While Part VII of the Criminal Code of Canada basically prohibits all types of gaming, it does provide one important exception under section 207, which allows provinces and territories to ‘conduct and manage’ gaming and betting activities within their jurisdictions. Therefore, the operation, licensing and regulation of legal gaming is conducted by each province.

Provincial regulatory bodies may include:

• a provincial lottery corporation and
• a separate regulatory arm such as a gaming commission

Alberta  

• Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (“AGLC”) responsible for conducting and managing provincial lotteries and regulating charitable gaming;
• In Alberta, PlayAlberta.ca is the only regulated online gambling site

British Columbia

• British Columbia Gambling Laws, Regulations and Policies
• British Columbia Lottery Corporation (“BCLC”) oversees all commercial gambling, including online gambling
• Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) regulates all gambling in British Columbia and investigates allegations of wrongdoing to ensure integrity
• BCLC operates PlayNow.com which is the only regulated online gambling site in British Columbia

Manitoba

• Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (“LGCA”) regulates a variety of industries within the province such as, liquor, gaming, cannabis and horse racing industries
• Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries manages physical and online casinos within the province
• Playnow.com is the only legal online gambling website in Manitoba.

New Brunswick

• Gaming in New Brunswick
• The New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation (“NBLGC”)is responsible for the conduct and management of all provincial gaming and lottery activities
• The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (“ALC”) which is jointly operated by the Atlantic provinces provides government-regulated lottery products

Newfoundland and Labrador

• Newfoundland and Labrador Licences, Permits and Registrations
• The Department of Digital Government and Service regulates charitable and non-profit lottery fundraising in NL
• Atlantic Lottery Corporation (“ALC”) provides government-regulated lottery products in the province

Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut

• Western Canada Lottery Corporation (“WCLC”) is a non-profit organization authorized to manage, conduct and operate lottery and gaming-related activities as agent for the Territories
• Specifically in the Northwest Territories (“NWT”), the Northwest Territories Lottery Commission oversees the management of the Western Canada Lottery Program (“WCLP”) in both the NWT and Nunavut
• The Yukon Lottery Commission manages the profit allocation for fuds generated through lotteries

Nova Scotia

• Atlantic Lottery Corporation (“ALC”) provides government-regulated lottery products in the province
• The Alcohol and Gaming Division of Service Nova Scotia processes charitable gaming applications and grants licenses.
• The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation manages regulated gambling in the province

Ontario

• Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (“AGCO”) regulates alcohol, lottery and gaming, cannabis retail and horse racing in Ontario.
• OLG (Ontario Lottery Corporation) manages many aspects of gaming such as its facilities, the sale of province-wide lottery games, PlayOLG internet gaming, bingo, and other electronic gaming products at Charitable Gaming Centres

Prince Edward Island

• Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission develops, organizes, undertakes, conducts and manages lottery schemes on behalf of the province
• Atlantic Lottery Corporation (“ALC”) provides government-regulated lottery products in the province

Québec

• The government corporation Loto-Québec regulates gaming and is responsible for overseeing games of chance and gambling offerings in Quebec

Saskatchewan

• Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (“LGS”) manages gaming policy and management in the province
• Liquor and Gaming Authority (“SLGA”) regulates many forms of gaming in the province, including electronic gaming, charitable gaming, horse racing is responsible for the licensing and regulation of charitable gaming; it issues licences for bingo, breakopen, raffle lotteries, Texas Hold ’em poker and Monte Carlo (mock casino) events to charitable organizations throughout the province

Refer to other Answers in Gaming Law for more information.

								
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