With no land-based casinos and only VLTs to fill the void, it’s no wonder Newfoundland and Labrador loves online casinos! Led by the ALC with a superb online casino, robust regulations, and responsible gambling tools, Newfoundland and Labrador is a trustworthy, welcoming province to gamble in!

Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province in all of Canada where casinos are banned, with the exception of the official Atlantic Lottery Corporation’s online casino. You won’t find any land-based casinos or even horse racing tracks here.

But don’t despair, because Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have a few other options! Online casinos can still operate in the province, and traditional lotteries have had a strong presence since their introduction in 1969. Also, since 1991, Video Lottery Terminals give gamblers easy access to slot games. And in 2021, online sportsbooks were legalized as another way to play!

Gambling is fully legal in Newfoundland and Labrador, though it has a fraught history. Provincial policy in the 1990s handed down a ban on land-based casinos, and even though players can access Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) to enjoy slots or RNG games, the former Premier who introduced VLTs to Newfoundland and Labrador calls the decision his biggest regret.

Despite this, VLTs have risen in popularity since their introduction to be the biggest winner in Newfoundland and Labrador’s gambling industry, now accounting for about 60% of provincial gambling. Meanwhile live horse racing has died out as racetracks have closed down, with no live races currently running.

A major concern with gambling is recycling local money, since Newfoundland and Labrador has a concentrated population and isn’t drawing in many tourists. As it stands, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians spend $1,000.00 per capita each year on lottery tickets alone. But eager locals have always found alternatives, such as hitting the slot machines in the Argentia Naval Base during the 90s.

Economic development plans or private businesses have pushed back against the reluctant government many times but no land-based casinos have won out yet. Fortunately, that means online gambling has great pull in the province!

The primary gambling regulator in Newfoundland and Labrador is the Atlantic Lottery Company (ALC). Formed in 1976, the ALC is co-owned by the four Atlantic provinces where it manages local gambling—Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Aside from being an internationally-renowned body with a great reputation, the ALC also hosts an online casino on their website. When it became available in Newfoundland and Labrador back in 2023, ALC.com became the province’s first legal online casino.

Other ways to play in Newfoundland and Labrador include traditional lotteries and any venue that hosts VLTs. Players must be 19 years or older to gamble.

Historical Timeline

Coming as no surprise due to the province’s tight limits on casino development, the history of Newfoundland and Labrador’s gambling industry is mainly defined by back-and-forth battles between the government and industry leaders.

Newfoundlanders and Labradorians got access to new ways to play in 1969 with the introduction of lotteries, in 1991 when the first VLTs appeared, and in 2023 when the online casino at ALC.com became available! As well, being able to bet on sports starting in 2021 was a great boon to online sportsbooks operating in Newfoundland and Labrador.

• 1969 – Federal and provincial governments of Canada first allowed to hold lotteries.
• 1976 – The Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) forms to introduce the first official lotteries in the Atlantic provinces—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
• 1985 – Federal government passes full control of lotteries to provincial governments in exchange for profit sharing.
• 1991 – VLTs first introduced to Newfoundland and Labrador.
• 1994 – Argentia Naval Base, the only place to play slot machines in the provinces, closes.
• 2005 – Number of VLTs peaks with over 2,700 machines in the province. Government institutes a reduction plan to scale back the presence of VLTs.
• 2010 – Sale of the Battery Hotel and Suites challenges provincial policy banning land-based casinos. No new casino is developed after government doubles-down.
• 2021 – Canada legalizes single-event sports betting.
• 2023 – ALCs online casino becomes available in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Free Play in Newfoundland and Labrador

Gamblers in Newfoundland and Labrador will be pleased to hear free play is completely legal. However, because of how the industry runs in the province, you’ll only be claiming free play bonuses at online casinos based outside of Canada.

Free play comes in two forms—free demos, and free credit. You’re legally allowed to try new slots and table games at online casinos before having to wager real money, where available. We highly recommend taking these demo games for a test spin to find the best slots experience for you!

As well, casinos operating in Newfoundland and Labrador can legally hand out free spins or free plays for their casino games. These bonuses offer great value, and are worth seeking out if you can find them.

One of the best things about online casinos is the variety. And while it’s easy to shop around for your favourite games, there are a lot of other factors that go into making an online casino something special. Our team hunts down these standout casinos so gamblers in Newfoundland and Labrador can see what great options are on the market!

During the review process, our experts act as players, running through the process of signing up, playing games, navigating deposits and withdrawals, and chatting with customer service. The casinos we fall in love with have to meet a few criteria, which you should also look for among Newfoundland and Labrador online casinos:

• Does the games library deliver on both quality and quantity?

More selection is always better, so casinos with a variety of games are worth trying out. Online casinos with a live casino are especially noteworthy, since these popular games add extra excitement via live croupiers!

• Are the bonuses and promos tempting offers with minimal requirements?

Players should feel rewarded for playing at a casino, and high-value bonuses that net players free games are a great way to attract players. Look for casinos where their bonuses have no wagering requirements, which essentially guarantees players make a profit off the bonuses.

The biggest bonus of all should be the welcome bonus, as it provides a useful boost of bonus credit when you start off at a casino. This is also a good benchmark for how generous a casino will be with its promos.

• Is banking fast and secure, with a good selection of payment methods?

Canada’s best banking option to look for is Interac, which is so accessible and fast that it blows other payment methods out of the water. That said, it’s also good if a casino allows credit cards, e-wallets, or cryptocurrency for deposits and withdrawals.

