Gaming at Northwest Territories Casinos in Canada

As the third largest province in Canada, many are often surprised that there are no land based casinos in this part of the country. Luckily, there are still Video Lottery Terminals available, as well as a plethora of online options.

This is where our focus is pointed, at the casino online options in the Northwest Territories. Providing you with everything you could want to know on gambling both online and offline in this area of Canada. We've covered all the important bits, including:

  • The history of gambling in Northwest Territories & where the industry stands now
  • Regulations to consider when gambling online
  • Reliable gambling options you can take advantage of
Quick Facts
  • Northwest Territories Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) regulates and licenses casinos and lotteries in the province.
  • There are a total of 16 communities that MACA encompasses, including Yellowknife.
  • Legalized forms of gambling here include bingo, horse racing, ticket lotteries, and charitable gaming.
BEST CANADIAN ONLINE CASINOS

A History of Gambling within the NWT

History of Gambling

When it comes to Canada's gambling history, it's safe to say that the stories go back far in time.In fact, the first restrictions imposed on dice games date back to the year of 1380 when Richard III passed a law which effectively banned all dice games. Interestingly enough, this particular prohibition lasted for over 600 years and was finally removed from legislation back in 1999. Furthermore, during 1892 all gambling activities in Canada were strictly prohibited by the Canadian Criminal Code. At this point, each province or territory is in charge of regulating their online and offline gambling. This solution is effective and has serviced the country rather well so far, including NWT, where the provincial government sets its own gambling rules and regulations.

Important Guidelines to Consider

According to the legislation now, every single province is vested with the authority to regulate gambling on its own.

When it comes to the regulations in the Northwest Territories, it's worth noting that lottery based games are governed by the local Department of Public Safety while they are firmly managed by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. Furthermore, horse racing in the province is generally operated by private entities, but it's regulated and governed by Canada's Pari-Mutuel organisation and Standardbred Canada.

Charitable gaming, on the other hand, is operated by charitable organizations and is governed & licensed by the Department of Government Services. While there are casinos that are land based and offer real-money gambling in the province, you can thoroughly enjoy the ones located in the adjacent province of Alberta. With this in mind, below you will find detailed information on 3 of the most reputable casinos near NWT.

Popular Northwest Territories Casinos

Boomtown Casino LTD

Boomtown Casino LTD

The casino is located in Fort McMurray in Alberta and is amongst the biggest ones in the province. The casino accepts players every single day from 10am until 3am. It features around 450 gaming machines as well as 13 tables and poker games. It covers a total area of 24,000 square feet and it has one restaurant in the establishment. There are 10 blackjack tables, 1 let it ride table, 1 min-baccarat table, 2 roulette tables, and 3 poker tables as well. The casino also offers three card electronic poker.

The Great North Casino

The Great Northern Casino

The Great North Casino in Alberta is another gaming venue that will definitely appeal to you. The casino accepts players on Monday and Tuesday from 3pm until 2am, on Wednesday and Thursday from 3pm until 3am, Friday and Saturday from 2pm until 3am, and on Sunday from 2pm until 1am. The casino features 424 exciting slots along with a few progressive games. You can also enjoy 30 VLTs located in the corner. There are also plenty of table games for you to enjoy like three card poker, free bet blackjack, blackjack, roulette, and many more.

Casino Dene

Casino Dene

This is a First Nations casino in Cold Lake, Alberta. It accepts players from Monday to Wednesday from 10am to 1am, Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 3am, and on Sundays from 10am to 2am. It covers around 20,000 square feet of gaming space. It has 252 exciting slot machines and 11 poker and table games. The establishment also features a restaurant where you can grab a quick bite to eat or a drink to sip on. You can enjoy games such as blackjack, poker, Texas Hold'em, 3 card poker, and many more.

Seeking Out a Reputable Gaming Venue

Venue

Even though online gambling is not regulated by the province of NWT, it's completely legal and you can gamble in a casino online till your heart's content. You'll find that you're spoilt for choice when it comes to online gambling sites that accept Canadian players.

We've taken all that stress out of choosing by offer our hand-tailored list. We've only included real cash casinos that are certified by international gambling authorities, so you can have a safe and enjoyable time, as well as offering a plethora of the top casino games. What are you waiting for?

Start playing at NWT online casinos!

FAQ

As the majority of other provinces, the minimum gambling age in Northwest Territories is 19. Apart from Alberta, Quebec, and Manitoba where the minimum age is 18, all other provinces require you to be at least 19 years old. Minor real money gambling is strictly prohibited and you can find yourself in a lot of trouble if you break the law.
Gambling is firmly regulated in the province even though there isn't a casino to play at. Still, the lottery is governed by the Atlantic Lottery Commission while horse racing is regulated by the Pari-Mutuel Canadian Agency. As of yet, no local gambling commission governs online gambling. This is left to international gambling authorities such as eCOGRA.
You should pay taxes only if you do this for a living. If you are a casual gamer and you like to gamble every now and then and land the occasional win, you are not subjected to taxation. As long as you have another main source of income, you don't have to worry about paying taxes on winnings.
The best way for you to stay safe at a casino online is to make sure that the site is thoroughly certified by a known gambling commission, such as eCOGRA. This is an agency which provides its approval to those casinos, ensuring prompt and secure payments and proper handling of your Canadian Dollar funds. Furthermore, you shouldn't share your details with anyone besides the reputable casino itself.