The gambling world looks very different depending on where you are standing. Canada’s system feels settled. Online gambling is accessible. However, that same law still prohibits online gambling. Many others across Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia followed. Canada’s relationship with gambling goes back centuries. Indigenous communities bet on games long before European settlers arrived. Over time, what started as informal betting slowly came under government scrutiny. The big legal milestone came in 1892 with the Criminal Code, which tolerated gambling under certain conditions. Amendments in 1910 allowed pari-mutuel betting for horse racing, while other games were allowed in case of charities. The first modern casino opened in Winnipeg in 1989. Since then, provinces have built casinos, racetracks, lotteries, and video lottery terminal networks. In 1970, oversight moved to the provinces. Regulation exists. Provinces regulate their own platforms but have not prohibited Canadians from playing on international sites. Deposits and withdrawals are widely supported by banks and online payment processors. And participation is pretty high. Surveys show that between 75% and 85% of Canadians gamble in some form, whether on lotteries, charitable gaming, casinos, or online platforms. In short, Canada’s approach is structured but permissive. Oversight is provincial but consistent. In the Canadian market, licensed operators such as toniebet exist inside a clear and familiar framework. Only forms allowed are online lottery games offered by Polla Chilena and Lotería de Concepción.
South America offers opportunities. Regulation exists. Some countries are revamping quickly. Others are still working with outdated laws. Some countries are moving forward. They just arrived there through very different legal journeys. Colombia, for example, moved to regulate gambling more formally through Law 643 in 2001. Meanwhile, across South America, gambling laws can change by country, province, or even city. That law helped organize previously scattered and underworld-controlled gambling operations. Not to ban it, but to regulate it. Colombia now has thousands of regulated slot parlours and casinos, and all slot machines must connect to a central government server to ensure fairness. Brazil historically banned most gambling. There aren’t a lot of brick-and-mortar sportsbooks though, so sometimes punters still turn to offshore ones. Chile modified land-based casinos with a new law in 2005 and created a gaming commission known as the Superintendency of Gaming Casinos. Sports betting, horse races, casino games, and bingo halls are legal, and pretty popular. While rules differ slightly by province, such as legal gambling age being 18 or 19, the framework is stable. And as of February 2025, full or provisional licences have been granted to 70 operators. Peru signed a bill in 2023 pushing it into the regulated online gambling market. For international operators, Peru may serve as a testing ground, smaller than Brazil, but with lower barriers to entry. Argentina regulates gambling at the provincial level. 15 out of 23 provinces, as well as the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, allow some kind of online gambling. Gambling became part of social life. But it’s also fragmented and, in some places, still catching up. South America, on the other hand, feels like it’s still in motion. Laws vary not just country to country, but sometimes province to province. Some operate under state monopolies. Others are navigating political divides or historical restrictions. They’re all diverse and complex. Colombia now has over 3,200 licensed establishments operating under Coljuegos. It’s growing and changing. Chile has clear regulation. Licensing for online operators is now available. Final Thoughts Canada offers stability. There’s structure. South America offers opportunities. Regulation exists. Others are still working with outdated laws. Some countries are revamping quickly. Some countries are moving forward. They just arrived there through very different legal journeys.
