Fake online casino ads in Canada: how they work and how to report them

Fake online casino ads in Canada often borrow the name and logo of a casino you already know. How do you tell whether an ad for its online version is real? Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan (LGS) says none of the province's land-based casinos has an online version, and Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) says the same of Club Regent Casino. If an ad claims otherwise, do not click. Report it to the platform and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC).

What fake online casino ads in Canada look like

Four institutions have described the same pattern in their own words. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) put it this way on February 24, 2025: “Highly deceptive, these scams share fraudulent posts and advertisements exploiting the logos, names and exterior images of local B.C. casinos, and may claim to offer players exclusive bonuses and promotions if they register with their website or mobile application.”

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) describes the same idea in a public service announcement from early 2024: “These deceptive ads imply that the province's land-based venues have added online gambling to their operations.” The ads imitate casinos and racing entertainment centres (RECs). They appear as social media ads and as listings in the Apple and Android app stores.

In a notice dated June 3, 2026, LGS says scammers copy the names, logos and exterior images of land-based casinos and use the ads to steal credit card numbers and other banking information. MBLL warned in 2024 that it “was made aware of fraudulent posts on Facebook purporting to be an online gaming app for Club Regent Casino.”

None of these notices describes in detail what happens to the card data afterwards.

What do the numbers show, and what do they not?

The sources reviewed give only one official count of fake casino ads. LGS says it contracted a brand impersonation takedown service, and that in the first six months the service identified and helped remove “more than 140 fraudulent ads” aimed at people in Saskatchewan. LGS Vice President of Gaming Steve Tunison gave the figure on June 3, 2026. It covers one province, six months and only the ads that one service found. It should not be scaled to a month or to the country.

National figures do not isolate casino ads. In figures published on February 25, 2026, the CAFC reported more than 112,000 fraud reports and more than $704 million in reported losses for 2025. Those totals cover every type of fraud. The CAFC does not publish a separate figure for fake casino ads.

One number is easy to check. As of September 1, 2026, the iGaming Ontario (iGO) directory lists 49 operators with 84 websites. A site that is not in that directory is not part of Ontario's regulated market.

Who has warned about fake casino ads, and when

Five notices from five institutions are on record for 2024 to 2026. Each speaks only for its own province and its own brand.

The AGLC notice predates the opening of Alberta's regulated igaming market on July 13, 2026. Only its description of the ads and its signs to look for are used here. The iGaming Ontario notice concerns misleading statements about BetGuard, not ads for a casino. No warning about the impersonation of land-based casinos from Ontario's regulator or lottery corporation was found. The Atlantic Lottery and Loto-Québec pages carry neither a date nor a count. Adding the notices together would say nothing about the size of the problem.

Where this applies: what each province says

Saskatchewan. LGS said on June 3, 2026: “None of Saskatchewan's land-based casinos have an online version where you can bet on sports or wager on a casino-style game, and neither does the province's VLT program.” Tunison added: “If you see a social media ad for an online version of Casino Regina or any other land-based casino in the province, don't click on it.” LGS points people who want to gamble online in Saskatchewan to PlayNow.com, which it calls “the only legal online gaming platform in the province.”

Manitoba. MBLL says that “Club Regent Casino (as well as McPhillips Station Casino) does not offer a mobile app or online gaming.” It adds: “In Manitoba, the only legal, safe, and secure online gaming site is PlayNow.” That is MBLL's own wording, and PlayNow is MBLL's own site.

British Columbia. BCLC states that “PlayNow.com is the only online gambling website permitted to operate in B.C.” It names its official apps as BCLC Lotto!, PlayNow Poker BC and PlayNow BC Sportsbook, and says its social media accounts are “verified with a checkmark.” An ad for a B.C. casino from an account without that checkmark calls for a closer check.

Ontario and Alberta. Both provinces run open markets with private operators, so a real online casino exists in each and a fake ad can look like one. The check that settles most cases is short: open the regulator's public list and note the date. In Ontario that is the iGO directory of operators registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). In Alberta, the Alberta iGaming Corporation publishes a list of registered igaming sites.

Atlantic provinces. Atlantic Lottery says: “ALC.CA is the only official site for Atlantic Lottery play.”

Quebec. Loto-Québec publishes the address of its official Facebook page, facebook.com/JeuxenligneLQ. It says it never replies to posts to tell you that you have won or to ask you to click on dubious links.

