6.5 years of experience
In the gambling and online casino research market
Best Online Casinos in Canada 2020
There are many online casinos where you can play your favorite gambling games. However, not all casinos have the same features and functionalities. So, if you want to learn which casinos are the creams of the crop, you have come to the right place. What you will find in our #1 guide is a 2020 CasinoNow fresh selection of some of the best online casinos – along with our personal guaranteed that the operators offered on our lists are 100% safe and legal sites.
We have employed some of the industry’s leading experts to review online casinos. And our experts are honing on every aspect that makes an online casino or an online casino game tick. Let’s start by looking at the best online casinos in Canada that we recommend you try out. Based on all the relevant data, Playamo Casino is the best casino of 2020. If you visit this casino you’re guaranteed to have a fantastic time playing some of the best gambling games in a friendly, relax atmosphere.
Top 5 Recommended Online Casinos in Canada 2020
When it comes to online gambling Canada is a very big market. This means that players are bombarded by offers coming from online casinos, claiming to be the best in the industry. But, when something sounds too good to be true it usually isn’t. This is why we have an in-house team of casino experts, whose sole purpose is to test all Canada-friendly casinos and find the truly best ones. That’s why we can proudly say that our site does offer the top online casinos in 2020:
CA
5.0/5
Payout Rate
97%
Payout Time
2-3 Days
Min/Max Deposit
€20 – €10000
Payment Methods(5)
- A huge selection of games available made by top tier software providers
- The customer support team is at its best, with live chat, email and phone support
- PlayAmo Casino is a completely legitimate venture, fully licensed by the top iGaming authorities.
CA
4.9/5
Payout Rate
98%
Payout Time
1 Days
Min/Max Deposit
€10 – €1000
Payment Methods(6)
- A solid selection of software providers
- Customer service is available to contact 24/7
- Live chat option is especially useful in this sense
CA
4.8/5
Payout Rate
98%
Payout Time
1 Days
Min/Max Deposit
€10 – €10000
Payment Methods(6)
- Woo Casino features support for cryptocurrencies and Bitcoin cash, alongside other payment methods
- The owner of Woo Casino, Direx N.V. is a legitimate, trusted operator of several top-tier online casinos
- There is a nice bonus for the new players in the form of several hundred free spins for the slots
CA
4.7/5
Payout Rate
97%
Payout Time
2-3 Days
Min/Max Deposit
€10 – €5000
Payment Methods(5)
- Thousands of available games that the players can play – made by top tier developers
- Big welcome deposit bonus for new players in the form of free betting money
- Dozens of live games to enjoy in the live casino section
CA
4.6/5
Payout Rate
98%
Payout Time
1-3 Days
Min/Max Deposit
€10 – €5000
Payment Methods(5)
- Fully licensed and legit online casino – owned by the Palace Group
- Some of the best games made by reputable developer Microgaming
- Big casino bonuses especially for the new players
Of course, with so many offers you might not quite be sure where to start. The aim of CasinoNow portal is to help you to find the top rated online casinos for smooth casino gaming. This means being honest about what matters, but it also means you need to know what kind of gaming experience you want. Every gamer is different, so think about what matters to you when picking the correct online casino. In that regard let’s have a look at the top 3 casinos in details.
Contents
- Your Guide to World of Online Casinos
- Safe and Reliable Online Casinos in Canada
- Games in Canadian Casino Sites: Comparison
- Overview of Top Bonuses in Online Casinos
- Online Casino Software: Our Recommendations
- Mobile Experience with Online Casinos in Canada
- Selection of Payment Methods in Gambling Sites
- Casino Customer Support for Canadians
- Online Casino Tips for Local Players
- Overview of Gambling Market in Canada
- Our Conclusion
- Online Casinos in Canada – FAQ
Your Guide to World of Online Casinos
If you’re a newbie to the world of online gambling don’t worry. We have a team of experts who create extensive and easy to understand casino guides. With our guides, you can easily find everything you need to know about online casinos. You can quickly learn how to make deposits and withdrawals from the casino, as well as which are the best games to play.
Our casino experts are always on the lookout for any changes in legislation on the territory of Canada. So if they spot any news you will be the first to know. This way you can keep track of the latest legal changes which may impact the market.
What you will find on the CasinoNow website is a variety of expert reviews of online casinos. Our experts are here to make things easy and clear for you. They write completely unbiased reviews that many of you will find of use. You’re welcome to read every article we have on the Canadian gaming industry on our website.
Testing Criteria of Right Online Casinos for You
When looking at the various options for online casinos, we take a huge amount of time to review each and every channel. With so many online casinos in Canada, it’s easy to make a mistake. Therefore, the CasinoNow Team works around the clock, looking at various factors that determine our results. Some of the things that we take into account include, but are not limited to:
Legality of online casinos:
obtained licenses and certificates.
Fairness and security:
standards on security and data protection.
Variety of games:
qiality and quantity of games on offer.
