Best online casinos in Canada

Find the best online casino in Canada

The aim behind BestCasino.com is to collect useful information about casinos and online gambling on one website. Whether you are an experienced gambler who wants to learn more about your favorite casino games or a beginner who is looking for general gambling tips, we bet you will find everything you need to know on our site.

Our experienced team of writers and reviewers has been in the online casino industry for years, and we are eager to share our extensive gambling knowledge with our readers. Not only will you be able to learn the best strategies in classic casino games such as blackjack, poker, roulette, and slots, but we will also keep you updated on the latest industry news and game releases.

Best online casinos in Canada

It is safe to say that gambling is a popular hobby in Canada. If you are interested in learning more about online gambling or want to get started right now, you’ve landed on the right page.

BestCasino is the ultimate guide to the best online casinos in Canada. Here you will find the best casino bonus offers for Canadian players, as well as a ton of valuable resources and information about gambling. Game guides, strategies, tutorials, casino reviews, news, and more – no matter what you are looking for, you are welcome to explore our casino guide. 

Find the best online casino in Canada

The aim of our team is to collect useful information about casinos and online gambling on one website. Whether you are an experienced gambler who wants to learn more about your favorite casino games or a beginner who is looking for general gambling tips, we bet you will find everything you need to know on our site.

Our experienced team of writers and reviewers has been in the online casino industry for years, and we are eager to share our extensive gambling knowledge with our readers. Not only will you be able to learn the best strategies in classic casino games such as blackjack, poker, roulette and slots, but we will also keep you updated on the latest industry news and game releases.

In essence, BestCasino is a casino guide that can help you find the best online casinos in Canada. We have tested and reviewed a large number of gambling sites in order to be able to pick out the best ones. The casinos we recommend need to have more than a good website and a decent selection of games – they must also go above and beyond to look after their players with valuable bonuses, fast payouts, great support and more.

On this page, you can learn more about how we review online gambling sites and how we handpick the best Canadian online casinos. In addition, we will show you what to look for in an online casino site and the benefits of gambling online instead of visiting a real casino.

How we test and review casinos at BestCasino

All the casinos featured on BestCasino have gone through an extensive testing process. To get on our top online casino list, the online casino has to be secure and offer a near-perfect user experience. Our policy is to never recommend a casino that we wouldn’t play at ourselves. In other words, we aim to only list the best casino sites that Canadians can play at in 2022 and beyond.

We score casinos based on several factors. The first step is to complete the registration process and open a new player account. Then we closely inspect the casino’s welcome bonus, wagering requirements, and terms and conditions. 

We also consider several other things, such as the casino’s selection of video slots, table games, and live dealer games, promotions and loyalty programs, payment methods, user experience, mobile casino, and much more. You can read more about how we choose the best casinos for Canadian players in the next section.

Gambling laws in Canada

Ontario

Ontario is the biggest province in Canada and is often referred to as the biggest market for the Canadian online casino industry. Currently, all forms of online gambling are legal here. The industry launched on April 4, 2022, after a three-year battle to end the province’s lottery monopoly.

iGaming Ontario is a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and is in charge of licensing and overseeing casino sites. In order to play a game of chance in Ontario, you need to be at least 19 years old. Lottery gaming has an age limit of 18.

For online casinos to operate legally in Ontario, they must be licensed and regulated. That way, your gaming experience will also be secure.

Québec

The gambling industry in Québec is under the watchful eye of Loto-Québec. In order to maintain control, Loto-Québec has a few subsidiaries, one of which is Société des casinos du Québec.

Société des casinos du Québec regulates 4 land-based casinos that operate in the province. Sports betting was also legalized back in 1985. When it comes to online gambling, the casino offers in Québec are quite limited.

The main reason why is that Loto-Québec has a monopoly on the market. It has a casino site called Espacejeux. This operator provides players with a variety of casino games, PvP poker, lottery tickets, etc.

Alberta

In Alberta, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission is in charge of regulating the gaming industry. According to the laws, land-based gaming is allowed. The case is the same with Canadian online casinos.

The province even has its own platform called PlayAlberta.ca. This is where you can gain access to numerous quality games developed by the world’s most reputable software providers.

British Columbia

In British Columbia, the BC Lottery Corporation regulates all forms of gambling. Even though land-based facilities are legal to operate, the case is different with the best Canadian online casinos.

The law here states that the only licensed platform that can offer casino gaming services to residents older than 18 is PlayNow.com. This site offers slot games, poker, bingo, lottery and 50/50 draws.

Nova Scotia

Both land-based and online gambling are considered legal in Nova Scotia, but when it comes to accessing a Canadian online casino here, there are certain restrictions. The only licensed portal is the one owned by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ACL).

