Canada and the US form North America, but they do not have the same view on many things, including online gambling. Both countries have several similarities, such as their love for sports. They have English as an official language of instruction – though Canadians also use French, that is about where it ends. When it comes to gambling, they both accept 18 as the official age, and there are a good number of land-based casinos where you can relax and enjoy a few games. Here are some of the differences you will note when you gamble at each of these countries.
Legalization
The US passed the Unlawful Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006, making it illegal for casinos to accept deposits from players. This meant they could only offer these options for free, which would beat their purpose. Any 10 dollar minimum deposit casino sites would only operate if their players could deposit funds into their accounts. A 2011 interpretation of the gambling Act by the Attorney General changed the game. Individual states could license and regulate their online casino sites. Players could review these sites and choose the best before engaging with them. All sites were allowed except for sportsbooks, but even that changed in 2020.
Canada’s laws are a bit different. Gambling in the country is a grey area because the authorities do not license or regulate any online site. That said, offshore casinos are allowed to operate freely and even pay players in Canadian Dollars. This stand has seen gaming grow tremendously in Canada.
Regulation and Taxation
Canadians walk away with their entire winnings when they get lucky at an online casino because these winnings are non-taxable. Since the government does not regulate online gaming houses, it takes nothing from players. The Canadian online gambling laws do now allow this. The same cannot be said for the US. When you win, the operator will fill Form W-2G to notify the authorities, who will faithfully deduct 24% of your winnings. You can claim deductions if you can prove that you derive most of your income from gambling. A quick note; Canada only allows operators that have been licensed locally – but incorporated internationally. Before you trust a site, ensure it has a local license to operate.
Operators and Payment Options
Since the USA casino, online gaming scene is already regulated, not many offshore sites get the licenses to set up shop here. Those that do choose states such as New Jersey, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Colorado. The local operators with the biggest market share are DraftKings, SugarHouse-Rivers, Betfair-FanDuel, and ROAR in that order.
Unfortunately, Canada’s lack of regulation makes it hard for players to know the safe casinos. The leading international operators that have partnerships here are PlayOLG, PlayNow, EspaceJeux, and PlayAlberta. Players are urged to be diligent when they review their operators since they could easily expose themselves to fraudsters.
Both countries are similar when it comes to payment options. You can use the known e-wallets such as Neteller, PayPal, and Skrill, as well as bank cards. You get a bonus at a Canadian site the same way you would a US one too.
Popular Games
You can play roulette, slots with free spins, and practically any casino game in both countries. What you may have is a limited window from some known game providers. Such options as NetEnt, Microgaming, Playtech, and Quickspin are not allowed to offer their games in the US.
Conclusion
It’s hard to predict where the laws will take these two countries next. While there has been enormous pressure for the US to declare its stand once and for all in online gambling, the country has not succumbed. The states that have legalized it are reaping big, and the tax from this activity plays a huge role in their development, but we don’t know if that is enough to change the law to allow gambling in all the states. Time will tell. Canada remains in the grey, but residents there are more hopeful of being allowed to gamble legally than those in the US.
