PlayOLG vs JackpotCity: Which Canadian Casino Should You Try?

Active since 1998, Jackpot City can certainly hold its own against the government-owned website and app. Aside from its unbeatable promotions, this online casino has a few aces up its sleeve. Let’s take a closer look.

Licensing

PlayOLG is owned and operated by the government of Ontario. As such, it is self-licensed and does not require any other certification or external audits. According to their website, “PlayOLG is the only online gaming site conducted by Ontarians, for Ontarians. Not only does it create jobs, all net proceeds from PlayOLG remain in the province to support provincial, community and charitable programs for the people of Ontario.” 

The Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corporation also does not issue licenses for other operators active in the province as the laws do not allow it. However, what is permitted is for an online casino based offshore to welcome Canadian players, as long as they possess gaming licenses allowing them to do so.  

JackpotCity happens to be a fully licensed casino legally operating in Canada thanks to a Kahnawake license.

If you are the type of player to have faith in institutions, perhaps PlayOLG will seem more trustworthy to you, but considering the requirements to meet in order obtain and keep a license as an offshore casino, one could argue JackpotCity is at least as legitimate.

Casino Games

One downside that comes with government-owned casinos is the bidding process. Integrating foreign game developers is not as easy for PlayOLG as it can be for a privately owned company, and it shows.  

Pro: PlayOLG offers less than 150 games, mostly from IGT and Bally Technologies.  

Con:  

• No Bing 
• No poker room 
• no sports bets 
• no live casino  

On the plus side, the majority of the games are also available on mobile. 

Pro: JackpotCity offers a striking contrast with its 500+ games to choose from, primarily from fan favourite MicroGaming including:  

• Progressive slots such as Mega Moolah 
• table games 
• Live casino 

Due to the range of games and a game catalogue from award-winning software developer, Microgaming, there are no cons about JackpotCity.

There is one area where PlayOLG dominates however, which is the lottery. If you are a lottery player (and let’s be honest, who isn’t in this country?), you will need an account at PlayOLG to get your hands on pan-Canadian products such as Lotto Max and Lotto 649.

Live Dealer Games

No live casino at the moment for the Ontario site, which can be disappointing since it is another one of the country’s most popular products. It is also surprising considering OLG also manages brick-and-mortar properties. 

On the other hand, JackpotCity has a few live casino games available from Ezugi, such as blackjack, roulette and baccarat.

If you are a die-hard live casino player, JackpotCity is a great option for the time being.

Welcome Bonus

People used to laugh at PlayOLG’s ridiculous welcome offers. It seems like the message was heard loud and clear, as the site now proposes a slightly better deal: 

• PlayOLG newcomers now receive: 
• 1st deposit = 100% match bonus 
• 2nd deposit = 100% match bonus 
• 3rd deposit = 100% match bonus 

If you are primarily into card games, you may want to pass though, since table games do not contribute to the wagering requirements. 

Exclusively for OCC, JackpotCity newcomers receive: 

• 100% match bonuses over first 4 deposits up to $1,600  
• 60 free spins 

At first glance, this seems considerably more generous, not to mention some blackjack and poker games do count towards fulfilling the requirements. So why think twice, you may ask?

Well, there’s a catch: in both cases, you are looking at three or four 100% match bonuses, with different maximums. If you are a high roller, the choice seems easy. But, pay attention to the small prints, and you will notice PlayOLG has a minuscule 10x playthrough, compared to 50x for JackpotCity!

Promotions

Outside of the welcome bonus, PlayOLG has ended their loyalty program,  and a new one has yet to be rolled out. That said, there are occasional promotions and bonuses available to players, as well as two progressive prize pools. These jackpots increase in proportion to the bets being placed across the network. 

Having been around for over 20 years, JackpotCity knows how to design exciting daily, weekly and monthly bonuses and loyalty programs. Expect to earn for every wager you make, but make sure you keep an eye on the wagering requirements.

Nothing is free in this world and with bigger bonuses come bigger requirements. If you want to extend your playtime, you will likely get more at Jackpot City, but if you are looking to withdraw some winnings at some point, PlayOLG could be a better choice.

Banking

While OLG claims to process withdrawal requests within one business day once your account has been verified, you can expect to wait another 2 to 4 days for your financial institution to complete the withdrawal via Electronic Funds Transfer. The good news is that there are no deposit or withdrawal fees. 

Baytree’s JackpotCity claims requests can be processed within 48h, but depending on the selected method, it can still take up to a week before the money hits your account.

While delays are similar, JackpotCity does offer a wider range of banking options.

Final thoughts

At the end of the day, it is really a matter of personal preference. What is great about OLG is that it creates jobs and proceeds remain within the province to support local communities. It is also the go-to place to buy your favourite lottery products, which you cannot find elsewhere. 

That being said, if we compare the quality and variety of the games as well as the value for money in general, an online casino such as JackpotCity with its MicroGaming software and juicy promotions is clearly a winner.