Virtually all forms of gambling, both online and land-based, are regulated and available in Ontario, making it a prime destination for locals and tourists alike.

Online, players can access casinos, poker, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and lottery games, while land-based attractions include numerous casinos, poker rooms, racetracks, gaming halls, and retail lottery outlets.

Land-Based Gambling in Ontario

While its online market has grabbed most of the headlines in recent years, Ontario also has a vibrant ‘brick and mortar’ gambling scene, and is one of the largest and most diverse land-based gambling markets in Canada and North America.

What Ontario has:

• Resort-style destination casinos in Niagara Falls, Etobicoke, Pickering, Orillia, Windsor and Gloucester.
• Large casinos with huge gaming floors and bars and restaurants without on-site accommodation.
• Race tracks with gaming halls that offer slots and table games. 
• Community casinos, smaller more casual venues catering to locals rather than tourists.

Who operates them: 

• OLG is responsible for conducting and managing land-based casinos in Ontario.
• AGCO regulates OLG-run casinos and slot halls, helping ensure integrity and proper operation.
• Day-to-day operations are often handled by private service providers under OLG arrangements (you’ll see familiar operator brands on the ground).

Other Forms of ON Gambling

Ontario’s gambling options go well beyond casinos and sportsbooks:

• Lotteries. Sold online and in-store, including draw games and instant-win products.
• Charitable gaming (bingo, raffles, break open tickets). Regulated by AGCO for eligible charities and organisations.
• Horse racing / pari-mutuel wagering. Ontario supports horse racing as part of its broader gaming ecosystem (and OLG has historically supported the industry).

Ontario Gambling Laws

Ontario’s gambling laws aren’t complicated, as both online and land-based gambling is legal and fully regulated, unlike other provinces in Canada.

Under Canada’s Criminal Code, provinces have the permission to manage, regulate and legalize gambling within their own provincial borders.

This is why Ontario has a regulated online market, but British Columbia, for example, does not. 

The minimum age for both online and land-based gambling in Ontario is 19+, except for lottery tickets which can be purchased at 18.
 

Who Regulates Gambling in Ontario?

Ontario’s gambling oversight is basically a three-part setup:
 

How regulation works in practice:

• iGO conducts and manages the commercial relationships between private operators and the provincial government.
• AGCO regulates the market itself by setting the rules and standards, registering operators and suppliers, and enforcing compliance and safer gambling requirements.

What Taxes Apply to Gambling Winnings in Ontario?

For most people in Ontario, and Canada generally, gambling winnings aren’t taxable and don’t need to be reported as income. The big exception, however, is if your gambling looks less like ‘a few bets’ and more like a business or professional activity.

But if you’re just a regular player not betting any serious amounts, you don’t need to worry.

Responsible Gambling in Ontario

Ontario’s regulated ecosystem has strong responsible gambling support groups, tools and resources. If you ever feel out of control, reach out. Support exists and it’s confidential.

Land-Based Casinos in Ontario

Ontario has casinos across multiple regions, some are full resort experiences, others are community casinos or regional gaming hubs.