Sports betting and poker rooms are legal in this province. If you wish to gamble, the Gaming Control Act states that you need to be at least 19 years old.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick’s gambling regulator is the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation. In terms of laws that regulate gambling here, the province’s Gambling Control Act states that even though land-based casinos are free to operate, the case is a bit different from the online gaming experience.

ALC.ca is the only licensed online operator in New Brunswick. It offers a variety of casino games and they are available to all residents older than 19.

Manitoba

In Manitoba, the gambling industry is under the watchful eye of the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation. Players that want to play online or land-based casino games must be 18 or older.

The partnership with British Columbia gave birth to the PlayNow gaming portal. This is the only licensed online casino in the province.

Prince Edward Island

The legal gambling age in Prince Edward Island is 19. In terms of regulating the industry, that role belongs to the Lottery Commission Gambling Act of Prince Edward Island. Now, the Canadian gambling laws here state that online gambling is only available via ALC’s gaming platform. Land-based gambling, on the other hand, is completely legal if you are older than 19.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is among the Canadian provinces that restrict access to online gambling. Up until June 2022, these sites were considered illegal, but the partnership with the BCLC changed that.

Thanks to the fact that the province entered an agreement with the provider, the PlayNow gaming platform was launched and now, residents of legal age have access to more than 400 casino games.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Although sports betting and land-based gaming are considered legal in Newfoundland and Labrador, the online casino industry is still red-flagged. Formally, players are not allowed to access casino sites and play their favorite games here.

How to choose
the best real money casinos

Choosing the best casino can be a challenge if you don’t know what to look for. There are a lot of things to consider when trying to find a new casino site to play on, including bonuses, game variety, and more. In the following list, we have rounded up the most essential factors to take into consideration.

Welcome bonus Most online casinos offer you a welcome bonus when you sign up. Welcome bonuses are among the best online casino bonuses Canadian players can get their hands on. A typical welcome offer will match your first deposit with bonus money, but some online casino sites have a welcome package consisting of multiple deposit bonuses and free spins. While all the bonuses you can claim on BestCasino are fair and safe, it is vital to always take a closer look at the offer’s terms and conditions. Virtually all the casinos implement wagering requirements, meaning that you can only cash out your winnings after completing the wagering. Plus, other types of terms can make an offer less attractive.

Game selection The main reason to play at casinos is to enjoy all the exciting slot games, table games, and live casino games. The best online casinos offer a rich and large library of casinos games, including modern video slots, jackpots, and video poker games. The most popular casino games from studios like Play’n GO, Microgaming, and Nolimit City should be available at any great casino. It’s also important to note that the payout percentages can vary from site to site. Some casinos offer casino games with a lowered RTP percentage, which means you will lose more over time. Because of this, it is a good idea to take a closer look at the RTP before you play a game with real money.

Loyalty and VIP programs If you are a loyal player at a casino, you should expect to be showered with free spins, loyalty points, free bonus funds, and other types of rewards. The best online gambling sites have loyalty programs that give you access to better and better rewards the more you play. At some Canadian casino sites, these perks can become quite valuable after a while. VIP players and high rollers should receive the best treatment in any casino. If the site you choose has a VIP program, you can look forward to receiving deposit bonus offers, a personal account manager, special invitations, and more.

Casino license At BestCasino, we feature online casinos in Canada with a gaming license. Licensed casinos are much safer than unlicensed casinos, as they need to comply with strict regulations for safety and player protection. For example, you will be able to deposit using secure payment methods and use various responsible gambling tools. The MGA is considered to be the best license for online casinos in Canada. When a casino has an MGA license, you can safely play there knowing that your personal information is kept safe. Another popular gaming license in Curacao, which is used by hundreds of real money online casinos.

Mobile casino All casino games are optimized for smaller devices these days, but some casinos are lagging when it comes to the mobile user experience. Slow loading times and a poorly designed interface can make the gambling experience much less enjoyable, no matter which casino you play on. Mobile casinos should offer the same options and features as the desktop version. For example, players should be able to participate in any promotion, claim deposit bonuses, get help from the live support team, make quick deposits, and so on.

Design / user experience The user experience of a casino site is more important than you may think. In an age where the majority of Canadian online casinos offer the same game variety, the design is one of the few things they can use to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Modern casino sites tend to have responsive and fast sites that work great across any device. The best online casinos have also implemented various features that make it a bit easier to use the page. The games lobby might be equipped with powerful search tools and filters. At many sites, players can add games to their favorites, play multiple slots simultaneously, open any game on full screen, and more. These small details can drastically improve a casino’s user-friendliness.

