The current US administration has made no secret of the fact that they would love to see Canada as the 51st State. Canada’s populace and government have made it equally clear that they have no desire to be anything other than a sovereign country.
Very different models
Canadian iGamers will be relieved to hear that the Canadian government has no intention of making any concessions to the US administration, as gambling legislation in the two countries comes from two very different playbooks.
Legal but differently regulated
Canada has taken the pragmatic approach that, as people love to gamble, it is best that they do so safely. Gambling is legal across the country, and provincial legislation determines what and how. Some provinces have adopted the Scandinavian model for igaming with state-run monopoly models for casino games and lottery. While Ontario and, very recently, Alberta have fully regulated commercial markets accessible to anyone of legal gambling age.
Legal/illegal / state regulated / federal and unregulated
The USA has a much more complicated relationship with gambling. On the one hand, Las Vegas is the self-proclaimed world capital of gambling and entertainment. On the other, in some states gambling is entirely outlawed, while in others only certain forms of wagering are allowed. In the states, everything related to gambling is determined at the state level.
Or at least, on paper it is. There are now various gambling-adjacent options like sweepstakes casinos, parimutuel gaming, and prediction markets that are gambling in all but name, widely accessible and regulated outside of gambling and at a federal level.
Outdated
North America is not just the USA and Canada; Mexico is also in this continental area and has an even less clear framework for gamblers. Federal gambling law in the country dates back to 1947. The law states that as long as the necessary permits are obtained, then gambling is legal. However, the world has changed so much since then, and critics argue that the current legislation is no longer fit for purpose. While the potential scale of its market is difficult to ignore, there is still a good deal of trepidation among operators regarding location-specific investment.
A closer look at Canada
Fortunately, things are much clearer heading northwards, and Canada has the clearest legislation of all, which is just as well when you consider Canadians’ propensity to gamble. With around two-thirds of the population saying that they have gambled for real money in one form or another in the last three months, it is unsurprising that operators have always been keen to get a foothold here.
Ontario
Ontario was the first to open its commercial gambling market and has recently reported that over 90% of players now do so on sites that have obtained iGaming Ontario licenses. The market has been an enormous success across many metrics.
The financial success is undeniable, and the revenue generated has outstripped what even the most optimistic supporters might have hoped for. There are now 48 operators bringing 83 websites to residents. Some people have been concerned that the province did not do enough from the outset to ensure that potential gambling harms were minimized (even though, to obtain a license, sites have to have clear and easily accessible safe gambling tools. It was therefore welcome news when the province launched its BetGuard tool, which allows players to opt out of all gambling opportunities in one place.
Alberta
Alberta did not take such a direct approach as Ontario when it comes to launching a commercial market and, even now, has a foot in either camp – the state monopoly and the regulated commercial sector. However, the state monopoly – PlayAlberta – is no longer the monopoly but just an option for residents.
According to independent expert review site Casino.org, online casino gaming in Alberta promises to be an equally exciting market for players and operators as the Ontarian one. Alberta’s private iGaming market opened on July 13, 2026, with over 50 operators on board and 28 sites offering live services.
Many people have suggested that one of the biggest problems will be how to bring in players from the previously existing gray market without cannibalizing the province’s profitable PlayAlberta services. While gambling revenues in Alberta will provide an incredibly lucrative boost to the economy, the authorities insist that their primary motivation has always been safety.
They are not looking to grow the market but provide a better option for their residents. Before market launch, the vast majority of Albertans were accessing offshore sites, and legislators say they are aiming for around 70% channelization by the end of the year.
The remaining provinces and territories
Across the country, other provincial authorities are monitoring Alberta and Ontario before deciding what to do next. The current Quebec administration has said it has no intention of changing its current framework, but a successful combination of improved safety and increased revenue is a difficult formula to argue against. Where the most populous states lead, the others are inclined to follow, so watch this space.
A brief look around the US
As outlined earlier, the US is not one market at all for regular gambling but a patchwork of 50 markets all with different views, lobby groups and interpretations of gambling law. For now, however, real-money online casinos are only legally accessible in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware and Rhode Island. The next to come on stream will be Rhode Island, and people are watching to see whether New York regulates in favor of iGaming – but it might be more hope than expectation. Fortunately, there are plenty of land-based options and it is pretty easy to find a casino wherever you are in the US.
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