Casino software:
trusted and fair providers.
Payment methods:
withdrawal and deposit options, how easy they are to manage.
Bonuses and promotions:
quality of casino actions and bonus conditions.
Loyalty Program:
what casino can offer to regular players.
Mobile UX:
ease of access of the website online and on mobile devices.
Customer support:
clarity, ways and assistance to help you.
When we combine all of the above criteria categories, we begin to see a snapshot of what goes in to the decision making process when choosing a Canadian online casino. This is only a snippet of what is involved and there are many other areas of interest that come in to play before a provider lands in our database. So, all of the casinos that we review meet the requirements that we have outlined here. You can expect to have a fantastic time when using the services of any and every casino on the CasinoNow lists. Now let’s talk more about safe and reliable casinos.
Independent and unbiased
Our reviews of online casinos, games, and payment methods – are 100% independent
Over 250 casinos evaluated
More than 250 casinos from 10 countries selected by different criteria
100
0%
Security & Trust
100%
2000+
Free games and slots
Safe and Reliable Online Casinos in Canada
Safety is the top priority for all online gamblers. Our experts work around the clock to provide you with the latest and most complete information on the safe online casinos in Canada. At CasinoNow, we implement the latest technologies that serve us to perform an in-depth analysis of the security structures of online gambling in Canada. With this in mind, it’s easy to see how only legal casinos can get into our top 10 list of best casinos. Here are the most striking examples:
All of the casinos on our lists hold a valid license issued the leading regulatory bodies in iGaming. But what makes a casino “legal” in the sense of having a valid license? A casino is deemed legal only if it holds a license issued by a regulatory authority like the Malta Gaming Authority, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, and so on.
And in order to determine whether the casinos are legit – we also look into the encryption technology that the casinos use, such as SSL-Cloudflare. In addition, all the casinos we present here pay great attention to responsible gaming and cooperate with various organizations to protect players. Unfortunately, there are some casinos that want to cheat and rob a player – read about them in the next section.
What makes online casinos safe & secure in Canada?
RNG
casino testing
We regularly check the random number generator (RNG) of the software used. This way, you can be sure that casino games are safe and fair.
200+
Hours
Over 200 hours have been spent checking all the information provided in online casinos.
RTP
90 – 99,9%
The games and slots have these values on average in tested online casinos
Beware of Blacklisted Casinos
Blacklisted casinos are the online casinos that have been proven at certain points in the past to have implemented shady practices, beware of them:
Balzaс Casino
1.1 / 5
Casino auf der schwarzen Liste
- Known cases of cutting down payouts
- Long dispute resolution
- Bad reviews from players
City Tower Casino
1.1 / 5
Casino auf der schwarzen Liste
- Tampering with the RNG systems
- Partial payments
- Dozens of complaints from players
Our expert reviews, detailed instructions, blacklisted casino caution as well as the latest news help players make informed decisions.
Blacklisted casino warning to ensure player safety:
Our test is data-driven and goes through a detailed 10-step verification process. We are not influenced by third parties; we take into account both our experience and the experience of players to provide you with the most relevant information.
Rigorous 10-step review process
We know what to look for in online casinos, so we have formed a 10-step process for evaluating online casinos.
Valid license
All evaluated online casinos have a valid license.
Country-focused
Depending on the region, we assess online casinos from different angles. This allows us to see the hidden disadvantages of any online casino.
Games in Canadian Casino Sites: Comparison
The games are arguably the most important factor when it comes to online casinos – perhaps only after security and safety. Players can choose from variety slot machines and try some table games such as roulette and blackjack. We are sure that these are the three most popular types of casino games. When you want to try out some of the best online casino games, popular casino options that you must try out will include:
All good Canadian casinos mentioned above will make it easy to access all of these online games in proper time. It is also recommended that you get to know the exact rules of the game before you use real money to play. This is possible with the demo versions of different games which you can play right here. Online gambling games are growing not only in numbers but also in complexity. This way even newcomers can test a game and find out exactly how the rules are applied. Other popular types of online games that you may come across:
- Baccarat
- Video poker
- Craps
- Keno
- Bingo
- Whell of Fortune, Sic Bo and many other
Therefore, every gambler will find something to their taste. According to statistics, more than 80% of players come to online casinos for the sake of slots. Let’s have a look at this type of game futher.
