Prince Edward Island Online Casinos in 2024

Looking for the best Prince Edward Island online casinos to join? We have got you covered! On this page, we have curated a list of top-ranking casino sites with excellent security, premium games, bonuses, and general customer experience. You’ll also learn about the legality of online betting and gambling taxes in Prince Edward Island. Let's get right into it!

Prince Edward Island officially became a Canadian province in 1873. This region consists of several small islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and its capital city is Charlottetown. According to the latest statistics, this maritime province had a population of 176,000+ residents as of January 2024. This means PEI is one of the least populated regions in Canada.

Gambling in this province started as early as the 1890s. Today, PEI boasts an excellent offering of land-based casinos for a small space. Online casinos are also thriving, with residents having many options. To help you choose the best platforms, we have reviewed and compared some of the leading casino sites in PEI.

History shows that people in Prince Edward Island started gambling in 1889. This was after Charlottetown Driving Park was opened to offer bred racing. It was initially a small outlet with pari-mutuel betting on countable horse races. But today, the Red Shores in Charlottetown has expanded to become a year-long facility with many racing events. This venue also has casinos with tens of slot machines and table games.

Just like other provinces, gambling in Prince Edward Island has not been a smooth ride. In 1892, Canada's Criminal Code was passed to criminalize all gambling activities nationwide. This law proposed harsh punishments for those found guilty of gambling or operating a gambling venue. However, it was amended in 1970 to allow provincial governments to regulate gambling activities within their borders.

In April 1976, the Legislative Assembly passed the PEI Lotteries Commission Act. This act defined all legal gambling practices and established the PEI Lotteries Commission. This commission regulates all lotteries and pari-mutuel betting systems in Prince Edward Island. The act also mandates this commission to collect all gambling profits before transferring the funds to the government. 

There are several licensed land-based venues in PEI where you can bet on sports and play casino-style games. Prince Edward Island and other Atlantic provinces also own the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. This means you can legally play casino games and lotteries and also make Pro-Line wagers on ALC.ca. It's the only regulated gambling website in this Canadian province. You must be 19 years or above to be able to gamble in Prince Edward Island.

The law also allows PEI residents to play on offshore gambling sites without repercussions. Most of these overseas-based casinos are safe and offer a greater variety of games than the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. Competition is also high, so most gambling sites try to outdo competitors by offering big bonuses and professional services. This guide will help you find reliable real money casinos in PEI.

Here’s a breakdown of the current gambling status in Prince Edward Island:

History of Gambling in Prince Edward Island

Below is a brief recap of gambling events that transpired in PEI before it became what it is today:

• 1892: The Criminal Code is passed to criminalize all gambling activities nationwide.
• 1889: Charlottetown Driving Park opens to provide harness racing.
• 1969: The Criminal Code is amended to allow provincial governments to regulate gambling.
• 1976: The Legislative Assembly in PEI passes the Lotteries Commission Act to regulate lotteries and gambling activities.
• 1976: The Lotteries Commission is established to regulate gambling activities in PEI.
• 1976: The Atlantic Lottery Corporation is launched by four Atlantic Canadian provinces, including PEI.
• 2005: Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Center reopens with a gaming facility and restaurant.
• 2021: PEI suspends plans to launch an online casino in partnership with the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

Free Playing in Prince Edward Island

Gambling sites in PEI provide real money and free play services. The table below highlights all the similarities and differences:

As stated earlier, dozens of casino sites operate in Prince Edward Island. Although this is good for residents of this province, choosing the ideal option can be challenging. For this reason, we want to share our casino selection tips. These tips should help you find a casino that suits your playing style. 

