1. Best online casinos in Canada 2021
Playing free games on your phone is nice, but what if you want to play for real money? The best way to achieve that is to join an online casino. However, there are thousands of online casinos, it can be pretty confusing if you have never played before.
You’re in luck because bestonlinecasinosincanada.net is an online Canadian casino guide that highlights the best Canadian online casinos. After intensive marketing research, the portal team came up with a comprehensive list of casinos with the best offers for a Canadian to have the most fun.
1.1 Ranking criteria
So, how does bestonlinecasinosincanada.net rank the casinos? It considers several criteria before crowning the best online casino, such as:
- Reputation
- Payout options
- Assortment of games
- Awards won
- Its achievements
- Security
- License
- Availability and helpfulness of support
- Analysis of casino testing agencies such as TST, eCOGRA, GLI, iTech Labs and Gaming Associates
1.2 For new players
If you’ve just started, here’s what you should keep in mind as you choose an online casino:
a) Reputation
One of the most important things to check is the casino’s reputation by verifying its license and other safety measures.
In Canada, most casinos are licensed by two of the strictest regulators in the industry: the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). Some casinos are licensed by the Canada-only regulator, Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Further, pay attention to how easily you can find the casino’s general terms and conditions as well as the bonus terms and conditions. Usually, safety measures such as encryption and privacy policy are also easily accessible.
All the casinos that we list on our site, including the ones above, are safe and secure.
b) Security
Closely tied to the first point, since you will enter your personal and financial details, such as photo ID and debit or credit card particulars, you want a site with watertight security.
For your peace of mind, look for a site that has an SSL certificate. This guarantees your deposits, withdrawals and personal information is safe and secure whenever you enter any data into that site.
c) Banking options
Online casinos have a healthy variety of deposit and withdrawal options. They include online vouchers, e-wallets, cryptocurrencies and bank transfers.
These are the options you should look for:
- Withdrawal options: a casino should have a wide range of options such as Skrill, Visa, Trustly, MasterCard, Paysafe, Neteller, PayPal, Bitcoin
- Withdrawal processing time: look for the shortest withdrawal times. Some options are instant, but regular processing times range from 1-3 business days. However, some casinos can stretch that up to 10 days
- Withdrawal fees: although most online casinos offer free withdrawals, some do have charges
- Availability: the banking options may be enticing, but only chose those available in your area
- Payment limits: most casinos place a limit on withdrawals; it can be a real pain to win huge but have to wait for ages because of the small withdrawal limit
d) Bonuses
Normally, there are some sweet bonuses for new players. They come in the form of a welcome or no deposit bonus. With those, you can test out if the casino games are to your liking.
Be sure to check out the wagering limitations and bonus conditions to get the best bang for your buck.
e) Variety of games
As fun as a game can get, it can become monotonous quickly. Look for a casino offering a wide variety of games from different providers to test your gambling chops and find what works for you.
f) Customer support
Since the casino is online, you can play anywhere in the world at any time. You want a support team that’s going to be there to help you out whenever you get stuck.
That’s not all. You want competent support as it’s pointless having clueless staff who are present 24/7. They should be available for consultation through convenient means, such as phone calls, live chat, social media and email. An FAQ section can also come in handy. Luckily, there are awards for customer support, so that can help you decide.
2. Online Casino Games
There are three main categories of Canadian online casino games:
i) Table games
These are the most common casino games. As the name suggests, you play them on a tabletop. Examples include:
- Dice games: Craps, Sic Bo, Hazard
- Card games: Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat
- Wheel games: Roulette, Big Six Wheel, Wheel of Fortune
- Board games: Ludo, Backgammon
ii) Video slots
You can have plenty of fun here. These are online slots versions of the gaming machine slots you will find in brick and mortar casinos, including:
- Starburst
- Book of Ra
- Mega Moolah
iii) Random ticket games
The online version uses random number generators (RNG) to pick random numbers and determine the winner. As a player, you pick a number and if the random number matches it, you’ve won. Some of the games you may encounter are:
Range of casino gaming
a) Free games: before you sink your teeth into gaming, it would be wise to try out the free casino games first such as free online slots. Most online casinos offer no deposit bonuses for this purpose. Try them until you’ve got the hang of it.
