Canada has enjoyed a prosperous relationship with the iGaming industry since the early 20th century, as gambling was first allowed in the country in 1900. In 1989, the first commercial casino in Canada was opened in Winnipeg, and Montreal gained a commercial casino too in 1993. This turned the country’s small gambling scene into a real money maker and has allowed Canada’s gambling market to grow to $17.3 billion CAD in 2017.
However, the market can only grow as fast as regulations will allow, and casinos must follow the proper rules to be given a license and allowed to offer their games. The regulators at the Kahnawake Gaming Commission have had to majorly change the way they do things since the ’80s, though, as technology has also changed how people enjoy Canada’s casinos.
How Are Canada’s iGaming Industry Regulated?
Canada’s online casinos are regulated to make sure that they are treating players and their money fairly and responsibly, as Caleb Crosby from www.bestcanadacasino.ca explains. Crosby says that regulators do this by “providing licenses to betting sites, such as online casinos, who have to prove that they are legitimate and fair operations to operate in the country.”
These licenses are awarded to online casinos that use security measures such as secure storage of financial and login information that the player shares with the site. Players can find a new online casino at bestcanadacasino.ca with the reassurance that he licenses also confirm that the games available, such as slots and table games like roulette and blackjack, are fair to players and offer information about their RTP or “return to player” rates.
Could iGaming Regulations Change Again?
The way that casino licenses are handed out has changed in a major way as land-based casinos don’t often take a player’s information or ask them to log in to a platform. However, the developments in the area of casinos and technology are unlikely to just stay at sites and casino mobile apps, as conventional game developers are also working on new ways to play, such as casinos accessed via virtual reality headsets and live casinos with human dealers.
As VR and live casino gaming becomes more popular, the regulations could potentially change again. The authorities may feel the need to ensure that social interactions with human dealers follow certain rules. An article by Scott Stein at cnet.com explains that Facebook is now in the social VR market with its Horizon game, and VR casinos could become social too. Regulators may ask that interactions with other players in a VR casino are monitored.
Why it’s Important to Only Play at Regulated Platforms?
Playing at regulated online casinos is what can keep a player safe. An article by Paige Leskin at businessinsider.com reveals that companies such as Quora and Saks were affected by data breaches in 2018 and their customer data may have been made public – although in many cases, details are unknown as of yet.
However, in the case of online casinos, regulation requirements also address such issues of cybersecurity in a clearly more pro-active manner than many other types of companies.
Casino regulations can change quickly. However, by only playing with regulated casinos, players can be sure that the casino is following the rules.
