Best Online Casino Canada – Your Guide to Real Money Gambling in 2021

How to Become a Top-Rated Online Casino in Canada

There are plenty of choices when it comes to online casinos in Canada, but not all of them provide the level of service to make them a top casino. For that reason and for the integrity of the industry, it is essential to review all casinos and rank them based on factors such as game selection, safety & security, banking options, customer support, and more. The best online casino in Canada will prove that it can excel in all of the areas above and provide players with a stellar experience.

Further down, we have put together a comprehensive list of aspects you should consider when picking a Canadian casino site, but here are a few boxes that, in our review process, gambling sites must check to be regarded as a top online casino in Canada.

• Welcome Bonus with fair wagering requirements
• A license issued by a respected regulatory agency such as the Malta Gaming Authority or UK Gambling Commission
• Fast Payouts without processing fees
• Acceptance of various payment methods, including web wallets
• Dedicated customer service team ideally available 24/7

Besides, Canadian online casinos must prove that they do everything possible to protect their player base both financially and from a data storage perspective. We expect that all transactions of financial and personal information nature are protected via SSL or TSL – the same encryption method banks are using – and that the online casino in Canada is partnering with external agencies to ensure fair play. The most trusted online casinos typically work with eCOGRA, a reputable online gaming regulation agency.

As of today, we have reviewed hundreds of operators, and we consider the following the best online casinos in Canada. Please remember that the moment we test a new casino, this list can change so we recommend to check back often as we regularly update this information.

At this point, we would like to mention that our reviews focus solely on real money online casinos in Canada, and we may consider an operator a top casino even though the site might not have the widest game selection or a modern design. This is because we focus on where you, the player, can have fun but also the highest chance to win real money.

Canadian Real Money Online Casinos

The best online casino in Canada with real money is one that supports your hunt for the jackpot and rewards you along the way even if you’re not a new customer. Unfortunately, many operators lure players with enticing bonuses but once they are through the door, make it incredibly hard to receive free spins or any other no deposit or deposit bonuses. Only the best Canadian casinos online understand that the relationship between operator and player is give and take.

In our quest for the top online casinos, we expect to see bonus schemes that reward new and loyal customers alike, and run promotions along those lines:

• Lucrative new player bonus
• Frequent chances to win free spins
• Weekly or monthly deposit match bonuses
• Cashback promotions
• Progressive jackpots

The best online casino doesn’t need to provide all of the above, but it does, however, has to offer a healthy mix of promotions targeting the entire player base. That said, it’s also crucial for top online casinos to not just focus on a specific player-type.

For instance, running various free spin offers is great, but it does not factor in customers who predominantly wager their real money on games such as Roulette or Blackjack. For those, a cashback offer would be much more rewarding. Similarly, live casino players would love a separate live dealer welcome bonus as opposed to 200 free spins for an online slot that they don’t care about.

Canada’s best online casinos have proven to be a leading force in the real money gambling sector, and we look forward to reviewing new brands in 2021 to keep you up to date on the latest casino offers in the North American hemisphere.

Gambling Laws For Online Casinos in Canada by Province

Canada is a country of great freedom and as such, gives each province the power to shape the lives of their citizens in their very own way. As part of that legislation, each Canadian territory is allowed to regulate online gambling individually, and it can happen that you can legally play at an online casino site in Canada in one state while facing restrictions in another.

At this point, we should mention that online casinos in Canada are generally considered legal with slight variations based on your home state. Further, besides Canadian gambling sites, you are allowed to register and play at online casino sites outside of Canada. Although this area is rather grey and not explicitly covered by the law, you won’t be prosecuted for making bets at a non-Canadian online casino.

Alberta

Alberta is one of the Canadian provinces with no online gambling legislation whatsoever. You will find land-based casinos in Alberta which are regulated through Alberta’s Local Gaming and And Liquor Commission (AGLC), and you are also allowed to play at an online casino from Canada or elsewhere without having to fear to break the law.

British Columbia

British Columbia is the most progressive Canadian province when it comes to online casinos. Back in 1985, British Columbia incorporated the BCLC – British Columbia Lottery Corporation – to offer and regulate lottery tickets, casinos, and legal online gambling. Through their own platform PlayNow.com, people in British Columbia can purchase national and regional lottery tickets, play online slots and other casinos games, as well as place bets on sports events in a safe and fair way. Please note that due to their Criminal Code, you can only place bets on sports events on a parimutuel basis, meaning bets must cover the outcomes of at least two events.

Besides PlayNow, players in British Columbia can also play at the best online casinos from other states or countries. It is rather a grey area but still safe for you as a player.

Newfoundland & Labrador

Newfoundland is a special place, as it is the only Canadian province that entirely prohibits gambling both land-based and online. Although there has been a debate around relaxing the legislation around online casinos and potentially running a state-owned platform similar to British Columbia and Ontario, no final decision has been made in this matter.

If you live in Newfoundland and want to gamble online, you can still sign up with a Canadian online casino from another province or an overseas operator. However, you might find your IP getting blocked by some online casino sites upon request of your ISP.

Ontario

In Ontario, online gambling is regulated similar to British Columbia through the OLG, Ontario’s government agency that conducts and manages gaming facilities as well as the sale of lottery tickets. The OLG also runs its own online casino in Canada, PlayOLG, which offers online casino products such as slots, table games, and video poker. What’s special about the OLG is that the agency reinvests all profits in regional projects within Ontario.

Besides PlayOLG, you can find the best online casinos to offer their services in Ontario. If your Internet provider does not block their sites, you are free to register and play casino games for real money.