Variety of Online Slots for Canadian Players
At CasinoNow we’re fully aware that slots are some of the most popular gambling games in online casinos. They have a massive offer of slots, especially when they are powered by several providers. So for you as a player, it can be a Sisyphean task to find the best ones. You can easily spend hours trying out slots in fun play and you still won’t find enough to fit your needs. Our experts have looked into several categories that can make or break the individual slot machines and chose the most popular slots that you definitely like:
| Popular Slots | Preview | RTP | Casino Software |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bad Wolf |  | 97,35% |  |
| Gonzo’s Quest |  | 96% | |
| Immortal Romance |  | 96,86% | |
| Book of Dead |  | 96,21% |  |
| Jackpot Raiders |  | 96.3% | |
| Mega Moolah |  | 94% | |
Hierbei haben wir die Höhe der RTP-Werte, die Seriosität der Spieleentwickler, die Beliebtheit bei Schweizer Spielern, die Anzahl der Gewinnlinien, den Unterhaltungsfaktor der Spiele und weitere wichtige Aspekte berücksichtigt. Wie Sie merken, kann jeder Spieler einen Slot nach seinen Wünschen auswählen. Alle Spielautomaten haben einen RTP-Wert über 96 Prozent und sind in unsere Auswahl der Top Casinoseiten erhältlich.
Unsere Experten haben zudem das beste Slot Spiel ermittelt: Es ist das Book of Dead von Play’n Go, welches über eine hervorragende Auszeichnung verfügt und unter anderem durch seine innovation, das atemberaubende Design glänzt. MIt einer RPT von 96,21% und 5 Reels mit 10 Paylines ist es ein absoluter Hammer under den schweizer online Casino Angeboten. Schweizer Casinos fahren völlig auf dieses Spiel ab, welches ein ultimatives online Casino Erlebnis bietet.
Popular Blackjack Offers in Canada
Blackjack is the most popular card game you can come across at online casinos, mostly due to the low house edge. But did you know that by using an optimal betting strategy you can lower the house edge even more or make it virtually non-existent? This is also true for certain blackjack variants. As you can see from our list some variants have a lower house edge than classic blackjack. These are the selected options that we recommend to beginners to try:
Just choose one of the options that seems most interesting to you. In our list of the 5 most popular blackjack variants for Canada, you can easily see the RTP value, the highlights, as well as the provider which supplies the games. Our casino experts are always here to help you with advice on which blackjack variants are the best to play, so you can have the biggest chances of winning. If you want to try a game all you need to do is click on the Green Button and you are taken directly to the casino website. But what about roullete?
Popular Roulette Offers in Canada
When you think about roulette most players imagine the standard double 0 American Roulette version. But in reality, playing American Roulette means that you are fighting a game which has a house edge of 5.26%. On the other hand, if you play European or French Roulette the house edge plummets down to 2.7%. In order not to clog the players’ heads with a large amount of data, we have collected the top 5 popular roulette options. You do not need to search and compare anymore, here they are:
As you can see you can easily choose which game to play based on the provider and the house edge. But that’s not all. There are a lot of roulette variants out there where you can find an extra set of rules which can bring down the house edge even more. The math is simple. The higher the RTP value is the bigger your chances are that you will win. You can easily see what the RTP value is for every roulette variant from our list. Once you decide on a game all you need to do is click on the green button and you are taken directly to the casino website. Do you know that roulette can be played with live dealers?
Try Live Dealer Casino Experience
Many people claim that live dealer casino games are the future of online gambling. It’s easy to see why this is the case. By playing with a real dealer or a croupier, you will get to feel like you’re in a real casino. The feeling of excitement will be cranked up to the maximum as you do so – regular online gambling is not even comparable to what live gaming can offer. We always take into consideration the number of live games at the casino. There are a lot of great casinos out there, but some are more focused on live games than others:
The winners of our live test are right in front of your eyes. Choosing the top 5 casinos in Canada in terms of live games is not an easy task. There are many popular live casino games that you can play. Some of the most common games to try out when you wish to play a live casino game include:
We value this factor greatly when appraising online casinos – so the highest ranking casinos on our lists will have quality live gaming experience to offer to the players. No matter which game you pick, you’re sure to have a phenomenal Canada online gambling experience once you pick one of the CasinoNow casinos. Moreover, all our test winners offer an excellent selection of bonuses for every taste.
Expand your knowledge through our learning guides
Over 2000+ free games and slots
Huge collection of casino games available for players from any region
Strategies, rules, glossary
We have collected everything in one place. These guides are suitable for both beginners and advanced players.
Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat
Read about the games and then choose an online casino to play them. All this is available on our portal.
Overview of Top Bonuses in Online Casinos
Online casinos are very generous, especially towards the new players. The reasoning is simple – they try to do their best to attract the players to use their services. It’s as simple as that. Bonus promotions are the most attractive part of an online casino. While casino bonuses often change all the time, you will usually find that your best bonuses will be broken down into various forms. At the same time, it’s incredibly hard work to find the best ones. Our casino experts are always on the lookout for new promos, which come with favorable terms. Here is our latest find:
Willkommensbonus
C$1500
Freispiele
150
Mindesteinzahlung
€20
Umsatz- bedingung
40x
Willkommensbonus
$200
Freispiele
220
Mindesteinzahlung
€10
Umsatz- bedingung
40x
Willkommensbonus
300 CAD
Freispiele
200
Mindesteinzahlung
€10
Umsatz- bedingung
40x
Willkommensbonus
C$1000
Freispiele
200
Mindesteinzahlung
€10
Umsatz- bedingung
40x
Willkommensbonus
C$1000
Freispiele
N/A
Mindesteinzahlung
€10
Umsatz- bedingung
50x
Determining what is the best bonus can be tough: it all depends on what you are looking for. In general, this means that the best promos need to have a reasonably low wagering requirement, no maximum cash out limit and a high maximum bet per spin. This way when you claim a promo you can play on high bets, clear the wagering requirements relatively quickly and withdraw your winnings in full. Just choose a bonus from our list and you can claim it right away. At present, one of the best online casino bonuses comes from JackpotCity Casino. They offer a whopping bonus up to $1,600, as well as 50 free spins. Such free spins allow you to play slots of various software developers.
