Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Thursday, February 9
    Trending
    • This Day in History on February 9th
    • History Short: Famous Marches
    • Animated Map of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine (through February 8th, 2023)
    • This Day in History on February 8th
    • History Short: Off With her Head!
    • What Grade Would You give President Biden’s Second State of the Union Address?
    • This Day in History on February 7th
    • History Short: When Was the First Untethered Space Walk?
    History and Headlines
    • Arts & Entertainment
      • Cinema & TV
      • Games
      • Literature
      • Music
      • Sports
      • Video Games
    • Bizarre Bulletin
      • Misconceptions
      • The Bizarre
      • The Paranormal
      • The Unexplained
    • Lifestyle
      • Animals/Pets
      • Fashion
      • Food
      • Health/Medicine
      • Home Improvement
      • Horoscopes
      • Travel
    • Science & Tech
      • Inventions
      • Nature
      • Vehicles
    • Society
      • Business and Economics
      • Crime
      • Military
      • Politics
      • Religion
      • Society
    • About
      • Welcome to Our Site!
      • This Day in History
      • Table of Contents: A History of the World
      • Online History Textbooks
      • A Guide to Some of Our Favorite Scholars and Educators
      • Advance Screenings and Movie Reviews Archive
      • Schedule of Video Adaptations of Our Articles
    • Friends
      • Armchair History TV
      • Fact Fiend
      • RealClearHistory
      • Simply Charly
      • TopTenz
      • ​Unique Interpretations
    History and Headlines
    You are at:Home»Arts & Entertainment»The History Behind the Canadian Casino Industry
    Arts & Entertainment

    The History Behind the Canadian Casino Industry

    Abdul AlhazredBy Abdul AlhazredJune 27, 2019Updated:July 16, 2020No Comments7 Mins Read
    Email Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest Reddit Telegram Tumblr Twitter VKontakte WhatsApp
    Canadian Casino

    A Brief History

    It was the morning of June 26, 1968, that saw Canada welcome Pierre Trudeau as its Prime Minister, after winning the general election on the previous night. Known and beloved among Canadians for his liberal politics, his mild temperament and his unwavering commitment to Canadian unity, Trudeau made history as one of the most reasoned, intelligent, and brave politicians the country ever saw. Head of the Liberals and father of current Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, he inspired a wave of “Trudeaumania” before his first election and continued to serve for over 15 years from that position. He became known for his fostering of the Canadian identity in the face of separatism and bold legislative amendments – but one of his lesser known accomplishments is that his reforms set the foundations for the now booming Canadian gambling industry.

    Digging Deeper

    The origins of gambling in Canada

    People playing poker, a card game whose popularity skyrocketed in 2003.  Source: Pexels.

    Formerly a Minister of Justice, Trudeau was bent on making the country’s laws more liberal and is credited with several major improvements – including a sweeping reform of the Canadian Criminal Code. Among other changes, he also introduced a lift of restrictions on gambling, thus allowing the fledgling Canadian casino industry to move forward. Gambling has had a long history in Canada – and it can be traced further back than Trudeau’s times. Indigenous people were fond of various games that had a gambling element, especially Slahal, which was very popular across the native populations in the Pacific Northwest Coast. Traditionally played with deer bones and dating back to the last ice age, Slahal has immense cultural significance. According to one tradition, it was given to humankind by the Creator as an alternative to warfare, while in modern times the whole community gathers around to play the game amidst chanting and drumming.

    It is said that when John Cabot first set foot in 1497 on what would later become Canada, he found native tribes enjoying games of chance. The arrival of the first settlers, especially from France, also shifted gambling practices slightly. The first decks of playing cards arrived in the area and soon poker and blackjack took off. The Klondike Gold Rush in Yukon saw a surge in the popularity of dice games like craps and barbotte, but mainly of the card game faro. Back then, this game that was similar to basset and lansquenet was even more popular than poker. Traced back to 17th century France or, by some other accounts, even to the 1400s in Germany, faro was beloved thanks to the fast-paced action and good odds of winning it offered. It quickly became a favorite in the saloons of Dawson City, where people would flock to bet their hard-earned gold. Although its popularity waned with the end of the Gold Rush, it has remained somewhat popular in the US – and it has even given its name to the town of Faro in Yukon.

    From Quebec to Winnipeg: The rise of gambling across Canada

    Montreal Casino.  Photograph by Andrijko Z.

    Even though games of a chance were a popular form of entertainment across the country, in 1892 the government had already imposed restrictions on gambling. These would be gradually lifted to allow for charitable and small-scale gambling, before Pierre Trudeau’s administration amended the law to introduce the option of state lotteries. Quebec was quick to realize the potential of the new legislation, and soon the province became the first region in Canada to establish its own Crown corporations to oversee provincial lotteries and horse races. These corporations were embraced by the local community and soon other provinces were looking to replicate Quebec’s success.