Provinces and territories not named here had no confirmed notice on fake casino ads at the time of writing. That is not proof that none exist. For a province-by-province view of the rules, see what is regulated in each province.

Fake lottery pages and BetGuard lookalikes

Casino logos are not the only thing being copied. Atlantic Lottery says: “Fraudsters sometimes pretend to represent legitimate businesses online, including using the same logos, images and text.” It also says attempts to use its name are increasing, without giving a number.

On September 10, 2026, iGaming Ontario said it “has become aware of third parties using the BetGuard name and branding to make misleading statements about how to opt out of all regulated online gambling in Ontario using BetGuard.” BetGuard is Ontario's centralized self-exclusion program. iGO points people to BetGuard.ca, to the websites of operators in its directory, to OLG.ca and to partners such as ConnexOntario and the Responsible Gambling Council.

iGO does not say what the third parties claim or whether they charge anything. It asks anyone who finds material that appears to represent BetGuard or iGaming Ontario to use “official iGaming Ontario or BetGuard channels for verification.” The misleading statements concern how to opt out, so an unofficial page can send people away from the official process.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) says it never asks customers for a payment to claim a prize.

Warning signs of a fake casino ad

Each sign below comes from a named institution. No single sign proves an ad is fake. Several together call for caution.

• The ad offers an online version or an app of a land-based casino, the pattern that LGS, MBLL and AGLC describe.
• The account has no verification checkmark where the real operator has one. BCLC says its social media accounts carry a checkmark.
• The web address does not match the official site. BCLC advises: “Carefully check the URL and domain of the website to verify its legitimacy.”
• The ad or page asks for personal or financial information. BCLC advises being on alert in that case, and AGLC lists being asked for financial information when claiming a prize won on social media.
• The ad has spelling or grammar errors. AGLC lists “Grammatical and common spelling errors.” Its list also refers to “the correct, official name of the venue,” so compare the name in the ad with the name on the venue's own site.
• The ad promises exclusive bonuses for registering. BCLC includes this in its description of the scams.
• A well-known person appears in a video recommending the offer. The CAFC advises: “Assume that a video which includes a public figure promoting merchandise or investments is fake until you can prove otherwise.” Its bulletin of July 31, 2024 is about fraud in general and does not mention gambling. It also lists “unnatural movements, mismatched audio, or inconsistent lighting and shadows” as things to look for.

A request for personal details is not proof by itself. A regulated site may also ask for identity details, and the guide to how deposits, withdrawals and identity checks work on regulated sites explains where that happens. What matters is whether the ad, the account and the address belong to the operator they name.

A fake ad is not the same as an unregulated site

A fake ad borrows someone else's identity. An ad for a real operator that is not registered in your province is a different matter. A fake ad is a matter for the platform, the CAFC and, if you lost money, the police. The overview page for this section covers other gambling scams and where to complain.

On May 14, 2025, the AGCO called on “more than a dozen traditional and digital media platforms” to “take a stand against the promotion of unregulated online gambling sites and remove the ads.” That call concerned unregulated sites, not impersonation.

For registered operators in Ontario, the Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming set the advertising rules. Standard 2.04 says: “Marketing, including advertising and promotions, shall be truthful, shall not mislead players or misrepresent products.” Standard 2.05 prohibits advertising and marketing materials that communicate “gambling inducements, bonuses and credits,” except on an operator's own site and in direct marketing after active player consent. A bonus offer in a public ad does not match how registered operators may advertise in Ontario. These standards are rules for operators, not a test of whether an ad is real.

The reach of regulators ends where registration ends. iGO says it “has no legal relationship with unregulated igaming Operators,” and an impersonator is not an operator at all. Removing an ad is the platform's job, and LGS hired a takedown service to help with it. If the site is real and the dispute is about your account, how to complain about an online gambling site covers a different route. This guide gives general information and is not legal advice.

