Nova Scotia Casino and Card Room Gaming

Commercial casinos were permitted in 1995 when the Gaming Control Act was established. The Fuel and Tobacco (AGFT) Division of Service Nova Scotia licenses and regulates gaming activity in Nova Scotia, and the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation (NSPLCC) – formerly known as the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation (NSGC) – is responsible for ensuring economically sustainable and socially responsible gaming in the province. In 2005, Nova Scotia's two casinos, Casino Nova Scotia Halifax and Casino Nova Scotia Sydney, were sold to the Great Canadian Gaming Corporation. This sale provided for the new operating contract to be negotiated, resulting in the province receiving 45.5% of all casino revenue. Nova Scotia also allows commercially owned bingo halls, but the owner may not be involved in the conduct and management of the game.

In January 2026, the Nova Scotia government and Great Canadian Entertainment announced an agreement to relocate Casino Nova Scotia Halifax from its longtime waterfront location on Upper Water Street to a new purpose-built facility at Dartmouth Crossing. Great Canadian Entertainment will construct, own, and operate the new casino, with opening anticipated in 2029 under a new 25-year operational agreement with NSGC. Casino Nova Scotia Halifax will continue operating at its current location until the new facility opens. The Sydney location will not be relocated.

In 1991, video lottery terminals (VLTs) were legalized. They are operated by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

In November 2005, to help combat gambling addiction, Nova Scotia's government decided to pull 800 VLTs from bars and taverns. The following year another 151 VLTs were removed from facilities throughout the province.

In 2010, the NSGC introduced the "My-Play System," a program designed to prevent gamblers from becoming addicted to VLTs. The program gives players information about their current and past VLT activity and allows players to set a spending limit, to stop play immediately, and to set a time limit. The My-Play System became mandatory on all Nova Scotia VLTs in April 2012, but was pulled in August 2014 when the government cited the program as responsible for a CAD 47.5 million drop in VLT revenue between 2012 and 2014.

In spring 2012, the government of Nova Scotia rolled out new regulations to increase accountability in the gaming sector. As part of the changes, the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation was renamed the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation.

Although operated by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, Casino City considers VLTs to be a casino and card room gaming activity. For the purpose of this analysis, only non-First Nation VLTs are included.