People outside of North America often paint the United States and Canada with the same brush. They may be similar when it comes to their passion for sports, their country’s natural beauty and patriotism; that’s where similarities end.Â
The finer details of life in each country are vastly different, including the culture of casino online betting and sports betting.Â
As far as virtual casino games are concerned, the differences couldn’t be more pronounced.Â
The Legality of Such Casinos
The biggest difference between the US and Canada is in the laws and regulations concerning casino games. While the US is very clear about its laws and there are no loopholes to exploit, there are still gray areas in Canadian regulations.Â
In the USA, you can only play casino games online when you’re physically located in one of the states where online casinos are legal. Players outside of these states are not allowed to play at these casinos.Â
In Canada, Ontario is the only province where such casinos are legal. However, residents are not prohibited from playing casino games on sites outside of North America. So, for example, they could play at an online casino which is registered in Malta or the UK.Â
Winnings and Taxes
In the US, gambling winnings are considered a form of income and, as a result, are subject to a W-2G tax declaration and are heavily taxed (24%.)Â
In Canada, these winnings are not seen as a form of regular income and are, therefore, not taxed.
Variety of Games and Software Providers
The majority of Canadians gamble on overseas virtual casino platforms, which give them access to a huge variety of new and exciting online games and software providers from around the world.
The US is quite strict on this and only a handful of game developers are licensed to provide games in the country. This means that players miss out on games from developers that aren’t allowed to operate in the country. That said, a few states are slowly beginning to license more international game developers.Â
Industry Worth and User Numbers
When it comes to total annual revenue and the number of players, the US is far more advanced than Canada. In the US, the online gambling industry generates in excess of $58 billion annually, while in Canada, this figure is just above $14 billion.Â
The same doesn’t apply to the number of users, though. Around 60% of adults in the United States gambled in the last year compared to the 64.5% of adult Canadians who admit to having gambled in the last 12 months.Â
Bet with BetMGM in the US and Canada
BetMGM is one of the biggest players in the digital casino industry in North America and it offers platforms in both the US and Ontario, Canada. Play your favorite online casino games with BetMGM.
