Can Someone Please tell us what Canadian Internet Gambling laws are?

[oldmantime]

I may have asked this before and either did not get an answer or an unclear one. I am very curious, especially with Neteller being there, among other places (Isn't that their homebase?)

So can all Canadians of a certain age, play online? Or is it only legal for those on certain Indian Reservations?
As someone said please answer in simple terms that can be easily understood.

 

[gamblman]

Here is a link to an article that addresses that.

It is in PDF form.

http://www.fasken.com/web/fmdwebsite.nsf/0/D8441E5044CF0FA485256B1E006135AC/$File/WEBSITE-INTERNETGAMINGPAPER.PDF?OpenElement

From what I get of this is that since it is illegal for the books to take bets from Canadians, it is illegal to bet in Canada. Though never enforced.

Here is another link,

http://www.gaminglawmasters.com/jurisdictions/canada/inet_canada.html

 

[oldmantime]

Without reading the articles above, there ARE sportsbooks which ARE LEGAL in Canada, but they are on Indian lands. If that is INCORRECT, please correct me.

Point 2: Are you saying that no Canadians, even the Indians are not allowed to play there?

Totally Confused!

 

[gamblman]

Yes there are sportsbooks in canada, but they cannot take bets from anyone in canada. That's what I got from the first article. It mentioned a book that was busted in BC, and it went on to say that if they didn't have evidence of them taking bets from canadians they wouldn't have been able to go ahead with the prosecution. It also used an example of a book that restricted access to canadians and was allowed to continue operations.

The secound article is a better in clarifying it. It starts out saying that online gambling is illegal in canada.

I don't know to much about this topic (ie:indians and gambling) but started looking it up after your post. I am from canada so this interests me as well!

 

[oldmantime]

gamblman:
A couple of weeks ago when the US Senate passed a bill out of committee (prohibiting intenet gambling in some form or fashion, not sure of the exact language), there was talk on this forum of people moving to Canada. So, if what you say is correct and I do believe it is accurate, there would be NO reason to move there to gamble on the internet! And to think that I was one of the ones that thought Canada, had it worked out fairly!! (What a damn mess)

 

[jerseymike111]

oldmantime:This is off topic,but I like to thank you for telling me about VIP great place to send in a dime.
I am always looking at sportbook review and never bothered to look at their webpg.

 

[sds]

Talk about "Grey" area.
The article takes issue morewith the "Provider" of the online gaming instead of the gambler. This is because of "tax" issues, "control " etc. Winnings are NOT taxable here and naturally, losses are not deductible. The article speaks more from a Govt perspective concerning regulation, revenue and the like and when confronted with the issue of the "players", it realy does not give real focus.
I'd like to hear from a REAL lawyer here.

cheers
sds

 

[oldmantime]

Hey JMIKE,
I'm just waiting to see what the gov. does before opening any more accts. I like to glance around at websites and see ones that are simple to use. (Some are terrible in my opinion to figure out for simplicity. I liked the looks of VIP--simple yet complete .
Glad you liked it.

 

[Woody0]

Notwithstanding what the Queen's Counsel had to say about section 207 as cited above, you will find that section 207 of the Canadian Criminal Code deals with lotteries and:

"207(4) Definition of "lottery scheme"

(4) In this section, "lottery scheme" means a game or any proposal,
scheme, plan, means, device, contrivance or operation described in any
of paragraphs 206(1)(a) to (g), whether or not it involves betting,
pool selling or a pool system of betting other than

(a) a dice game, three-card monte, punch board or coin table;

(b) bookmaking, pool selling or the making or recording of bets,
including bets made through the agency of a pool or pari-mutuel
system, on any race or fight, or on a single sport event or athletic
contest; or

(c) for the purposes of paragraphs (1)(b) to (f), a game or proposal,
scheme, plan, means, device, contrivance or operation described in any of paragraphs 206(1)(a) to (g) that is operated on or through a
computer, video device or slot machine, within the meaning of
subsection 198(3)."

So bookmaking is "other than" a lottery and it would appear is not covered by section 207. I find no other reference to bookmaking in the Federal Criminal Code.

Now it is quite possible the QC was rendering an "opinion".

Now lotteries are carefully defined as to when they are legal. It appears bookmaking is not so defined but neither does it appear to be prohibited.

Books on Indian reservations take bets from Canadians and also host a large online casino business that the Federal Government have chosen to ignore.

Books off Indian reservations do not take bets from Canadians, probably mostly to protect themselves.

 

[oldmantime]

To put it simply , Canada is just as F#%@ed up as here when it comes to internet wagering. Where in the world did I get the idea the country was better for the player in this regard. Oh-I know from reading Covers.com and Lou's articles.

Looks like to me--that in a few weeks I'll only be playing horses!

 

[Woody0]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by oldmantime:
To put it simply , Canada is just as F#%@ed up as here when it comes to internet wagering.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well, we don't have politicians on the warpath trying to implement regulations where none exist.

Basically I think our Government takes the attitude that arrangements between consenting adults are not the business of the state.

 

[oldmantime]

"Consenting adults is not the business of the state" in Canada? Then can you tell me why it's illegal there to wager on the internet?