Where to report a fake casino ad and where to get help

1. Do not click and do not fill in anything. Save a screenshot, the account name, the web address and the date. The CAFC advises gathering all information about the fraud, including documents, receipts and copies of emails and text messages.
2. Report the ad to the platform. LGS says to report it directly to the platform, MBLL says to “block and report,” and the CAFC points to links such as “Report Abuse” or “Report an Ad.” The platform's own reporting steps vary and are not covered here.
3. Report it to the CAFC at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca or by calling the toll-free number, 1-888-495-8501. The CAFC recommends reporting “whether you are a victim or not.”
4. Tell the organization whose name was copied. BCLC's Customer Support Centre is at 1-866-815-0222, Loto-Québec at 1-866-611-5686 and Atlantic Lottery Customer Care at 1-800-561-3942. For BetGuard lookalikes, use the official iGaming Ontario or BetGuard channels. OLG asks anyone who thinks they were a victim of fraud after buying or redeeming a lottery ticket to call 1-800-387-0098. Contacts for reporting ads to LGS, MBLL and AGLC were not confirmed, so for Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta the platform and the CAFC are the confirmed routes.
5. In Ontario, the AGCO also accepts reports about suspected unlawful activity and about advertising. It says it cannot get money back for you.
6. If you paid or entered card details, tell your financial institution or credit card issuer right away. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says to “notify your financial institution or credit card issuer immediately.” The CAFC also advises reporting the incident to local police and getting a file number. If your identity may have been stolen, it advises flagging your accounts, changing your passwords and reporting the fraud to both credit bureaus, Equifax and TransUnion.

None of the sources promises a refund or a chargeback, and none is promised here. The CAFC warns: “Fraudsters often target victims of fraud a second or third time with the promise of recovering money. Always do your due diligence and never send recovery money.” Being targeted again is a known pattern. It is not a measure of anyone's judgment.

If gambling is affecting you or someone you care about, support is available through provincial helplines. In Ontario, call ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600. In Alberta, the Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline is at 1-866-332-2322. In B.C., Gambling Support BC is at 1-888-795-6111. In Saskatchewan, the Problem Gambling Helpline is at 1-800-306-6789, and in Manitoba it is at 1-800-463-1554. Other provinces have their own helplines.

Fake online casino ads in Canada are reported the same way whatever name they copy: the platform first, then the CAFC, then the organization that was imitated.

What do people ask about fake casino ads?

Sources

• Government of Saskatchewan, Lotteries and Gaming Saskatchewan: Don't fall for fake casino ads online: saskatchewan.ca (June 3, 2026; accessed October 6, 2026)
• BCLC: BCLC reminds public to be cautious of deceptive and illegal online casino scams: corporate.bclc.com (February 24, 2025; accessed October 6, 2026)
• iGaming Ontario: Beware of BetGuard impersonation by unauthorized third parties: igamingontario.ca (September 10, 2026; accessed October 6, 2026)
• MBLL: ALERT: Fraudulent Club Regent Casino App: mbll.ca (page undated; the attached file is from 2024; accessed October 6, 2026)
• AGLC: PSA: Fraudulent casino apps and ads in Alberta: aglc.ca (page undated; Alberta media reported it from January 29, 2024; accessed October 6, 2026)
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Top 10 frauds in 2025: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca (February 25, 2026; accessed October 6, 2026)
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Report fraud: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca (accessed October 6, 2026)
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Report cybercrime and fraud (online reporting system): reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca (accessed October 6, 2026)
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: What to do if you're a victim: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca (page updated January 16, 2026; accessed October 6, 2026)
• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Bulletin: Fraud using Deepfakes: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca (July 31, 2024; accessed October 6, 2026)
• iGaming Ontario: Regulated igaming market (directory, accurate as of September 1, 2026): igamingontario.ca (accessed October 6, 2026)
• Alberta iGaming Corporation: Registered iGaming sites: abigaming.ca (accessed October 6, 2026)
• Atlantic Lottery: Stay informed, stay safe: theticket.alc.ca (date not shown; accessed October 6, 2026)
• Loto-Québec: Security and integrity: espacejeux.com (date not shown; accessed October 6, 2026)
• Loto-Québec: Sécurité et intégrité (French version): portail.lotoquebec.com (date not shown; accessed October 6, 2026)
• AGCO: AGCO calls on media platforms to step up the fight against unregulated online gambling sites: agco.ca (May 14, 2025; accessed October 6, 2026)
• AGCO: Registrar's Standards for Internet Gaming (Standards 2.04 and 2.05): agco.ca (accessed October 6, 2026)
• AGCO: Internet gaming complaints: agco.ca (accessed October 6, 2026)
• Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: Resolving an unauthorized transaction: canada.ca (accessed October 6, 2026)
• OLG: Protecting yourself: about.olg.ca (accessed October 6, 2026)
• Helplines: ConnexOntario · Alberta Health Services Addiction Helpline · Gambling Support BC · Saskatchewan Problem Gambling Helpline · Manitoba Problem Gambling Helpline (accessed October 6, 2026)