Before you pack
Casino age and ID rules, province by province
Checked against sources · page revised
Canada leaves the casino age to the provinces. Québec, Manitoba and Alberta say 18; New Brunswick, B.C. and Ontario say 19. That number always covers the gaming floor — and certain resorts extend it to their bars, their show venues or even the entire property. Check these before you pay a deposit.
| Province | Ban yourself | Regulator | Age | Free helpline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | My PlayBreak, run by OLG: any term from three months up to five years, all casinos in the province | Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) | play at 19 | ConnexOntario 1-866-531-2600 (open 24/7; you can also text CONNEX to 247247) |
| Québec | Loto-Québec: three months to five years, and once you sign it stays signed | RACJ — Québec's alcohol, racing and gaming board | play at 18 | Help and Referral line for gambling, 1-800-461-0140 — open day and night, no charge |
| British Columbia | Game Break with BCLC: six months minimum, three years maximum | Independent Gambling Control Office (IGCO) | play at 19 | BC's Gambling Support line, 1-888-795-6111 — around the clock, free |
| Alberta | Through AGLC, six months to three years; covers PlayAlberta.ca and each casino in Alberta | Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) | play at 18 | AHS Addiction Helpline, 1-866-332-2322, every hour of every day |
| Manitoba | Your choice of the Casinos of Winnipeg, Shark Club, PlayNow.com — or all of them | Manitoba's Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority (LGCA) | play at 18 | Manitoba gambling helpline, 1-800-463-1554, open all night |
| New Brunswick | Voluntary; Great Canadian Entertainment handles the paperwork | Gaming Control Branch (N.B. Justice and Public Safety) | play at 19 | Dial 1-800-461-1234 for the New Brunswick Gambling Information Line (free, private, TTY too) |
Bring photo ID
Pack government-issued photo ID whichever province you're in. B.C. is strictest: from June 2023, ID from every visitor at the door, compared against the province's list of barred players. Québec casinos may card anyone who looks younger than 25. Some want two documents. Great Blue Heron (Ontario) lists an original, valid government photo ID and then a second ID with a photo.
Hotel-specific age rules
- Hard Rock Ottawa: nobody under 19 anywhere — rooms and restaurants count.
- Great Canadian Toronto and Casino New Brunswick: booking guest 19+; children stay but don't enter 19+ areas.
- River Rock: you must be 19 to check in.
- River Cree: from 29 July 2024, under-18s with a grown-up can go anywhere except gaming.
- Fallsview: kids welcome; babes in arms and strollers barred from the gaming floor.
Self-exclusion
Want a break you can't talk yourself out of? Every province will bar you from its casinos for a period you pick — and some of those bans can't be lifted early. Thinking about it? Call the number for your province in the table first; it costs nothing and nobody else hears about it.