What is our mission and how can we help you?
Reviewing Casinos For
9+ Years
Full-time Reviewers
20
Hours Spent Reviewing
20,000+
Reviewed Casinos
100+ (and growing)
We’ve been reviewing, testing, and analyzing online casinos since 2012, with the help of our team of dedicated reviewers, from which I’m a proud member!
To accurately rate and review each casino, we actually sign up, claim the bonuses and gamble on the casinos, on top of running a filtering process, which we will reveal in the next section. So you can get the best benefits and gambling experience without risking your money and time because we’ve already done the heavy lifting for you.
But we don’t stop there, because our mission is to help you become a profitable gambler. Sure, choosing the right casino is the first step, but you need to learn how to manage your risk, how to size your bets, how to pick the best games, and how to build and administer your betting strategy. We teach you all of that so you can gamble like the pros.
In addition, we also include resources to expand your gambling knowledge and skills, as well as official places where you can get professional help if you ever face a problem with online betting.
What’s our process for reviewing and rating online casinos in Canada?
We start by making sure that the casino is operating legally in Canada. In addition, we also verify if the online casino possesses any or all of the following gambling licenses:
- Gibraltar Gambling Commission License
- Malta Gaming Authority License
- Kahnawake Gaming Commission License
- Curacao Gaming License
- Antigua And Barbuda Gambling License
- Isle Of Man Gambling License
These regulatory bodies will make sure to supervise and regulate the casinos using their licenses, as well as accepting, processing, and solving complaints filed against the licensed casinos.
Once we’ve determined that the online casino is legal and properly licensed to operate in Canada, we investigate their reputation and history since they started their operations. These are the most important factors we take into account:
- Year of foundation
- How many times they’ve changed names
- How many times they’ve changed owners
- The group that owns the casino
- Complaints (if any) were filed against the casinos on how they were resolved
- Ratings and reviews.
If everything looks good, we proceed to examine the T&C, because it means the casino is both legal, regulated, and reputable.
Terms and Conditions
It’s essential to read the T&C, to understand your rights and limits once you join the online casino. The Terms and Conditions will detail what behaviors will lead you to lose your account and/or funds, as well as the betting and withdrawal limits, KYC procedures, wagering requirements of bonuses, etc.
Reading the T&C is likely to take you several hours (at least it takes me a lot of time to get through them!), but it’s 100% worth it. If the T&C are favorable for you, then we proceed to whitelist it.
Bonuses & Offers
You want a casino with generous and easy-to-cash-out welcome bonuses and offers. Make sure that the online casino brings you a generous welcome bonus with easy-to-meet wagering requirements such as an x10-x30 rollover. Furthermore, ensure that they bring you regular promos like no deposit bonuses, free spins, and loyalty bonuses.
Game Variety
It depends on your own taste, but we ensure that every casino offers you a wide variety of games. Ideally, it should meet the following criteria:
- For starters, the casino should use audited and reputable software suppliers like Microgaming, NetEnt, Betsoft, International Gaming Technology, Playtech, Novomatic, amongst others
- It should bring you a wide variety of slots games, both with normal jackpots and progressive jackpots
- The casino should offer you plenty of board games such as blackjack, baccarat, pontoon, roulette, scraps, etc.
- Finally, it should also have a fair share of live casino games, so you can add more variety to your gambling sessions.
Mobile Play
In a world where we use our phones for literally everything, gambling is not the exception. Therefore, we make sure that the online casino offers both a responsive website and a fast and functional mobile app available on iOS and Android, and if possible, on Windows Phone as well.
Loyalty Points & V.I.P Program
You want a casino that rewards your loyalty, and hence, we only select online casinos with an excellent V.I.P program. It should bring you plenty of bonus points for all the real money you wager, as well as exclusive deposit bonuses, free spins, cashback, gifts (items, travels, etc.), real cash prizes, and cashback.
Payment Methods
I love casinos with lots of payment methods. Credit cards, cryptocurrencies, digital wallets, bank transfers, etc. The more, the better… but there’s more to check, and here’s how we do it. You can refer to our section about payments methods to learn more about them, but ideally, the casino should have low fees for both depositing or withdrawing money, as well as a fast processing time once you’ve completed all the KYC procedures.
