Province rules at a glance: regulator, minimum age, self-exclusion
As of 2026-11-13, the minimum age for online sports betting is 19+ in Ontario and British Columbia and 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec. Ontario and Alberta license private operators; British Columbia, Québec and Manitoba use a provincial platform. This table gives the regulator, self-exclusion route and help line, with gaps marked "Not confirmed".
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- 3 min read
- 5 sections
- 1 table
- 5 FAQ
- As of
- Rows6
- Tables1
The snapshot
| Province | Regulator and model | Minimum age | Self-exclusion | Help line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario (19+) | AGCO and iGaming Ontario; private operators registered under an operating agreement | 19+ | BetGuard, since 2026-05-14; terms of 6 months, 1 year or 5 years | ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600, SMS 247247 |
| Alberta (18+) | AGLC regulates; AiGC runs the market; private operators since 2026-07-13 | 18+ | selfexclusion.ca | Call 211 |
| British Columbia (19+) | Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO) since 2026-04-13; BCLC runs PlayNow | 19+ | A programme on PlayNow; details Not confirmed | Gambling Support BC 1-888-795-6111 |
| Québec (18+) | Loto-Québec is the only legal online operator; regulator role for online play Not confirmed | 18+ | Autoexclusion in the account or in person; breaks of 1 to 89 days | Jeu : aide et référence 1 800 461-0140 |
| Manitoba (18+) | Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries runs PlayNow MB | 18+ | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Saskatchewan, Atlantic Canada, territories | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
How to read this table
"Not confirmed" means we found no official source for that cell. It does not mean the rule is absent. On the PlayNow MB page two help numbers are printed without labels, and one equals the British Columbia number, so no Manitoba number is published here.
Bottom line: two private-operator provinces, three public platforms, and the rest not confirmed.
Ontario and Alberta
In Ontario you must be physically in the province to bet. Ontario's list holds 49 operators and 84 sites as of 2026-09-01.
Alberta's list holds 51 sites and shows no date; whether the same location rule is stated there, we could not confirm as of 2026-11-13. Details are on the Ontario page and the Alberta page.
How we check
- Open the regulator's and platform's own pages.
- Copy the age, the programme name and the number as printed.
- Mark a cell "Not confirmed" if the page is closed or unlabelled.
- Re-read the pages every quarter, or after a regulator announcement.
Where self-exclusion works across operators, see BetGuard: what it covers. The British Columbia change is in the IGCO note.
Gambling involves risk. Play responsibly. Help lines by province are on the responsible gambling page.
Sources
- AGCO and iGaming Ontario: https://www.agco.ca, https://igamingontario.ca/en/player/find-help
- BetGuard: https://betguard.ca/gp/en/
- AGLC and AiGC: https://www.abigaming.ca/players/get-help/, https://www.selfexclusion.ca/s/
- Gambling Support BC: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/gambling-fundraising/gambling-support-bc
- Jeu : aide et référence: https://aidejeu.ca/en/
- PlayNow Manitoba: https://www.playnow.com/mb/
What changed
- : first snapshot; Manitoba help line and self-exclusion left as Not confirmed.
FAQ
What is the minimum age for online sports betting in Canada?
It depends on the province: 19+ in Ontario and British Columbia; 18+ in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec. For Saskatchewan and Atlantic Canada we could not confirm the age as of 2026-11-13.
Who regulates sports betting in Ontario and Alberta?
In Ontario, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO). In Alberta, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) regulates and the Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) runs the market.
How do I self-exclude in Ontario and Alberta?
In Ontario, through BetGuard at betguard.ca. In Alberta, through selfexclusion.ca. Operators also run their own programmes.
Where do I find help in Québec?
Jeu : aide et référence, 1 800 461-0140. In British Columbia, Gambling Support BC, 1-888-795-6111. In Ontario, ConnexOntario, 1-866-531-2600. In Alberta, call 211.
Why are some cells marked not confirmed?
Because we found no official source for them as of 2026-11-13. Manitoba's help numbers are printed without labels on the operator's page, so we do not publish a number until it is checked.