Gaming in Toronto – What’s Allowed and What’s Not

Toronto has plenty of ways to have a flutter. You can bet on the Maple Leafs, play a few hands of blackjack or have a go on the latest online slots. But before getting stuck in, it’s worth knowing what you can and can’t do. Canada’s gambling laws aren’t quite as straightforward as you might think, mainly because each province has its own rules. So, if you’re in Toronto, it’s Ontario’s laws that matter.

How Does Online Gaming Work in Toronto?

Things changed quite a bit in 2021 when Bill C-218 was passed. This allowed provinces to regulate single-event sports betting, rather than restricting most bets to parlays involving several games or events. It also left provinces in charge of deciding how sports betting and casino gaming should work in their own patch.

Ontario opened its regulated online gaming market to private operators in April 2022. Suddenly, there was more choice for people who wanted to play online, with different sites offering everything from slots to live dealer games and sports betting.

Of course, operators can’t simply set up a website and start taking bets, every online casino operator needs to be properly authorised to offer its services in Ontario. Private operators work through iGaming Ontario, a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The AGCO looks after regulation, while iGaming Ontario manages the commercial side of the market.

Who’s Allowed to Play?

If you’re in Toronto, you generally need to be at least 19 to gamble legally. That applies to online casino games, sports betting and casino gaming at authorised venues.

There’s another little detail worth remembering. For regulated online gambling, you need to be physically in Ontario when you play. You might have registered your account at home in Toronto, but heading across the border into another province doesn’t mean you can carry on playing as normal.

Licensed sites use location checks to make sure players are where they’re supposed to be. Trying to get around these checks with a VPN isn’t the answer and could cause problems with your account.

What Can You Play?

There’s a fair bit to choose from. Online slots are popular, but they’re only part of the picture. Depending on the operator, you might also find roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker and live casino games with real dealers.

Sports fans have plenty of options, too. Hockey and basketball are obvious choices in Toronto, but licensed sportsbooks can cover a much wider range of sports and competitions.

If you’d rather get out of the house, there are also authorised land-based casinos and other gambling venues in Ontario. The rules can differ depending on the type of venue, but the same basic idea applies: gambling must be offered through the proper channels.

What’s Off Limits?

The main thing to watch for is an online casino that isn’t authorised to operate in Ontario. Some offshore sites might look perfectly respectable, accept Canadian dollars and offer a huge selection of games. That doesn’t automatically make them legal or mean you’ll have the same protections you’d get from a regulated operator. Checking an operator’s status before signing up is a good idea. The iGaming Ontario website has information about the regulated market, so it’s worth having a look before handing over any money.

Under-19s can’t legally gamble, either. Licensed operators must also follow rules covering identity checks, player protection and responsible gambling.

And while it might be tempting to bend the rules when a website blocks access, trying to dodge location checks or supply false details can land you in trouble.