Third-Party Audits
A third-party audit ensures that a casino is actually fair, and therefore, we make sure that the online casino in question has been audited by a reputable firm such as eCOGRA. Below, find the list of the most important third-party auditing companies in Canada:
- eCOGRA
- eCommerce Online Gambling Regulation
- Technical Systems Testing (TST)
- iTech Labs
If they’ve been audited by one or all of these firms, then we give the casino a major approval stamp!
Online Security
A great online casino is more than just juicy bonuses and lots of games, it must also be safe. To ensure that you can enjoy a profitable, fun, and safe gambling experience, we make sure that the online casino has an active SS certificate, a CDN system like Cloudflare to prevent DDoS attacks, secure servers, and an active technical team ready to fix bugs and potential vulnerabilities.
Fair Play
An online casino can claim to be fair, but we need to verify it. To ensure it, we make sure that they’ve been audited by a third-party firm like eCOGRA or TST, and that they use reputable suppliers like NetEnt, Microgaming, and Betsoft, which are known for auditing and testing their games to ensure that the Random Number Generator (RNG) works properly.
Customer Service
Sooner or later, you’ll need to contact the customer support service. To ensure that you receive the best experience, we make sure that the casino brings you 24/7 customer service via channels like live chat, email, toll-free phone, and with a Knowledge Base with auto-service. Bonus points if they have a forum or community.
The Blacklist: Online Casinos to Avoid at All Costs!
Our job is not only recommending amazing online casinos but also alerting you about fly-by-night casinos that might bring you an unpleasing gambling experience. From problems with payments to security problems, issues with fair play, and shady bonuses and offers, the following casinos don’t meet our standards of quality.
Blacklisted casinos (Updated July 2021) | Reasons why it’s been blacklisted |
---|---|
21 Dukes Casino |
|
99 Slot Machines |
|
Atlantic Casino Club |
|
21 Nova |
|
BetVoyager |
|
Dendera Casino |
|
Diceland Casino |
|
We constantly update this section, and here you have our latest reports about the worst online casinos in Canada, so you can avoid them at all costs. Stay clear from them since you’re likely to lose all of your money.
The Secrets Behind Online Casino Bonuses: What You Must Know
Welcome bonuses and offers are an essential part of online gambling, but do you really know how to unlock them to cash them out in real money? If not, come with us to learn all about the bonuses from online casinos in Canada.
The types of welcome bonuses available on online casinos in Canada
Bonus Type | Description | Benefits |
---|---|---|
Welcome Deposit Bonus | Match bonus on your first deposit. For example, get an extra 100% up to $1000 CA. | Best way to x2+ your initial deposit, so you can increase the size of your bets, and hence, increase your profit potential. |
No Deposit Bonus | A bonus that you can obtain to play for free, and once you complete it, you can cash it out in real money. | Best way to test the waters of online gambling in Canada without risking your own money |
Free Spins Bonus | A bonus that gifts you free spins for specific/all slots games in a casino. They come with a rollover requirement. | The best type of bonus for fans of slots because it allows you to have a real shot at winning big prizes with minimal risk. |
Loyalty Bonuses | Exclusive bonuses for loyal customers of a casino brought to you via the V.I.P program. | Best way to increase your profit potential in case you decide to solely bet on one casino. |
Now that you know it all about the different types of bonuses, make sure to choose the right one for your likes and strategy.
What are the wagering requirements?
Every bonus and offer comes attached to wagering requirements. They dictate the number of times you have to wager the bonus in order to unlock it and cash it out in real money. Therefore, you need to pick a casino with reasonable wagering requirements. Ideally, don’t accept bonuses over x30, since they are much harder to unlock and claim.
Proven tactics to maximize the winnings from your welcome bonuses and deposits
The difference between ordinary gamblers and profitable gamblers resides in key aspects such as administering your risk, sizing your bets, and selecting the right games for your welcome bonus and deposits. We will show you how to grow your bankroll the right way.
