Legal Gambling Ages in Ontario
In Ontario, the legal gambling age varies by activity:
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Casino You must be 19 years old or older to gamble at commercial retail and online Ontario casinos. -
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Sports Betting You must be 19 years old or older to gamble at retail or online Ontario sportsbooks. -
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Lottery Lottery is one of two options available in the Province at 18 years of age. -
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Poker You have to be 19 or older to play poker physically or online. -
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Horse Betting Although horse racing is only available at racebooks locations you place horse bets at 19. -
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Bingo Bingo along with lottery is available at 18 years old.
Regulation and Licensing Related to Gambling Ages
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO) are pivotal in regulating gambling activities in the province. They enforce age restrictions, ensuring that gambling providers adhere to legal standards.
Comparison of Online and Offline Gambling Age Requirements
Both online and offline gambling platforms in Ontario require individuals to be 19 years old to participate in casino games and sports betting. However, for lottery and bingo, the age requirement remains 18 years. If you are old enough you can try out slot games by playing free casino slots in Ontario.
Impact of Recent Legislation on Gambling Ages
The introduction of Bill C-218 has streamlined sports betting laws in Ontario, including age-related regulations. This has reinforced the legal gambling age, ensuring uniformity across different gambling platforms​
Responsible Gambling and Age Compliance
Ontario places a strong emphasis on responsible gambling. Adhering to the legal gambling age is a significant aspect of this, protecting young individuals and promoting safe gambling practices.
Legal Gambling Age FAQ
The legal age to gamble in Ontario at casinos is 19 years old. However, some online casinos do not follow Ontario laws in regard to age limits. For instance, you must be at least 21 to play at Caesar's Palace online casino.
Like casino gambling, the legal sports betting age in Ontario is 19.
In most provinces, like Ontario, the minimum age for participating in casino gambling is 19 years. However, there are notable exceptions to this restriction. For instance, in Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, the legal gambling age is 18.
Yes, the legal age to play the lottery is 18.
As with the lottery, the legal age is 18.
No, the age requirements are consistent across online and offline platforms​
Author
Corey Scott is a gambling writer and casino reviewer based in Toronto, Ontario. A graduate of the College of Sports Media, he has been reviewing Ontario online casinos and sportsbooks most of his career. Scott has written for OntarioBets, dozens of sites across the USA Today Network and more. His first time gambling in a casino was playing roulette as a 19-year-old at Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario. He makes the trip to Las Vegas multiple times a year(favorite resort in Vegas is the Wynn). His biggest online casino win is 323x on Buffalo and biggest sports betting win is +13675 on a 7-team parlay! When not writing you will find him at a local game or playing video poker, most likely Jacks or Better.