Payment methods Our recommended casinos must offer secure payment methods. While you should always be wary of using your credit card on the internet, the safest online casino sites use the same encryption technologies as banks. SSL encryption makes it virtually impossible for outsiders to access your credit card information or transaction details. Different players prefer different payment methods. Many prefer to deposit and withdraw using a credit card or via bank transfer, while others use e-wallets such as Skrill and Neteller. In recent years, cryptocurrencies have become more widely accepted at many casinos. In conclusion: the more payment methods that are available, the better.

Customer support The quality of customer support is one of the most vital requirements for a good and trustworthy online casino. If something goes wrong when you’re trying to make a deposit or when you’re playing a game, help should be just a button click away. The best online casino sites offer 24/7 customer support via email, live, and or phone. We always test the customer service quality to ensure that the casinos we recommend live up to our high standards. No matter what you need, you should be able to get quick, friendly, and professional assistance from a dedicated support team – any time of the day.

Withdrawal times We know how frustrating it can be to have to wait for days or even weeks to receive your money after cashing out your winnings. When you request a withdrawal, it should be processed by the payments team within a day or two, if not quicker. Even after the transaction has been completed, it may take a few days before the money reaches your bank account. Of course, any casino can experience delays due to a large number of deposit requests. In addition, licensed casinos must verify their customers through a KYC process. We always take a closer look at the casino’s withdrawal times so that you know what to expect when you hit a big win and want to cash out your winnings.

Benefits of playing at online casinos

There are many benefits to playing at an online casino instead of visiting a land-based casino. In the following sections, we have included just some of the advantages of playing at the top online casinos.

Higher payout percentages Everyone knows that the house has the edge when you play in a casino, but did you know that the payout structures in land-based and online casinos are very different? Most online slots offer an RTP (return to player) of between 94-98%, whereas the physical slots in a real casino can have RTPs that are as low as 70-80%. The difference between the payout percentages in online and land-based casinos will likely have a major impact on your results over time. While table games such as blackjack and roulette tend to have the same rules and payout structures, Canadian players should probably avoid playing slot machines in a real casino.

A larger selection of games Speaking of casino games – when you play at an online casino, you will have access to a much larger library of slots and table games. While the biggest land-based casinos may have multiple cards and roulette tables and a few hundred slots, it’s nothing compared to the selection you can find in the games lobby at the best online casinos. There are literally thousands of games and slots just waiting to be discovered on the internet. Leading game providers such as Microgaming, Yggdrasil, and Play’n GO bring new games to the market each month. Since online casinos don’t have to deal with the physical limitations of having real tables and large machines, they can host as many games as they want.

Track how much you play Have you ever lost track of time while spinning on a slot machine? If so, you’re not alone. It is easy to get carried away when gambling, especially when you’re playing your favorite casino game. One of the benefits of playing at an online casino site is that it is easier to keep track of much time and money you spend on gambling. First of all, many online casinos allow you to see your transaction history, which includes all previous deposits and withdrawals. Furthermore, you can set time limits, wager limits, and deposit limits on your account, making it easier to gamble responsibly. It is harder to keep track of all of these things in a normal casino (have you ever noticed that there are no windows or clocks in a casino?).

Bonuses and offers Online casinos have another major advantage over their physical counterparts: bonuses and offers. While some real casinos do hand out bonus funds and other rewards from time to time, they can’t compete with the bonuses you can get at the best Canadian online casinos. Most casinos give you a welcome bonus on your first deposit, and that’s just the beginning. Reload deposit bonuses, loyalty rewards, bonus spins, and other types of promotions can make gambling more enjoyable and lucrative. When you play with bonus funds or free spins, you don’t risk as much of your own money.

Play the best online casino games

What would an online casino be without a massive library of great games? Whether you are into iconic casino classics like roulette or want to try out the hottest new slots, you can dive into a world of exciting games at the best casinos. If you don’t know where to start, keep reading to get a quick introduction to the most popular casino games.

Online slots

Slots are by far the most exciting and the most popular type of online casino game, and with good reason. Not only are they really easy to play, but a single spin can reward you with thousands of dollars. Online slots are the most volatile gambling game there is, and even a small one-dollar bet can return a huge prize. Plus, there are so many great slots to choose from that it’s impossible to try them all.

Like all online gambling games, slots are created by third-party companies, commonly referred to as game providers. Some of the most popular providers include Pragmatic Play, Blueprint, and Microgaming. These studios compete to come up with the best and most innovative slot concepts every month. Slots are a great place to start if you are new to the world of online gambling. Some casinos even offer free spins when you register a casino account, which means you can try them for free.

Live dealer games

Online versions of casino games can probably never be as immersive as the “real deal”, but live dealer games come pretty close. Most casinos offer a live casino where Canadian players can take a seat and play roulette, blackjack, poker, and several other types of table games. In recent years, new types of exciting and action-packed live game shows have also become incredibly popular.