Online Casino Software: Our Recommendations
Speaking about the casino games, you cannot ignore the software. The reason for this is that the software is an all-important factor that the player has to take into consideration if he or she wants to have a good time in reputable online casinos. There are hundreds of software providers in the industry. And here at CasinoNow, we take our responsibility seriously. We put all of the casino software in our casinos through vigorous tests. The top 5 software companies tested are:
This table offers you not only popular software, but the recommended casinos as well. We rank software providers based on the number of games in their offer, the popularity of their games, as well as the overall quality. What we start with is we put the game in question on a barrage of spins – and this number can climb up to several hundred thousands of spins. This helps us determine the average Return to Player rate that the game has. In addition to these top 5 casino software companies, many local players often choose games by:
All of these providers and other companies create excellent games for online casinos. Among other features, modern online casino software works very well on various mobile devices and tablets. We will explain why more and more players choose gambling on the go in the next part.
Mobile Experience with Online Casinos in Canada
In today’s industry a stable mobile platform is a must. All of our recommended casinos offer top of the line mobile casino experience. This means that all of their games are mobile-ready and a couple of them also offer mobile casino apps to make access easier. Some of our recommended mobile casinos also have custom bonus promos, which can be claimed only from mobile. Many online casino gamers prefer online platforms as they can use them on-the-go, and still retain all the normal functionality:
This means your mobile gaming experience retains the same quality. Thanks to the HTML5 and other up-to-date technologies, you can enjoy flawless gameplay and excellent design. Some of the most popular names in the online casino gaming industry for mobile users include JackpotCity, Betway, NightRush, Casino Cruise and Leo Vegas. Each one offers a robust and easy to use mobile experience that should make up some of the top rated online casinos. Most come with instant play features, too. It doesn’t matter which platform you choose to play, but any real money casino experience starts with a deposit. And we will help you figure it out in the next section.
Selection of Payment Methods in Gambling Sites
All Canada friendly casinos must have a variety of payment methods available to fully satisfy the needs of the players. Some players like to use Credit/Debit Cards, while others go for e-wallets or other providers. This is why best casinos have many payment methods available so you can easily use the ones which suit your needs the most. We provide all the relevant info on the limits as well as deposit and withdrawal times that you can expect from top payment method in our recommended casinos:
Congratulations if you have at least one of these payment methods available. For example, the vast majority of the trusted online casinos feature Neteller, Visa, and Paysafecard. Based on the casino and the payment provider you use you can easily see what the deposit and withdrawal limits are, as well as the timeframe in which your withdrawal is processed. Bear in mind that using e-wallets greatly increases the payout speed at pretty much every online casino. A big number of casinos also offer PayPal – an increasingly popular payment method. But who will help if you have payments-related questions or other issues?
Casino Customer Support for Canadians
If a casino doesn’t feature efficient and effective customer service – then it sure won’t deserve to be on our list of top casinos. We do extensive testing of this parameter as well. So, the first thing we look out for is how many modes of customer support contact can the customer use. A good online casino will have multiple methods – including phone support, live chat, FAQ section and email support; this you may see in the table below:
| Casino | Live-Chat | Kontaktformular | Telefon | FAQ-Bereich | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|  | |  | | support@playamo.com |
| | | | | support@cookiecasino.com |
| | | | | support@woocasino.com |
| | | | | support-de@22bet.com |
| | | | | dataprotection@genesis.com.mt |
Another thing that we test for is how fast the customer support team responds to an inquiry. The live support method should be the fastest – and the customer support agents should respond instantly in working hours. Phone support should not be trailing far behind. And finally, you shouldn’t wait for e-mail support to get back to you for more than two days. Finally, we test how friendly and how proficient customer support agents are. All casinos we offer have been vigorously tested when it comes to customer support – and they have all passed the tests with flying colors. In the next section, we will give you some useful casino tips and tricks.
Online Casino Tips for Local Players
In this section, you will get a beginner’s guide into the world of Canadian online casinos. You will learn more about several important subjects – including main casino features, step by step registration process, responsible gaming notes and the most popular casino types and, finally, you will get some tried and tested casino tips for online casinos.
