Changes Expected for Online Bingo In Canada

Whilst bingo is predominantly a game played in the UK, it is also popular in other countries around the world, and in particular in Canada. But just like it has been with casino games and sports betting, for many years Canadians who have wanted to bet on bingo have only been able to sign up with offshore bingo operators, mainly those licensed from the European territories of Gibraltar and Malta. This is because the Criminal Code of Canada prohibits all forms of gambling other than the lotteries and casinos run by the provincial governments through their own websites like the PlayNow and OLG sites of British Colombia and Ontario.

So, until now, Canadian bingo fans have only been able to play at sites like Bingo Liner and Wink Bingo, both UK-based businesses. And whilst these sites both offer the full gamut of 90 ball and 75 ball bingo, as well as a good choice of slots, their audiences are predominantly British and their chat rooms filled with British players and British conversation!

So, how nice would it be for our Canadian readers to know that Canadian bingo operators will soon be able to offer their own bespoke products in a new regulated Canadian market that is about to open up? Well, we are happy to report that this is exactly what we are expecting in the next 12 to 24 months, as news of changes around gambling regulation recently published indicate that the Canadian government is preparing the ground for a move towards local licensing and a market for private gambling companies to offer services to Canadian gamblers.

But how and why has this happened?

Creating a fully regulated market for gambling in Canada has been on the cards for many years now, and a few times attempts have been made to push legislation through parliament. However, until now, these attempts have always been thwarted.

This year, in the wake of the pandemic, and with a need to raise funds through taxes, and at the same time with an eye on the successful introduction of regulation by their neighbours to the south, Canada’s MPs have had a change of heart. In summer 2021 Private Members Bill C-218 that paves the way for legal single event sports betting was finally passed and received Royal assent.

This is regarded as a landmark moment in the history of gambling law in Canada and has implications beyond the legalisation of sports betting in the country. Not only will this allow the provincial government sites to offer sports markets to their customers, but it also paves the way for opening up the country to private betting firms to offer their full range of gambling products to Canadian residents, with fees paid in taxes or revenue share to the government.

Already we are seeing reports of industry giant 888 planning their entry into the Canadian market and we expect more to follow. Whilst initially the focus will be on casino and sports, it is likely that bingo, keno and other softer gaming products will also be made available soon.

This is exciting news for Canada’s bingo fans who can finally enjoy their favourite game with jackpots pooled within the country and gaming licences issued by their own government as added assurance of security and fairness.

The timeline for this big change is yet to be finalised, but Ontario is leading the charge with its own discussion paper on how a regulated market will look published earlier this year. It speaks about how the newly formed Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) will license private firms to offer gambling products, including bingo, to its citizens, with fees paid on a revenue share basis to the government of Ontario.

The first sites to offer casino and sports book will likely open up by the ends of 2021, with bingo a sure-fire bet to follow in the next few years. Meanwhile, the other big provinces, including British Colombia and Alberta are likely to follow suit.

So, if you are reading this from Canada, get ready for an avalanche of new Canadian bingo sites with new bingo and slots games to test your luck on.

Keep watching this space for more updates!