Here is what we look for when comparing and listing gambling sites in PEI:

• License and security: Our list includes casinos with valid licenses in Canada, Curacao, Malta, and other jurisdictions. These licenses mean the casino is vetted and approved for fairness and transparency. We also confirm if the casino uses encryption technology to protect personal and financial data of its members.
• Reputation: Once we confirm the casino is safe and secure, we search for every bit of online information about the operator. Some casinos have a history of withholding withdrawals or providing non-existent customer support.
• User experience: We only rate casinos with smooth and professional user experiences. Our expert team signs up on all shortlisted casinos to confirm whether the website is intuitive and easy to navigate. We don't list casinos that take forever to load up a game or the cashier page.
• Bonuses and promotions: What incentives does the casino provide new and loyal players? Does the casino have a welcome bonus, reload bonus, or loyalty reward? If yes, do the bonuses have friendly and realistic policies? We answer these vital questions before listing a casino on Casino.com.
• Game Variety: A casino's game library must meet our strict quality and quantity standards before we review it. Quality-wise, the library must be powered by leading game providers like Microgaming, Evolution, and NetEnt. A casino must also provide a wide variety of games to ensure you always have something new to play.
• Payments: The best Prince Edward Island online casinos provide fast and reliable payments. We only rate casinos with renowned payment options like Much Better, Apple Pay, Interac, and iDebit. Our review team also confirms if the payment processing is swift and free. Top casinos don't charge players to process payments.
• Customer support: A casino might delay processing your welcome bonus or verification documents. Therefore, choosing a casino with responsive and professional support is vital. All our recommended casinos respond to customer inquiries instantly by email, live chat, or phone.  

Sites to Avoid in Prince Edward Island

We have talked a lot about the best casino operators in PEI. Now, let's shift our focus to websites that are not so good. Our rigorous casino comparison and review process highlights blacklisted casinos or those that don't meet our requirements. Avoid these casinos regardless of how "good" the rewards may appear. 

Below are some standard features of blacklisted casinos in Prince Edward Island:

• Negligent or rude customer support.
• Frustrations during withdrawals or failure to pay out altogether.
• Spamming and flooding player accounts with promotional materials.
• Unavailable or unclear licensing information.
• No responsible gambling tools or contacts.
• Untested and unverified games.
• History of lawsuits, fines, and disputes with players or regulators. 

So, what are some features of a reliable casino in Canada? First, good reputation! Do enough background research about the casino or its owner. You can get this information by reading our honest reviews and using online forums like Trustpilot. This is the only way to confirm the casino's services before signing up and depositing funds. Avoid casinos with lots of bad reviews and low ratings. 

Another vital feature to look for in a PEI casino is the license. The best casinos have valid licenses from regulators in Canada, the UK, Malta, and other countries. Most licenses are granted after the casino has been thoroughly vetted and approved. Game testing is also part of the licensing procedure. Regulators ensure the casino's RNG systems have passed fair play tests before approving a license. Look for casinos with trusted game-testing certificates, such as eCOGRA, iTech Labs, and Gaming Associates.

Don't forget to test how the casino processes payments. Top casinos process deposits and withdrawals instantly, although waiting a few days is expected. Ensure that the casino partners only with secure banking methods. Read our in-depth reviews to discover the best fast-payout casinos in PEI and Canada. Our experts deposited funds and played at these casinos to confirm that payments are fast, free, and reliable. 

Competition for online players in Prince Edward Island is at an all-time high. Most casinos have bonuses and promotions to attract new members and keep the returning ones. However, there are many different types of bonuses. It's, therefore, important to find out how each casino bonus works before claiming anything. Check out some standard casino bonuses at Prince Edward Island casinos below:

• No deposit bonuses: These are incentives given to new members to thank them for signing up. There is no deposit requirement to claim this promotion. This gives new members an excellent way to try the casino's services before committing.
• Welcome bonuses: This is the most common reward at Canadian casinos. After signing up and depositing money, the casino can reward you with a match percentage of the amount or free spins. This can also be a combination of both rewards.
• Low deposit bonuses: These bonuses can be free spins or bonus money. However, there's no match percentage in this case. Just deposit a low amount of, let's say, $1 or $5 to unlock the reward.
• Reload bonuses: There are promotions for returning players who top up their account balance. A reload bonus can be in the form of free spins or matched bonuses. You can claim reload bonuses daily, weekly, or even monthly.
• High roller bonuses: These are special VIP promotions for gamers who deposit and play with large sums of money. High-roller bonuses typically provide bigger match percentages and maximum rewards than standard bonuses. The wagering requirement could also be lower.
• Cashback: This is a standard casino bonus for returning players who wager real money. The best Prince Edward Island casinos can reward you with a percentage of your actual money losses. Remember that cashback bonuses have wagering requirements.
• Device-specific bonuses: As the name hints, this bonus encourages members to play using a specific platform. For instance, a casino can offer a bonus to all players who install and play using the mobile app. You often don't have to deposit anything to claim this reward.
• Refer a friend: Get a reward for directing a friend to sign up at the casino. Simply copy the player referral code and share it with the person who wants to sign up. If they register and deposit, the casino can reward you handsomely. 