And speaking of cashing out, a major feature is instant withdrawal because it means you get access to your winnings that much faster. You’ll also want to find a casino that charges no fees on transactions.

• What’s the overall customer experience, with a focus on ease-of-use and aesthetic appeal?

Especially in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province split between two time zones, 24/7 customer support is vital. Your experience is much improved by quickly resolving issues, but if a casino’s help line closes before you even start gambling after work, you’ll have to wait in an email queue to speak to a rep.

Mobile casino apps are a good indicator of a quality casino, as typically only industry-leaders can afford to build an app from scratch. However, the lack of casino apps in Newfoundland and Labrador despite having a number of great online casinos proves the exception to this rule.

Sites to Avoid

Some online casinos try to lure in eager victims in the hopes of scamming players and taking their money. The most common methods are by setting unfair odds to tank the casino’s RTP, or by bloating withdrawal times so players can never cash out. Be sure to research any casino you play at ahead of time to see if reviews or comments from other players mention dishonourable practices.

The easiest way to spot a sketchy casino is if it’s unlicensed. Real money casinos with licenses have proven their legitimacy and security, and won’t sell your personal data. A good tip is to watch for casinos licensed by some of Canada’s authoritative regulatory bodies, like the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) or the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Playing at a licensed casino is also important because it proves the casino is regulated and audited. An unlicensed casino may be carrying out money laundering or good old fashioned tax evasion. Casinos that are willing to commit these crimes are likely to be committing others as well, such as cheating players, and should be avoided. 

With access to a number of online casinos, gamblers in Newfoundland and Labrador can sort through the options to find the best bonuses on-offer for their playstyle. Whether you prefer blasting through slot spins or would rather have a few high-wager games, there’s a casino bonus for you!

• Free Spins – With the popularity of slots, getting free slot games is a common bonus. Casinos often grant free spins in their welcome bonus or as prize drops. Sometimes you can only redeem your spins on a limited selection of games, so always read the fine print!
• Deposit Matching – As you make a deposit at real money casinos, you may claim deposit matching to receive a percentage of your deposit in bonus credit. These promos are great to double or triple your deposit and get more games-per-dollar.
• Reload Bonus – Similar to deposit matching, reload bonuses give you a fraction of your deposit in credit, usually around 50%. These bonuses are meant to help you top up your account, and typically are redeemable only on the weekend or on a specific day.
• Cashback – While gambling, a casino may award you cashback equal to a chunk of your wagers. This way you can recoup your losses and keep playing, often on a weekly basis!
• VIP Programs – Premier casinos want to give back to loyal players, and their VIP programs offer great rewards without any extra effort. Just by playing casino games, you can earn free spins, deposit matching promos, or exclusive bonuses. And high-roller VIPs get perks like personalized service, cashback, and access to luxury events or tournaments!

Mobile play is surprisingly accessible in Newfoundland and Labrador, which is a godsend since the lack of casinos means most people will be gambling from home anyways!

The top pick for gamblers in the province is the ALC mobile app. It has a huge library of games, and since it’s government-run, you can trust the app keeps your personal info private. As well, the ALC app has a mobile-optimized layout and games collection, so you’re guaranteed an excellent experience when playing on your Apple or Android mobile device. 

Others options include casino apps from the biggest online casinos operating in Newfoundland and Labrador, like PlayOJO. Canada is also quite hands-off with sportsbooks apps, so you’ll find endless selection if you want to bet on sports from your phone.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, as in the rest of Canada, gambling winnings aren’t considered taxable income. Anything you win from a lottery or an online casino is yours to keep, in full!

There are a few niche situations where incidental taxes may be owed. Any interest you accrue on gambling winnings must be reported, and invested winnings qualify as investment income. Both of these are subject to taxation.

That means the average gambler in Newfoundland and Labrador will never pay tax on their winnings! Only if you’re a professional gambler where your winnings are also your primary income will you have to pay income tax when cashing out.

Gambling addiction is a well-known issue in Newfoundland and Labrador. Walk into any gas station and you’ll probably see a pile of used lotto tickets in the trash. As such, several responsible gambling resources have been set up to help players in the province.

• ALC PlayWise Program (1-800-561-3942)
• Bridge the Gapp (811)

The go-to responsible gambling tools in the province come through the ALC and their program PlayWise. On the program’s site, concerned players or their loved ones can find resources to identify addictive playstyles, data to help dispel gambling myths, and a helpline to seek professional help.

Additionally, PlayWise allows players to sign-up for the ALCs self-exclusion program, preventing them from gambling for a period of at least 6 months and up to 3 years.

Newfoundland and Labrador also features the Bridge the Gapp program, a personal-wellness and mental health crisis support centre. Gambling addiction is a major focus of the program, which can help players identify unhealthy gambling habits and get in touch with healthcare consultation to treat their addiction.

Land-based casinos aren’t legal in Newfoundland and Labrador, so local gamblers have to find their fun in other places. Fortunately, VLTs are common, particularly in St. John’s which has a high concentration of gamblers and VLTs.

Around St. John’s you’ll find every bar in the city hosts one or more VLTs, since they help prop up the venue’s profit margins. As well, pull-tab tickets are widely popular and readily available at convenience stores. And any large town will have the same kind of amenities for gamblers to try their luck at!

The other major ways to play in-person are card game tournaments and charity lotteries, both of which occur regularly across Newfoundland and Labrador. Check local postings to find a game of Chase the Ace or a Texas Hold ‘Em tournament near you!