Online Poker Rules by Province
Pick your province for the legal age, what the government site offers, and which poker rooms accept you.
There is no single answer to "is online poker legal in Canada", because gambling belongs to the provinces. In 2026 the country splits into two groups. Ontario and Alberta license private poker rooms and expect residents to use them. Everywhere else, the province runs its own gambling site and offshore rooms operate in a grey area that has never been enforced against players.
Every province at a glance
| Province | Age | Online poker | Government site |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 19 | Offshore rooms open | PlayNow (BCLC) |
| Alberta | 18 | Licensed private rooms | PlayAlberta (AGLC) plus licensed private operators |
| Saskatchewan | 19 | Offshore rooms open | PlayNow Saskatchewan |
| Manitoba | 18 | Offshore rooms open; no Ozoon | PlayNow (Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries) |
| Ontario | 19 | Licensed private rooms | PlayOLG plus iGaming Ontario licensed operators |
| Quebec | 18 | Offshore rooms open | Loto-Québec |
| New Brunswick | 19 | Offshore rooms open | Atlantic Lottery (ALC) |
| Nova Scotia | 19 | Offshore rooms open | Atlantic Lottery (ALC) |
| Prince Edward Island | 19 | Offshore rooms open | Atlantic Lottery (ALC) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 19 | Offshore rooms open | Atlantic Lottery (ALC) |
| Territories (YT, NT, NU) | 19 | Offshore rooms open | Western Canada Lottery Corporation |
Checked November 14, 2026. Click a province for the detail and the list of rooms. This site is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Gambling law differs by province and changes. If you need to rely on it, check with the regulator or a qualified professional.
The two licensed provinces
Ontario opened its market in 2022 and has the longest list of licensed rooms. Alberta followed on July 13, 2026 and gave offshore sites until October 13 to get a licence or go. In both, each room seats only players inside the province, which keeps games smaller than on international sites. We show visitors from these two provinces licensed rooms only.
Everywhere else
Offshore poker rooms accept players and the provinces have gone after operators, not customers. Manitoba is the one place that has acted in court, winning an injunction against Bodog in 2025, which is why Ozoon does not operate there. The cost of playing offshore is protection: if a room will not pay, no provincial regulator will take your complaint. That is the reason this site only lists rooms with long payout records.
What could change
Other provinces are watching Ontario and Alberta. When a province licenses private operators, the pattern so far is the same: international sites leave, and some return months later as closed provincial rooms. We update the province pages when that happens.
Questions
Is online poker legal in Canada?
Gambling is a provincial matter. Ontario and Alberta license private poker rooms. The other provinces run their own gambling sites, and no law targets players who use offshore rooms.
What is the legal gambling age in Canada?
18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec. 19 in every other province and territory.
Which provinces have licensed online poker rooms?
Ontario and Alberta. Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba offer poker through their government sites.
Why do poker sites work in one province and not another?
Each province sets its own rules, and operators decide province by province whether to take a licence, stay offshore or leave.
Are poker winnings taxed in Canada?
For most recreational players, gambling winnings have not been treated as taxable income. Someone who plays as a business can be treated differently, so ask a tax professional about your own situation.