Prince Edward Island is the smallest province in Canada, with a population of just over 142,000. Despite its tiny population, gambling is generally considered to be legal in Prince Edward Island. Like most Canadian provinces, the authorities of Prince Edward Island make their own rules concerning what its residents can and cannot do. On this casino page, we will walk you through those gambling laws, as well as introduce you to a few top online casinos where you can bet online from Prince Edward Island.
Is Gambling Legal in Prince Edward Island?
If you reside in Prince Edward Island, you are generally going to be able to gamble. However, there are a few restrictions about what you can play. Not all forms of gambling are legal, so it is vital to get a good grasp of what you can play before you get too involved. Any gambling games which are considered legal will be licensed by the Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission.
Here then, is a summary of the types of land-based gambling games which are open to you if you reside in this tiny Canadian province.
Bingo Games: Provided that the Atlantic Lottery Corporation runs them, bingo games are considered legal. This Canadian province considers bingo games to be akin to lotteries. However, bingo games may also be classified as charitable games, although a license is still required.
Casino Games: There is just one licensed and regulated casino in Prince Edward Island. This is a “racino”, meaning that it is technically a racetrack which has been given permission to offer a few casino games on the side. Those games include poker, blackjack, and a handful of slot machines. Video lottery terminals (VLTs) are also legal in some licensed outlets.
Horse Racing: There are just two racetracks you can visit if you wish to bet on horse racing. The first of these is Charlottetown Driving Park, with the second being the Summerside Raceway. You are not permitted to bet on horse racing in retail outlets, although the Pro-Line betting service can be used.
Lottery Games: The Atlantic Lottery Corporation runs all lottery games in Prince Edward Island, including the national 6/49 lotto game.
Sports Betting: Sports betting is only legal via Canada’s Pro-Line service. Betting tickets can be acquired via land-based outlets, and there are a few places online where you can place bets, but only under strict conditions.
Others: Like most regions in Canada, betting on charitable games such as raffles, bingo and even casino games are legal. However, the non-profit organisers must still apply for a license to get away this way.
What About Online Gambling?
Pro-Line betting and in some cases, lottery games are considered legal online gambling games. However, you are not going to find any locally licensed and regulated online casinos to play at. That only leaves licensed offshore casinos and sportsbooks. You might think that this is a risky business to get involved in, but nothing could be further from the truth. Here is what you must learn about the two types of betting sites online for players in Prince Edward Island.
Licensed Betting Sites
This is going to be relatively easy for you to understand. There are one or two sports betting and lottery betting sites which are licensed by the Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission. These are the only legal and regulated internet betting sites you can play at. The PEILC does not license online casinos, so you are going to have to look offshore if you wish to bet at casinos and play casino games online.
Offshore Betting Sites
You do not have to look hard to find a wealth of online casinos and other betting sites which cater to players in Canada. In fact, many of these domains will also go as far as offering CAD as a currency, alongside Canadian-friendly payment methods, and a host of specialist promotions aimed at Canadians. Ultimately, the following types of online betting sites are open to players in Prince Edward Island, provided they wish to play at an external website:
- Online casinos
- Bingo rooms
- Poker rooms
- Racebooks
- Online sportsbooks
- International lottery ticket sites, and more
All these sites will not feature a Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission issued license. However, there is nothing written in the gambling laws of the province, which says that you cannot visit these sites. With that in mind, you do not really have anything to lose by doing so. These sites will generally give you a much broader gaming experience than the limited local betting sites in the Canadian province, and that makes many of them well worth a look.
Should I Play at Internet Betting Sites in Prince Edward Island?
You might hear that the Prince Edward Island authorities do not permit online casinos in the province, and suddenly feel nervous. Make no mistake about it; you are not doing anything wrong by playing at these international websites. The Prince Edward Island gambling laws do not prevent you from doing so. Moreover, Canada’s Criminal Code only prevents Canadian casinos from offering their services to players in another province. They do not state that you cannot play at offshore casinos and betting sites.
In most cases, these sites will be entirely trustworthy and be licensed and regulated out of reputable jurisdictions. Some are Curacao licensed, and others are licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, or even the Gibraltar Gambling Commission. These are all top sites you can play at.
If you want to find an ideal offshore casino which offers you a diverse range of games to play as a Canadian resident of Prince Edward Island, then look no further. On this page, we will provide you with ample top casinos, all of which are safe and secure and fit the bill if you are looking to play great casino games online.
