Jihn Mill
Gambling has really come a long way since its humble beginnings as a way to wager on an outcome of something. Back when it was a globally recognized pastime activity and a legitimate hobby, gambling was a way to have fun by putting your money where your mouth is and backing up your claims with some hard earned valuables. It was not always money either as people would bet the same things they would trade with like commodities, personal belongings, or even favors. Over the course of thousands of years of human civilization, many games appeared that made use of dice, cards, and other items, which proved great for gambling. Sports betting was also a logical move and it appeared practically when the sports themselves started taking shape.
Enter Modern Gambling
Everything changed when gambling became a legitimate industry in its own right. Right now, gambling is bigger than it ever was and it is not even close. The amount of games and choices an average gambler is met is mind boggling, particularly on the web. The online world is where most gambling is done nowadays, although brick and mortar casinos are still present and thriving. No matter what you like, you will find it on thousands of online gambling services. Be it something new and modern that is more oriented towards gamers, or a good old classic like roulette or blackjack, it is there. Slot machines are by far the most common and they are the easiest to play. But for the fans of true, skill-based gambling, it has always been poker.
The Most Popular Casino Game
Online poker is similar in rules to traditional, physical world game albeit without the ability to look at the players and guess if they are bluffing or not. Regardless of this, it is still a fun and interesting way to gamble especially if poker is already your favorite game. However, on the internet and between different places in the world, there are regional differences that you need to know about. Although online poker has been around for nearly as long as the internet itself, the modern way of playing it and the contemporary services have come so far and look nothing like those old games. What we have now is true gambling, with your own money, and against live players from all over the world.
If you are interested in learning more about playing popular casino games on the internet, you came to the right place. Right here and now, we talk about what you need to know about online poker, particularly in the great country of Canada. As mentioned, there are regional differences between different countries as not all governments and bodies that oversee gambling view online poker the same. If you are planning a trip to Canada and want to continue gambling, or if you are moving there permanently and poker is your favorite hobby, you will definitely want to read this article thoroughly. For more info on this in the meantime, make sure to check out some of the best Canadian poker rooms listed here.
Online Gambling in Canada
Before isolating online poker, we need to first talk about the general state of online gambling in Canada. In order to operate an online casino in this country, one needs a special license. Therefore, it is illegal to run a web-based casino without first following all the guidelines and registering it accordingly. However, players can also play at any off shore casinos without any issue because those are not located in Canada. They are available and they offer their services to the Canadian people though so they are perfectly legal. Canadians are at no legal risk of playing online casino games and visiting the sites. This is true both for the amateurs and occasional players as well as enthusiasts and those whose gambling is a legitimate second job.
If you want more insurance, know that there has never been a Canadian citizen prosecuted for playing on gambling websites, whether it is poker or any other game. The winnings you get are not taxable, except in the rare occasion where a Canadian may be employed as a professional gambler based on their frequency and skill. No online gambling is criminalized and as of April of 2024, online gambling is entirely legalized in Ontario. As a matter of fact, the regulations and gaming authorities as well as the laws and the oversight they deal with are provincial. Each province has its own authority that deals with the laws and future developments.
What About Online Poker?
As you can see from everything mentioned above, the state of online poker in Canada is rather good. The situation is much better than in many other countries. It is much better than what the USA has since they target offshore inline casinos through a special act that prohibits banks and other institutions from making transactions. Canada is quite big on online poker and poker in general. There are many live games and tournaments to join in, numerous players playing at any given time, and countless open live rooms and tables you can join. Actually, one of the biggest wins in online poker was achieved by a Canadian, Jonathan Duhamel from Quebec, who won $8.9 million in 2010.
The approach from the government is pretty hands-off when online poker is concerned. As mentioned, Ontario started to regulate it more in 2024 when it brought in some of the industry’s greatest operators like PokerStars, partypoker, BetMGM, and others. 888poker also came to Ontario with their own online poker products and solutions. All in all, Canada is a great place for any gambling fan whose go-to game is online poker. There is no trouble playing it, it is easy to find games, and there is nobody breathing down your neck as you do. The best part about being able to gamble like this is the freedom and not constantly thinking about potential consequences like you would elsewhere in the world.