b) Live games: if you prefer the human touch that utilises old-school casino gaming, you can try out this option. You follow the action on a live stream and place your wager on live dealer games on a casino floor, at the comfort of your home.
c) Sports betting: Sports betting was legalized in Canada in the 1990s. However, single-game betting is prohibited. Currently, Canadians can only make parlay bets. This is all expected to change in 2021 with the submission of Bill C-218, which would see the legalization of single-game sports betting in Canada.
d) 3-D casinos: this is closely related to live casino, except that it uses 3-D graphics to render the casino floor, dealers and players. An example is Evolution Gaming’s First Person range of games.
Variations of games
Almost all the popular casino games have variations, including:
i) Slots
- 3-D slots
- Fruit machines
- Jackpot slots
- Progressive slots
- Single and multiplayer games
- Reel machines
ii) Roulette
- American, French and European roulette
- 3-D roulette
- Multi-ball roulette
- Live dealer roulette
iii) Online Poker
- Deuces wild
- Loose deuces
- Jacks or Better
- Bonus Poker
- Deuces Wild
- Bonus Deuces Wild
- Joker Poker
- Double Jackpot Casino Poker
iv) Blackjack
- Pontoon
- Spanish 21
- Super Fun 21
- European and Chinese Blackjack
- Perfect Pairs
- Blackjack Switch
Grouping casino games by skills
Although casino games have random outcomes meaning you need an element of luck, some require a higher degree of skills to stand a chance of winning. As expected, games with the lowest skill factor are the most popular because of the low learning curve.
- Low skills games: It means your decisions have some effect on the outcome of the game and house edge, but not substantially. Most casino card games fall under this category.
- High-skill games: In such games, every decision has a high impact on the game’s outcome. Examples include Blackjack, Craps and Video Poker. For Blackjack, it would mean mastering card counting, while Craps involves dice control. Video Poker would require understanding when to discard or keep cards.
- Games of chance: you will win or lose games in this category based on pure luck; no amount of skill can enhance your chances of winning. They include Roulette, Slots, lotteries and Baccarat.
An online casino can have as many games as it wants. It’s only limited by the laws and licences in the province it operates in, its contract with different gaming providers, capacity to host certain games such as live table games and mobile casino apps and its decision to specialise in particular types of games.
3. Online Casino Bonuses in Canada
Whether you are a beginner or a veteran of the online casino world, welcome bonuses and daily promotions are always something important to consider. Not only do these boost your bankroll and allow you to start your online casino journey on a high, but they also tell you more about the casino itself. When reviewing online casinos, we usually recommend those with the best sign-up bonuses and free spins.
Welcome: as soon as you join a casino, this is the most likely bonus you will encounter. It could take the form of a deposit bonus and free spins. Like any other bonus, you will have to wager several times before it’s eligible for withdrawal.
Deposit: to access this casino bonus, you must deposit a certain amount of money. It could be the initial deposit or it could come later in the game as a promotion. The bonus could run anywhere from 50-100% but with wager conditions.
No Deposit bonus: unlike the deposit bonus, it’s free, so you don’t need to deposit anything, but it comes with conditions.
Payment method: some casinos will offer a special bonus depending on the type of deposit option you choose. They do so because it’s their preferred method, so they encourage players to use it.
High roller bonus: casinos are businesses, so of course they love people who spend high amounts on their establishment. You will get large casino bonuses to encourage you to make large deposits.
Reload bonus: only applies to players who have made an initial deposit, usual to gift loyal players. Expect bonuses in the 30-40% range.
Cashback bonus: winning and losing comes with the territory of casino gaming, but some online casinos have bonuses to cushion some of your losses. These don’t happen all the time, usually weekly or monthly, and they only cover 20-30% of your losses.
