In less than a century, gambling in Montreal has gone from morally driven prohibition to full legalization. In Montreal, gambling has grown into a multimillion-dollar industry. Montreal players now have access to a variety of online and offline casinos for their gambling pleasure.
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Canada once prohibited gambling at the federal level unless operated by a nonprofit organization. A Catholic priest organized Canada’s first lottery draw in 1882.
The gambling prohibition era began in 1892. Christian moralists used the Canadian Criminal Code to prohibit nearly all forms of gambling. Gambling options were limited to horse racing, lotteries for artwork, and prize wheel games at county fairs under this new legislation.
Throughout the 1930s, waves of non-Protestant immigrants formed the underground gambling establishments that would later become Montreal’s Red-Light District. By the 1940s, gambling revenue in the province was as high as $100 million.
Moralistic agendas once again stifled this growth in the 1950s, but the tide officially turned in 1970, which saw Quebec residents bet in the Lotto Max, the first legal lottery organized by the newly formed crown corporation Loto-Québec. Sports betting was legalized in 1985, and in 1993 Montreal welcomed its first land casino, the Casino de Montréal.
The internet era gave way to online gambling by the late 1990s. The Kahnawake Mohawk Territory Gambling Commission, which became the world’s first online gambling regulatory body in 1996, would set the precedent for future online gaming legislation.
Montreal is at the center of Quebec’s gambling industry. The city is home to the Casino de Montréal, which is the city’s first and oldest in operation today. Montreal was also home to the Blue Bonnets Raceway, the only horse racing facility in the province. The facility closed its doors in 2009 after over a century of business.
Gambling has been legal in Montreal since 1970, and online gambling has been legal in the province since 1996. The legal gambling age in Quebec is 18.
Although the Criminal Code of Canada sets most legal precedents, it has limited application to gambling legislation. As with other Canadian provinces, online gaming in Montreal is regulated at the provincial level.
Loto-Quebec is the crown corporation that regulates gambling activities for the province of Quebec. Quebec residents can legally gamble online through the government-owned Espacejeux, as well as through the many offshore casinos available to the worldwide public. Loto-Quebec also operates Mise-o-jeu, Quebec’s legal sports betting platform.
The Canadian government maintains a neutral stance toward international casinos as long as they are licensed to operate in the jurisdiction, as many take the time to offer online gamblers a secure and lucrative space to play.
With so many options available, choosing a reputable online casino can be challenging. Here are some important considerations for Montreal gamblers.
Real money gambling involves the risk of losing both data and money. To ensure the safety of all financial and personal information, gamblers should only use platforms that are licensed to operate by Loto-Quebec, the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), or the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Only authorized online casinos are required to adhere to strict security measures, such as data encryption, that protect member data.
Welcome bonuses are one of the most appealing parts of the online casino experience. These offers incentivize players to open a casino account and explore a site’s offerings. Such enticing bonuses may come as a large one-time bonus, or as deposit bonuses spread out across a player’s initial few deposits.
Online gamblers should be able to deposit and withdraw money without difficulty. Conventional deposit methods, such as credit or debit cards, should be offered alongside newer ones, like digital wallets and cryptocurrency.
Gamblers should be able to use their gaming platform of choice. The best online casinos in Canada are available on desktops, smartphones, and tablet devices.
A platform’s game selections should be robust enough to keep players engaged and entertained. For example, many sites now function as live casinos, offering live poker rooms alongside standbys like online card poker and video slot machines.
The online gaming industry has been available to anyone with an internet connection for over 20 years. Here are three excellent online casinos for Montreal online casino enthusiasts to consider.
Since 2001, Spin Casino has welcomed thousands of players to its site. The platform boasts over 600 favorite casino games sure to please all ages. Members receive daily, weekly, and monthly bonuses to maintain their loyalty and ensure the best chances of winning big.
Founded in 1998, the MGA-licensed JackpotCity offers both online and live casino games on multiple platforms. This web-based casino is among the most secure and convenient, offering sitewide encryption, a selection of conventional and alternative payment methods, and 24/7 customer support.
Ruby Fortune takes pride in its mission to offer fair, simple, secure, and enjoyable online gambling. The platform, which is also part of the Palace Group family of online casinos, features a diverse selection of over 450 games and a 24/7 chat service. A large $750 welcome bonus and 100 percent deposit matching are also available for first-time players.
The best casinos for online players feature apps specifically designed for phone or tablet use, opening the door to gameplay from almost anywhere.
The iPhone is one of the most popular smartphones on the market today. Using any online casino app optimized for iOS is the easiest way to take advantage of the iPhone’s sleek graphics and fast processing speeds.
Casino apps designed for the iPad allow Apple lovers to take advantage of a bigger viewing surface, which may be useful for users with vision problems. Both iPhone and iPad apps can be downloaded on the App Store.
Android users can also partake in real money casino games from their mobile devices. Casino apps optimized for Androids are available for download on Google Play.
Online casino aficionados can also enjoy the gambling world from the popular Kindle Fire tablet.
From rigged games to poor customer service, there are many reasons why an online casino can find itself on a blacklist. Here are three notable offenders to avoid.
Slots of Vegas is an unlicensed online casino notorious for months-long payout delays.
Users of the Costa Rica-based Prism Casino have also reported delayed payment processing and subpar customer support.
Cool Cat Casino is part of the same sister company as Prism Casino. The site has a history of being defrauded by players taking advantage of bonuses. Users have reported delayed withdrawal times and scrutinization of all winnings.
As the home of the first-ever live casino in Quebec, Montreal is an important city in the history of Canadian gaming. Its residents have played many casino games throughout the city’s periods of gambling prohibition and legalization. Here are some popular games loved by Montreal casino lovers of the past and present.