    Manitoba set up its own lotteries in 1971, and Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia quickly followed suit. The four provinces even joined forces in 1974 to introduce what is now the prestigious Western Canadian Lottery Foundation, while the Canadian government also established the Olympic Lottery Corporation back in 1973 in order to raise funds for the Olympic Games that took place in Montreal in 1976. The surge in the interest in games of chance also brought the first commercial casinos in the country. In 1989, Winnipeg became home to a commercial casino, the first across Canada. Soon another one appeared in Montreal, in 1993, and from there on casinos started popping up across the nation. Today, there are several gambling establishments scattered across Canada, from Manitoba and Quebec to Nova Scotia and Ontario.

    The online casino industry is booming

    Slot machines remain among the most popular casino games.  Source: Pexels.

    Technological developments in the 21st century also saw another shift in how Canadians gamble, most notably by introducing online versions of popular card games and slots with diverse themes and mechanics in online casinos. Land-based slot machines and Video Lottery Terminals (also known as VLTs) first familiarized players with more tech-driven ways to play their favorite games of chance. With the growing penetration of the internet in everyday activities, soon online casinos started appearing. They drew in players based on the convenience they offered, as gamers could gamble any time from the comfort of their homes as well as with bonuses and promotional offers. Soon, it became clear that online gaming provided further impetus for growth and managed to boost earnings in the Canadian gambling sector.

    According to a 2018 gaming report, gaming profits in Canada rose by 4.9% in 2017 to a staggering CA$17.3 billion. Ontario and its capital Toronto led the nation, as it saw a 12% growth and CA$7,445 million in revenue, almost 43% of the country’s total. Quebec ranked second at CA$3.6 billion and an increase of over 2%, while British Columbia also came in high at CA$3.14 billion and a rise of 1.36%. The report took into account land-based casinos, lotteries, charitable gaming, and of course online casinos. Online gambling is set to be the driving force behind the industry’s growth, not only by generating revenue but also by allowing first-time players to familiarize themselves with the most popular forms of gambling. From roulette to online slots, many gamblers find it easier to test out the waters at an online casino first, before becoming regulars in brick and mortar casinos or poker tables.

    Canada has always been known as a frontrunner in various industry sectors – but the country’s successful casino industry is perhaps one of its lesser known areas of excellence.

    Question for students (and subscribers): Have you ever been to a Canadian casino?  Please let us know in the comments section below this article.

    If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons!

    Your readership is much appreciated!

    Historical Evidence

    For more information, please see…

    Cosgrave, James and Thomas Klassen.  Casino State: Legalized Gambling in Canada.  University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division, 2009.

    Wiesenberg, Michael.  The Ultimate Casino Guide: 1000 Great Casinos from America, Canada and Around the World.  Sourcebooks, Inc., 2005.

    The featured image in this article, a photograph by Taxiarchos228 of Fallsview Casino as seen from above, is free; you can redistribute it and/or modify it according to terms of the Free Art License. You will find a specimen of this license on the Copyleft Attitude site as well as on other sites.

    Share. Email Facebook LinkedIn Pinterest Reddit Telegram Twitter Tumblr
    Previous ArticleExecutive and Military Experience of 2020 United States Presidential Candidates
    Next Article Spider-Man: Far From Home, Movie Review
    Abdul Alhazred

    “But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad." "How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

    Related Posts

    History Short: Who is America’s Greatest Male Actor?

    February 1, 2023

    Headlines: 2023 Oscar Nominations Released!

    January 24, 2023

    History Short: Ukrainian Canadian Woman Becomes the First Neurologist in Space

    January 22, 2023
    Follow Us!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Patreon
    Sign Up For Our Newsletter!
    Most Recent

    This Day in History on February 9th

    February 9, 2023

    History Short: Famous Marches

    February 9, 2023

    Animated Map of the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine (through February 8th, 2023)

    February 8, 2023

    This Day in History on February 8th

    February 8, 2023

    History Short: Off With her Head!

    February 8, 2023
    This Day in History Video

    Advertisements




    Amazon Affiliate Disclosure Statement

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases via links in the “Historical Evidence” sections of articles.

    About HistoryAndHeadlines.com

    Thanks for visiting History and Headlines!  This site exists primarily for educational purposes and is intended as a resource for Dr. Zar’s students.  Articles are mostly written by either Dr. Zar or his dad (Major Dan).  To any guest readers, please keep that in mind when commenting on articles.   Thank you!

    We try to present our students with historical topics that are both diverse and a bit out of the ordinary.  Our motto is “We try until we succeed!”

    Contact us at admin@historyandheadlines.com

    Guidelines and Policies for Images used on This Site, as well as for Guest and Sponsored Articles, and Other Terms of Use

    Privacy Statement

    © 2022 History and Headlines

    All-Time Most Commented

    July 28, 1866: 18 Year Old Girl Wins Commission to Sculpt Statue of Lincoln (A Truly Great American Woman)

    July 28, 2014

    December 24, 1865: Birth of the Ku Klux Klan

    December 24, 2015

    December 25, 1868: President Johnson Pardons all Confederate Veterans

    December 25, 2015

    February 5, 1909: First Plastic Invented was called Bakelite!

    February 5, 2014

    November 23, 1876: “Boss” Tweed Turned Over to Authorities

    November 23, 2013
    Recommended Book
    © 2023 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

    You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

    History and Headlines
    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    Strictly Necessary Cookies

    Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

    If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.