Canada and the UK are similar in many ways. In both countries, English is the most spoken language. They are both culturally diverse and have progressive laws in every sense of the word.
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When it comes to iGaming regulations, though, Canada and the UK handle the issue differently. One country has an established regulatory body. The other has no law that permits or prohibits the sector.
Continue reading for a more detailed comparison of online casino laws in Canada and Britain. Ready? Let’s begin.
Licensing and Regulation
In the UK, running an online casino is legal provided you get a license from the Gambling Commission. The iGaming industry has been legal since 2005 when the government passed a Gambling Act to be overseen by the UKGC.
In Canada, online gaming is mostly a legal grey area. That’s because the government doesn’t license iGaming businesses. Instead, gambling issues are handled at a provincial level. And get this—provinces mostly permit land-based casinos.
However, some jurisdictions also run online casinos for use by people in their provinces alone. B.C., Quebec, Manitoba and Ontario are some of the regions that provide some forms of online gaming.
Allowed Games and Software Providers
Britain allows nearly every form of online gambling, from slots and bingo to poker and roulette. Ideally, casinos aren’t limited to what games they can or cannot provide. What’s more, they can partner with 50+ software providers licensed by the UKGC.
All you need is to find a great gaming site and you’ll find all your favourite games. As a tip, you can learn the best casino for playing new slots on Gambla. You’ll find a comprehensive list of operators to use, most of whom also welcome new players with bonuses.
In Canada, things are a tad different. Province-based iGaming companies don’t always legalize all casino games. For example, Saskatchewan doesn’t permit any online casino games. If in the province, you can only play brick and mortar slots and table games.
Another example is the Atlantic Lottery Corp., which regulates iGaming in the Maritime provinces. Although it provides bingo and lotto games. It doesn’t offer slots, roulette, blackjack or baccarat.
Fortunately, Canadian casino players aren’t limited to province-based operators. Thanks to a loophole in their constitution, Canucks can play any games they want at offshore casinos. Read more on the best overseas online casinos for Canadians, their bonuses and the games they provide.
Taxes
As mentioned, operating an online casino in the UK is legal and allowed. However, you must acquire a license and pay a tax of 21% of your gross annual profits. The tax also applies to land-based casinos and sports gambling businesses.
In Canada, province-based iGaming businesses pay taxes to their individual jurisdictions. But offshore casinos don’t pay taxes to Canada for a valid reason. These businesses aren’t based in Canada and, therefore, can’t be governed by foreign laws.
When it comes to taxations for players, both countries have friendly laws. You don’t pay taxes on your wins in both Canada and Britain. The only exception is if you’re a professional gambler. And in that case, you qualify for tax write-offs.
Payments and Limits
Britain has properly defined payment and betting limit laws. For example, it allows casinos to partner with a broad range of e-wallets and debit cards. But it doesn’t the use of credit cards for casino gaming, at least not since 2019.
In Canada, no law defines payment systems and policies for online casinos. As such, players use all banking option supported by their favourite casinos, including credit cards. They also can bet as little or as much as they have.
In the UK, legislators lowered the maximum betting limit for FOBT machines from £100 to £2 in 2019. And they aren’t done. According to the Financial Times, MPs in Britain strongly support creating online betting limits and the UKGC is said to be working on something similar.
Despite that, casino players in Britain and Canada have pretty flexible betting limits. You can wager on slots or sports for as little as ten cents. And you can wager up to £100,000 at high-stakes online casinos.
Security and Safety Compliance
Britain’s Gambling Commission doesn’t just license anyone that claims to own a casino. It runs a series of background checks. What’s more, it demands security and safety compliance in these ways:
- SSL encryption
- Strict data privacy policies
- Account authentication
- PCI Compliance
- Data collection acceptance form
SSL is one of the most important security tools for websites. It provides encryption for your data so that hackers can’t get hold of it. In contrast, data privacy policies hold operators accountable for your personal information.
Moving on, account authentication describes login details. They’re important for securing your account. PCI compliance, on the flip side, helps confirm that a website works with legitimate debit card providers.
Canada lacks an iGaming regulatory body that could place security standards for online casinos. But that doesn’t mean Canucks aren’t protected. The key lies in the casino you choose. Most operators in Canada are based in Malta, where they must comply with standard security measures.
Bonuses
Canadian casino players have access to some of the best bonuses online. That’s because they can play at just about any offshore gaming website. Of course, it also comes with advantages, some British players are protected from.
For example, casinos in Britain have transparent bonus policies by law. When an operator invites people to claim a welcome package, it must also reveal crucial terms and conditions. That way, you only accept an offer after you know its terms.
In all fairness, most online casinos that target Canadians also have transparent bonus terms these days. This makes it easy to claim offers and select the casino bonus that gives you the most value for your money.
Social Responsibility
This is another iGaming law enforced in the UK but not so much in Canada. From advertising to problem gambling, the UKGC requires gaming operators to play an active role in protecting vulnerable people.
For that reason, most online casinos in Britain allow you to suspend your account in case of addiction. Or you can set betting limits, contact a gambling therapy company or close your account.
Canada doesn’t have social responsibility laws. But as mentioned, most casinos that target Canucks have these measures.
HussaiN is a full-time professional blogger from India. He is passionate about content writing, tech enthusiasts, and computer technologies. Apart from content writing on the internet, he likes reading various tech magazines and several other blogs on the internet. Email ID: [email protected]
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