Online Casinos in Modern Day Canada: Why Has It Takes So Long for Legalisation to Pervade the Provinces?

The internet provides many entertainment options, including the possibility to play games of chance for real money. Online casinos are very popular in many different countries, but in some parts of Canada they were only recently legalised. It is a bit unusual why certain provinces would be so opposed to this form of online fun, especially since land-based casinos are present across the country.

This article will look into some of the factors that slowed down this process and discuss some possible developments for online casino industry in Ontario and other Canadian provinces.

Decentralised Regulation

Canada has a unique system of regulating gambling on its territory, where the power to decide what is allowed and what residing isn't in the hands of provincial governments. Lack of centralised vision for the national market is reflected by wide variations in gambling laws from one province to the next, which can be confusing for people traveling across the nation or visiting from abroad. Provinces tend to be conservative about their laws, and most of them follow complex agendas that don't always align with the rest of the nation. This explains why some provinces were quick to allow online gambling, while others dragged their feet and only followed suit when the financial benefits became too obvious to ignore any longer.

Outdated Image of Gambling

There is an old stereotype of a gambler as a social parasite who represents a greedy, dishonest side of humanity. This image doesn't correspond to reality, as most people who visit online casinos are productive members of society who are looking for a place to let off some steam and relax after a long day of work. Some provinces were slow to recognise the changing landscape and continued viewing online casinos as a source of potential problems rather than revenues. Experiences from provinces where online gambling has been legal for a while support the notion that a vast majority of players are normal people, but deeply ingrained beliefs can be hard to shake. Legalisation is not the end of efforts to educate the public, and iGaming companies must continually work to improve their reputations.

Concerns About Addiction

Gambling addiction is a real issue, and many people believe that instant access to games from a smartphone only makes it worse. This is the main argument that opponents of legalisation use to rally support for their cause, seemingly unaware that unregulated gambling poses even greater dangers. Major online casino operators have responsible gambling tools available, and their business models are generally not built on exploiting vulnerable players. Meanwhile, unlicensed online casinos have little incentive to care about their players, and they are mostly trying to extract as much value as possible with little regard for fairness or responsibility. Ontario casino site legalisation and regulation is therefore a massively positive thing, as well as the process of this happening across other provinces. It has brought the industry into the light and helped increase the chances of problematic gambling being noticed early. Sites that care about their player wellbeing and adhering to the rules of the land provide links and access to specialist resources for recovery and support.

Distrust of the Internet

Many people see online casinos as unreliable and potentially fraudulent, which increases political opposition to legalisation. That might have been true 20 years ago, but bad actors don't last very long in the modern, ultra-competitive iGaming marketplace. A lot of online casino providers are owned by large companies that have been in business for decades, making it unlikely they would engage in shady dealings. Overcoming distrust of online communications, especially when they involve money, is a task that takes time and effort, and in many places in Canada this process was delayed for too long. As the facts about legal casino sites become available to more Canadians, the fear of being scammed will diminish, but never disappear completely.

Lobbying by Land-based Casinos

If there is anyone benefiting directly from illegality of online casinos, it's their brick-and-mortar competitors. In some provinces, governments hold ownership stakes in casinos and that naturally makes them reluctant to liberalise the online market too quickly. It's safe to assume there has been a lot of backroom conversations where casino owners tried to influence provincial policies to their advantage. While protection of existing businesses is a valid concern, it's not good to allow it to completely paralyse the development of new sectors. A little bit of competition is healthy, and the recent wave of online casino launches is sure to force traditional gambling establishments to improve their offers.

Local Politics

On the local level, political discourse can get muddled by personal ambition and petty vendettas, making any decisions difficult to reach. Changing legislation about an issue as important as online gambling requires a wide ranging consensus, which is a tall task in many locations. Additionally, few politicians are eager to champion this issue in public as it might leave them vulnerable to claims that they are promoting gambling. In some provinces it took much longer for all the political factors to align, which is a reflection of the local situation. Canadian political system may sometimes be slow, but it ensures that each province has the final word in matters that concern it, such as regulating online casino games.