May 4, 2025

From Igloos to iGaming: The Evolution of Online Casinos in Canada

Canada has witnessed remarkable developments across various sectors over the past few decades. However, one industry that has seen significant growth, is the iGaming industry, in particular the online casinos market.

From the early days of the 1990s, when the first online gambling companies were born, to today, with the popularity of mobile gaming, the Canadian online casino scene has grown significantly. Minimum deposit casino Canada has become particularly popular among Canadian Casino Players today.

In this guide, our Minimum Deposit Casinos (MDC) team explores the evolution of online casinos in Canada from the early 90s to now. We look at the role of the internet in developing the industry and evaluate the current standings and the future of iGaming in Canada.

A Land of Bets and Wagers, Early Gambling in Canada

Before discussing the Canadian gambling climate in the 1990s, we must first look back at Canada’s earlier gambling history. Contrary to common misconceptions, various forms of gambling were legally established in Canada well before the Internet age. Significant changes to the Canadian Criminal Code in the late 1960s and early 1970s legalized certain gambling activities, such as lotteries and horse racing. While Provincial lotteries were commonplace, regulated land-based casinos opened up across various provinces in Canada.

Prior to the internet era gambling in Canada relied on people going to physical locations to place wagers or buy lottery tickets, attend Bingo halls or play at casinos. It was only with the rise of the internet in the 1990s that the Canadian gambling landscape began to include online casinos and digital sportsbooks.

Below, we explore how the internet has reshaped Canada’s gambling environment, leading to today’s dynamic online and mobile gaming platforms.

The Internet Changes Everything – The Birth of Online Casinos

At the end of the 20th century, the internet revolution transformed the Canadian gambling landscape by giving birth to a new form of online entertainment – online casinos. The early legal framework did not specifically address online gambling in Canada, which created a regulatory grey area, which led to offshore online casinos quickly realizing that this ambiguity in the law meant they could offer their services to Canadian residents without any clear oversight.

Recognizing the transformative potential of online gambling, the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in Quebec stepped into the spotlight. In 1999, they established the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC), a pioneering regulatory body dedicated exclusively to online gaming. Not only was the KGC among the world’s first online gambling regulators, but it also became a global benchmark, attracting international gambling operators with its rigorous standards and state-of-the-art data hosting facilities.

With momentum continuing to build, British Columbia made history by launching PlayNow.com in 2004 – one of Canada’s first provincially-run online casinos. This marked the beginning of provincial involvement in online gambling activities and paved the way for other provinces to follow. Not only was the KGC among the world’s first online gambling regulators, but it also became a global benchmark, attracting international gambling operators with its rigorous standards and state-of-the-art data hosting facilities.

Regulation Roulette – How Canadian Laws Have Shaped iGaming

Unlike other countries and gambling regulations, Canada has a murky legal landscape. The legality of online gambling and online casinos is complex since a mix of federal, provincial and Indigenous laws governs the industry.

Technically, there is no one authoritative body that regulates the industry. Instead, each province can set their own rules. To understand this, you first need to comprehend the three branches of the Canadian online gambling industry: The Criminal Code of Canada, Provincial and Territorial Regulations and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Criminal Code of Canada

The Criminal Code of Canada serves as the federal legislation and governs gambling activities such as online casinos across Canada. Historically, this code prohibited gambling activities, but significant amendments in the late 20th century gradually legalized various forms, including lotteries, horse racing, and casinos.

A crucial amendment clarified that provinces and territories have the authority to regulate and operate gambling activities within their own jurisdictions. However, contrary to popular belief, the Criminal Code has never explicitly authorized offshore casinos to operate legally in Canada. Instead, offshore casinos have typically operated in a legal grey area, accessible to Canadians but regulated and licensed in foreign jurisdictions, not within Canada itself.

Provincial and Territorial Regulations

Each Canadian province and territory can set their own gambling regulations and this has led to diverse regulatory frameworks across the country. Provinces like Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have actively embraced regulated online gambling by launching their own platforms like the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG.ca), EspaceJeux in Quebec, and PlayNow in British Columbia. The other provinces in Canada, however, have been slower and more cautious in their approach.

Kahnawake Gaming Commission

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC), was established in 1999 within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, Quebec. It has played a pivotal role in Canada’s online gambling industry. It has been recognized internationally and the KGC licenses regulates numerous online gambling operators from around the globe. The KGC boasts advanced data hosting facilities that have further solidified its global reputation. While the Commission licenses offshore casinos accessible to Canadians, these operations remain outside provincial regulatory frameworks.

The Rise of Mobile Gaming and Live Casinos

The shift from desktop to mobile gaming has seen the evolution of the online gambling market, especially for online casinos. Over the past few years, we have witnessed significant technological advancements which have given rise to mobile gaming and live casinos. You can now play online casino games on any mobile device thanks to HTML5 technology and mobile apps.

Live casinos have bridged the gap between physical casinos and online casinos, and thanks to live dealer games and live game shows, you can now enjoy an immersive online casino experience. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality have transformed the way you can play online casino games, and with live streaming technology, you can watch the action unfold in real-time. Plus, you can chat and interact with other players, live dealers and game show hosts.

The Future of iGaming in Canada

iGaming’s future in Canada promises excitement, thrills, and lots of technological advancements. With the latest technology, such as AI, blockchain and more immersive experiences, the possibilities are endless for online casinos and sportsbooks.

For example, if you look at the recent developments with Bill C-218, which has impacted the industry by now allowing single-event sports betting, which means more competition among operators, better player protection and an economic boost for Canada.

History has shown us that Canada is not afraid of change, and while the relevant stakeholders have embraced technological advancements, the future is definitely bright. More advancements will be made in the years to come, including improved regulation, innovation and responsible gaming.

To stay in the loop of the latest Canadian online casino news, access our online casino CA page, where you will also find casino reviews and the latest bonus offers from Top Online Casinos in Canada.