Is Stake Legal in Canada?
Stake.com is legal in all Canadian provinces, excluding Ontario. It’s one of the world’s most prevalent cryptocurrency casinos, offering thousands of games, ongoing promotions, and sports betting opportunities.
With the arrival of many competitors, Stake.com has retained its reputation as one of the best crypto sites, thanks in part to endorsements from Drake and other high-profile figures.
This article covers the legality of Stake.com and crypto gambling in Canada more broadly so you can get the full picture and decide if this crypto casino is a good option for you.
Overview of Online Gambling Laws in Canada
To understand the legality of online gambling in Canada, you must be aware of federal, provincial, and offshore regulations, as explained below:
Federal Gambling Laws in Canada
Canada’s Federal Criminal Code governs gambling at the federal level throughout the country. It outlines gambling offences from Sections 201 to 209. For gambling to be legal in Canada, it must be provided by licensed facilities, which are licensed and regulated at the provincial level. Unlicensed and unregulated gambling is a criminal offence in the country, with strict punishments for providers and participants alike.
Provincial Gambling Regulations
Each province in Canada has its own act specifying the legality of gambling within the state. Moreover, each respective act specifies which body is responsible for licensing casinos, sportsbooks, and other terms and conditions. Here are the provincial acts to be aware of in each Canadian province:
- Alberta: Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act.
- British Columbia: Gaming Control Act.
- Manitoba: Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act and the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act.
- New Brunswick: Gaming Control Act.
- Northwest Territories: Lotteries Act.
- Nova Scotia: Gaming Control Act.
- Ontario: Gaming Control Act (1992) and Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act (1999).
- Quebec: Act respecting Lotteries, Publicity Contests, and Amusement Machines.
- Saskatchewan: Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act (1997) and the Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation Act.
- Yukon: Lottery Licensing Act.
In April 2022, Ontario became the first province in Canada to introduce regulated iGaming through the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (ACGO), with an operating agreement signed by the newly formed iGaming Ontario. Today, all online gambling in Ontario is channelled through the ACGO, with no grey area for offshore casinos to operate in.
Offshore Gambling in Canada
The grey area mentioned above technically permits online casinos registered abroad to operate in all Canadian provinces other than Ontario. Some casinos seek licenses from the Canadian-based Kahnawake Gaming Commission, established in June 1996. Other online casinos are licensed by bodies like the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority, while others, like Stake.com, are licensed by the government of Curacao.
So, the legality of Stake.com falls under the third bracket of legal casino gambling in Canada, as it’s a legal offshore gambling platform.
Is Stake Legal in Canada?
The government of Curacao licenses Stake.com under license number 8048/JAZ2021-027. The Curacao government regulates many online betting sites, particularly crypto casinos, so Stake’s operation under a Curacao license is typical of the industry.
If you decide to play here, you must recognize that Stake.com is not licensed by any Canadian gambling authority. Therefore, if you experience issues with the site, you must seek support from a regulatory body in a different part of the world, which could be problematic for some people.
Still, though it’s not licensed in Canada, Stake.com is legally available to Canadian players, provided they don’t live in Ontario. This is because no Canadian laws explicitly prevent players from signing up to offshore online casinos.
Crypto Gambling and Canadian Law
Like the grey area that surrounds the legality of offshore gambling sites in Canada, crypto gambling is not explicitly regulated by Canadian law. There’s nothing in the Federal Criminal Code outlawing crypto gambling online, so provided that you play at a licensed offshore site, you’re allowed to bet with crypto.
Cryptocurrency betting platforms like Stake.com have exploded in popularity recently, making it possible for Canadians to bet with Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and countless other currencies. You should be mindful that crypto is unregulated, increasing the risk of playing online casino games.
Provincial Perspectives on Online Gambling
Ontario
Ontario has the best-developed online gambling infrastructure in Canada. The ACGO and iGaming Ontario license and regulate all online casinos in the state. Therefore, if you live in Ontario, you must play at state-licensed online casinos. To obtain a permit, casinos in Ontario must adhere to strict regulations, including restrictions on bonuses and marketing.
British Columbia
In British Columbia, anyone over 19 years old can gamble online. No state regulations prevent you from playing at offshore casinos like Stake.com. If you prefer to sign up for a Canadian online casino, you can also play at the state’s only licensed gambling site, PlayNow.com.
Québec
Loto-Québec is responsible for regulating provincial gambling platforms in the state, but like in BC, there are no restrictions or laws stating that you cannot sign up and play at offshore platforms like Stake.com.
Other Provinces
Other Canadian provinces like Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Manitoba have regulatory bodies for gambling. However, there is no mention in any state laws that offshore gambling is prohibited, so you’re fine to play at Stake.com.
Security and Fairness on Stake.com
Now that we’ve established Stake.com to be legal in most Canadian provinces let’s investigate the security and fairness of this crypto-betting site:
Stake’s Licensing and Regulation
The Curacao government regulates Stake.com, typical of many offshore cryptocurrency casinos. While Curacao doesn’t have as good a reputation as the UKGC or MGA, it’s still a reputable licensing body that licenses dozens of casinos.
