Without realizing it, many Atlantic Canadians are playing on, and seeing advertising from gambling sites that are illegal to operate or advertise in Atlantic Canada under both Canadian and provincial law.
Atlantic Lottery is the only 100% legal and government-regulated provider of online gambling and sports-betting products in Atlantic Canada, making it your only legal online bet in the region.
Although many illegal gambling sites promote free “.net” websites, the goal of their ads is to redirect players to paid “.com” sites that are not legal under Canadian law.
While they might claim to be “licensed and regulated” overseas, only Atlantic Lottery can legally offer online gambling and sports betting in Atlantic Canada.
...but only when they see illegal online gambling sites that don’t support the local community. As a publicly owned corporation, Atlantic Lottery was created to give back to local communities. Each year, 100% of our profit stays right here in Atlantic Canada, totalling more than $11.9 billion since 1976. We also support hundreds of local festivals, events, and community groups. Nothing to chirp about there.
It’s estimated that nearly $200 million leaves our region each year through play on illegal gambling websites that accept real-money wagers. This is a significant amount of money that could be going back into our Atlantic Canadian communities and help fund important public service but instead solely benefits these illegal operators.
Being publicly owned not only means that Atlantic Lottery’s revenue doesn’t leave our region, but players can also trust our games are regulated and accountable. We have been recognized by the World Lottery Association and Responsible Gambling Council for offering the highest level of responsible gambling features and resources for our players.
Illegal websites may not offer the same commitment to responsible gambling or have healthy play tools that are not prominently featured. They also often lack age of majority controls to make sure everyone is old enough to play.
Advertising from some sites that are legal in Ontario may spill into Atlantic Canada, but they are not legal here. Some sites may also promote loopholes for residents of other provinces to access these gaming sites, such as advertising free-play ‘.net’ sites that then redirect players to their paid ‘.com’ sites that are not legal under Canadian and provincial law.
Just like ads you see, unregulated gambling sites are able to sponsor events, athletes, etc. by promoting their free ‘.net’ websites. However, this is a tactic to redirect players to paid ‘.com’ sites that are not legal under Canadian and provincial law. These sites might even claim to be “licensed and regulated” overseas or in other jurisdictions, but only Atlantic Lottery can legally offer online gambling and sports betting in Atlantic Canada.
In April 2022, the government of Ontario launched its new online gaming market, allowing more licensed gaming operators. To this day, the only legal online gaming and sports betting platform in every Canadian province, other than Ontario, is the one run by the provincial lottery corporation in that province. Even with Ontario’s new online gaming market, there are still only approximately 40 licensed operators in Ontario.
The Ontario market opening and subsequent advertising spilling into Atlantic Canada has heightened the awareness of these illegal operators and fueled illegal gambling activity in Atlantic Canada.
It’s very simple. Any site that says they offer gaming in Atlantic Canada that’s not Atlantic Lottery is an illegal operator. Both the gaming, and the advertisement of it, are illegal in this region.
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