Tips for Choosing the Most Reliable Online Casino in Canada

Many Canadians are turning to online gambling, and the numbers on show indicate that it is only increasing. Reports estimated that the Canadian mobile gambling industry in 2021 earned more than $643 million, while it is predicted that by the end of 2023, the Canadian gaming industry will be $2.13 billion. As a result of this, there are more and more online casinos that Canadians can register with, and below we’ll give you tips on how to find the most reliable ones to register with.

Online Casino Licensing and Regulation

Before you go ahead and open an account with an online casino in Canada, you need to check to see who they have been licensed and regulated by. Regulatory bodies are there to ensure that online casinos are sticking to all of the iGaming rules and regulations, which are there to ensure your fairness and safety. If they fail to do so, then they will end up having their license taken away and will not be allowed to offer their online casino games to the Canadian public.

If you register with an online casino that has not been licensed by a top gambling regulator, then you run the risk of playing at an unfair and unsafe casino - this means that there is a chance that you will sign in one day and find that money is missing, and it will be all but impossible to get your hard-earned cash back. Obviously, nobody wants this scenario to arise.

What are some of the reputable online casino regulators that Canadians should look out for? Well, if a site has been regulated by the likes of the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the Malta Gaming Authority, The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, or the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, then you can be pretty certain that the casino in question is a safe and fair one.

Security and Privacy

When you’re playing online casino slots or any other type of game where money is involved, it is very important that you do so securely. If online casinos do not use top security technology, then they obviously run the risk of cyberattacks. If this occurs, then both your personal and financial details will be in danger, and your money could end up being stolen.

What are the kind of security measures that you can look for? Well, before registering with any real money casinos that catches your eye, you need to see whether the site is audited by reputable external companies like eCOGRA and iTech Labs. To find out whether they are, you can scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the company’s logo.

You should also have a look at their customer support team since top customer care is indicative of a safe and secure online casino. To check the quality of the customer support, send a mock problem to them via one of their contact methods, and check whether they respond with quality answers and in a suitable time. If they take ages to respond and provide unsatisfactory answers, think twice about opening an account with them.

Also, have a look at the address bar and check whether there is a padlock present - if there is, then this indicates that top encryption technology is in play, and that cybercriminals will not be able to get their hands on any of your personal or financial data. If there is no padlock present, do not register with that site.

Finally, you should also read the online casino’s privacy policy as this will tell you the kind of information that they will store, why they are storing that particular data, how long they will keep it for, who they’ll share it with, and how they’ll protect your data.

Below is a list of security level red flags to look out for:

• Missing a license
• No padlock present in search bar
• Very generous bonuses
• Unclear T&Cs
• High withdrawal fees

Game Selection

Many novice gamblers will pay a lot more attention to the casino bonuses in Canada than they do to the games that are available in the library - this is a huge error. The games that are on offer are a lot more important than any bonus. At the end of the day, bonuses will expire, while the games will not. If the selection of games is underwhelming, then your gambling experience will not be a good one. So, always take a look at the games that are on offer before you have a look at the promotions and bonuses. Remember that variety is the spice of life.

What are the most popular online casino games? Well, it is fair to say that slots are the most popular and this stems from the fact that they are easy to play, have a range of exciting bonus features, and give punters the opportunity to win some decent cash prizes without having to put down a lot of cash. Progressive jackpot slots are the most popular type of slot because they come with jackpots that increase in size until they are won.

All online casinos will offer their punters a variety of table games like poker, roulette, baccarat, and blackjack. Not everyone is a fan of slot games, and not even the most avid slot fans will want to play slots all of the time. In addition to this, all of the top online casinos will offer a live casino. If you are new to the world of gambling online, then a live online casino is one that provides table games which are manned by real-life dealers, while the players are also real. The real action will be streamed to your location, and you’ll be able to chat to the dealer and the other players at your table.

When you sit down to play online casino games, you’ll obviously want a fair crack of the whip when it comes to winning. Casino games are developed using random number generators to make sure that they are not rigged, while the aforementioned eCOGRA and iTech companies will test out their games to see whether they are actually fair and safe.

When evaluating casino games at an online casino, look out for the following red flags:

• A low number of games
• Not able to test out games
• No well-known software developers

Bonuses and Promotions

The world of online gambling is very competitive, and this competitive nature leads to online casinos have to offer a wide range of bonuses in order to have any kind of success. If an online casino does not manage to attract new players, then it will not be in existence for very long. This fierce competitiveness is extremely frustrating for online casinos, but it is great for Canadian players since there are some top online casino bonuses that you can make use of.

Let us now take a look at some of the different bonuses that are available:

Welcome Bonus: When you sign up with a new casino, they’ll often be glad to match your first deposit by a percentage up to a particular value. They might even chuck in a number of free spins too. For example, they will give you a 100% match deposit bonus of $200 and 100 free spins.

Free Spins: With this bonus type you’ll get free spins that you can use on particular slots without having to spend any of your own money. You will usually be informed as to what slots the free spins can be used on.