Choose games with a high RTP
RTP stands for Return to Player, which is the expected percentage of wagers that a game will bring you in the long term, for example, after 100 spins. In short, it’s the percentage of time that a game will pay back to you. Ideally, it should have an RTP of 96% or more, so you can minimize your risk and have actual chances of winning a prize.
The keyword here is “long term”, which means that on top of choosing a high RTP game, you need to pay for the long haul. We will discuss more this in the next sections.
Know the ins and outs of each game
Don’t just choose a game because you liked it at first glance. Before you put in any money, you should learn all about the game, such as the rules, prizes, paytable, jackpots, RTP, house edge, etc. Basically, everything you need to play the game like a pro and see if the game has enough benefits to bring you a great reward-to-risk ratio.
Build a bankroll
Now, the secret to responsible and profitable gambling is to assign a specific bankroll for gaming online. It must be money that, if lost, won’t diminish your current lifestyle quality. Therefore, treat it as entertainment and you will reduce the emotional and mental pressure, which in turn will help you to make better decisions.
Everyone is different, so no matter the size of your bankroll, make sure that it’s disposable money that you won’t miss or need in case you lose it.
Determine the size of your bets
As we said before, you must think about the long term. Therefore, each bet should be anywhere from 0.2% to 1% of your bankroll. The riskier the game, the smaller your bets should be. This way, you will be able to take advantage of the high RTP, so you can reduce your risk and have a real shot at winning the prizes of the game.
Nonetheless, make sure that your bets are eligible for the jackpot, especially when it comes to slots because it will increase your expected return.
Create limits for profit and loss
Some days you’ll be very lucky and profit big time, whereas other days you’ll have a pretty ugly streak. That’s luck, and you better learn how to ride it, and the best way to do it is by establishing limits for profits and losses.
Such limits will depend on how conservative or risky you are. For example, let’s suppose that you have a profit limit of 10% of your bankroll. As soon as you hit it during a session, you simply close everything, cash out some/all profits, and call it a day.
The same would apply for a loss limit, but in this case, it should be smaller, anywhere from 1% to 5%. This way you will protect your bankroll from being destroyed by a losing streak. Remember, it’s not just about winning, but also protecting your capital so you can bet another day.
Establish these limits early, so you can follow and respect them. This way, you’ll be better off than the majority of online gamblers in Canada.
Withdraw profits to a separate account
This is the final part of building your online gambling plan. You need to determine what percentage of your profits will go to a separate bank account, and how much you will re-invest in your bankroll. Similar to what we did with profit/loss limits, be strict and respect these rules.
This way, you will have actual money in your hands, and you will be using your online gambling plan to consistently generate cash. Remember, this is about protecting your capital and winning for the long term - always for the long haul!
F.A.Qs about Online Casinos in Canada
If you are still in doubt about online casinos in Canada, our F.A.Qs and answers will come in handy. If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for, feel free to contact us here.
What online casinos are legal in Canada?
All the casinos we recommend are legal because they meet the legal requirements in Canada, such as being licensed by a competent regulatory body. Some examples of legal online casinos include JackpotCity, Mr. Green, Royal Vegas, and Spin Casino.
Can you win real money on online casinos?
You can because the casinos we recommend offer real-money gambling. Nonetheless, you can also play for free thanks to no deposit bonuses or slot simulators, so you can test the games without risk.
Can I gamble at online casinos using Canadian dollars?
All of our recommended casinos allow you to gamble using Canadian dollars. Be it for deposits or withdrawals, you can use Canadian dollars without paying hefty exchange fees.
Are online slots illegal in Canada?
It is illegal to run an online slots website in Canada without a real license. Therefore, as long as the online slots casino owns a real license, then they can operate legally in the country.
Is gambling at home illegal in Canada?
As long as the casino is licensed by a competent regulatory body, it’s completely legal to gamble at home in Canada. Therefore, you can bet online without worries as long as the casino is legit.
Are online casinos in Canada safe?
They will be safe as long as you verify they comply with all the online security standards. Our team of experts has already analyzed each casino on our website, so you can play in a safe environment.
