Gambling Age in Canada by Province

There is no single legal gambling age in Canada — each province decides. It is 19 in most of the country and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. The same age usually applies to casinos, online gambling and sports betting, with a few exceptions for lottery tickets.

By Otto von Stierlitz · Independent guide, not a government site.

Province / territory	Minimum age	Provincial online site
British Columbia	19	PlayNow.com
Quebec	18	lotoquebec.com (formerly Espacejeux)
Manitoba	18	PlayNow.com/mb
Saskatchewan	19	PlayNow.com/sk
Nova Scotia	19	alc.ca
New Brunswick	19	alc.ca
Newfoundland and Labrador	19	alc.ca
Prince Edward Island	19	alc.ca
Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut	18–19 (see page)	—
Ontario	19	olg.ca
Alberta	18	playalberta.ca

Exceptions Worth Knowing

Ontario: online gambling and PROLINE+ require 19+, but you can buy lottery tickets and in-store PROLINE at 18.
Manitoba: PlayNow Manitoba accepts players from 18 — while PlayNow in BC and Saskatchewan requires 19.
Northwest Territories: the Western Canada Lottery Regulations set 18 as the minimum age to play WCLC lotteries.
Yukon and Nunavut: 19 is commonly cited, but we could not confirm it in territorial law. Check with Lotteries Yukon or the Government of Nunavut.

How Sites Check Your Age

Provincial sites verify your identity when you sign up — PlayNow, for example, runs a soft credit-bureau check that confirms your age and address without affecting your credit — and they check that you are located in the province. Lying about your age gets your account closed and any winnings voided.

Gambling Age FAQ

What is the legal gambling age in Canada?

Each province sets its own. It is 19 in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and the four Atlantic provinces, and 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.

Can I gamble online at 18 in Canada?

Yes in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, on sites authorized in those provinces. Everywhere else you must be 19.

Is the age for buying lottery tickets different?

Sometimes. In Ontario you can buy lottery and in-store PROLINE at 18, while online gambling is 19+. In the NWT, regulations set 18 for WCLC lotteries.

What if I am 18 and live in a 19+ province but visit Quebec?

Provincial sites check where you are physically located, and the rules of that province apply. You also need to meet each site’s own residency rules — PlayNow, for example, requires you to live in the province.

Sources

Checked on 2026-11-03. Rules change — the official pages below always win.

Last updated: 2026-11-03