You can contact the commission directly if you experience issues while playing at a Curacao-licensed casino. However, you won’t receive the same level of support if you encounter problems at a Canadian-licensed site, which is something to consider.
Is Stake Safe for Canadian Players?
Stake.com is a safe online casino with several security features. Alongside its license, Stake.com employs site-wide SSL encryption to protect your personal and financial information. Stake also partners with MoonPay for crypto transactions, a secure third-party with a proven track record, while supporting numerous other safe payment options.
Fair Play and Provably Fair Games
As a leading crypto casino, Stake.com provides access to Provably Fair Games, enabling you to check each game’s fairness independently. Many of Stake.com’s most popular games from providers like Pragmatic Play and Hacksaw Gaming have been independently audited by eCOGRA to ensure the Random Number Generators (RNG) are fair. Therefore, you can play at Stake.com safely, knowing you have a fair chance of winning.
How Stake Operates for Canadian Players
Signing up for Stake.com in Canada is easy, and you can follow the steps below:
Account Setup
- Head to the Stake.com homepage and click on the blue “Register” button in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Fill in the account registration form, providing your email, date of birth, and phone number. Alternatively, sign up via Google, Facebook, Twitch, or Line.
- Verify your phone number and email address when prompted to do so.
- Choose a payment method and deposit to fund your gameplay.
Payment Methods for Canadians
Stake.com is known as the original crypto casino, and it’s easy to see why. It supports dozens of currencies, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and countless others.
If you don’t have cryptocurrency, you can deposit via fiat currency, something that Stake.com has recently introduced. Alternatively, you can use MoonPay on Stake.com to buy cryptocurrency, which will then be automatically added to your Stake.com account.
All Stake.com deposits and withdrawals are instant, but depending on the crypto wallet and payment processing service you use, you might be charged fees.
Games and Sports Betting Available on Stake for Canadians
It’s fair to say that Stake.com’s all-round gambling offering is one of the most impressive in Canada, with a vast array of games and sports for you to bet on:
Casino Games
Sports Betting
Live Casino Options
Promotions and Bonuses for Canadian Players
Welcome Bonuses
Stake.com is one of the few online casinos in Canada that does not offer a welcome bonus, which is one of the most disappointing things about it. That said, you can access many ongoing promotions, which more than make up for it.
Ongoing Promotions
Some of the ongoing promotions available at Stake.com include:
- Daily races: Win a share of $100,000 every 24 hours by participating in Stake’s daily races.
- Weekly raffle: Secure one raffle ticket when you wager $1,000 at Stake.com each week to win up to $75,000.
- Conquer the casino: This exclusive Stake.com promotion invites you to play newly released games to win a share of $50,000.
Crypto-Specific Bonuses
As a crypto-first online casino, Stake.com often runs crypto-specific bonuses and competitions you can enter weekly. If you win, Stake.com will add to your online crypto balance.
Pros and Cons of Playing on Stake in Canada
- Thousands of games from dozens of casino game providers.
- Excellent sportsbook with competitive odds and lots of markets.
- Provably fair games that are independently and externally audited.
- Incredible number of crypto payment options accepted.
- Not licensed in Canada. Stake.com has a Curacao license.
- Lack of traditional payment methods makes transacting with fiat currency difficult.
- No welcome bonus is available to Canadian players.
Is Stake the Right Choice for Canadian Players?
Is Stake right for you? As we bring this article to a close, we consider whether Stake.com considers your boxes:
We recommend Stake.com to any Canadian who doesn’t live in Ontario that wants to gamble with cryptocurrency. After all, Stake.com is undoubtedly the world’s leading crypto betting site, offering game variety and supporting practically every cryptocurrency.
If Stake.com isn’t suitable for you, numerous other offshore gambling sites should be considered. One of our favourites is Mr Pacho, which supports transactions via Interac, credit/debit cards, e-wallets, and crypto. Like Stake.com, Mr Pacho is licensed in Curacao and is one of the top gambling sites in Canada.
Gambling Limits and Tools
If you decide to play at Stake.com, we recommend visiting the casino’s responsible gambling portal and reading the Stake Safe guidelines for safe and accountable gameplay. You can set time and deposit limits and even exclude yourself from the site if you feel that your gambling is becoming a problem. If you can’t find the responsible gambling tools, contact Stake.com’s customer support team for more details.
Resources for Canadian Players
If you need help with online gambling when playing at Stake.com or elsewhere, here are some handy resources:
Conclusion
Stake.com is widely regarded as Canada’s best crypto gambling site, and it deserves its reputation. It offers a vast variety of games, lots of crypto payment options, and favourable gambling terms at the casino and sportsbook.
It’s available to all Canadian players, excluding Ontarians, so feel free to sign up for Stake.com today to explore the game library and sportsbook.