Ontarians are one of only two groups of people in Canada who can enjoy a fully regulated, open online gambling market. The AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) established iGaming Ontario in 2021 as the province started to allow foreign gambling operators to apply for licences that let them offer their online gaming services legally.
It was a groundbreaking moment for online gambling in Canada, but it also means that more and more people are starting to research gambling and want to know more about the legal side of things in Ontario. That’s why you’re here; you may be interested in gambling online (or in-person), but you don’t know one key thing: how old do you have to be to gamble legally in Ontario?
Hm…it’s…well…there’s a simple answer, but it doesn’t tell the whole story, so let’s talk about it.
What Is the Legal Gambling Age in Ontario?
It depends on your definition of “gambling”, but under current laws, you have to be 19 or older to gamble in Ontario if you’re attempting any of these activities:
Playing any internet gaming products
Betting on sports online
Visiting in-person casinos
For those of you who’ve already read my article on the legal gambling age in Canada, you won’t be surprised to know that Ontario does have a weird rule when it comes to other types of gambling products or activities. Depending on what you’re about to participate in, the legal minimum age requirement may drop down to 18.
Gambling Activities You Can Be 18+ for in Ontario
Look, I’ve done a lot of research into this because it baffles me why there are two different age limitations at play here, and the weird thing is that I can’t find one specific document that breaks it all down.
The best piece of text that sums it all up comes from the OLG.ca website:
“Individuals must be 18 years of age or older to participate in lottery, charitable gaming and in-store sports betting in Ontario. Individuals must be 19 years of age or older to visit casinos and slot facilities in Ontario, and to participate in online casino gaming and online sports betting in Ontario.”
The OLG (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation) is the government agency responsible for operating lottery games, casinos, and other gambling services in Ontario. It manages the lottery tickets and lets people buy them, operates OLG.ca (a gambling website), and manages some land-based casinos and gaming facilities across the province.
So, from that piece of wording at the bottom of their website, we can deduce that you are able to engage in the following when you’re 18:
Lotteries: You are allowed to buy lottery tickets in stores or online, and you can also create an OLG.ca lottery account to play some lottery-based games. You will not be able to access any other casino games on the website.
In-Store Sports Betting: There are some places in Ontario where you can bet on sports using OLG’s PROLINE service. This lets you place bets at convenience stores, gas stations, and other places that usually offer lottery tickets as well. All you do is pick up a PROLINE betting slip, fill it in with your bets, then pay for it at the counter.
Charitable Gaming: In Ontario, charitable gaming is defined as any gambling activity that’s specifically organized to raise money for charities or other non-profit organizations. So, if the money you spend goes to a charity, you can technically gamble when you’re 18.
However, be aware that you can’t visit a land-based casino to buy lottery tickets or bet on sports - nor can you play any form of online casino games that aren’t lottery-based - until you are 19.
How Gambling Operators Verify Your Age
There are a couple of slightly different ways a gambling operator will verify your age in Ontario, and the first one is simply by checking your photo ID. Any land-based casino or betting facility will ID you when you enter to check that you’re the right age - and the same goes for any store or gas station that provides gambling products (like PROLINE or lottery tickets).
Some retail stores, gas stations, and other places that sell gambling products will have to ID you if they think you look under 25. It’s part of the province’s ID25 scheme, and it applies to buying alcohol as well.
In the online world, online casinos need to verify that you are 19 years or older, and they will request that you proceed with some account verification steps when signing up. This usually involves:
Taking a photo or scanning your ID and uploading it to the website
Taking a selfie, short video, or running a face scan on your phone
The online casino looks at your ID, checks the birth date, and compares the image to your face to either approve or deny account creation. OLG does the same process; they’ll verify that you’re 18 or older if you’re just setting up an account to buy or check lottery tickets online.
What Is Considered Valid Photo ID in Ontario?
You’ll need one of the following to prove your identity and date of birth when gambling in Ontario:
An Ontario driver’s licence
A Canadian passport
A Canadian permanent resident card
An Ontario Photo Card
Whichever ID you use, it has to still be in date, or whoever’s checking it won’t accept it as a valid form of identification.
By the way, the Ontario Photo Card is great if you don’t drive or have a passport. You can apply for one and use it as ID - it’ll stay valid for five years.
So, What Is the Legal Gambling Age in Ontario?
You have to be 19 years of age to gamble in Ontario if you are joining licensed online casinos, betting on sports online, or visiting in-person casino facilities.
If you are 18, then this legally allows you to participate in lottery activities managed by the OLG (both offline and online), bet on sports in-person with PROLINE products, and take part in charitable gaming.
Yes, there is some confusion here, but the best thing to remember is that you have to be 19 to do any casino gambling or online sports betting.
Ben Tremblay
Copywriter & Head of Content
With hundreds of hours dedicated to online gaming, Ben knows what it takes to find a reliable casino and break down its pros and cons. He’s a specialist in responsible gaming tips and covers content related to all aspects of the Canadian online gaming space.
