The province

Who runs gambling in Nova Scotia

Gambling in Nova Scotia is shared between two public bodies and two operators. This page sets out who does what in plain words, then what it means for a visitor at either casino.

Written by the Two Rooms deskChecked October 13, 2026

Regulator: AGFT
Conducts: NSGC
Casinos: 2
Age: 19+

NSGC and the two operators

The Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, or NSGC, is a Crown corporation, a company owned by the province. It conducts and manages regulated gambling in Nova Scotia. Its former name was the Nova Scotia Provincial Lotteries & Casino Corporation.

NSGC oversees two operators, which run the day-to-day business. Atlantic Lottery, also called ALC, runs ticket lottery, video lottery and sports betting products for the province. It is owned by the four Atlantic provincial governments. Casino Nova Scotia runs the two casinos, one on the downtown Halifax waterfront and one in Sydney, Cape Breton.

Casino Nova Scotia is owned by Great Canadian Entertainment. That company has operated it for more than 20 years on behalf of NSGC.

Regulates

AGFT Division, Service Nova Scotia

Licenses and monitors casinos, bingos and lotteries; separate from NSGC and the operators.

Conducts and manages

Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation

A Crown corporation, owned by the province; oversees the two operators.

Runs the casinos

Casino Nova Scotia

Owned by Great Canadian Entertainment: Halifax and Sydney.

Runs lottery products

Atlantic Lottery

Tickets, video lottery, sports betting and alc.ca; owned by the four Atlantic provinces.

The regulator

The regulator is the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division of Service Nova Scotia, known as AGFT. It licenses and monitors casinos, bingos, lotteries and other games of chance. Harness racing is the one exception. AGFT is separate from NSGC and from the operators, Atlantic Lottery and Casino Nova Scotia. Self-exclusion can also be arranged off-site through this division, in Halifax or Sydney.

The numbers

In fiscal 2025-26, regulated gambling in Nova Scotia brought in $370.8 million in net revenue. Ticket lottery made up $160.9 million and video lottery $117.8 million. The casinos brought in $92.0 million. The payment to the province was $176.5 million.

The two casinos differ in what stands on the floor. In April 2025 the Halifax casino had 587 slot machines and 28 table games. The Sydney casino had 280 slot machines and no table games. Live tables and poker are at the Halifax casino only.

What it means for a visitor

The age is 19. The Gaming Control Act bars anyone under the age of majority from playing a game of chance in a casino, and the operator restricts both casinos to guests 19 and older.
The Player's Club is one loyalty card for both casinos. A card requires age 19 or older, valid government-issued photo ID and a short application; benefits are based on play and are not guaranteed.
Voluntary Self-Exclusion covers both casinos: the gaming floor, restaurants and entertainment venues, with Centre 200 excluded. Terms are 6 months, one year, three years or indefinite, and any casino staff member can start the process.
For help with gambling, the number is the Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line, 1-888-429-8167, run by Nova Scotia Health. The call is toll-free, free and confidential, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Questions

Short answers

Who owns the casinos in Nova Scotia?: Casino Nova Scotia runs both casinos and is owned by Great Canadian Entertainment. It operates them on behalf of the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation, a Crown corporation that conducts and manages regulated gambling.
Who regulates the casinos?: The Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division of Service Nova Scotia regulates them. It licenses and monitors casinos and is separate from NSGC and the operators.
How many casinos are there in Nova Scotia?: There are two, Casino Nova Scotia Halifax on the downtown Halifax waterfront and Casino Nova Scotia Sydney in Cape Breton. Both are run by Casino Nova Scotia.