Canadian Online Casinos

Legalities

It is illegal to start an online casino within the borders of Canada offering services to the population. As a rule, Canadian based online casinos are all state-run and regulated by the provincial governments, so that fair and responsible gambling can be monitored in the region.

There is one exception to state-run operators: The Kahnawake Indian reserve in the Mohawk territory of Quebec offers casinos the opportunity to operate within their borders. The local government turns a blind eye to it, as the reserve is semi-dependent; run mainly by the tribal Chieftains. All 200 casino businesses within this jurisdiction are independently regulated.

Provincial gambling regulation started back in 1970, but of course did not include online activities, as it was too early for this technology. So, gambling was offered in the form of race-betting, land-based casino entertainment, and video lotteries, which were often run to fund charities and the like.

Online gambling offered from outside of the country is not illegal for Canadian residents, even though the state would rather have its citizens playing at well-regulated institutions within the country. As a result, there are a great number of first-class casinos offering their services to Canadian residents from international bases in Europe and beyond.

Ontario Online Gambling and Regulations

Happily for players, as of April 2022, a new regulator has come on board, making it possible for online casinos in Ontario to operate fully legally! Many casinos have already been approved, a lot are applying, and we are sure many will follow. With this speed, the AGCO regulator is quickly becoming one of the biggest and most competitive in North America.

The new iGaming Ontario Market has various requirements, rules, and restrictions for online casino operators and players, such as users only allowed to play at casino sites in Ontario only if they are 19 years or older. This and the other rules by AGCO are valid for the borders of Ontario, and players cannot register or play outside of them. 

While having a regulated market in Ontario is great news for all players in the area, we still advise them all to get familiar with details about the Ontario license and the specifics of gambling services and activities in the region.

If you are interested in learning more about how everything works in Canada, you can check out our guide on gambling regulations in Canada.

Language and Currency at Canadian Casinos

Casinos are offering their services to Canadians in English and French (for those in Quebec). It is vitally important to play games in a tongue that you understand because a misunderstanding could cost you much frustration, not to mention that it could put you out of pocket.

There are vital terms and conditions that need to be understood with regards to gameplay, bonus options, playthrough requirements, withdrawal procedures and limits etc.

Оnline casinos in Canada offer you to bet in CAD (Canadian Dollars). This is a great benefit, as playing in another currency may be a little confusing. Being aware of the value of each wager staked, and each win or loss made, is vitally important to good bankroll management.

Sitting with a calculator converting currency is not an ideal scenario when gambling online. On top of it all, receiving pay-outs in your currency means that you will not have to pay extra foreign exchange conversion costs from money withdrawn.

Top Customer Service and Regulation

The big wide web can be a daunting place for an eager gambler. There are a number of rogue casinos out there who are responsible to no one for their methodology and business practice. Dealing with these casinos could cost you a lot of money and time and bring tremendous heartache.

Our ‘WOW’ approved Canada casino list offers reputable casinos that are regulated by some of the finest licensors in the world. We suggest that you remain with casinos regulated in jurisdictions like:

• The United Kingdom – UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)
• Malta – Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)
• Gibraltar – Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner (GGC)
• Alderney – Alderney Gambling Control Commission (AGCC)
• British Columbia, Canada – Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch

When you see a licence issued by either the UKGC or MGA, you can truly rest assured that their business practice, security measures, and gaming software is top-notch.

CasinoWow has undertaken to offer you only casino brands that have a proven track record of ethics and security. Rest assured that casinos on our list will treat you with utmost care. Most offer a 24-hour live chat line should you need a speedy resolution to any situation.

It’s a good idea to ensure that the casino’s software is regularly audited. All of the best Canadian casinos online employ outside auditing companies, such as eCogra and TST to perform testing on their platforms and systems, to ensure that they all fall within the industry standard.

Safe and Secure Payment Methods 

Having a great selection of casinos to play at is one thing, but do they offer easy payment and withdrawal options when you want to deposit and withdrawal cash? CasinoWow listed casinos have a variety of options available for you. Aside from the standard bank transfer or EFT/Wire transfer options, there are several safe and speedy banking methods offered by Canada Casinos. These often include:

1. Credit and Debit Cards

Most online payments are still concluded by debit and credit cards these days. It probably has something to do with the familiarity of the process. Most working people have a debit or credit card and are therefore knowledgeable about the payment procedures involved. The deposits are usually made swiftly, although withdrawals can take a few days.

2. Instant Banking

Instant banking allows you to process electronic transfers from your bank account through a third-party banking service. This adds an extra layer of security for your data, as no information need be inputted on the casino site. The third-party provider offers protection and security of your transfer via banking level multi-layer encryption. Payments occur instantly. However, withdrawals can not often be made this way. Two prominent Canadian Instant Banking methods include Instadebit and Citadel Canada, which are commonly offered by Canada online casinos.

3. E-Wallets

Electronic Wallets are a digital third-party payment facility that allows you to deposit and withdraw cash from online casinos in record time. Most deposits and withdrawals are instant and attract a minimal cost. E-Wallets allow for you not to have to input financial data at your chosen casino. Merely login to your account and submit the payment request.

The most efficient E-Wallets used for online casinos include Skrill, Neteller and PayPal.

‘On the Go’ Gambling

The world is very much prone to instant gratification on every level of life. If our fast food order took more than 2 minutes, we have a lot to say about. If someone moves off slowly from the traffic light after it turned green a few seconds ago, we are on our horn. If we order furniture, it's unsatisfactory to have to wait a few days to receive it. The world has moulded really impatient people.

The casino industry suffers at the hands of this impatience, and as a result has had to provide gambling from a mobile device that is easily accessible wherever you are, so that you can play your favourite game whenever you want to. For this reason, games are offered from your mobile device nowadays, without the compromise of poorer quality games, like a decade ago.

Nowadays with Android and iOS devices you can play games direct from the browser without lag or deterioration of gameplay, graphics or sounds, thanks to the latest in HTML5 technology. Either that or apps can be downloaded to enjoy mobile casino fun. Either way, Canadian casinos offer a host of mobile options in CA$.

Casino Partners and Bonuses

Just because Canada is far from the gaming hub of Europe does not mean that they are relegated to second-tier online casinos. The first-tier operators are beating on the door of Canadian players regularly. Canadians can play at top-rated casinos that hold the finest software and licensing, such as Betsafe Casino, Casumo Casino and far more.

Often Canadian online casinos will offer exclusive bonuses and promotions, especially for those playing in CA$. This ensures a bit of pampering time, as you are afforded extra bucks to try your hand at a plethora of games available. Check out our list of the latest bonuses at Canadian online casinos.

Common promos include first-time play bonuses, involving free spins and deposit match incentives at times. Though these bonuses are subject to wagering and playthrough requirements, one can hardly scoff at free money that affords you the chance of extra wins.

Canadian Online Casinos Summary

CasinoWow is in the business of linking the best players with the best providers. We want to ensure that you are kept secure and suitably entertained. As such, we have done all the leg work in selecting the best online casinos in Canada to service your needs. If you want to play just about any online casino game with peace of mind, then choose from our online casino list and be WOWed!