In Canada, the legal gambling age is set by each province and territory, not by federal law. It is 19 in most of the country and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. Ontario is a special case: you can buy lottery tickets and place in-store sports bets at 18, but you must be 19 to enter a casino or gamble online. The table below shows the minimum age for casinos, online gambling, lottery and sports betting everywhere in Canada, checked against official provincial sources in October 2026.
Gambling Age by Province and Territory
| Province / territory | Casinos | Online gambling | Lottery and scratch tickets | Sports betting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 19 | 19 (OLG.ca and iGaming Ontario sites) | 18 | 18 in store (PROLINE), 19 online |
| British Columbia | 19 | 19 (PlayNow BC) | 19 | 19 |
| Alberta | 18 | 18 (PlayAlberta and registered private sites) | 18 | 18 |
| Quebec | 18 | 18 (Loto-Québec) | 18 | 18 (Mise-o-jeu) |
| Manitoba | 18 | 18 (PlayNow MB) | 18 | 18 |
| Saskatchewan | 19 | 19 (PlayNow SK) | 18 | 19 online |
| Nova Scotia | 19 | 19 (Atlantic Lottery) | 19 | 19 |
| New Brunswick | 19 | 19 (Atlantic Lottery) | 19 | 19 |
| Prince Edward Island | 19 | 19 (Atlantic Lottery) | 19 | 19 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | No casinos | 19 (Atlantic Lottery) | 19 | 19 |
| Northwest Territories | No casinos | No territorial site | 18 | 18 (WCLC products) |
| Yukon | Check venue rules | No territorial site | 18 | 18 (WCLC products) |
| Nunavut | No casinos | No territorial site | 18 | 18 (WCLC products) |
The age applies to everyone who plays in that province, including visitors. Online, it is your physical location that matters: provincial sites and Ontario’s regulated operators only let you play while you are inside their province.
Ontario Gambling Age: 18 or 19?
Ontario has two ages, which is why it is the most common question we get:
| Activity in Ontario | Minimum age |
|---|---|
| Lottery tickets and scratch cards | 18 |
| In-store sports betting (PROLINE) | 18 |
| Casinos and slot facilities | 19 |
| Online casinos and online sports betting | 19 |
- Ontario opened its regulated online gambling market on April 4, 2022. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) registers operators, and iGaming Ontario (iGO) contracts with them.
- Under AGCO Standard 3.01, nobody under 19 may use a regulated online gambling site, apart from 18-year-olds buying lottery tickets.
- Operators must validate your details, including your date of birth, before opening an account, and confirm your identity before you can gamble.
- To check whether a site is legal in Ontario, look it up on iGaming Ontario’s list of regulated sites. You must be physically located in Ontario to play on them.
- Since February 28, 2024, Ontario gambling ads may not use athletes or anything expected to appeal to minors. A centralized self-exclusion program took effect on May 14, 2026.
British Columbia: 19 for Everything
In BC, the minimum age is 19 for casinos, lottery, sports betting and the provincial PlayNow site. Since June 26, 2023, government-issued photo ID has been required to enter every BC gaming facility, and BC’s Gaming Control Act bars minors from gaming premises and from buying lottery tickets.
Alberta: 18
Alberta allows gambling from 18 for all products. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) regulates gambling, and Alberta’s regulated private online market launched on July 13, 2026, alongside the provincial PlayAlberta site.
Quebec: 18
Quebec also sets the age at 18. Casino de Montréal is reserved for adults 18 and over and asks for ID from anyone who looks 25 or younger. Online accounts with Loto-Québec require players to be 18+ and to validate their identity, and retailers who sell lottery tickets to minors face fines of C$300 to C$2,000.
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada
- Manitoba: 18 for casinos, lottery, sports betting and PlayNow MB.
- Saskatchewan: 19 for casinos and the PlayNow SK site; Western Canada Lottery products are sold to players 18 and over.
- Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador: Atlantic Lottery products, including online play, are for players 19 and over. Newfoundland and Labrador launched its regulated online platform on June 12, 2023.
- Territories: Western Canada Lottery products are sold to players 18 and over; we did not find territorial online gambling sites.
Why the Age Differs Between Provinces
Section 207 of the Criminal Code lets each province conduct and manage gambling under its own laws. The Code does not set a minimum age, so every province chooses its own. Single-event sports betting has been legal across Canada since August 27, 2021, but who can bet, and where, is still decided province by province.
What Happens If You Gamble Under Age?
Provincial rules put the responsibility on operators and retailers: they must verify your age, and they face penalties if they let minors play. Under BCLC and Atlantic Lottery rules, minors cannot claim prizes, so a win placed under age is not paid out. Regulated online sites check your age before your first bet, so underage players are stopped at sign-up.
Legal Gambling Age FAQ
Yes, in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, where the minimum age is 18 for all gambling. In Ontario, 18-year-olds can buy lottery tickets and bet on sports in store, but must be 19 for casinos and online gambling. Most other provinces require you to be 19.
You must be 19 to enter a casino or gamble online in Ontario. Lottery tickets and in-store sports betting (PROLINE) are available from 18.
The legal gambling age in British Columbia is 19 for casinos, lottery, sports betting and online play on PlayNow BC.
No. Ontario’s regulated online casinos and sportsbooks are for players 19 and over. The only exception is that 18-year-olds may buy lottery tickets online.
Yes. The minimum age applies to anyone gambling in that province. For example, an 18-year-old visitor can gamble in Alberta, but must be 19 to gamble in neighbouring British Columbia.
No. The Criminal Code lets each province run gambling under its own laws, and each province sets its own minimum age.
Official Sources
- OLG frequently asked questions (Ontario ages)
- iGaming Ontario: list of regulated sites
- AGCO: internet gaming FAQ
- BCLC: casino FAQ
- AGLC (Alberta)
- Casino de Montréal (Loto-Québec)
- Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba
- Western Canada Lottery Corporation
- Atlantic Lottery terms and conditions
- Criminal Code, section 207
Last checked: October 2026.
Gambling should stay entertainment. If it stops being fun, ConnexOntario offers free, confidential help 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600, and every province has its own support line.