Overview of the Canadian Gaming Industry

Canada has had a long history of gambling. Prior to 1970, gambling needed to occur under certain conditions and was more restrictive. However, in 1970, the codes were changed to give the power to the provinces when it came to gambling regulations. Following this, the gambling industry grew significantly. The country’s first commercial casino opened its doors in 1989 and was quickly followed by others. The casino industry is still flourishing today.

In recent years, online casinos have become more and more popular given their ease of access. Many provinces took up the offer of freedom and sought to develop gaming within their borders. Especially interested where the provinces along the Atlantic, Quebec, British Columbia and Ontario. This created a new market for Canadian gaming.

British Columbia was the first province to provide regulations for common online casino games. A few months later, a site based in Quebec offered the first online poker. Today, Canada is second in the world in terms of online casinos, second to that of the United Kingdom.

The success of the gambling industry in Canada has generated a lot of revenue for the provinces in which is occurs. In fact, the numbers have been so remarkable that many worry it is going to lead to more governmental oversight and regulations.

Another important change that has the industry concerned is the shift in the political tide in the country. Recently, the Liberal Party emerged as the majority party. While the group hasn’t officially released their views on this topic, many fear they will begin more stringent regulations.

Today, mobile casinos are becoming quite common given the use of mobile phones. While no one knows for sure what the future holds, the gambling industry continues to be strong in Canada. Given the success of casino gambling, the future holds great promise.