Referral bonus: you will get the bonus if you refer someone to the casino, often called the ‘refer a friend bonus’.
Loyalty bonus: primarily applies to regular gamers who qualify to join the exclusive VIP club. Once admitted, there are a ton of bonuses and perks to welcome you to the fold.
Free Spins: these are the most generous online casino bonuses as they often happen and in large numbers.
Make sure that the terms and conditions connected to the welcome package are reasonable. We highly recommend that you read such terms thoroughly before committing to any bonus or promotion.
Apart from the usual deposit bonus offered, a great online casino will always have additional promotions running throughout the year aimed specifically at existing players, as this is a crucial factor in keeping all players happy. The promotions section can include anything from free spins bonuses, no deposit bonuses, seasonal promotions (Christmas, St Patricks’ Day, etc.), cashback bonuses, and additional deposit bonuses.
Click on the icons of each bonus for more information.
4. FAQ
Is it legal to play at online casinos in Canada?
It is perfectly legal for any Canadian to play in an online casino. The icing on the cake is the winnings are tax-free, unless the authorities perceive your gambling as a form of employment (dependent on your frequency, skills and expectation of payout).
Besides, no Canadian has ever been arrested for playing in an online casino.
Are there any legitimate online casinos based in Canada?
Yes, there are legitimate Canadian online casinos, such as:
- Pure Casino Calgary
- Cash Casino
- Casino Regina
- OLG Slots
- The Crystal Casino
How are online casinos regulated in Canada?
According to Section 207 of the federal Criminal Code, the provincial Crown governments have the right to supply gambling services and facilities, which they use to licence and regulate gambling activities in Canada. These provincial gaming authorities are:
- Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
- Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division Service of Nova Scotia
- British Columbia (BCLC)
- Liquor and Gaming Commission of Manitoba
- Loto Quebec
- New Brunswick Gaming Control
- New Foundland’s Service NL
- Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
- Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission
- Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority
Can I play at online casinos using Canadian dollars (CDN)?
You can play in most online casinos using Canadian dollars, including the offshore ones, as most have Canada-specific sites. Always confirm before you start, just to be sure.
What is a payout percentage at a casino?
It refers to the amount you can expect to win, the proportion of money you bet that the casino will payout in winnings. No wonder it’s called return to player percentages (RTP). In short, if a game has an RTP of 95%, it means that on average, you should expect returns of CA$95 for every CA$100 you wager.
Do I have to play for real money at a casino?
While many players opt for real money gameplay in hopes of striking big riches, we know some can’t always afford to indulge but still want their fix of online gaming. Most Canadian real money online casinos listed on our site also allow players to test out the games with a “Play for Free” option. While you won’t be able to cash in on any winnings, you’ll still be able to enjoy the best games without worrying about your bankroll.
How can I deposit at Canadian online casinos?
There are so many ways to do so, it is possible to use e-wallets, cryptocurrencies, online vouchers, wire and bank transfers, but that depends with your casino. Examples of providers include Visa, MasterCard, Neteller, MoneyGram, Western Union, Paysafe, PayPal, Skrill, ecoPayz, and Debit and Credit Cards.
Can I play on a mobile device?
Yes. You can either use your browser to access the casino or download the smartphone app if the casino has one. You could use most smartphones or tablets to play games 24/7 from wherever you are, as long as you have internet access.
What are my chances of winning?
That depends on the type of game you play and how you play. All online slots have a fixed Return to Player (RTP) percentage: the higher it is, the bigger and more frequent your wins will be. Table Games such as Blackjack, Baccarat and Roulette are likely to provide more generous pay-outs.
As for jackpot wins, it all depends on your bet amount: the higher your bet, the bigger your chances of winning.
Is it safe to download software from online casinos?
If you have verified that the casino is legitimate and licenced, then yes, it is safe to download its recommended software so you can have fun wherever you are.