Our experts have concocted a unique mix for the players – a unique selection of tips that you can follow and use when playing in the casinos. Here are some of them:
- Read the terms and conditions. All of the top casinos will have terms and conditions. It’s a tiresome process – but you should give your best to read them as you can find a plethora of useful information on how to use the bonuses, how your privacy is protected, and how you can deposit and withdraw money.
- Spare some time to test the games out. We have reviewed some of the best gambling games for you – but you will never know of the full gaming experience until you try playing the games yourself. Some games you will love – others you won’t. Your experience will guide you in selecting the best games for your preferences and wishes.
- Use the bonuses to the fullest extent. Canadian casinos are generous in giving bonuses to the players – and especially to the new players. Make sure that you use every bonus that you can get your hands on, as this is free money that you can use to get a head start when gambling.
So, you’re new to online gambling and if you wish to learn more about it, specifically in Canada, then you have come to the right place. Our experts have drilled down to the most basic components of the online casinos knowledge for your benefit. Let’s start from the features of trusted online casinos.
Features of Trusted Online Casinos
In time, our experts have honed into the fact that the most trusted Canadian casinos have a selection of features that set them apart from the competition. So, if you want to play in some of the best online casinos, then you should be on the lookout for the following features:
The licensing information should be prominently displayed on the casino’s homepage.
And there should be valid licenses by UKGC, MGA or KahnawakeGC among other high-ranking authorities.
Online casino reviewed by our team.
We try to keep track of all the decent online casinos for local players, so a review by CasinoNow is a good sign.
A relatively big selection of the standard payment methods.
Among them are credit/debit cards like MasterCard and Visa, electronic wallets like Skrill, PayPal, and Neteller, bank wire transfer and checks.
The bonuses should be simple to get and the T&Cs shouldn’t be overly complicated.
This sets apart the genuinely ethical casinos from the rest.
Finally, there should be a plethora of games made by the best developers.
Look for names like Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, and the like.
If you play in the online casinos that have the features that we have mentioned above – then you’re all but guaranteed to have a fantastic time. And you’re in luck, as some of the very best Canadian casinos have been reviewed at CasinoNow. It’s easy to find the top gambling choice in this way. After choosing a casino, you need to register there.
How to Register an Account and Make a Deposit
You only need to follow a few simple steps if you want to create an account in a real-money online casino. Our experts have outlined them for you:
- Visit the casino of your choice from our list of the best casinos.
- Click the sign-up button. It could be named as “register”, as well. It’s usually to be found in the top right corner of the screen.
- Write the personal information that’s required of you like name, address, and email.
- Click the confirmation link that you will receive on the email that you have provided.
- Log into your account and find the cashier page. Select the payment method that you want to use.
- Write the sum of money that you wish to deposit and confirm this.
- And there you have it, you have successfully created an account and deposited some money that you can gamble with.
Personal Data You Need to Provide to Make Payments in Casinos
Most of the online casinos and the payment method providers will require you to give some personal information so they can identify you. Some of the information you need to provide is the following:
- your first and last name,
- place of residence,
- your e-mail address,
- phone number,
- potentially proof of identity – like an ID card.
The proof of identity will be required if you make withdrawals of bigger sums of money. This is required, as they say, to support the money-laundering prevention efforts of law enforcement. Regardless of the amount you play for, you should always do it responsibly.
Responsible Casino Gaming: Some Tips
Responsible gaming is one of the fundamental tenets of gambling. As all of you that read this article know – gaming can be incredibly fun, exhilarating even. The ups and downs are all part of this one-of-a-kind experience. However, this can bring with it a dark side. Gaming can be very addictive, especially to the more prone categories of people.
And this is why several organizations deal with responsible gaming. They provide advice to casino-owners and players alike in how to handle problem gambling and prevent it in the first place. These organizations also offer guidance on how the casinos can implement a variety of different tools in their battle against problem gaming. You can contact the problem gambling prevention organizations, and you can also contact the staff at the gambling casinos and they will put caps on how much money you can spend.
But the final responsibility rests within you. If you play demo games, then it’s okay to have fun. But things can get potentially a lot more serious if you involve real money casino into the mix. You need to be smart about gaming and realize if you’re doing too much of it. Don’t let your passions get the better of you, as it can very well end up ruining your life.
