Online Gambling in Nova Scotia: Laws and Regulations
Apart from lots of snow and long winters, Canada is known as a country that has clearly defined rules and regulations. Concerning gambling, Canada layered the responsibility of regulating such actions. It created the Criminal Code of Canada as the main regulatory body, but it also allowed each province and territory to decide whether or not gambling will be considered legal within its borders.
Even though Nova Scotia is the second-smallest province in Canada, it still serves as home to many people who like having some fun in online casinos. As Canadian provinces like to make their residents happy, they wanted to create a legal online platform that will offer online games.
This is why Nova Scotia — being one out of four countries that form the Atlantic Canada region — got the rights to offer its residents a legal website ALC.ca where they can try their luck. Yet, is this enough, and what does the law say about other forms of online gambling? Read on to find out.
Top 3 Online Casinos in Nova Scotia
PlayOJO Casino
Visa Credit accepted
PayPal accepted
Paysafecard accepted
Maestro accepted
MasterCard Credit accepted
MuchBetter accepted
Interac accepted
Apple Pay accepted
Payz accepted
AstroPay Card accepted
MasterCard Debit accepted
Bank Wire Transfer accepted
Jeton accepted
- Games 6202
- Payout KYC: 48 hours; E-wallets: Pending time: Within few hours; Same day; Credit/Debit Cards/Wire Transfer: 2-7 business days
FortunePlay Casino
Bitcoin accepted
Litecoin accepted
Visa Credit accepted
Visa Debit accepted
Paysafecard accepted
MasterCard Credit accepted
Bitcoin Cash accepted
MiFinity accepted
Interac accepted
Dogecoin accepted
Ethereum accepted
Tether accepted
InstaDebit accepted
Flexepin accepted
AstroPay Card accepted
iDebit accepted
Payz accepted
MasterCard Debit accepted
Neosurf accepted
CashtoCode accepted
Bank Wire Transfer accepted
Jeton accepted
Ripple accepted
TRON accepted
Cardano accepted
Skinsback accepted
- Games 6057
- Payout KYC: Within 48 hours; Pending time: Up to 24 hours; E-wallets: Instant; Bank Transfer: 3-10 business days;
- Wagering req. 40xB
Wildz Casino
- Games 2918
- Payout KYC: Within 24 hours; Pending Time: 72 hours; E-wallets: Instant; Credit Cards/Bank Transfer: 1-3 business days
- Wagering req. 35xB
Canadian Gambling Laws — Is Online Gambling Allowed in Nova Scotia?
Online gambling in Nova Scotia can be interpreted as perfectly legal, with a few rules you need to comply with. The first rule is the age limit that is in the case of Nova Scotia set at 19. Provided that you are 19 or above, there is an option for you to take part in online gambling activities that are considered legal and regulated.
We are talking about the site ALC.ca that is created by the Atlantic Lottery Corp and is available for all the players who are physically present within the borders of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island. The website offers Scratch’N Win, all the popular online lottery tickets, video lottery, iBingo, Instant Wins, and Proline sports betting.
While at first glance it looks like there are many choices, you will soon notice that the site is missing some of the vital components of a proper online gambling operator. There is no online poker, nor any other essential casino game for that matter. Also, the Proline sports betting can satisfy you up to some point, but it is not nearly as good as full-scale sports betting.
How Is Gambling Regulated in Nova Scotia?
Nova Scotia regulated gambling similarly to other Canadian provinces and territories. There is the Criminal Code of Canada that represents the overall authority. However, in 1969, some changes were made, and the Canadian Criminal Code was amended to allow all the Canadian provinces and territories to regulate gambling on their own. When we say gambling, we mean lotteries that were formed as a legal type of gambling.
Apart from the Criminal Code of Canada, the main document in charge of setting rules regarding gaming activities in Nova Scotia is the Gaming Control Act. To be precise, part II of this act containing Nova Scotia’s Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division of Service is meant to deal with all the questions regarding gambling activities. And indeed, the official AGFTD website has a separate gaming section where you can find almost all the information you need.
However, if there is something you cannot find by visiting the AGFTD website, you should check the Criminal Code of Canada. Part VII, Disorderly Houses, Gaming and Betting of the Criminal Code of Canada contains all the pertinent facts that are used to clearly define gambling and betting.
Is Gambling in Offshore Casinos Legal in Nova Scotia?
By all means, there is nothing in the gambling laws that defines online gambling in offshore casinos as illegal. In cases like this when an activity is not strictly prohibited by law, it is highly unlikely that you will be prosecuted in court for practicing it.
According to the state regulations, operating an online casino within Canadian borders is perceived as an illegal action. However, this addresses casino operators and not Canadian citizens who want to play in online casinos. Therefore, if an online casino is located anywhere out of Canada, it automatically falls out of the jurisdiction of Nova Scotia, and Canada in general.
This means that you, as a resident of Nova Scotia, have all the rights to visit such casinos and enjoy all the great games offered there. Of course, you still need to respect the age limit, which is 19 according to Canadian laws. Also, the offshore casinos you visit must be willing to offer their services to Canadian citizens. It is highly recommended to ask around about this, as some of the offshore casinos mainly target specific audiences that might not include Canadians.
Important Factors for Choosing an Offshore Online Casino
As we mentioned earlier, if you are located in Nova Scotia, offshore casinos will be at your disposal whenever you feel like playing some of your favourite online games. Yet, bear in mind that there are plenty of casinos online, and not all of them are equally good. Here are some tips to help you choose the right one for you.
Research — After you find an online gambling operator that you fancy, the next logical step before depositing any money is to do thorough research. If you have any friends who also like playing in offshore online casinos, ask them to recommend the ones they are most happy with. Also, there is an option to check the experience of other players and punters on online forums. Finally, you can simply find an online review of almost any existing casino and get all the relevant information.
Security and Credibility — It is a part of human nature to always look for safety and security no matter which aspect of life we are dealing with. Security is particularly important with all the activities that involve our personal details and money investments. That’s why you should always look for information regarding the license a casino owns. It would be best to choose a casino that has a license issued by some of the credible online gaming authorities like Malta Gaming Authority, the Government of Curaçao, the UK Gambling Commission, and others.
Payment Methods — Before you create an account in an offshore online casino, go and check its banking page. It is important to look for both deposit and withdrawal options and find one that is suitable for the country you are coming from. Although offshore casinos are not allowed to promote their services to Canadian players, you will learn that many of them incorporated payment options such as ecoPayz, iDebit/Instadebit, and Interac which are all widely used in Canada.
FAQs
Unless you are not a professional online gambler who makes a living out of it, you are not obliged to pay any taxes in case you get lucky and manage to win some cash.
Yes, there are plenty of offshore casinos that are more than willing to offer their services to players from Nova Scotia.
You are required to be 19 or above in order to be able to legally gamble in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia offers a perfectly legal online gambling platform ALC.ca where you can find some interesting online games. Apart from that, Canadian law does not state that playing in offshore online casinos is illegal, so if you are up to something more than what ALC.ca offers, feel free to check them out.
The overall authority for regulating gambling in Nova Scotia is the Criminal Code of Canada. Apart from that, the jurisdiction of Nova Scotia is in charge of regulating gambling within its borders, for which it uses the Gaming Control Act.
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Author: Tom Wilson
Chief editor and creator, Tom drives the direction of CanadianCasinos.ca with the goal to provide the best and most honest resource for online gambling enthusiasts in Canada