Canada is one of the world’s largest online casino markets. Canadians love to gamble online, whether it is the six-plus months of winter forcing them to spend all of their leisure time inside, or some other as-of-yet unknown sociological factor. The first online casinos entered the Canadian market in the 1990s. At that time, the online gambling industry was still in its infancy, and people were still using dial-up modems. Things have come a long way since those early days. Now, the number of different games and casinos you can play at is enormous by comparison. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands, of online casinos open to Canadian customers.
Legalization of online casinos in Canada
Casinos in Canada have been legalized since 1999. For example, gambling is now legal throughout the country, but online gambling laws are determined locally in each province. For example, Ontario, Canada’s largest province, has made a move to regulate and tax the online gambling industry. While previously online gambling has existed here in a bit of a gray market, now only licensed and regulated online casinos like 888 Casino will be allowed to serve customers in Ontario. Furthermore, now online casinos are available in every province, except for Saskatchewan. And the industry continues to develop in Canada.
The industry is massive
Gambling is one of the main branches of Canada’s economy. It is estimated to be a four billion dollar industry. Between poker, table games, and slots, Canadians love to play online. That is why more and more online casinos are focusing on that market. Furthermore, according to the Canadian Gaming Association, this area provides 182,500 full-time jobs for residents, making the niche socially profitable.
The player count keeps growing
An estimated 19 million+ residents of Canada (half the total population) placed some sort of wager online in the last year, making it one of the most lucrative casino markets in the world. And gambling is popular for people of all age groups as well. One of the most well-known poker professionals in the world, Daniel Negreanu, is from Canada and represents a sizeable portion of the people who loves poker. And as online gambling becomes more regulated and has the government’s seal of approval, its popularity among all sections of the Canadian population will only continue to grow.
Sports betting is huge
And it’s not just table games, slots, and poker. Sports betting is huge too. When you combine the already intense interest that sports fans have over the outcome of a game simply from their love of their favorite team along with the enjoyment of gambling, you have a powerful combination. Of course, Canadians love to bet on hockey since it is their favorite sport after all, but they are Americanized enough to enjoy betting on basketball, baseball, and (American football too). And given the number of people from Canada with heritage overseas, there is probably no shortage of those, who put down action on soccer as well.
Bonuses are getting more tempting
For Canadians who are playing online, there is nothing sweeter than a deposit bonus to increase the value of your gambling dollar. Online casinos and sportsbooks use deposit bonuses to attract customers, and a savvy gambler can take advantage of them. With a deposit bonus, you can start playing with house money immediately with a deposit bonus. It means if you will be playing anyway, why not take advantage of a deposit bonus and boost your bankroll before you even place your first bet? With competition between online casinos at an all-time high, bonuses are getting more and more tempting to take advantage of every day.
Conclusion
Online gambling is a big business in Canada. Canadians love to work hard and love to play as well, and that includes gambling online. Many natives may live in more remote areas, where they do not have immediate access to a casino, so playing online is a very convenient way. Canadians love every sort of game, be it slots, table games, poker, or sports betting.
Even though Canada is not considered one of the gambling capitals of the world, the Canadian online casino market is flourishing there. The authorities of Canada are very flexible in their approach to regulating the industry, and therefore gambling in this country is becoming increasingly popular.