Responsible Gaming Help Sites and Organizations in Canada
As we’ve mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are several different responsible gaming help sites and organizations. They have dedicated their craft to helping people out with problem gambling. So, what are some of the online gambling in Canadian legal websites and organizations that you can seek help from? Here’s our list:
These are some of the websites that you can visit to get help if you feel you’re addicted to gaming. Note that there’s nothing to be ashamed of as this can happen to anyone. The helpful and competent staff of these organizations will help you conquer problem gambling. Unfortunately, there is a subset of people that have problems in controlling their gambling excesses. These people exhibit what’s known as problem gambling. Against their own will, they simply can’t control how much they spend on gambling and they get swayed by the ups and downs of the experience. This is why it’s very important for Canadian players to be completely protected from developing dependence on online gambling. And armed with the right tools, resources and knowledge, every player that has problems with excessive gambling could get the help they need at the time they need it most.
| Center Name | Activity | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Health Services | Voluntary and confidential addiction treatment services | Seventh Street Plaza 14th Floor, North Tower 10030 – 107 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3E4 | 1-866-332-2322 |
| British Columbia Partnership for Responsible Gambling | Programs, services, resources and information for assisting and educating gamblers | Vancouver, North Vancouver | 1-888-795-6111 |
| Addictions Foundation of Manitoba | Education, prevention, and treatment of problem gambling | 1031 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3G 0R8 | 1-800-463-1554 |
| New Brunswick Health – Gambling Information | Counseling and intervention services for problematic gamblers | Responsible Gaming Information Centre Casino New Brunswick 21 Casino Drive Moncton, NB E1G 0R7 | 1-800-461-1234 |
| Newfoundland Labrador Health and Community Services | Services for people affected by problem gambling behavior | 1st Floor, West Block Confederation Building 100 Prince Philip Drive St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6 | 1-877-999-7589 |
| NWT Health and Social Services | Mental health and addiction services | Residential Addictions Treatment Program Department of Health and Social Services P.O. Box 1320 Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9 | 1-800-661-0830 |
| Problem Gambling Help Line | A 24/7 problem gambling hotline | Barrington Tower 1894 Barrington Street Halifax Nova Scotia B3J 2A8 | 1-888-347-8888 |
| Ontario Treatment Providers | Free and confidential services for problem gamblers | 14785 Yonge Street, Suite 210 (2nd Floor) Aurora, Ontario, L4G 1N1 | +1 (800) 263-2288 x322 |
| Health PEI Gambling Addiction Services | Gambling-related counseling to break free from addictions | Health PEI 16 Garfield Street PO Box 2000 Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8 | 811 |
| Gambling: Help and Referral | Listening and support on compulsive gambling | on-line | 1-800-461-0140 |
| Saskatchewan Health – Gambling | Services related to the prevention, education and treatment of gambling problems | Saskatoon City Hospital 701 Queen Street Saskatoon, SK S7K 0M7 | 1-800-306-6789 |
| Yukon Health and Social Services | Quality health and social services for Yukoners | Government of Yukon Main Administration Building 2071 2nd Avenue Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 1B2 | 1-800-661-0408 |
Online Casino Types Explained
Here are some main types of online casinos which a beginner must understand:
- Web-based casinos. The thing that distinguishes these casinos from the others is the fact that you can play in them from your web browser. You don’t need to download anything – just register an account, deposit some money, and you’re good to go.
- Download casinos. The distinction here is that you will need to download the casino software to use it – you can’t access the casino’s games from your web browser alone. There are benefits to using the casinos though, including improved graphics and performance.
- Live-based casinos. These casinos specialize in providing a live gaming experience to the players with real croupiers and dealers.
- Fresh casinos. New casinos are being registered in Canada every so often. They know how to captivate the player’s attention. Also, these casinos feature many different bonuses for the players. And now, let’s have a look at what the gambling market has to offer to the customers.
Overview of Gambling Market in Canada
On average it’s estimated that a single Canadian household spends over 1,200 CAD per year on some form of gambling. This means that the total revenue generated by gambling establishments in Canada is over 19 billion CAD. The numbers keep on growing with each passing year.
Thanks to the Kahnawake Gaming Commission we can also see an increase in online casinos with a prime focus on Canada. There are over 50 licensed online companies, which make up for over 250 online casinos that can freely offer their services to players. More and more casinos are being created and granted licenses by the governing authorities even as you’re reading this review.
But it’s not all about online gambling when it comes to the gambling market. There are state lotteries, many land-based casinos like Caesars Windsor, Casino de Montreal, Casino Nova Scotia; sports bookies like Betway Sports, 888 Sport, Pinnacle Sports, Sporting Bet; various lotteries, and so on. Canada has some of the most lenient gambling laws in the world, enabling gaming establishments to thrive across its territory. This is mostly due to the relaxed terms of license issuing by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Read more about this below.
Gambling Laws in Canada
Online gaming is not illegal per here. Canada is, in fact, one of the countries that don’t take a firm stance on online gaming – at least in the matter of legislature. The players can enjoy themselves while playing some of the world’s best online casino games – and this is completely legal by Canadian laws.
However, what’s illegal is to register an online casino. That’s right, this means that there aren’t any online casinos that are native to this country. So, what’s the solution to this problem? Online casinos registered in off-shore countries. Soon we can expect that Canada will become a bit more liberal with the processes of registering online casinos in this country. However, we can expect there will be firm regulations set in place to prevent any foul play and malicious, rogue casinos from getting successfully registered. Here you can read more about this topic.