Reload bonus: Such bonuses are aimed at making sure that existing players stick around. With reload bonuses, you’ll be told that if you put down another deposit, they will match it - it will often be a 25% or 50% match.

Loyalty Programs: Online betting sites love players that are loyal, and they will always do their utmost to make sure that these players hang around. Many websites now offer a loyalty program to their punters where you can move up the tiers depending on the amount of money that you spend. The higher you climb, the better your rewards will be. The rewards can be monetary prizes and bonus spins. If you spend a lot more money than other customers, you will probably receive an invite to their VIP program - if they offer one. Here there are brand new cars and holidays up for grabs.

How do you determine what the best casino bonuses are? This is done by looking at the T&Cs that apply. For instance, you should check out the wagering requirements that apply since these tell you how much you have to stake in order for you to withdraw winnings or bonus money. For example, if you receive $200 in bonus money and the wagering requirements are 30x, you’ll have to wager $6000 before you can withdraw the bonus or winnings from it. Below are some other main T&Cs that you need to look out for:

• Number of days given to complete wagering requirements
• Restricted payment methods
• Minimum deposit needed to claim bonus
• Time given to use the bonus

Payment Methods

Before signing with an online casino, check out the different banking methods that you can use for making deposits and withdrawals. Doing this ensures that the casino in question has the best banking options, meaning that it will be simple to deposit and withdraw money.

e-Wallets are not the most popular kind of banking option since they allow players to make fast deposits and withdrawals, while you do not have to keep adding your card details every time. Some popular e-Wallets available to Canadians include Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, and ecoPayz. You will not usually be able to claim a bonus if you make a deposit using an e-Wallet.

Paysafecard and Neosurf are prepaid cards that are also popular because they offer complete anonymity. You just need to buy a voucher, scratch the back, and add the digits on the banking options page to top up your casino account. One main downside to this method is that you cannot request withdrawals.

Credit and debit cards are also popular banking methods among Canadian online casino players - if you use a credit card, please do so responsibly as they give you the chance to spend money that is not actually yours. Near enough every single online casino will allow deposits and withdrawals via bank transfer. It is a popular method because of its security levels, but it is quite slow when compared to aforementioned banking options.

You can find a summary of the main banking methods in the table below:

How do you make a secure payment at an online casino in Canada? Well, you’ll be glad to find out that it is a relatively simple process – we have provided you with a step-by-step guide below:

1. Sign into your online casino account and head on over to the banking page
2. Scroll through the banking methods that are available, and click on the one that appeals to you
3. Follow the simple instructions and input the amount that you would like to deposit
4. When you are happy with your choices and the amount you are going to deposit, click on the submit options

Customer Support

It is vital that the online casino site that you open an account with has a top customer care team because you can never tell when you might need some help. You do not want the situation to occur when you come across an issue and then have to jump through hoops in order to get any assistance that you need.

As we said above, you should think about sending a mock issue to the customer support team before you register so that you can check if they reply fast and give satisfactory replies to any issues. It is best that a customer support team is on offer ²⁴⁄₇ via contact options such as telephone, email, and live chat.

Additionally, they should be willing to help their customers set up important responsible gambling measures like self-exclusion periods and deposit limits. If you want some professional help when it comes to overcoming some kind of gambling addiction, then the OLG can help you out.

Some red flags that you should keep an eye out for when you are analysing a customer care team include:

• Take ages to respond
• Limited time availability
• Limited methods of contact
• A lack of responsible gambling features

Conclusion

If you want a great online casino gaming experience, then you need to select a reliable casino site. To do this, you should make an effort to read a lot of reviews, find out who has licensed them, ensure that their services are fair and secure, check that they offer game variety, have top bonuses and promotions, and offer all of the best payment methods.

By paying attention to all that we have mentioned in this guide, we are 100% certain that you’ll find the best Canadian online casino for you. Good luck, and always remember to gamble responsibly.

FAQs

Is It Legal to Gamble at Online Casinos in Canada?

Yes, it is legal for you to gamble at online casinos in Canada. However, it is important to make sure that they are licensed and regulated by top online gambling regulators.

How Do I Know If an Online Casino is Licensed and Regulated in Canada?

In order to check whether an online casino is licensed and regulated in Canada, load up their home page and scroll to the bottom - the important information regarding licensing and regulation can usually be found here.

What is the Best Payment Method to Use at Online Casinos in Canada?

Well, this is obviously down to personal preference, but some of the top banking methods include the likes of Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafecard, Interac, ApplePay, and GooglePay.

How Do I Know If an Online Casino's Games are Fair and Random?

If an online casino has been licensed and regulated by the likes of the Malta Gaming Authority, the AGCO, or the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, then you can be sure that it is fair and random. These are top regulators that are not going to put their name at risk by licensing poor online casinos. In addition to this, if they have been audited by independent companies such as eCOGRA and iTech Labs, you know that the games are fair.