So is sportsbetting legal in Canada?

[fabric86]

Just wanted to know.

[Hulu]

Good question. I looked into it a while back and found the laws to be pretty unclear. This is complicated by the fact that laws differ from province to province.

In Ontario, by the letter of the law, it is illegal to place a wager on anything unless it is run and/or sanctioned by the provincial government. How that works with the offshore industry is anybody's guess. The general consensus I found is that off shore sports betting lies in a legal grey area. The major difference between Canada and the US is that the federal government and provincial governments have bigger fish to fry and don't appear to be in any rush to close the loophole down.

That's just my take on the subject. Anyone else know more?

Hulu

[fabric86]

thanks Hulu, anyone else?

[rolemand]

Bump for Mudcat. He lives in Canada.

[fabric86]

Bump for Mudcat. He lives in Canada.

thanks. Where are you my friend Mudcat? Can you tell me if any of these U.S. threats affect Canada?

[Mudcat]

Yes, sportsbetting is legal in Canada. I have filed my taxes for the last 3 years as a full-time sports betting business. It's not a grey area. It is as legit as any other business.

The only grey area is the conditions under which paying taxes is mandatory. They are somewhat open to interpretation. But that's going off on a tangent. Betting itself is fine.

This is a Federal matter, not provincial. Different provinces have different regulations around their government-run sports betting 'lottos" but it doesn't affect my business and my taxes go to Revenue Canada.

I'm probably not as up on the situation surrounding sports betting in the States as I should be but my general impression is that no, it does not directly affect Canada any more than British or Swedish or Japanese sports betting law affects Canada.

There is an indirect effect. For example Canadians can't access their MVP accounts right now because of the court papers filed in the US. Safe to say that American bettors influence the sportsbooks that Canadians deal with more than any other group.

But that too is more of a tangent than a comment on legality.

[BuddyBear]

why is Canada and Europe and the world for that matter so far ahead of this issue then the U.S....in fact, the U.S. seems to be going backward as opposed to foward on this issue...

[Lucas]

why is Canada and Europe and the world for that matter so far ahead of this issue then the U.S....in fact, the U.S. seems to be going backward as opposed to foward on this issue...

Are you kidding?
Holland and Italy ban access to internet gambling sites?
Many other countries have laws against internet gambling (no one can enforce them - but that is another story). Not many european countries welcome offshore betting. We need to solve it in America - every stupid anti-law came from America - so show that you are a country of freedom

[BuddyBear]

in general Lucas Europe has shown to be far more progressive and receptive to the issue of online gambling....of course countries differ in Europe but in the U.S. here if you heard the debate you might believe that it was a tool for terrorists or that those who gamble are going to suffer massive gambling addictions or according to some people they will be committing sin...

There are ways to solving this problem to make everyone happy...yet the U.S. is not serious about them...

By the way, the U.S. is free in theory but the reality is far different here.

[Lucas]

By the way, the U.S. is free in theory but the reality is far different here.

I am sure it is, it was joke.
But you do not live in here. I am afraid - generally said - it is unfortunatelly the same here and there. Believe me, Europe is not progressive I am afraid that any "developed democracy" is not progressive. And this is just beginning. When massive offshore taxating comes on the scene - i believe - it will be end of state systems as we know.

[BuddyBear]

ur right lucas....

Even so, we can agree that some countries in Europe most notably England have been receptive to online gambling and have provided a model of how to do things right. However...we should be concerned as these are times of high uncertainty for offshore books and players.

[fabric86]

Yes, sportsbetting is legal in Canada. I have filed my taxes for the last 3 years as a full-time sports betting business. It's not a grey area. It is as legit as any other business.

The only grey area is the conditions under which paying taxes is mandatory. They are somewhat open to interpretation. But that's going off on a tangent. Betting itself is fine.

This is a Federal matter, not provincial. Different provinces have different regulations around their government-run sports betting 'lottos" but it doesn't affect my business and my taxes go to Revenue Canada.

I'm probably not as up on the situation surrounding sports betting in the States as I should be but my general impression is that no, it does not directly affect Canada any more than British or Swedish or Japanese sports betting law affects Canada.

