The answer to the question of is online sports betting legal in Canada has become an issue of hot debate. There are many passionate supporters for online gambling and other enthusiasts who believe it should remain illegal while others allow it and encourage their clients to use it. In this article I will outline the legal issue and how Canadian law relating to online gambling can impact your ability to place bets on sports events. Online gambling has been illegal in some parts of the world for a long time but recently some countries like the United States has introduced legislation that allows online gambling as long as it is done within the confines of that particular country. Canada is one of the last countries to open the doors to online gambling and I am sure there are many avid online gamblers in Canada. As with all legislation there are grey areas, so it is important to understand the Canadian law as well as the grey areas associated with other jurisdictions.
First, as previously mentioned it is illegal in Canada to conduct any type of gambling whether online or otherwise. However, some forms of online gambling have been created to be legal in Canada by way of provision of a permitted activity. Gambling can be created through a number of different ways including an electronic transfer of funds or through a system of bonuses or point systems whereby players win entry into a draw. In either case, Canadian law does not recognise any form of gambling where the outcome of the game is based solely on the odds of the draw or the distribution of points. This means that if you are placing a wager on a horse race and if the race is won by the favourite then you cannot claim a win because the game was won by a machine or something of the sort.
Another issue that surrounds online sports betting in Canada is that the laws do not recognise or require proof of income or identity. Therefore, anyone can place a wager online from anywhere in the world. It is important to remember that even though the laws do not specifically state that online wagers must be legal in Canada; they are against fraud and a misrepresentation of odds. In addition, there is currently no legislation in place that would protect customers from being ripped off by online bookmakers.
In addition to these issues it is also important to note that is online sports betting legal in Canada is not necessarily true. While the majority of websites will be legitimate, there is always the threat of fraud and the facilitation of fraud on the part of the site operator. To ensure that Canadian laws are fully implemented and followed a licensed and authorized bookmaker must be hired to oversee all transactions. The implementation of such a policy has actually increased the amount of regulation around this type of gambling. In the end, the customer wins by the bookmaker’s terms of service which includes the payment of commissions and the payment of taxes.
The issue of online sports betting in Canada is also one of controversy. Some feel that because of the U.S. based nature of many of the websites that operate here that Canadians should not partake in online betting. This is essentially an opinion held by the government and is not backed up by any type of evidence. Additionally, the government does not have any controls in place over the placement of advertisements on online sites. Therefore, there are many online sites that run completely free of charge and without ad placement restrictions. With such a lack of control and restrictions why would anyone feel that is online sports betting legal in Canada?
Ultimately, is online sports betting legal in Canada is something that only you can decide for yourself. The safest bet is to choose to do nothing and to trust your own judgment. If you have researched all the facts and have chosen to partake in online betting then by all means go ahead and do so. If you are new to the concept however, then taking some time to learn all that you can about it may just be the best decision you can make. Just make sure to have fun and enjoy all the rewards that can come to you when you participate in online betting!
