Newfoundland and Labrador is probably the least progressive province in Canada in terms of gambling. Though, in 2023 Newfoundlanders received access to a legal online casino through the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) portal.
Legal, single-event sports betting is also available through the ALC’s Proline portal. There are no retail casinos in Newfoundland and Labrador, but Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) are prominent. Newfoundland and Labrador introduced a lottery in 1976. That same year marked t he launch of the ALC, which combines lottery operations in four Atlantic provinces:
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland and Labrador
Horse racing at the province’s lone track, St. John’s Racing and Entertainment Centre, ended in 2022 after 60 years of operation. It was Newfoundland and Labrador’s first form of legal gambling.
Video Lottery Terminals legalized
Newfoundland and Labrador authorized legal VLT gambling in 1991. Right from the outset, VLTs were limited to only liquor-licensed establishments in the province.
In 1996, newly developed Video Lottery Regulations limited VLTs to just five terminals per site. At the same time, Newfoundland and Labrador lawmakers passed policy preventing the introduction of permanent casinos in the province.
In 2005, the provincial government conducted a study that revealed the highest incidence of problem gambling was among VLT players in the province. The government of Newfoundland and Labrador decided to implement a five-year VLT reduction strategy in addition to further promotion of responsible gambling.
Initiatives included reducing the number of VLTs by 15%. Sites also reprogrammed VLTs to slow down the speed of play. By 2007, nearly 200 VLTs were removed from bars and lounges in the province.
Newfoundland and Labrador currently has close to 2,100 VLTs at bars and lounges. The net government-operated gaming revenue from the VLTs has reached over $122 million annually.
The VLTs feature reel games and Keno. The Atlantic Lottery Corporation in Newfoundland and Labrador oversees the industry.
Legal online casino site in Newfoundland
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation offers a legal online casino and online bingo in Newfoundland through the ALC site. But, otherwise, lawmakers in the province have expressed an interest in keeping other online casino and poker sites out of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Though, a number of sweepstakes casinos are legal in Newfoundland and Labrador. These are free-to-play casinos where no purchase is necessary. However, some brands give you free premium chips to enter real money contests simply for registering. All of them give you extra chips when you send a written request by mail.
Legal sports betting in Newfoundland
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation’s Proline platform has allowed Atlantic Canadians to bet on sports since 1994. For much of its early history, only parlay betting was available, but now single-event sports wagering is legal.
Newfoundland and Labrador Lottery
The ALC runs lottery operations in all four Atlantic provinces in Canada. Newfoundland and Labrador has more than 1,000 ticket outlets across the province.
The Atlantic Lottery Corporation offers:
- Draw games
- Scratch’N Win tickets
- Video Lottery Terminals
- Pro Line parlay sports betting
- Online bingo and instant win games
In 1992, Newfoundland and Labrador placed a ban on advertising of Atlantic Lottery Corporation lottery jackpots. However, the ban was lifted in 1996.
Draw games offered by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation include:
- LOTTO MAX
- LOTTO 6/49
- Daily GRAND
- Atlantic 49
- Salsa Bingo
- Bucko
- Keno Atlantic
Tickets for draw games are available for purchase online.
Atlantic Lottery Scratch ‘N Win games give players the chance to win in an instant. There are dozens of different tickets featuring a variety of sizes and styles. Scratch ‘N Win tickets vary in price from $1 to $30.
Newfoundland and Labrador casinos
There are no casinos in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 1996, the provincial government actually passed a policy preventing the introduction of permanent casinos in in Newfoundland and Labrador.