The US and Canada have quite different attitudes in general to gambling. In Canada,gambling is largely accepted as a normal entertainment activity, and the population is recognized for having a higher-than-average propensity to gamble than many other similar nations. Gambling is also popular in the US, but it is definitely more taboo and in certain states still outlawed. While attitudes differ between the two countries and regulation varies, gambling markets in both countries are controlled at the state or provincial level rather than federally. This means that what is accessible and possible varies depending on where you live in either country.
We invited Ian Zerefa from independent online review site Casino.org to talk with us about how the landscape across the two countries is evolving, with a particular focus on how they compare and contrast.
Hi Ian, and welcome. Sometimes it is easy to assume that what happens in one state, province, or country, happens elsewhere. We‘d like to hear from you about the forces that shape online gambling regulation.
But before we dive into the specifics, could you introduce yourself and the site you work for, please?
Ian Zerefa
Thank you for inviting me in! I am a Content Manager at Casino.org, and I currently lead the US team (though I have covered multiple markets, including Canada, Ireland, and the UK, so I’m pretty well–versed in the English-speaking markets). While legalized and regulated iGaming is relatively new in Canada and the US, Casino.org has been monitoring, reviewing,and ranking sites for over 30 years. Our mission is simple: to help readers find safe casinos.
Finding safety when it comes to iGaming is what good regulation is about. There are really two approaches to gambling: prohibition or regulation. It has been proven time and time again that prohibiting something does not stamp it out but drives it underground, whether that is alcohol or gaming. Regulated iGaming markets provide safe market access, operator oversight, and player protections. What is interesting is how those regulations shape up in different markets.
Thanks for that. Could you possibly give us some examples of things being done differently?
Sure. Two good markets to compare and contrast are Alberta and Pennsylvania. Alberta is the latest commercial market to launch, and it was created to work alongside the existing province-controlled PlayAlberta site. Launching the market was a pragmatic approach because, although Albertans could technically access all their gaming needs through the portal, most people were playing elsewhere.
The driving force behind Albertan regulations is player safety, ensuring all operators comply with the same standards and meet licensing requirements. In addition, the provincial coffers benefit from license and tax revenues. There has to be a really careful balance to get it right,though. At the moment, there are concerns about the level of gambling advertising in the province – these are necessary to try and bring existing players into the new market, so it is a balancing act.
Pennsylvania is a great example of how a regulated market can benefit US citizens, withadaptations being made as the situation changed. One big difference between the two markets is the noticeable absence of online poker from Alberta’s regulated offerings.
Can you tell us a bit more about the Pennsylvania market, please?
The most notable thing about the Pennsylvania market is its size. It is the largest iGaming market in the state, and revenues here were up 28% from last year. iGaming is a crucial vertical, and it surpassed commercial land-based casinos for the first time in 2025. It is a well–established market (land casinos were first legalized here over 20 years ago, and online gambling almost a decade ago), and there are many operators to choose from. Each casino is regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, and while that is a great indicator ofsafety, it does not always ensure that you find the ones most suited to your playing style.
We rate casinos based on a wide range of factors, and we look for safety, value, and fun. Pennsylvania’s latest online casino list on Casino.org ranks casinos by best bonuses, best games, and best mobile experience. While they are all safe, we rank and rate them according to security too. Payment methods, customer service, and payout rates all come under our watchful eye too.
Are there any other notable differences between the established Pennsylvania market and the fresh Albertan one?
Age is an appropriate question because Pennsylvanians must be 21 to gamble, while in Alberta it is 18. This is another factor that varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and not just country to country. For example, Ontarians have to be 19 to gamble. All decent online casinos carry out strict ID checks against government-issued photo ID. If you ever come across a site that doesn’t do this, it is a sure sign you are playing on an unregulated site.
Does the fresher Albertan market have anything to teach the more established one, or isit doing all the learning?
Alberta is an interesting case study because it took longer to launch the market than was initially anticipated. This was largely due to the consultation process they implemented to bring the community onside with the launch, and player protection is built in from day one. Other jurisdictions have often had to retrofit this. Alberta hopes it has learned from others’experience and added safety features like a blanket self-exclusion option and a ban on ads targeted at youth and vulnerable people from the get-go. In addition, celebrities are only allowed if they endorse safe play. There is no doubt that the global market is reshaping player expectations, and people are excited about greater access.
Thanks, Ian; it will be interesting to see how the Albertan market fares in the fullness of time and how the rest of the US states evolve.
