After looking at the overall gambling landscape in Canada, one thing becomes very clear. The regulations that govern the nation’s gambling community are nothing short of a mixed bag of confusion. Each province is pretty much authorized to set its own rules and regulations. With that said, one thing is universal throughout the country: Canadian online gamblers (sports and casinos) have to use offshore gambling sites for their online gambling activities.
It’s true that many of Canada’s provinces are home to licensed retail casino operators. In very few cases, they will even offer licensing for online casino operators. However, those online casinos are not permitted to cater to home folks, Canadian residents. They can only cater to players from other countries.
Where Canadians Can Use Online Gambling Sites
Since Canadians don’t have access to online gambling sites licensed in Canada, it would seem natural that they would take their online gambling activities to the U.S. Unfortunately, the U.S. online gambling community is state-specific. Each state restricts access to its licensed operators to state residents only, using geo-tracking software to confirm gambler locations.
As disappointing as that might seem, it’s all good because one country, in particular, loves Canadian online gamblers. That country is the UK. According to the online gambling laws laid down by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), offshore gamblers are welcome to use UK online gambling sites (sportsbooks and casinos) as long as their country of origin permits such activities. Canada does allow such activities.
Why UK Online Gambling Operators Love Canadian Gamblers
It’s an understatement to say that UK online gambling sites will welcome Canadian online gamblers. In fact, they love Canadian online gambling, so much so that they specifically advertise for Canadian patronage. That raises the question, why?
As gamblers, Canadians have everything that UK online gambling operators look for in customers. First, Canadians are enthusiastic gamblers. Recent gambling studies indicate that up to 80% of the adult population in Canada will gamble in some way each year. That might include gambling activities such as
- Betting on horses (online/retail)
- Betting on sports (online)
- Casino play (online/retail)
- Poker (online/retail)
- Bingo (online/retail)
- Lotteries
Second, Canadians seem to have plenty of discretionary money for their gambling activities. The standard of living in Canada tends to be higher than the standard of living in most European countries. That translates to plenty of Canadian gamblers who have the needed gambling resources.
Finally, Canadians are astute gamblers. While that might represent higher levels of risk for UK online gambling operators, they benefit from patronage by customers who don’t need a lot of hand-holding. Most Canadian gamblers are perfectly able to go about their gambling activities with very little fuss.
How UK Online Gambling Operators Pursue Canadian Online Gamblers
Throughout the world, most countries that offer offshore access to online gambling are well-aware that Canadian online gamblers need a home to gamble. That makes for a lot of competition for Canadian gambling dollars.
Knowing they are facing competition for business from Canadians, UK online gambling sites go to great lengths to draw Canadian players. Some of the steps they are often willing to take include:
- Online advertising campaigns directed at potential online gamblers in Canada
- Acceptance of popular Canadian banking options (more on that below)
- Special no deposit bonus offers for Canadian players only
- Acceptance of VPN access for Canadian players who might be restricted through internet protocols
Above, mention was made that UK online gambling sites are often willing to accept banking options that are accessible to Canadians. The big banking option in this space is Canada’s Interac banking system. The Interac system is popular with Canadians because they can link it directly to their bank accounts. The system makes it easy for Interac customers to move money from their bank accounts to their favorite online casinos with the click of a button. Withdrawals can also be made in the same manner.
A Cautionary Tale for Canadian Gamblers Using UK Online Gambling Sites
For the most part, it’s safe for Canadians to use UK online gambling sites. However, some level of caution is warranted.
The biggest potential issue relates to situations where a dispute might arise between a UK online gambling operator and a Canadian gambler. You see, offshore gamblers are not afforded the same protection that UK online gamblers get from the UKGC.
When disputes arise, UK gamblers get full support from the Commission. That is not the case for Canadian gamblers. They are out there flying solo. It’s for this reason that Canadian online gamblers are obligated to do their own due diligence when selecting offshore operators in the UK. Bottom line: Canadian gamblers must focus on licensed operators only.
