Canada is proud to have over 250 bingo halls throughout over 15 provinces! Surely there is a bingo hall near you if you look close enough on the map! Canada is bustling with bingo!
5 Most Popular Bingo Halls in Canada:
- Delta Bingo – Delta Bingo has halls across Ontario, including locations in Toronto, Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Oshawa, and more. It is Canada’s largest bingo operator with over 20 locations. Delta offers electronic bingo, promotional games, and large prize payouts.
- Gateway Casinos Bingo – Gateway operates several bingo halls in British Columbia, including locations in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey, and Langley. These halls feature electronic bingo machines as well as traditional paper games.
- Princess Bingo – Located in Edmonton, Alberta, Princess Bingo bills itself as the world’s largest bingo hall. It can accommodate over 1,500 players and has one of the region’s largest progressive jackpots.
- Club Regent Casino Bingo – This bingo hall in Winnipeg, Manitoba is popular for its glitzy, high-energy atmosphere modeled after the casinos of Las Vegas. It offers electronic and paper bingo.
- Bingo Country – Bingo Country has two large halls, one located in Scarborough and the other in Richmond Hill, both suburbs of Toronto. These halls attract devoted, enthusiastic players looking for big prizes.
Some other popular halls across Canada include: Bingo Barn (Saskatoon, SK), Treasure Bingo (Halifax, NS), Bingo Bob (Montreal, QC), Shoreline Casino Bingo (Peterborough, ON), and Lake City Casino Bingo (Penticton, BC). Bingo remains a classic pastime across Canada.
Here is a list of the Canadian regions and provinces that have licensed bingo halls operating within them:
British Columbia
- Lower Mainland/Vancouver area
- Okanagan Valley
- Victoria
- Northern BC
Alberta
- Calgary
- Edmonton
- Red Deer
- Grande Prairie
Saskatchewan
- Saskatoon
- Regina
Manitoba
- Winnipeg
- Brandon
Ontario
- Toronto/GTA
- Ottawa
- Hamilton
- Windsor
- Thunder Bay
- London
- Barrie
- Kingston
- Sudbury
- Sault Ste. Marie
Quebec
- Montreal
- Quebec City
New Brunswick
- Moncton
- Saint John
- Fredericton
Nova Scotia
- Halifax
- Charlottetown
Newfoundland & Labrador
- St. John’s
Seems like most Canadian provinces have some licensed bingo halls, with the majority located in dense population centers and cities. The province with the most active bingo halls is Ontario due to its large population size.
Things to keep in mind: 10 Important Canadian Laws related to Bingo Halls:
- Bingo halls require a license to operate. Licenses are issued by provincial or municipal governments.
- Only registered charities are eligible to receive bingo hall licenses in most provinces. Some allow limited commercial operations.
- Taxes on bingo revenues vary by province, ranging from 1.5% in Saskatchewan to 11% in Ontario. Municipal taxes may also apply.
- Prizes and payout percentages are regulated. Limits are set on maximum prizes for regular and special games.
- Alcohol cannot be served in bingo halls in some provinces like Ontario and Nova Scotia. Others allow it under certain conditions.
- Provinces require bingo operators to demonstrate how proceeds will go to charitable causes and require financial reporting.
- Only paper bingo cards were originally allowed, but electronic bingo machines have been introduced in most provinces in recent years.
- Hours of operation are regulated, with most bingo halls limited to daytime and evening hours. Some provinces have mandated smoke-free environments.
- Advertising and promotions for bingo halls are restricted in terms of content and targeting minors. Jackpot amounts cannot be advertised in some provinces.
- Age limits vary, but minors are prohibited from playing bingo in all provinces. Minimum ages range from 16 to 19.
So in summary, Canadian bingo halls operate under strict provincial oversight, with regulations on licensing, taxes, payouts, and operations. This ensures integrity and charitable proceeds.
6 Amazing Facts about Bingo in Canada:
- There are approximately 300 licensed bingo halls operating in Canada as of 2022. The majority are located in Ontario, with significant presences also in Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia.
- Canadian bingo halls generate around $850 million in gross revenue annually. The average bingo hall makes $2-3 million per year.
- Bingo halls in Canada are regulated by provincial governments. Each province has its own regulations surrounding licensing, taxes, payouts, etc.
- The majority of bingo halls are operated by charitable organizations as a source of fundraising revenue. Some are also operated by First Nations groups. Commercial operators run a small minority of halls.
- Typical bingo games feature cash prizes ranging from $50 up to $5,000 for special games. Jackpots are lower than what’s offered in casinos.
- Bingo halls have been declining in popularity in Canada, with revenue and attendance falling over the past couple decades. However, they retain a loyal, mostly older demographic.