First things first, you should know that gambling is legal in this Canadian province. Gambling activities are supervised by the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba, which was established in 2014 by joining the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission and the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. Further down the page, we’ll also look at the gambling laws in Manitoba.
Gambling Laws in Manitoba and Legal Activities
Charitable and online gambling are two of the most common activities in the province. There are several casinos which are legal across Manitoba. In this paragraph, we are going to focus on the gambling laws in Manitoba and the legal activities. To make it easier for you, we have created the table below:
| 💻 Online Gambling | Manitoba has had a government-owned gaming website since 2013. PlayNow is a gambling site from Manitoba which operates in the province. However, there are over 1000 online operators from overseas available. |
| 🏢 Casinos | Manitoba has casinos owned by the government and First Nations casinos (managed by native Americans). |
| 🚫 Legal Age | The minimum Manitoba gambling age to be able to gamble is 18 years of age, except for sports betting, which is 19. |
| 🎰 Video Gambling Games | These games of chance are hosted in VLT lounges and can be played online across the province. They are overseen by the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries. The three most popular games are slots, poker, and keno. |
| 🏌️♂️ Sports Betting | Sports betting is widely available throughout the province. Players can wager up to $250 per day on two or more sporting events. |
| 💰 Charity | Charity organizations can apply for a license to carry out different forms of charitable gaming, such as bingo, raffles, and Texas Hold’em poker tournaments. |
| 🏇 Horse Racing | Horse races are conducted in Manitoba, although the only permanent track for these events is Assiniboia Downs. Live and simulcast events are regulated by the Manitoba Horse Racing Commission. |
| 🎲 Lottery | Lottery tickets and scratch-off cards by the Western Canada Lottery Corporation can be purchased online or at licensed stores. |
As you have just seen, most forms of gambling are allowed in Manitoba. If you are planning to travel and gamble across provinces, we suggest you get familiar with the Canadian online gambling laws. All in all, the regulation model conducted by the legal organizations behind gambling activities is remarkably professional.
Main Gambling Regulations
The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act was created in 2018. This legislation focuses on the consumer’s choice, public safety, and social responsibility. The Act states the types of gambling practices allowed in the province, the licensing requirements, a list of entities and people allowed to participate in gambling, a list of responsibilities, dispute resolution mechanisms, and charges for violation.
The LGCA’s regulatory authority included horse racing with the proclamation of The Horse Racing Modernization Act in 2022. In the following list, you’ll see more online gambling laws in Manitoba and regulations dedicated to gambling:
- Gaming Regulation 62/2014
- Horse Racing Regulation 40/2022
- Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Regulation 82/2014
The Gaming Regulation establishes aspects related to games of chance, such as lotteries and casino games. On the other hand, the Horse Racing Regulation does the same but only focuses on horse racing. Last but not least, the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Regulation gives specific details about license fees, conditions, renewals, etc.
On the other hand, there’s the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act, which regulates lottery in the province. The Act defines the rules of Manitoba-based lotteries, covering the rules for ticket sales, revenue channelling, taxation, etc. The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MLLC) is the lottery’s official operator, and it controls lottery processes along with the Western Canada Lottery Corporation (WCLC).
Then we have the Consumer Protection Act, which aims to protect physical and online casino gaming customers. Operators are obliged to follow all legal provisions on consumer rights protection. The Order-in-Council No. 110/2014 describes all the consumer’s rights as a player. Despite the aforementioned, the First Nations can also issue special licenses according to the Order-in-Council No. 110/2014.
Manitoba Online Gambling Laws and Offshore Online Gambling
The online gambling laws in Manitoba specify that online betting is legal in the province. Nonetheless, as we have mentioned previously in this post, iGaming operations are reserved for PlayNow Manitoba, which is the only operating online gaming company in the province. The website is run and operated by the MLLC in partnership with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.
Even though the Manitoba gambling online laws monopolize local online gambling activity, residents can play on foreign casino sites. Nevertheless, offshore operators such as the best Manitoba online casino sites are not regulated under the online gambling laws in Manitoba.
Instead, these operators are regulated by gaming authorities established in other countries. For this reason, you should find out whether the offshore online casino you intend to sign up with is accordingly licensed and regulated. Thanks to this, online gambling customers in the province can use a secure and fun virtual casino gaming experience.
Responsible Gambling in Manitoba
The last part of our article about the Manitoba online gambling laws is dedicated to one of the most significant matters. Gambling is nothing without playing responsibly. Now, we are going to provide some information about several responsible gambling associations and actions to cope with addiction. Have a look at the main RG organizations available to help players in need:
- Addictions Foundation of Manitoba: it provides counselling services free of charge to people with gambling problems. Keep in mind that this is the only local RG organization.
- The Problem Gambling Helpline provides help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: 1-800-463-1554. This is the only Manitoban helpline.
- Community Financial Counseling Services: it gives financial advice to people who have difficulties managing their finances due to a gambling issue.
- Gam-Anon: this group can support you if a relative or a friend of yours is having a gambling problem.
- Gambler’s Anonymous: this anonymous group can help you if you want to quit gambling.
- GamTalk: it is an online discussion community that can help you if you have gambling concerns.
Furthermore, you can also self-exclude yourself with the Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) program, which supports anyone’s decision to stop gambling at establishments owned or operated by the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries or/and PlayNow. You must choose an amount of time and make a commitment not to enter any of the included sites until the VSE is fulfilled.
Unfortunately, if you are concerned about somebody struggling with gambling, only the person seeking self-exclusion can enrol. When you enrol in person in the VSE program, you make a commitment not to enter any of the following facilities: the Club Regent Casino and the Event Centre, the McPhillips Station Casino and the Shark Club Gaming Centre.
On the other hand, when you register online, you make a commitment not to access PlayNow.com. The length of the exclusion period is flexible. You can choose from 6 months, 1, 2 or even 3 years. You can enrol in person at the Club Regent Casino or the McPhillips Station Casino. Otherwise, you can enrol by calling the number 204-957-2500 ext. 8468.
To enrol online, you must log into your PlayNow account and choose the option “Self-Exclusion”. If you decide to end your voluntary self-exclusion, you must complete an information course called Pause & Plan. This way, you will be acting according to the gambling laws in Manitoba. Eventually, you need to write a letter to Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries requesting to return via mail or email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our article about the Manitoba online gambling laws has come to an end. However, in case you have been left with any doubts, we have created our frequently asked questions section. The answers provided are short and straightforward and will jump to the paragraph of your interest to extend the information. Have a look at them below: