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Which is the best online casino in Canada? Well… that all depends on you. Having said that, as something of an expert on this subject, I’d certainly argue most of you will have more fun if you keep your eyes peeled for a few must-have features. You see, the brands that hardcore players consistently wax lyrical about on the likes of Reddit and TrustPilot pretty much all have fast-loading games from branded software houses. In my own experiences of rating online casinos for several years now, I’ve noticed they usually offer state-of-the-art live dealer experiences, too. And of course, legit sites are always licensed.
Before I dive into what makes Canadian online casinos worth your while, let’s look at the ups and downs of actually playing at these platforms’ games in the first place. The top pros and cons, include:
This depends on a ton of different factors, including:
That first point is the real stickler, though. Which is why on this page, you’ll see a whole bunch of tailored banners detailing the best online casinos available specifically in your province. And it’s really important you stick to sites that can be legally accessed where you live…
Things in The Great White North are, well… a little complicated.
The nationwide Criminal Code states that online gambling is legal in Canada. But in the same breath, it also grants each province the right to enforce their own gambling regulations as they please.
This has led to a pretty mixed legal outlook for online casinos across the country, with the state of Ontario, for example, regulating the industry very closely, with the province’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) handing-out iGaming licenses to the brands it deems safe and worthy of players’ custom. Elsewhere, other provinces still flat-out prohibit online casinos entirely.
For this reason, my Canada online casino list is going to vary depending on where you live, and the best sites in each region will vary, too. You’ll see details of the hottest sites wherever you’re based listed in the banners on this page and you might even be able to pick up a Canada casino no deposit bonus too.
As a handy point of reference, the table below outlines which provinces currently allow residents to legally access government-regulated online casinos:
Province | Who are the regulators capable of issuing a license to online casinos? |
---|---|
Ontario | Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). |
British Columbia | The BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC). |
Quebec | Société des casinos du Québec Loto-Québec. |
Manitoba | The Liqor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA). |
So, a proper license from your province’s regulator is an absolute must, then. But of course, there’s a lot more to online casinos than that. You should also look out for:
A lot of people ask me, “what’s the number one feature the best online casinos out there ought to have?”. In Canada’s case, the obvious answer is of course provincial licenses, but I’m a firm believer that state-of-the-art gaming software comes a close second.
Why? Well, software does all the legwork behind the scenes of everything your casino offers. In short, you find a site or app with good software and you’ll be able to enjoy fast-loading, lag-free games, while signing up with a brand who’s software sucks is going to be a bit of a headache.
There are a handful of prominent software brands that top Canada casino sites commonly source their slots, tables, and live casino games from. These include:
But how do you know whether a Canadian casino offers games from these guys? Well, if your casino offers games from any of the above, chances are they’ll shout about it on their homepage somewhere – usually in the site footer.
Some brands will display the names of software companies on each individual game page, while others might even let you filter games by software house specifically..
If you plan on playing with real money casino apps in Canada, be warned: not every brand out there is going to be compatible with your device.
Of course, many top-ranking casinos – including those you’ll see promoted via the banners on this page, offer downloadable apps you can use, but it’s important to check whether said apps are available for both iOS and Android, or at the very least that they’re going to work with your model of smartphone or tablet, before registering.
Having said that, I wouldn’t stress too much about this point when shopping around. Why? Well, a lot of online casinos have gotten around compatibility hiccups in recent years by putting out “mobile-friendly” websites, which in many ways are more flexible and easier-to-use than having to download a dedicated app for every single device you’re ever likely to play on. But take heed: such mobile-friendly websites tend to run best on:
I’m very familiar with players reporting problems when using less-popular or more niche browsers than the above – so try to stick to these where possible. They’re the big three most of the best Canada casino sites tend to tailor their sites to work smoothly with. This means gitches and lag should be minimal, if not non-existent.
A brand’s reputation can be make or break. And I’m not just talking about provincial licenses here – there are a ton of tell-tale signs you ought to look out for that’ll reveal in a heartbeat whether the online casino you’re looking at is trusted. After all, there’s no point in picking up some casino free spins in Canada if you can’t trust the brand who served them up.
Below, I’ve condensed some of the most important things you should keep your eyes peeled for into a handy table:
What to look out for | Why it matters | How to double-check your online casino offers it |
---|---|---|
SSL encryption | SSL is there to safeguard your personal data. I don’t think I need to go into detail about why that matters, right? | Your browser will display a cute little padlock next to the brand’s URL if SSL is in force. |
Random Number Generator (RNG) software | RNGs are used to ensure the outcomes of any games are 100% randomised. In other words? RNG games are fair. | Jump into their Privacy Policy or T&Cs and perform a quick keyword search. |
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA). | Having an extra verification layer when logging in helps ensure your account’s safe if ever your password falls into the wrong hands. | It’s going to be another Privacy Policy keyword search… |
In addition to the above, you should read up on what past and current players have to say about any brands you’re half-considering before you register. Here, I’m talking about checking out forums and reviews sites like Reddit and TrustPilot. Of course, many of the reviews on these sites should be taken with a pinch of salt, but they’ll still help you get an all-round feel of what a site has to offer.
If in doubt, you can always count on my site right here to offer trusted recommendations. Any one of my gaming and casino guides will always point you in the direction of reputable brands you can play with legally in your province.
The best online casino in Canada for you should, of course, serve-up all the kinds of game genres that you like to spend your time playing. I totally get that eye-popping cartoon fruit machines aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, while blackjack doesn’t get absolutely everyone’s heart racing either. And for this reason, the best casino brands will always be those that offer diverse game portfolios.
Here’s a bit on what to look out for, category by category:
Any slot games worth a second look should have RNGs working behind the scenes, as I mentioned earlier. The best games should probably offer a Return to Player (RTP) percentage of 90% or higher, too, as well as volatility levels that match your personal experience level.
You can check out whether an online casino in Canada offers all this with a quick flick through their game pages. Player reviews are another great source – particularly video walkthroughs. Diversity is key, as more slots = less potential you might tire of the brand’s game offerings later down the line.
Roulette, poker, blackjack, and the like of course come with different considerations. Any digitally-driven games should obviously offer RNG software, too, but generally the most important aspects to consider here are things like table limits.
High rollers won’t fare well if the maximum bet is limited to $5 CAD, while any beginners among you will probably want to play at precisely those kinds of low limit tables to build up your experience before taking on the big guns, right? If you live in a province where casino promotions are available, then all good Canada casino bonuses should be table-game compatible, too. This means steering clear of slots-oriented bonuses that are restricted solely to free spins.
IMHO, any half-decent online casino in Canada ought to offer live dealer games. Why? Well, these titles are about as close as you’re going to get to no-holds-barred, Vegas-style action without physically climbing inside your computer screen.
The best brands out there offer fully immersive games staffed by real-world dealers and hosts who speak multiple languages – so, whether you’re in Vancouver or Montreal, you’ll be covered. I’d suggest prioritising any sites that offer live tables powered by Evolution Gaming; one of the biggest and best-respected developers in the live casino space.
Which sites have the best online casino payouts in Canada? It’s a question I’m asked a lot to be honest, and I’m afraid to say there’s no nationwide answer, as the brands up-for-grabs will differ depending on which province you’re playing from. One thing I can say, though, is that a reputable online casino shouldn’t leave you waiting any longer than 24-hours to cash out.
It’s worth noting that while most casinos will let you deposit instantly using credit card, or the likes of Skrill, PayPal and other Canada-friendly e-wallets, some aren’t quite so accommodating on the withdrawals front. This makes cross-comparing cash out times between providers crucial – something you can do using the banners on this page, or my online casino comparison articles.
Well… Sometimes. The fact of the matter is, sites that are fairly fresh to market might warrant a bit of background research – particularly if something just doesn’t feel right.
Unless you’re reading about it on my site here, there’s a chance any of the new casino sites in Canada might not yet have acquired a license in your province. If their game offerings sound a little too good to be true, you should definitely read up on them before registering.
When all’s said and done, you should only ever, ever sign-up with sites that offer:
Or, conversely, only ever take recommendations from reputable sources, experts and folk you can 100% trust. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m talking about the likes of me here.
The best online casino in The Great White North is… drum roll, please… province-specific and dependent entirely on you. On that first point, you should keep in mind that registering with a properly-licensed casino that’s 100% legal where you live should always be top priority – something my banners on this page can certainly help you with. And on that second point? Well, there’s an easy way to find a brand that’s a perfect fit.
First, I’d advise making a clear-cut list of exactly what you’re looking to get out of a Canadian online casino. From there, check out my regionalised comparison articles, browse my banners and check through the game selections, device compatibility and software offerings of each site to narrow down the final contenders.
Yes, but provincial licenses are uber-important. Read my guide to Canadian online casino sites to get all of the right facts.
Availability differs from province to province, but my expert guides and site banners can point you toward the top sites where you live in minutes.
This is always going to vary depending on where you’re playing, but I’d say they should take 24 hours or less. Get more tips with my latest casino guide.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.