There is an indirect affect. For example Canadians can't access their MVP accounts right now because of the court papers filed in the US. Safe to say that American bettors influence the sportsbooks that Canadians deal with more than any other group.

But that too is more of a tangent than a comment on legality.

Thanks, I know what to do now if the US goes sour.

[Lucas]

ur right lucas....

Even so, we can agree that some countries in Europe most notably England have been receptive to online gambling and have provided a model of how to do things right. However...we should be concerned as these are times of high uncertainty for offshore books and players.

Yes - but England is something else than Europe. They are really on the progressive way as small island countries. But the rest of the Europe is just waking up and does not know if ban (which has small affect) or allow (and it is too late; national bookies know very little about netgambling to be good competitors).

[magpie]

But you do not live in here. I am afraid - generally said - it is unfortunatelly the same here and there. Believe me, Europe is not progressive I am afraid that any "developed democracy" is not progressive. And this is just beginning. When massive offshore taxating comes on the scene - i believe - it will be end of state systems as we know.

It's all relative I guess. To many liberal/libertarian Americans, most of Europe is like a candyshop on social issues. I was in Germany a few weeks ago for the World Cup and I wasn't sure I wanted to return home. I love the US, but, damn, there are some things we could learn from Europeans. I could go into details about the things I really liked, but that's another non-wagering related thread.

Again, it's all relative.

[Worldsportcenter]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/gambling/onlinegambling.html

[RickySteve]

Thanks, I know what to do now if the US goes sour.

Right. Immigration to Canada is so easy. Let us know how that works out for you.

[mad]

It's all relative I guess. To many liberal/libertarian Americans, most of Europe is like a candyshop on social issues. I was in Germany a few weeks ago for the World Cup and I wasn't sure I wanted to return home. I love the US, but, damn, there are some things we could learn from Europeans. I could go into details about the things I really liked, but that's another non-wagering related thread.

Again, it's all relative.

LOL, I hear ya Magpie.

Beer and Hookers are cool.

[isetcap]

It's all relative I guess. To many liberal/libertarian Americans, most of Europe is like a candyshop on social issues. I was in Germany a few weeks ago for the World Cup and I wasn't sure I wanted to return home. I love the US, but, damn, there are some things we could learn from Europeans. I could go into details about the things I really liked, but that's another non-wagering related thread.

Again, it's all relative.

All the places in Europe seem wonderful until you have to pay taxes there.

[Lucas]

All the places in Europe seem wonderful until you have to pay taxes there.

Is really someone paying some taxes here in Europe?? Except VAT and state employees I guess not many people do...

[Hulu]

Yes, sportsbetting is legal in Canada. I have filed my taxes for the last 3 years as a full-time sports betting business. It's not a grey area. It is as legit as any other business.

The only grey area is the conditions under which paying taxes is mandatory. They are somewhat open to interpretation. But that's going off on a tangent. Betting itself is fine.

This is a Federal matter, not provincial. Different provinces have different regulations around their government-run sports betting 'lottos" but it doesn't affect my business and my taxes go to Revenue Canada.

I'm probably not as up on the situation surrounding sports betting in the States as I should be but my general impression is that no, it does not directly affect Canada any more than British or Swedish or Japanese sports betting law affects Canada.

There is an indirect effect. For example Canadians can't access their MVP accounts right now because of the court papers filed in the US. Safe to say that American bettors influence the sportsbooks that Canadians deal with more than any other group.

But that too is more of a tangent than a comment on legality.

Thanks for the info Mudcat.

I agree with you that there will be an indirect effect from changes in US law. If the DOJ armed with this new law is able to put enough of a dent in the cash flow of books who draw a significant amount of their $ from Americans, there could be changes in the way these books do business. Some may even fall by the wayside. Of course that's nothing new. It will be interesting to see what happens for sure.

Hulu

[fabric86]

Right. Immigration to Canada is so easy. Let us know how that works out for you.

Whats hard about it?(clueless)

[RickySteve]

Whats hard about it?(clueless)

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/index.html