Manitoba Gambling Sites

Manitoba Gambling Overview

Online gambling is legal in Manitoba. You can bet on sports, play casino games or enter poker tournaments at the government-run PlayNow site.

Alternatively, Manitobans can use popular grey market sites like TonyBet. These sites offer more casino games and larger bonuses than PlayNow.

What is the Gambling Age in Manitoba?

The legal gambling age in Manitoba is 18. Most Canadian provinces have set the legal age at 19, but Manitoba went slightly lower. Anyone aged 18 or older can play casino games, bet on sports, play poker or buy lottery tickets. That applies to in-person gambling and online gambling in Manitoba.

Best Online Casinos Available in Manitoba

We have reviewed all the top online casinos, poker rooms and sportsbooks that welcome players in Manitoba. After assessing their strengths and weaknesses, we decided that these are the top six gambling sites for Manitobans.

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At GamblingNerd.com, we want to help you pick the best casino or sportsbook by providing you with quality and trustworthy information. If you choose one of our recommendations, we may earn a commission from them at no cost to you.

How We Evaluate Manitoba Online Casinos

We conduct rigorous reviews of all the leading gambling sites that accept Manitobans. Our experts assess the bonuses, rewards programs, the user experience, the customer service and other key areas. These are the four most important criteria we focus on.

Availability in Manitoba

First, a gambling site must be available in Manitoba. That means you should be able to access the site on your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop, from anywhere in the province. We make sure that Manitobans don’t need to use a VPN to access these sites, and we confirm that they offer CAD accounts.

Player Protections

We then break down the security measures at each site. Our reviewers are looking for safe, established sites that have trusted reputations. We look for online casinos and sportsbooks that use the latest encryption tools and multiple firewalls to keep customers safe.

Canadian-Friendly Banking Options

Our experts assess the deposit and withdrawal options at each site. We look for Canadian-friendly methods like Interac, iDebit, Instadebit, Visa, MasterCard, Payz, and MuchBetter. We’re also seeking gambling sites that offer fast, reliable payouts, with wide limits and several free options.

Game Selection and Software Providers

We assess the game variety and game quality at each Manitoba online casino. The best sites offer thousands of games from dozens of elite software providers. We look for online casinos that offer a broad selection of slots, table games, variety games and live casino games.

Comparing Online Casinos and Sportsbooks Available in Manitoba

Here’s a look at how our favorite Manitoba gambling sites stack up:

Is Online Gambling Legal in Manitoba?

Yes, online gambling is legal in Manitoba. For many years, Manitobans have been playing at grey market sites like Betway, TonyBet and Bodog. There are no laws that would prevent Manitobans from gambling at those sites.

Several years ago, Quebec tried to block residents from accessing gambling sites based overseas. However, the Superior Court ruled that this move would be unconstitutional. Since then, Quebecers have been able to play at grey market gambling sites. The case also effectively set a nationwide precedent, and no provincial governments have tried to stop Canadians using offshore sites in the ensuing years.

In 2013, PlayNow.com expanded into Manitoba. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation created the site, but Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries operates the local version. In August 2021, Manitoba legalized single game online sports betting. Prior to that decision, PlayNow could only take parlays in Manitoba.

Manitobans can now play online casino games, bet on sports, and play online poker at PlayNow. However, many Manitobans still prefer to use the grey market sites that they have been playing at for decades. These sites typically offer larger bonuses and more games than PlayNow.

Land-Based Gambling Options in Manitoba

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries operates two land-based casinos in the province. Club Regent Casino and McPhillips Station Casino are the largest casinos in Manitoba.

There are also six First Nations Casinos. These are the five largest casinos in Manitoba.

Who Regulates Gambling in Manitoba?

The Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA) regulates gambling in the province. This agency was formed in 2014, when the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission merged with the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. The LGCA also assumed regulatory oversight of non-medical cannabis in 2018 and horse racing in 2022.

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries is the operator that runs land-based casinos in Winnipeg and the local version of the PlayNow site. This crown corporation was established in 2013 through the merger of the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission and Manitoba Lotteries Corporation. It is also responsible for selling lottery tickets, distributing and selling liquor, and distributing non-medical cannabis.

However, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries must operate within the regulatory framework laid down by the LGCA. First Nations casinos, such as Sand Hills Casino, must also comply with the LGCA’s terms and conditions.

Comparing Manitoba’s Gambling Laws to Neighbouring Provinces

Manitoba has similar gambling laws to Saskatchewan. Both provinces are home to land-based casinos run by crown corporations. PlayNow.com, which was established in British Columbia, has expanded into both provinces too. In Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority operates the local version of PlayNow.

However, grey market gambling sites like Bodog and Betway are popular in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. They tend to offer larger bonuses, more games and slicker software than PlayNow, which might explain their enduring popularity.

Ontario has rolled out the first regulated market for privately owned online sportsbooks, casinos and poker rooms in Canada. There are dozens of regulated gambling sites in the province. They hold licenses from the Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario. As such, Ontario’s gambling laws are significantly different to those in Manitoba.

The Future of Online Casinos in Manitoba

The Manitoba online casino market is unlikely to see any major changes in the immediate future. Ontario is the only province with a regulated market for privately owned online casinos and sportsbooks right now. Alberta is expected to follow in its footsteps after passing similar legislation, but the market has not yet been introduced.

Manitoba could potentially become the third province to roll out a regulated online gambling market. However, lawmakers have not yet introduced any bills seeking to do so. Any potential legislation would need to be approved by the Legislative Assembly and gain Royal Assent. This could prove to be a protracted process, so we expect PlayNow and sites like TonyBet and Bodog to maintain their dominance in Manitoba for several years.

Please Gamble Responsibly in Manitoba

Manitoba online gambling is a form of entertainment, which should be enjoyed in moderation. Responsible gamblers do not allow online gambling to affect their work, family life, friendships or other commitments. They set a strict budget and stick to it, as they know that you can never guarantee success.

If you need help with a gambling problem, visit these sites to learn more about the support you can access:

Manitoba Gambling Legal Sources

Manitoba Online Casinos Summary

Manitoba online gambling is legal. Anyone aged 18 or older can play online slots and table games, bet on sports, or compete in poker games and tournaments. The PlayNow site offers a solid range of casino games, sports wagering options and poker games.

However, you will find more games, better bonuses and superior software at the best grey market gambling sites. We identified the top six sites for online gambling in Manitoba: TonyBet, Sports Interaction, Bodog, Betway, Izzi Casino and PowBet. Each site has it’s own specialty, but they all offer a great gambling experience for Manitobans.