Quebec

Quebec is the hardliner among Canada’s provinces as the state tries to block all access to foreign online casinos. Gambling is coordinated by the Quebec Alcohol, Racing and Gaming Commission, and the province runs its own platform called Espacejeux, a sub-site of Loto Quebec. Espacejeux is a fully-flexed online casino with slot machines, table games, virtual sports, and Keno. However, it cannot compete with the best online casinos in Canada considering it only offers 197 games, which do not include titles from the leading games developers such as Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, Play’n GO, and others.

Other Canadian Provinces

The online gambling laws in the remaining Canadian provinces Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan are similar as there is no clear regulation in place yet. Online casinos in these states are neither allowed nor explicitly prohibited, and the best casinos with real money are typically accessible for registration and play. Although the Canadian online casino industry is growing at a stellar pace there seems to be no rush in having the conversation around a full regulation. For years, the Canadian ministers seem to be avoiding this topic, which is one reason why so many top online casinos in Canada run on overseas licenses.

How to Choose the Best Online Casino in Canada

You have already learned how we rank the best online casinos in Canada, and we also talked you through the gambling laws of each Canadian province, so we think it’s time now to go into more detail on how to pick an online casino that is right for you.

Our recommendations focus on the top online casinos for real money players, but there are still nuances of an online casino that can make or break it. For example, some operators put their focus on slot games while others tailor their welcome packages to players that tend to deposit and wager higher amounts of money. You might also prefer to use web wallets at Internet casinos – or even cryptocurrency – whereas others prefer low fees on traditional bank transfers.

Generally speaking, to find the best online casino in Canada, you should look at their game selection, welcome bonus & promotions, and banking options but let’s go a little more into detail.

Online Slots & Other Casino Games

Games are the backbone of any online casino, whether that is in Canada or elsewhere. It’s the reason you sign up with a gambling place in the first place and should be your number one priority when choosing an online casino. Just like in many other countries, online slots are the #1 game at Canadian casino sites, and you should make sure to pick a website that offers you the full range of slot games from 3-Reel and 5-Reel to video and progressive jackpot slots.

The best online casino sites will offer you more than 500 games – at times even several thousand slots – from leading developers such as NetEnt, Quickspin, Big Time Gaming, and Play’n Go.

Besides slots, make sure that the casino site also provides you with a choice of more classic games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, and online poker. The top online casinos will have multiple variants of each game available and also offer live dealer versions of some of them.

Online Casino Canada Bonuses

The bonus and promotions is another important aspect of a Canadian online casino site. It’s what drives most players to the platform and, subconsciously, make you decide whether you find an operator appealing.

We recommend registering with an online casino that gives you some free spins to start with as it allows you to test the site without having to risk your real money straight away. Those no deposit bonuses are top-rated among players; hence you will find plenty of sites that offer them. However, keep in mind that only the best casinos promote such rewards at fair conditions.

Most online casinos in Canada tie their welcome packs to specific rules known as wagering requirements. Basically, when accepting a no deposit bonus, you automatically agree to certain restrictions that make those kinds of offers less enticing. The Internet casino might ask you to wager winnings from free spins between 30 and 50 times to turn the bonus into real money and also cap your winnings at CA$500 or lower. The best online casinos, however, are very transparent when it comes to wagering and will display the key terms alongside the bonus offer. However, we still recommend to always read through the fine print before accepting any sort or promotions.

Payment Methods at Canadian Online Casinos

When playing at a real money online casino, making deposits and payouts is a core element of the experience. You want to make sure that all transactions are fast, processes securely, and are not subject to any processing fees. On top of that, it’s critical that you have a broad choice of banking options available to you. Typically, the best online casinos offer the following payment methods:

• Credit Cards: VISA, Mastercard, and American Express
• Debit Cards: VISA Electron, Mastercard Maestro, and Interac
• Prepaid Cards (e.g. Paysafecard) and FinTech solutions, e.g. Revolut
• Web Wallets: InstaDebit, Neteller, Skrill, ecoPayz, and PayPal

You might find that an online casino in Canada does not have all of the above options, but if the site gives you access to, say 75 % of them, you can be sure that you have found a top casino site.

Customer Support

Last but not least, please make sure that your chosen online casino has a dedicated customer service team. If you pick a site from our top list, then you’re safe because we have done that check for you. However, as a rule of thumb, an online casino should give you the following three contact options:

• Free hotline
• Email Service
• Live Chat

Ideally, the customer support should be available 24/7, but we have given top scores to an operator that did not offer this kind of service. However, the casino had a fantastic process in place to reply to any inquiry within less than one day even if it’s a weekend.

Benefits of Online Casinos Compared to Land-Based Options

We have talked a lot about online gambling now, and you might start to wonder why you should sign up with an online casino in Canada instead of going to your local land-based one. Truth to be told, both forms of gambling have their pros and cons. Despite all the technology at our disposal, live casinos can still not provide the same atmosphere you experience in a brick and mortar casino in Canada and especially Las Vegas. However, there are two massive advantages of Canadian online casinos, which is the payout rate of games and, of course, the convenience.

All games, whether at land-based or online casinos, come with what is called an RTP rate. RTP stands for Return to Player and measures how much the casino pays out in winnings to players for that specific game. For example, if a slot machine has an RTP of 98 per cent, it means that over time, the game pays out 98 cents for every CA$1 wagered. Now, at land-based casinos, live slots tend to have a payout percentage of 85 to 90 % whereas on the Internet, online slots payout 95 % and higher. Clearly, playing online, your theoretical chance of winning is higher than offline, which is mainly due to lower sunk costs that online casinos have to deal with.

The second major advantage of online casinos in Canada is convenience. You might feel really lucky one day but you are too lazy to get dressed and drive an hour to the next brick and mortar casino. Perhaps there isn’t even one close to where you live or it’s closed for renovation. No matter that reason, it won’t be something to think about when gambling online. The best casinos are open 24/7, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.