Overview of Gaming Laws in Canada that includes relevant legislation, general rules (such as the effects of skill-testing questions and social gaming), and recent updates.

1. Gambling
Laws in
Canada

2. CONTENT
Gaming v Gambling
Regulations
Legal Updates
Offshore Gaming Operators
Gaming in Video Games

3. GAMING V "GAMING"
Gaming
Activity with an element of
chance where a player pays
money and runs the risk of
losing the money paid
Video Games
Interaction with an
interface on a video
display device

4. LAWS & REGULATIONS
Federal
Criminal Code
Competition Act
Gaming Corporation Act
Consumer Protection Act
Provincial

5. General Rules
Social gaming without
money is not considered
gambling
Faciliting bets or
gambling is illegal unless
an exception applies
Skill-testing questions
may make a contest
legal
Charitable or religious
organizations may be
exempt
Single-Event Sports
Betting is illegal

6. Legal Updates
Government of Ontario supports legalizing single-event sports betting
The commissioners of the five major sports leagues support single-event
sports betting
Québec's attempt to block the ISPs of offshore gaming operators is
currently considered unconstitutional by their provincial courts
Growing support in Newfoundland to criminalize VLTs

7. OFFSHORE GAMING
OPERATORS

8. Offshore Operators
No legal definitions of online, mobile or digital gaming in
the Criminal Code
1,400 accessible to Canadians
Lack of publicly reported decisions against operators
without a physical presence in Canada

9. Gambling in Video Games

10. Loot Boxes
No regulation or legislation in North America
ESRB equates them to "collectible trading cards"
Paid loot boxes are illegal in Belgium and the Netherlands
United Kingdom now considers them to be gambling
Console manufacturers pushing for fairer disclosure of odds

11. Interested in Learning
More?
Alex Davis
alexander@davislaw.io