Our strict casino review process includes mobile compatibility. We only recommend Canadian casinos that offer real money and free plays on mobile platforms. The best Canadian casinos offer a broad range of games and bonuses on iOS, Android, Windows, Samsung, and other mobile platforms. All you need to do is to sign up using your desktop account details and play remotely. 

In our reviews, we also prioritize brands with standalone casino apps. You can download these gambling apps from the app stores or the casino site and play with a single tap. Note that using the app or your browser to play both provide good gaming experiences. However, each gameplay has some advantages and disadvantages. The table below lists all of them:

Gambling taxation in Prince Edward Island and Canada can be tricky. Professional gamblers who treat gambling as a source of income must pay taxes. On the other hand, casual or recreational players are not subject to taxation if they win. Put simply, all the winnings on land-based or online casinos are yours to keep. The government won't come knocking when you win a Mega Moolah jackpot.

However, we advise keeping records of all winnings to avoid any legal issues regarding taxation. Save all transaction receipts that can help you know the taxability of your earnings. Remember that the interest accrued from gambling winnings is taxable. So, include any interest on your T5 and T3 forms. You can avoid legal complications by understanding the tax implications while gambling in Canada and PEI.

Gambling is now more prevalent in PEI than ever. Unfortunately, more options mean a greater need for responsible gambling resources. In September 2023, Prince Edward Island launched the Responsible Gambling Strategy 2023-2028. This strategy uses guiding principles like accountability, harm reduction, and informed and healthy play. The government says this strategy will help it formulate policies that ensure safe and healthy gambling for the Islanders. 

The best gambling sites in Prince Edward Island also play their part in ensuring responsible gambling. These casinos provide responsible gambling tools and contacts to ensure safe gaming for all members. Some common safe gaming tools include:

• Deposit limits
• Timeout limits
• Loss limits
• Self-exclusion

At Casino.com, we support responsible gambling by providing helpful advice and resources. Don't gamble with money for paying your health insurance or electricity bills, as this can be catastrophic. Keep in mind that every wager you make at the casino, regardless of your skill, has a 50-50 chance of winning. So, play for fun using a well-planned budget. For enquiry or assistance regarding responsible gambling, contact Prince Edward Island gambling support via email at cmorash@gov.pe.ca. You can also call their toll-free number at 1-855-255-4255.

Prince Edward Island might be a small province, but there are plenty of gaming choices. This province has land-based venues where you can play lotteries, slot machines, VLTs (video lottery terminals), and enjoy horse racing. You can also enjoy bad-beat jackpot poker in any of these venues. Below are the land-based casinos in PEI:

• Red Shores Racetrack & Casino

Location: 58 Kensington Rd, Charlottetown, PE C1A 9S8

Telephone: 902-620-4222

This is the perfect place to feel the thundering hooves and join other Islanders in enjoying and betting on horse races. Established in 1888 at the Charlottetown Driving Park, it's one of the oldest racetracks in Canada and North America. Visit the Red Shores Charlottetown Casino and play 150+ slot machines and various VLTs. You can also join private table rooms with Baccarat, Poker, and Blackjack games.

• Red Shores Summerside

Location: 55 Greenwood Dr, Summerside, PE C1N 6E4

Telephone: 902-888-5666

The Summerside Raceway was opened in 1886 at Charlottetown Driving Park. It's the oldest racetrack in Canada, making it a must-visit in Prince Edward Island. This venue provides Islanders with live and streamed racing events all year round. You can also play tens of slot machines daily from 11 AM and join live tables with Baccarat, Blackjack, and UTH. Don't forget to join the Rewards Club to start earning points and exclusives