Statistics and Trends in the Canadian Gambling Market
The gambling industry in Canada is definitely on the rise. Various statistics made by independent bodies certify that this is the case:
- It’s the estimates for the year 2019 are that the online gambling industry alone is worth more than $31 billion.
- With the advent of online gaming, more and more people have caught on to the fact of how interesting gambling can be.
- Statistics show that 18,6 million Canadians gamble, which is an impressive number of people.
- This makes this country get a world-wide rank of #8 in online gambling.
- It’s estimated that more than 45,000 Canadians are employed in the ever-expanding local gaming industry.
- Alberta has the highest GDP gambling income rate than any other Canadian province – with 4% of its GDP being from gambling.
- We expect that the legislature will become a lot more liberal soon as people’s demands for gambling go up.
- Each province in Canada is free to govern themselves when it comes to gambling.
Gambling in Canadian Provinces
As we’ve mentioned in the previous section – online gaming is a gray area in all of Canada. This makes it so that entrepreneurs can’t register online casinos in any of the individual provinces and territories of Canada. But there is still a way to serve the market – as more than a thousand offshore online casinos exist to serve the needs of the Canadian gambling customer. There are different provinces in the country, these are:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- 3 Atlantic Provinces
- Canadian Territories
That being said, there are land-based casinos in practically every province and territory in this country. But some provinces, like British Colombia and Manitoba, have their government-owned gambling websites that deal with the state lottery. Other provinces have strictly regulated land-based casinos. Betting is popular in many Canadian provinces as well.
Betting Market in Canada
The betting market in Canada makes up for a great part of the overall gambling revenue. Legal land based bookies alone employ over 130,000 people across the territory of Canada. One of the most popular betting events in the country is Horse Racing. There are over 44 race tracks in the country, meaning that there’s always some race to bet on. This makes horse racing the N1 event when it comes to legal betting.
Betting at online bookmakers is also popular among players. It’s estimated that around 30% of the revenue online casinos make falls to sports betting. At the same time horse racing amounts to only 20% of all bets made at online casinos by Canadian players. But that’s not all. Canadians can also bet on a variety of sports events. One of the most popular ones being Hockey. There are seven teams in total in the National Hockey League and with Canadian teams in the NBA and MLB, there’s always some action going on.
Another major betting event in Canada is Lacrosse, with the biggest bet pool in the world. Canadians also love to bet on soccer, especially on the World Championship or the League of Champions. Last but not least is American Football with bets on games across the border. And what about eSports bets?
Poker Market in Canada
Poker is still a very popular game on the territory of Canada. There is a lot of land-based casinos that have poker rooms that host daily tournaments. One of the most popular ones is the Playground Poker Club in Montreal, which hosted several World Poker tournaments.
Canada also has a number of pro poker players, the leader being Daniel Negreanu with a total of 6 WSOP bracelets. Here’s the top 5 poker players from Canada:
- Daniel Negreanu: $ 42+ million
- Timothy Adams: $ 24+ million
- Sam Greenwood: $ 22+ million
- Jonathan Duhamel: $ 18+ million
- Daniel Dvoress: $ 15+ million
For now, the most popular poker variant played across Canadian casinos is still Texas Hold’Em. But Canadians also like to play 3 Card Poker and Caribbean Stud. Poker is certainly gaining back its popularity after a significant drop a few years ago. This can also be contributed to a number of offshore companies where Canadians can freely play online poker. But you can play tradional poker games in land-based casino as well.
eSports Betting Market in Canada
eSports betting is constantly growing in size across the world and in Canada. It seems that the younger generation of gamblers would rather bet on eSports than on traditional casino games.
There are many events which you can bet on in eSports. One of the most popular ones for Canadians is The International, which is a Dota 2 tournament with a prize pool of $25 million. Some other betting events worth mentioning are the Fortnite World Cup and the League of Legends World Championship. Another event that is slowly rising among eSports bettors is CS:GO. But the aged Canadians prefer the good old lotteries.
Lotteries Market in Canada
The lotteries market in Canada is still big business. The number of players has certainly diminished over the years, from an estimated 70% in the 1990s to about 40% today. But even so, these loyal players create a revenue anywhere from 7 to 10 billion CAD each year.
When we look at the revenues for each province, Ontario takes the lead each year. In 2019 they contributed over 4 billion CAD to the total revenue which was close to 9 million CAD. The rest of the provinces with significant lottery revenue are British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta.
The lottery market in Canada is highly competitive, so operators are always struggling to keep their loyal players and attracting new ones. One of the most successful ways to do this has proved to be bigger prizes and payouts for the players. It has a positive impact on the lottery market, with a steady growth in players. Poker is also developing in the country.
