Your Rights as a Player in Canada

Online gambling is remarkably popular nowadays for various reasons. However, despite the fun and excitement on offer, you must be careful. Learning your rights as a player is a fundamental part of playing online.

Knowing Your Rights 

Many players aren’t aware of their rights, which can lead to serious consequences. Keep reading for a breakdown of the main things to know and how Canadian gambling authorities are there to help players. 

Provably Fair Games and Results 

Licensed online casinos must guarantee their games use RNGs (Random Number Generators). These powerful pieces of software ensure that all games are completely random, thereby cutting out any potential of rigged or unfair games. 

Gambling regulators regularly audit casinos to make sure the RNGs used haven’t been altered. This involves checking the game RTPs against what the developers have designed. Other organizations, like eCOGRA, also guarantee fairness through third-party testing. 

Banking Protection 

All online casinos must show how they keep payments secure. Most regulators need to see high-level SSL encryption and watertight payment gateways to grant an operator a license.

Fund Segregation 

Most gambling regulators also require casinos to keep player bankrolls in a separate account to ensure they can still pay back deposits or winnings if they go bust.

Canada Gambling Laws

Gambling regulators in Canada are increasingly taking an active role in the proliferation of online gambling. Each province has its own regulator, with the Ontario Alcohol & Gaming Commission the only one currently licensing external casinos. Nevertheless, we expect more to follow soon. Here are the main Canadian regulators to know:

Ontario Alcohol & Gaming Commission Rights 

The Alcohol & Gaming Commission of Ontario started granting licenses to external operators in April 2022, seeking to eliminate the presence of dangerous offshore casinos. It sets strict measures for casino companies, especially with advertising. For example, operators are prohibited from communicating “gambling inducements, bonuses, and credits” in their advertising.

Elsewhere: 

“Players must be provided an opt-in process whereby they actively consent to receiving any direct advertising and marketing of inducements, bonuses and credits, and must be provided a method to withdraw their consent at any time, where such marketing and advertising materials are available.”

The AGCO also requires operators to show responsible gambling materials on their websites and allow players to use tools such as self-exclusion and deposit limits.

Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming Commission

The Quebec Alcohol, Racing, and Gaming Commission doesn’t currently license or regulate online casinos in the province. However, residents are free to play on international casino sites that accept them. These are usually licensed by the Curacao eGaming Authority.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission 

Some Canadian casinos enjoy licensing from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. This is the official regulator for iGaming and other types of gambling in the Mohawk Territory. It oversees over 250 online casinos as of 2023, requiring all operators to offer provably fair games and bonus promotions.