Can I play casino games on mobile?
You can play casinos games on your smartphone or tablet because our recommended casinos include responsive websites and mobile apps. Be it slots, table games or live casino games, you can try them all.
Where can I learn more about gambling and online casino strategies in Canada?
We’ve already brought you some of the best winning tactics used by professional gamblers, but it’s essential to keep growing. Below, find the best communities and forums where you can expand your gambling knowledge to hone your skills for every casino game:
- Blackjack: Blackjack - The Forum
- Poker: Beasts of Poker
- Slots: About Slots
- Baccarat: Baccarat Forum at GamblingForums.com
- Roulette: Roulette Life
- Keno: Keno Forum at GamblingForums.com
- Craps: Craps Forum
Explore and participate in these communities. You will learn a lot about the odds, strategies and bankroll management skills necessary to remain profitable in each game.
Where can you get help in Canada if you’re facing a problem with gambling?
We all can experience problems with gambling, and it’s important to seek out professional help early. Below, find official resources where you can get help and guidance to overcome your issues with gambling:
Website | Type of Assistance | Phone Number (toll-free) |
---|---|---|
Alberta Problem Gambling Resources Network | Professional help | 1-866-461-1259 |
ConnexOntario | Professional help | 1-866-531-2600 |
Quebec Gambling: Help and Referral | Professional help | 1-800-461-0140 |
British Columbia Problem Gambling Help Line | Professional help | 1-888-795-6111 |
New Brunswick Gambling Information Line | Professional help | 1-800-461-1234 |
Nova Scotia Problem Gambling Help Line | Professional help | 1-888-347-8888 |
Gamblers Anonymous Nova Scotia | Professional help & community of people struggling with a gambling addiction | 1-888-429-8167 |
GamTalk | Community of people dealing with gambling problems and those who’ve beaten their addiction | N/A |
These services offer free and confidential assistance to help you overcome gambling addiction. You’re not alone, and as our mission is to promote responsible gambling, always have these resources near you, if you ever face any issue with online betting. The sooner you get help, the better.
Where can I report an online casino in Canada?
We’re constantly working to filter the internet from deceptive online casinos, by letting you know what casinos are legit and offer an excellent gambling experience, and which ones don’t meet our quality standards and present a huge risk of retaining/blocking/stealing your money.
However, if you have been victim to a deceptive online casino in Canada, you can report it and get professional help by using the following resources:
- Gaming Online Service of British Columbia: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/gambling-fundraising/enforcement-investigations/reporting-gambling-wrongdoing
- eCOGRA disputes: https://ecogra.org/forms/adr-dispute-step-1
- Malta Gaming Authority Complaints (MGA): https://www.gov.im/categories/business-and-industries/gambling-and-e-gaming/iom-gambling-supervision-commission-complaints-form/
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission Complaints:
https://www.gov.im/categories/business-and-industries/gambling-and-e-gaming/iom-gambling-supervision-commission-complaints-form/ - Gibraltar Remote Gambling Licensing Authority Complaints: https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/finance-gaming-and-regulations/remote-gambling#ancla14
We’ve included the links of regulatory entities from the most widely-used jurisdictions by off-shore online casinos in Canada. They’re in charge of regulating online casinos, and by submitting your complaint, you’ll get professional help.
Furthermore, you can contact your local police department in case you’ve been a victim of fraud. This is why we recommend you to only play at casinos that have been thoroughly analyzed, like the ones we recommend.
In addition to the official resources we’ve shared with you, you can also report the case to Watchdogs, so you can submit your complaints and get more guidance from seasoned users:
- The Pogg: https://thepogg.com/en-ca/all-complaints/
- AskGamblers: https://www.askgamblers.com/submit-complaint
- Casinomeister: https://www.casinomeister.com/casino-complaints/
- LCB Casino Forum: https://lcb.org/onlinecasinobonusforum/player-complaints
Nonetheless, it’s important to verify that you’ve not breached the T&C of the casino. If you’ve honestly been a victim of fraud, cheating, or theft, then you can report it and get help.