gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge

1886 Calgary and District Agricultural Society (precursor to Calgary Exhibition and Stampede) holds its first
fair. Current site for Calgary Exhibition and Stampede obtained in 1888 and racetrack subsequently
built.
1887 The Revised Statutes of Canada 1887 prohibit and penalize the previously passed laws concerning
professional gamblers (c.157,s.8); operating or being found in a common gaming house (c.158,s.1-10);
registering or taking bets on elections, races or any contest of skill or endurance (c.159,s.9); gambling
on a railway car or steamboat used as a public conveyance (c.160,s.1-6); cheating at gambling
(c.164,s.80); encouraging the fighting of animals or establishment of a cockpit (c.172, s.2-7). In
addition, they now prohibit:
Conducting, participating in, or advertising chance based lottery schemes or raffles (c.159
Lotteries, Betting and Pool Selling, s.1-8). This includes all situations where goods are disposed of
by any chance-based means (regardless of whether a participant has purchased a ticket, e.g.,
sweepstakes). 15
o An exemption existed for a) raffles at bazaars with prizes worth $50 or less held for a
charitable purpose as long as the event had municipal approval and the item being
raffled is first offered for sale, b) raffles involving art.
1892 Canada enacts its first Criminal Code that codifies common law and gives the federal government
exclusive power to legislate criminal offenses in Canada. It prohibits and penalizes the following
areas, which, for the most part, continue to be the areas addressed in current law:
Operating or being found in a ‘common gaming house’ or ‘common betting house’ (now defined
as an establishment where the owner receives some gain for allowing gambling or betting, or
where a bank is kept by one or more of the players, or where the odds are not identical among all
players) (Part XIV Nuisances, s.196-200).
o Social gambling between individuals allowed as long as a) there is no financial benefit to
the owner of the premises, and b) the nature of the game does not confer any
advantage to any player.
Betting on the rise or fall of stocks or commodities without the intent of actually purchasing these
shares, goods, etc., or frequenting establishments (‘bucket shops’) where this activity occurs (Part
XIV Nuisances, s.201-202).
Gambling on a railway car or steamboat used as a public conveyance (Part XIV Nuisances, s.203).
Registering or taking bets (bookmaking) on elections, races, or any contest of skill or endurance
(Part XIV Nuisances, s.204).
o Betting between individuals still allowed.
o Registering or taking bets (bookmaking) is now allowed for on-site horse-race betting at
government-chartered racetracks. 16
Conducting, participating in, or advertising chance based lottery schemes or raffles (Part XIV
Nuisances, s.205)
o Exemption continued to exist for a) raffles at bazaars with prizes of less than $50 value
held for a charitable purpose as long the raffle had municipal approval and is first offered
for sale, b) raffles involving art.
Professional gamblers (Part XV Vagrancy, s.207) (i.e., individuals who support themselves
primarily from gambling)
15 Historically, the terms ‘lottery’, ‘raffle’, and ‘sweepstake’ have not been used in a consistent way. Today, lotteries and raffles
are generally recognized as systems that involve purchase of a ticket for potential monetary prizes in the case of lotteries, or
merchandise in the case of raffles. Sweepstakes are generally recognized as a promotional tool used by businesses to generate
interest in their product. In a sweepstakes, no ticket purchase is generally required to be eligible for the money or goods that
are awarded as prizes (although product purchase may be required).
16 The rationale for this legal change was that a) encouraging the breeding and development of high quality horses served
military objectives, b) people who could attend a race-track during the day could afford to gamble.
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