How does Canada’s casino industry compare to the rest of the world?
Unlike the US and Monaco, gambling and casinos aren’t what come to mind when thinking of Canada. However, Canada has a lot to offer and isn’t as cautious around gambling as it may be perceived. Both brick-and-mortar and the online casino in Canada are growing rapidly.
Gambling laws vary a lot around the world. And, the law even varies within Canada itself across different provinces. On the whole, though, Canadian laws are actually more laissez-faire than the US when it comes to gambling.
Funnily enough, they are also less taxed. In Canada, players can make huge winnings in a casino, be it online or brick-and-mortar, and keep 100% of these profits. However, the US taxes winnings, although it depends on a few things like how much was won, what game it was, and so on. The IRS claims between 20-30% of a players winnings usually, which puts Canada at a huge advantage regarding their casinos.
It should be clarified, though, that online casinos in Canada cannot be operated by Canadian citizens. This is very similar to New Zealand’s laws, where local residents can play casino games, but cannot run and operate them from within their own country (but can from abroad). However, Canadian law makes it clear that gambling should be done on licensed overseas casinos.
Ontario’s legalization of online gambling came as recently as this year, and like Nova Scotia, you must be 19 as opposed to 18 in Quebec.
Given that it’s illegal to operate an online casino inside Canada, it seems somewhat hypocritical that traditional brick-and-mortar casinos are perfectly legal. There are around 90 of these casinos dotted around Canada, many of which are based in Ottawa. In fact, there are 29 licensed casinos in Ontario, which is a similar amount to Alberta.
When considering the overlooked, low-key cities that are great for casinos, both Calgary and Edmonton have over 5 each.
The Montreal Casino is often considered to be the most impressive casino in Canada, with its stunning architecture and french roots. Situated in Quebec, the casino has a gaming floor over half a million square feet, over 3,200 slot machines, and more than 115 table games.
By comparison, the Wynn/Encore is the largest (and one of the most luxurious) casinos in Vegas. The Wynn is almost 200,000 square feet with around 1,800 slot games and 180 table games. So, whilst the Montreal Casino is bigger and has more slots, it also has fewer table games
The Montreal Casino also boasts a lot of virtual games and speed lotteries. The River Rock is also worth a mention at 70,000 square feet, 900 slots, and 14 tables, as well as the River Cree Resort and Casino and the Ceasars Windsor hotel and Casino.
So, whilst Canadians cannot start and operate an online casinos, they are free to use overseas operators like Tuskcasino. Furthermore, Canada is an often overlooked destination for a casino-related holiday, as it has one of the largest and most prestigious casinos in the world, as well as around 90 other casinos to choose from.
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