Overview of Best Land-Based Casinos in Canada
Casino gambling has been made legal in Canada back in 1975. Since then, there have been more than 75 land-based casinos operating on its territory. We have mentioned the fact that the regulations about gambling are a bit hazy and unclear – but this is not the case with regular gambling. You’re free to gamble in this country – provided you are of the legal age and provided you aren’t banned from various casinos where you want to enter. Here’s our list of some of the best land-based casinos in this country:
| Land-Based Casinos | Key Feature | Address | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Rock Casino Resort | Over 1,100 slots | 8811 River Rd, Richmond, BC V6X 3P8 | +1 604-247-8900 | concierge@riverrock.com |
| Casino Niagara | Breathtaking waterfalls | 5705 Falls Ave, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6T3 | +1 888-325-5788 | info@casinoniagara.com |
| Hard Rock Casino | It spans 80,000 feet | 2080 United Blvd, Coquitlam, BC V3K 6W3 | +1 604-523-6888 | customer_care@hardrock.com |
| Casino de Montreal | One of the biggest casinos in the world | 1 Avenue du Casino, Montréal, QC H3C 4W7 | +1 514-392-2746 | mtlsacren@casino.qc.ca |
| Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort | Named the “most elegant casino in Canada” | 6380 Fallsview Blvd, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 7X5 | +1 888-325-5788 | reserve@niagarafallshotels.com |
| Caesars Windsor | One of the best casinos in North America | 377 Riverside Dr E, Windsor, ON N9A 7H7 | +1 800-991-7777 | info@caesars.com |
| Northlands Park Casino | Special for Slots fans | 7410 Borden Park Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T5B 4W9 | +1 780-471-8174 | info@northlands.com |
These casinos offer some of the most fun gaming experiences – because they have some of the best games. They have roulette tables, baccarat tables, blackjack tables – all of them with professional and friendly croupiers and dealers. And they have hundreds of the best slot games for the players to enjoy. Since there are currently many issues with the Coronavirus disease, it is recommended to postpone your visit to a traditional casino. In this case, online gambling is the safest option for you. Take care and choose one of our recommended online casinos to play with.
Our Conclusion
The Canadian gaming industry is at an all-time high – regardless if we’re talking about the online or the land-based gambling industry. New casinos are springing up frequently and they attract more and more players. So, if you’re a Canadian resident, be sure to visit some of the top casinos that we have mentioned on our lists. You’re guaranteed to have fun using them – and, perhaps, you will even win some money playing your favorite games.
Be sure to consult our CasinoNow guide anytime you need an explanation about anything regarding online gambling. Follow our guidelines and you will have the safest, most secure, and most fun experience that online gambling can provide to you. Be sure to take things lightly and to gamble responsibly – as this is the only way to increase the longevity of your gambling career.
Online Casinos in Canada – FAQ
What online casinos are legal in Canada?
All casinos that we have mentioned in the list on the top are legal to play in Canada. In fact, any company based on the Malta Gambling Authority or UK Gambling Commission are likely to be legal places for you to play your online casino games.
Can Canadian Citizens play at our online casinos?
It’s completely legal for Canadian citizens to use the online casinos that we have on our lists. Of course, there is the age limitation – you must be of legal age to play in our casinos. Other than that, there are no limitations as to how much you can play and where – aside from the limitations that you will put yourself.
How often we test the casinos?
We’re on the constant lookout for any changes whatsoever when it comes to the Canadian online casinos. If there is a dramatic change that our CasinoNow experts believe will influence your experience – then we will write about it ASAP. You can learn all the information you need by following our guides.
How safe are online casinos?
Any of the top rated online casinos will come with SSL encryption, and thus their personal details and overall user data are entirely safe. The best casinos are safe, scrupulous and are unable to be gamed or cheated, meaning that you can feel comfortable about how they operate within.
How are online casinos regulated?
By special authorities and companies. They will undergo an evaluation from one of the relevant authorities, with the two most respected and trusted authorities for Canadian casino gamers being the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gambling Authority. Other established regulators are in Gibraltar, Alderney and the Isle of Man, which are long-term, established regulatory bodies who you can trust in terms of their judgement.
Why do online casinos offer bonuses?
To attract new players. The competition is so fierce that online casinos need to do something to get you to sign-up with them. Given most companies use the same games, they have to find a way to encourage you to try out their service, which is why so many online casinos offer such generous rewards.
Why are online casinos often based in Malta?
This is due to economic and tax issues. As one of the first countries in the European Union to regulate gambling, Malta has some of the most robust and secure laws and regulations. As such, casinos based in the Maltese gaming circuit are seen as secure, safe and having managed to meet the strict criteria Malta sets out.
What does the phrase NJ casino mean?
NJ Casinos stand for the New Jersey casinos – the select few online casinos that are completely legal to use. Canadian citizens can also freely use these casinos at their wish – so, if you don’t know where to play your favorite games, be sure to check out what some of the best NJ casinos have on offer.
Über den Autor
James Taylor
James Taylor is the chief editor of CasinoNow Canada Portal. This is the professional name of our bilingual go-to guy who adds value to all our work. He has been working as editor-in-chief at CasionNow Canada since 2018. Previously, he studied at the University of Quebec in Montreal and worked in market research companies.
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