What does this mean for the operator

Ontario: the only "open" entry - prepare AGCO registration and iGO agreement, advertising compliance (including athlete ban), reporting and RG/AML processes.

Other provinces: you can only work through crown corporations (BCLC/MBLL/SIGA/Loto-Québec/AGLC/ALC) - these are models of a monopoly supplier, sometimes with tenders/partnerships (B2B content, hosting, joint platforms).

Alberta perspective: Keep an eye on regulatory moves - a "second Ontario" is taking shape.

The Canadian online marketplace is a mosaic of provincial regulations. Ontario has opened up competition and sets standards (AGCO/iGO, rigid advertising framework). BC/MB/SK, Quebec, Alberta and the Atlantic retain the single crown platform model (PlayNow/Espacejeux/PlayAlberta/ALC). The nearest "beacon" for change is Alberta, which is preparing a private admission. For players, the recipe is simple: choose your province's official sites/apps; for business - Ontario now, Alberta - on the way.