To enter a casino property in Canada, you need to be 18 or 19 years of age, depending on the province. You can also enter a casino premises if you are under the age limit once accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or spouse of at least 19 years old.
Can 18-Year-Olds Go Into Canadian Casinos?
Alberta is the only province where 18-year-olds can legally gamble in casinos. Everywhere else, the legal minimum age for gambling in a casino is 19 years old. Alberta’s lower gambling age is due to its popularity with young students from British Columbia and Saskatchewan, flocking there for cheaper entertainment options.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Sports Bet In Canada?
As for sports betting, the legal age to bet on sports in Canada was raised from 18 to 19 in 2018. This gambling law change also allows people under 19 to play casino games online if their home province permits it.
That means you can’t walk into a bricks-and-mortar casino in Canada before turning 19 years old. However, you can play at one of many reputable Canadian online casino sites until then.
What Is Canada’s Legal Online Gambling Age?
In 2016, the online gambling age rose from 16 to 18. This law change also gave a small number of provinces the ability to set their own gambling laws.
Players and casinos should know Canada’s legal casino age limit before playing or launching a casino because many countries have no lower gambling age at all.
What’s The Penalty For Underage Gambling In Canada?
In terms of punishment for underage gambling, those under 18 years old who gamble illegally could be fined up to $2,000 and face some jail time for repeat offenses. That said, most provinces will slap minors with a fine and warn them about the consequences if caught again.
After all, it’s not that authorities want to spoil young people’s fun by punishing them. It’s more an effort to discourage teens from overindulging in risky behavior like gambling before they’re mature enough to handle it responsibly.
What Are The Signs Of Teen Gambling Addiction?
The first step to helping someone with a gambling addiction is understanding the signs. Most young adults who gamble regularly don’t recognize they have a problem themselves because their behavior isn’t as extreme as those who have other types of addictions.
There are a few tell-tale signs you should look out for:
- Gambling when distressed
- Lying about losses
- Lying about the amount of time spent gambling
- Gambling without sleeping or eating
- Disappearing or stolen money
- Reckless spending habits
- Irritable when asked about money
- These should raise red flags for parents whose kids may be facing problems related to their recreational activities.
What Are The Signs My Teen May Have A Gambling Problem?
While these aren’t exclusive traits of gamblers, many drug addicts shoplift or come up with excuses to hide how they spend their money. For someone with gambling problems, these signs can become frequent and extreme.
For example, teens who gamble may consistently ask family members to give them cash or transfer funds to their accounts without explaining why they need it. If your child is working and saving towards a goal you approve of, this would be understandable. If not, then there’s cause for concern.
Even though individuals who gamble regularly rarely pass out from overindulgence like people with drinking or drug problems might, that doesn’t mean their bodies aren’t affected by the habit. Constant stress caused by worrying about “losing it all” takes a toll on the human body over time, so it’s imperative to monitor anyone who plays excessively.
How Can I Help?
When someone has a gambling problem, they often attempt to hide their addiction and may become secretive about money spent or where it is going. It can increase the risk of stealing from family members or selling off valuable possessions without permission.
Recognizing these types of behaviors in your child comes down to communication and open dialogue about what you’ve noticed that might be causing concern. When talking with them about the situation, avoid lecturing or accusing them of anything. People with problems like this are already ashamed enough as it is, so lay it all out for them on the table instead.
How Can I Protect My Teen From A Gambling Problem?
The best way to prevent teen gambling addiction is avoiding the activity altogether, which might be tricky if it’s legal where you live. However, there are still ways for you to ensure your child stays away from gambling without having to resort to locking them up in their rooms until they’re 18 years old.
Monitor the time they spend in front of their computer or smartphone at any given moment. If you notice your teen spending hours watching addictive games like blackjack or roulette, check the history on their browser before doing anything else.
You will likely find evidence of some gambling websites along with social media pages dedicated to these types of activities, which is a sign that your teen may have an issue.
