What records should I keep as an Ontario online casino player in case I am ever questioned by the CRA about my gambling activity?

Gambling winnings in Canada sit in an unusual tax position — they are generally not taxable for a recreational player, but that does not mean your records are irrelevant. The CRA's own audit guidance makes clear that if unexplained deposits appear in your bank account, you may be asked to demonstrate that the money came from a non-taxable source. Without records, you simply cannot do that.

Why the general rule doesn't end the conversation

An individual's gambling activities can result in taxable business income or a loss — specifically when those activities constitute a source of income, meaning the person is carrying on the business of gambling. The CRA considers frequency and systematic nature to be indicative of a business. Among the factors it weighs: the degree of organization in the activity, whether special knowledge or inside information reduces the element of chance, the player's intention (pleasure versus profit as a livelihood), and the number and frequency of bets.

For the vast majority of Toronto players — recreational slots, blackjack, poker for fun — winnings are not taxable. But a high-volume player, a serious poker grinder, or anyone whose gambling deposits are large enough to draw scrutiny during an unrelated audit could face questions. The CRA's Income Tax Audit Manual explicitly lists "non-taxable lottery and other winnings" as something auditors encounter when examining the source of funds used to support a taxpayer's accumulation of assets, lifestyle, or deposits to personal bank accounts.

What the CRA actually asks for

The Audit Manual spells out exactly what an auditor will request if you claim gambling as a source of funds. For all winnings and losses, they will ask about: the type and frequency of gaming or betting; minimum, maximum, and average gaming loss or bet; the source of funds used to place wagers (cash, bank withdrawal); frequency of wins versus losses; and minimum, maximum, and average gaming win — and they will request documents that support the winnings and losses for all significant amounts.

For online casino play specifically, the CRA notes that online betting and gambling require the use of a credit card or e-commerce account where wagers are withdrawn and winnings are deposited — meaning the electronic trail already exists. Your job is to preserve your own copy of it.

The records worth keeping

Here is a practical list, drawn from what the CRA's own guidance says auditors look for:

• Operator account statements and transaction histories. Every AGCO-registered Ontario online casino maintains a transaction log in your account. Download and save these periodically — deposits, withdrawals, session summaries, and any account-level win/loss statements the operator provides. These are your primary evidence.
• Bank and payment records. Keep statements showing the flow of money to and from your gambling account. Auditors specifically ask about the source of funds used to place wagers, including bank withdrawals, so a clean paper trail between your bank and your casino wallet is valuable.
• Screenshots or exports of session history. If a platform allows you to export a CSV or PDF of your play history, do it at least annually. Platforms change, accounts get closed, and data is not guaranteed to be available years later.
• Notes on the nature of your play. A simple log — dates, games played, approximate amounts wagered and won — reinforces that your activity was recreational rather than systematic. The CRA looks at the taxpayer's intention to gamble for pleasure as compared with any intention to gamble for profit as a means of gaining a livelihood. A casual record of recreational play supports that characterization.
• Correspondence with the operator. Any emails confirming large withdrawals or account verifications are worth saving.

How long to keep them

The CRA's general guidance for individuals is to retain records for at least six years from the end of the tax year they relate to — consistent with the standard reassessment period. Store these digitally in a reliable location you control, not just on the operator's server.

One thing records cannot do

Good documentation can establish that your deposits are non-taxable gambling proceeds. It cannot transform a genuinely business-like gambling operation into a tax-free one. Whether a taxpayer's activities constitute carrying on a gambling business is a question of fact that can be determined only by an examination of all the circumstances and the taxpayer's entire course of conduct. If that question ever arises, a tax lawyer or accountant is the right call — not a self-assessment.

Finally, stick to operators you can verify: registered Ontario sites display the iGaming Ontario and BetGuard logos, and the full list of registered operators is on the iGaming Ontario website. Playing on a registered platform means your transaction records are held by a regulated entity, which makes third-party verification straightforward if it ever comes to that. If gambling ever feels like it needs its own income strategy rather than just a records folder, ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) is there — as is the 19+ age rule that applies to all of this.