The chance-based nature of roulette makes it one of the easiest casino games to master. The game takes only minutes to learn, which makes gameplay simple and stress-free.
Players have the option to choose bets based on combinations of numbers and colors. For example, players can place a bet by selecting a red or black space, or an odd or even space. More ambitious players can spice things up by choosing combinations of numbers, such as multiples of three.
Winning is just as straightforward. A player who simply guesses a characteristic of the number rolled, such as its color, is entitled to winnings. As with all gambling, the riskiest bets draw the highest casino payouts.
Gamblers can choose from American roulette, French roulette, and European roulette. As implied by its name, American roulette is the variation most commonly found in American casino venues. The American version has one zero in addition to a double zero, whereas the European variety only has one zero.
Blackjack is a social card game that can be played for whatever amount of time the player desires. The gameplay is fast-paced, and turns are quick compared to lengthier games like live poker.
Like roulette, the learning curve for blackjack is low enough that new players can jump in with ease. After all, the key thing to remember is that a player’s hand must be as close to 21 as possible while not exceeding this number.
The house edge represents the average gross profit earned by a casino on each game. It is the opposite of the player’s payback advantage, which refers to the player’s average payout and is often used to measure which games offer the best returns on investment. Blackjack has one of the lowest house edges in the gambling world.
Gamblers can opt for single-deck or multi-deck play, although many casinos do not offer single-deck play to discourage card counters.
Baccarat, also known as baccarat banque or punto banco, is a French casino game that dates back to the 19th century. Each variation has its own rules that make gameplay slightly different. For example, in baccarat banque, the banker plays until he loses, at which point another player assumes the role of the banker.
The gameplay is a bit more involved. Players guess whether the player or the banker has the best hand, as well as guess whether any players will tie. The dealer assigns a point value of 2 to 9 according to each hand dealt, with a possible total score of nine points. Each gambler is also given the option to accept or reject a new card. The winning hand is the one that totals closest to nine.
Baccarat is one of the fairest casino game options. The banker’s hand and the player’s hand win roughly 45 percent of the time, respectively, whereas ties win just under 10 percent of the time.
Convenience and low barriers to entry make online slot machines appealing to many users. The local casino experience forces the gambler to go to a physical location, while a gambler can play online with little more than an internet connection. This makes online slots a popular option for Montreal online casino fans.
The abundance of video slots sites means that there are many options for gambling at home. Gamblers need to do their research before registering for any site. Factors like game selection, ease of withdrawing funds, and user experience are all key considerations.
The game selection of the top online casino platforms often rivals that of the best land-based casinos. Choices range from classic slots like three-reel and five-reel, progressive slots with variable jackpots, and mega spin slots that feature multiple paylines per play. Of the three online slot machine types, progressive slots have the highest jackpots, but the lowest chances of becoming a winner.
For entertainment value, many online slots have fun themes, such as a popular TV series or a field like archaeology.
The British-owned Neteller is a digital wallet that permits transfers to and from sellers who are also registered on its platform. Users can transfer funds directly to their bank accounts, or use the prepaid Net+ card for purchases.
Skrill is another digital wallet offering a variety of online payment and money transfer services, such as remittances. The London-based company is on the growing list of payment processors that allows users to convert funds into cryptocurrency.
PayPal is among the most widely-used payment processors in the world. The platform allows users to send and receive funds, and businesses are also able to pay and receive invoices.
InstaDebit is a Canadian payment processor that allows customers to make secure transfers from their bank accounts to businesses without the need to share sensitive financial information.
Paysafe is a multinational payment processor company that serves as a parent company to Neteller, Skrill, and a few other notable brands in the industry. Paysafe offers online payment, integrated solutions, and point-of-sale services. Paysafecash, the brand’s cash payment service, and Paysafecard, the brand’s prepaid card, are both available in Canada.
Montreal casinos are some of the best and brightest of the gambling industry. Here are the top land-based casinos in and around the Montreal area.
Casino de Montreal is Canada’s largest casino, as well as one of the largest in the world. Among the most impressive offerings of this Montreal casino are a 26-table poker room open 24/7 and The Zone, a gambling area featuring live and interactive gameplay.
Situated along the St. Lawrence River, the idyllic Casino de Charlevoix combines an 87,000-square-foot casino with a 450-guestroom luxury hotel. Guests can go from playing any of the venue’s 18 table games and 725 gaming machines to unwinding at the hotel’s day spa and sprawling golf course.
Set amid the backdrop of the Laurentian Mountains, the Casino de Mont-Tremblant also features breathtaking surroundings. Guests can enjoy the casino’s 500 slot machine games, 19 live table games, and three Texas Hold’Em poker tables.
Located just outside Ottawa, the Casino du Lac-Leamy features a whopping 70,500 square feet of gambling space. Guests will love its 1,800 slot machines, ten bars and eateries, and the adjacent Hilton Hotel.
Montreal residents 18 and up can gamble at land-based and online casinos. In contrast, most Canadian provinces require gamblers to be at least 19 years old.
Online casinos provide Montreal residents with a safe and convenient way to play casino games from the comfort of their homes.
Canadian provinces regulate gambling activities on a provincial level. Loto-Quebec, a government agency established by Quebec in 1969, regulates casino gaming in Montreal.
Only professional players are required to pay taxes on their winnings when gambling online. Current laws do not require non-professional Canadian gamblers to pay taxes on their gambling winnings.
The Hippodrome de Montreal, formerly known as the Blue Bonnets Raceway, was the last horse racing facility to operate in Quebec. Quebec residents now must travel to nearby cities, such as Saratoga Springs, NY, to wage horse racing bets.
Both online and land-based casinos offer French language support.
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