Gaming is one of the most popular parts of the entertainment industry. There has been so much growth in this market that there is something new popping up all the time.
We still have all of the classic games such as poker and roulette on offer. However, with online casinos becoming more and more popular, there are new games popping up all of the time.
Technology is the biggest catalyst for these new gaming options and it is making the gaming market more popular than ever. But before we look to the future, let’s take a look at how the market has grown and changed over the years in Canada.
History of gaming in Canada
Humans have been playing games to pass the time ever since we could communicate. All the way back into history, we can find evidence of gaming taking place. It’s one of the ways in which we have always entertained ourselves.
Canada was no exception to this. There is evidence of simple stick and dice games being played there back in the day. By the nineteenth century, gambling had taken hold of the country and games were played all over.
Most of the games took place in taverns as these were the places that accommodated gaming. However, as a lot of the games were unregulated, they soon got out of hand.
This led the government to implement some rules so that the gaming could continue in a more reasonable manner. From 1892, gaming saw some strict regulations in order to keep everything under control.
These laws became even more strict in the Prohibition era as everything from gaming to alcohol was banned completely. This pushed the gaming industry underground and strict punishments were awarded to those who disobeyed the law.
Thankfully, these laws were eradicated and a lot more leniency was given to gamers once Prohibition was over. Let’s take a look at where the market is today.
The current Canadian gaming market
Currently, there are laws for and against certain types of gaming in Canada. However, these are not laws that cover the whole country. Instead, there are different rules depending on what part of the country you’re in.
This can make it confusing, especially if you’re a tourist as you need to know the laws of each province. The most lenient province for gaming is British Columbia. Anyone over the age of nineteen there can take part in gaming of any kind.
Of course, it’s still illegal for anyone under that age to take part in any gaming. But sports gaming, casinos, bingo halls and licensed events are all legal. You can also game online but there is only one site that remains legal in British Columbia.
Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have been close behind BC in terms of gaming laws. In 2022, they made it legal to game online which was a huge success for the provinces. There are strict guidelines that must be followed but this is for everyone’s benefit.
Sports betting has also been made legal in these provinces which is a huge win for all sports fans in Canada – but especially ice hockey fans. This is the nation’s favourite sport so being able to place bets on the big games has made it all the more enjoyable.
How is the gaming market set to change in Canada?
Gaming laws are becoming more and more relaxed everywhere you look so the future looks bright for Canada as well. As more provinces allow more forms of gaming, the rest will almost definitely follow suit.
Laws on gaming have always been strict but lots of countries are opening up to the idea of allowing more forms of gaming. As long as there are procedures put in place, there should be no reason for disallowing gaming.
Not only is it a fun pastime for people to enjoy, it is also a lucrative venture for provinces. The more people game, the better the economy is and therefore more money is available to help communities.
Technology is also a big decider in making gaming more readily available. There are lots of technological advancements that we can expect to see in the gaming market. Technologies such as virtual reality are playing a big part in gaming.
We are seeing esports arenas pop up to accommodate these new forms of gaming. Getting people together in one place is not only good for business, but good for people as well. People coming together to game is a great way to socialise and for us to be better connected with one another.
The future sure looks bright for gaming in Canada and across the world. The gaming market is always coming up with new and fun ways for everyone to get together and game. What changes would you like to see?
