Is Stake Legal in Canada? Provinces, Age Rules and Safety

How gambling is regulated in Canada

Under the Criminal Code, gambling in Canada is managed by each province and territory. Provinces run their own lottery and gaming corporations, and each decides how it approaches online casinos.

Most provinces operate a government-run online casino, while internationally licensed sites like Stake also accept Canadian players. Stake operates under a Curaçao gaming licence.

Why Stake is not available in Ontario

Ontario launched its own regulated open iGaming market in 2022, overseen by iGaming Ontario and the AGCO. Operators must hold an Ontario licence to serve players there. Stake does not, so Ontario residents cannot register or play.

Do not use a VPN to get around this. It breaks Stake terms and can lead to your account being closed and your balance frozen.

Where you can play

Players in these areas can generally sign up with code SHIMA:

• British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
• Quebec
• New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador
• Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut

Legal gambling age by province

You must meet both Stake’s minimum age and your province’s legal age:

• 18+: Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec
• 19+: all other provinces and territories

Is Stake safe for Canadians?

Stake is one of the largest crypto casinos in the world and uses provably fair technology for its Originals, which lets you verify each result. Protect yourself further by turning on 2FA, using a strong unique password and only depositing through exchanges in your own name.

Responsible gambling resources in Canada

If gambling stops being fun, help is free and confidential. The Responsible Gambling Council (responsiblegambling.org) lists support across the country, and most provinces run 24/7 helplines. Stake also offers deposit limits, loss limits and self-exclusion in your account settings.