19+ (18+ in AB, MB, QC). Play responsibly.Rankings updated November 2026How we test
CanadaGamblers
Choose province Sign in

Tobique gaming licence: a First Nation licence, not a provincial one

By Brian LaddEditor, guides Fact-checked by Paul Lecavelier Updated

Tobique is the newest licence on this list and the one that confuses Canadian players most after Kahnawake. The name points to New Brunswick, the register is in Canada and some casinos call it a Canadian licence. It is not a provincial licence, and for a player it gives less to check than any of the other offshore options here.

What the Tobique licence is

The Tobique Gaming Commission (TGC) was created by the Tobique First Nation (Neqotkuk) in New Brunswick. Its Chief and Council enacted the Tobique Gaming Act 2023 on 13 October 2023, relying on the community's right to self-government under section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. The Commission and its licensing platform were announced in February 2024.

The Commission issues B2C licences to casinos and B2B licences to suppliers. It describes itself as a symbol of self-governance meant to improve the community's economic well-being.

How licensing works now

Licensing is run through private companies. According to the launch announcement, TGC Management Co. and DLAG are "the only entities with authority under the Gaming Act to accept or review license applications" on the Commission's behalf, and the Commission's own site sends applicants to DLAG's portal. Licences carry an expiry date, and licensed sites display a Tobique Shield with a link that should point to validate.thetgc.ca.

The register has grown quickly. It now lists around 200 licences, many of them held by companies that appear only as a registration number rather than a name.

Why it is not a Canadian licence

Canada's Criminal Code, section 207, lets the government of a province conduct and manage a lottery scheme in that province, and keeps computer-based games out of the other licensing routes. First Nations are not given a separate route. In R. v. Pamajewon (1996), the Supreme Court of Canada held that the First Nations in that case had not shown high-stakes gambling was an Aboriginal right protected by section 35. No court has ruled on Tobique's claim.

New Brunswick players are a good test. Both Tobique-licensed casinos we review, Winna and CoinCasino, list New Brunswick as restricted, so a licence from a New Brunswick First Nation does not even open the door to New Brunswick players there.

Player protection and complaints

  1. Use the Shield. Complaints about a Tobique-licensed operator must go through the complaints link in the Tobique Shield in the casino's footer. The Commission says complaints sent through its own website are not reviewed.
  2. Check the Shield first. A real Shield shows a validate.thetgc.ca link.
  3. Expect little detail. The Commission publishes no deadlines, no ADR provider list and nothing on what it can order a casino to do.

How to check a Tobique licence

  1. Click the Tobique Shield on the casino and confirm the link goes to validate.thetgc.ca.
  2. Open the License Holders page on thetgc.ca and look for the company named in the casino's terms.
  3. Check the expiry date and that the type is B2C.
  4. Be aware of the limits. The register has no licence numbers and no domains, so it cannot confirm that the site you are on is the one licensed. A licence number printed in a casino's terms cannot be matched to anything public.

The Commission also keeps a list of fraudulent sites that claim a Tobique licence without holding one.

What it means for Canadians

Ontario's regulated market runs through iGaming Ontario and the AGCO, and Alberta's opened in July 2026. A Tobique-licensed casino is part of neither, and in the other provinces, including New Brunswick, the provincial lottery site is the only provincially run online option. See our guide to whether online gambling is legal in Canada.

Casinos we review with a Tobique licence

2 published reviews on Canada Gamblers list this licence. Each name links to the full review.

Casino Licence number
CoinCasino 0000163
Winna Register shows no numbers

Our verdict

We think Tobique is one of the least secure licences a casino can show a Canadian player. It sounds local, which earns trust it has not built yet. Licensing is handled by private delegates, the register cannot tie a licence to a domain or a number, the complaint route starts and ends inside the casino's own Shield, and the legal basis has never been tested in court. A good operator can still hold one, but the licence itself adds very little.

We rate Tobique 2 out of 5. Judge a Tobique casino on its payouts, terms and track record, not on the Shield.

Sources

Key terms

KYC (know your customer)
Identity checks a casino performs to confirm who you are, usually by collecting ID, a selfie and proof of address.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Tobique licence a Canadian gambling licence?
No. It is issued by the Tobique Gaming Commission of the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, not by the province. Under the Criminal Code only provinces conduct and manage computer-based gambling, so for players it is an offshore-style licence.
Who runs Tobique licensing?
The Tobique Gaming Commission, created under the Tobique Gaming Act 2023. Applications are accepted and reviewed by private companies acting as its delegates, TGC Management Co. and DLAG.
How do I check a Tobique licence?
Click the Tobique Shield on the casino and confirm it links to validate.thetgc.ca, then find the operating company on the License Holders page of thetgc.ca. The register shows company, expiry date and type, but no licence numbers or domains.
How do I file a complaint about a Tobique casino?
Through the complaints link in the Tobique Shield on the casino's own site. The Commission says complaints sent through its website are not reviewed.
Can New Brunswick players use Tobique-licensed casinos?
Not necessarily. Both Tobique-licensed casinos we review, Winna and CoinCasino, list New Brunswick as restricted. Check the restricted territories in the terms, because playing from a blocked province can cost you your winnings.