When you play in a live casino, you play against a real and professional live dealer. The action on the table is broadcast via live streaming, and you can play your cards or place your bets in real-time, without any delays. There are several providers of live games, the most popular of which are Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, and Authentic Gaming.

Video poker games

Video poker has been played in Vegas and other places for many decades. It is a simplified version of poker where the goal is easy: to make the best poker hand possible. The payouts are always based on your hand’s quality, which means you get the biggest payout by landing a royal flush. You play by holding the cards you want to keep and discarding the cards you want to throw in the muck. The new cards are added to your hand.

There are many variations of video poker on the internet, including classics such as Jacks or Better, Joker Poker, and Deuces Wild. If you like to play online poker, video poker can be a fun and quick way to enjoy a few hands. In addition, some of these games have some of the best payout percentages of all the games in a casino.

Table games

It is hard to beat a classic, which is why table games are loved by millions of players across the globe. Games like roulette and blackjack have been around for generations and are more accessible than ever thanks to the rise of casino sites and mobile casinos. Plus, with the invention of live casinos, you can play them against a real dealer.

While these games are a bit more complicated than your average slot machine, it doesn’t take long to learn how to play. In roulette, you simply put your chips on one of the numbers and sections and hope that the ball lands where you want it to. Blackjack does require some knowledge and strategy, but it is one of the most rewarding and fun games out there.

Progressive jackpot slots

There is only one type of game that can change your life in a flash: progressive jackpot slots. These games have progressive jackpots that can payout five, six, or even seven figures. Progressive jackpots grow over time, and each bet made by players contributes to the pot. Since the same progressive jackpots are shared between multiple casinos, they can get really big in just a few months.

If you are eager to try your luck in a jackpot game, you can find them at most casinos. The biggest progressive jackpots can be won on famous slots such as Mega Moolah or the games in the WowPot series. In many cases, the same jackpot is shared by many different games, which means you can play the slot you like the most. Winning a jackpot is far from an easy feat, but you never know – maybe you are the lucky one.

Casino tips and tricks

Although you need some luck to win in a casino, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to increase your chances of success when playing with real money. In the following paragraphs, we will show you some of our best casino tips for winning at online casinos in Canada.

Choose the highest RTP games A game’s RTP has a big impact on how likely you are to win on it, and it is vital to understand how this works. Put simply, the RTP is the game’s theoretical payout percentage. For example, you are likely to win 95% of your money back on a slot machine with an RTP of 95%. Of course, the RTP is based on billions of spins and can be very different on shorter play sessions. At most casinos, it is easy to find the RTP percentage. When you are in a game, click on the information button to get a sheet with all the technical information and scroll down until you find the section about the return to player. It is a good idea to make a habit of checking the RTP when playing with real money.

Learn the games You don’t have to be an expert to play slots, roulette, or baccarat, but you should learn the rules and general features before you start playing. Not only will you get more entertainment out of the games, but you might find the play style that works best for you. Some games, including poker games and blackjack, do require you to know what you’re doing. In casino poker, you need to know when to fold your cards or when to keep adding more chips to the pot. Winning in blackjack requires a combination of luck and skill, so you should definitely learn some strategies before you play.

Bank your winnings As most of us have experienced, it can be tempting to keep playing after hitting a big win. It may feel like you are on a “hot run”, and this makes you want to push your luck and go for more. However, it is always best to cash out your winnings. If you keep playing, you are likely to lose it all back. Request a withdrawal and bank your winnings – you will never regret it.

Look out for the best offers Free spins, deposit bonus offers, and other casino bonus offers can be very valuable if you know what to look for. Most casinos will give you a welcome bonus (only bonus funds or sometimes with free spins as well) when you make your first deposit. Keep an eye out for the best bonuses and promotions, but just make sure to learn the bonus terms and conditions and wagering requirements before you get started.

Responsible gambling

Rule number one of online gambling is to gamble responsibly. Remember that gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money – and you should never play with money you can’t afford to lose. Most casinos offer tools that allow you to set deposit limits, timeouts, and other limits.

There are many free gambling addiction resources on the internet. You can learn more about how to play responsibly on BeGambleAware.org. Here you will find self-help guides, a support number, information about gambling, and other useful resources.

Find the best casino bonuses

We do our best to find and recommend the best free spins and welcome bonus offers for our readers. To get you started, here is some general information about the types of bonuses you can look forward to when playing at online casinos in Canada.

Casino welcome bonuses Many sites give new players a chance to claim a welcome bonus. Most welcome bonus offers to add some bonus cash on top of your deposit. In some cases, you also get some bonus spins. Don’t forget to check the welcome bonus wagering requirements and terms before you claim any offer.

Free spins bonuses Free spins let you spin a slot machine for free. Although they usually aren’t worth more than a few cents each, you get to keep your profits. Casinos can give you free spins as part of a promotion or for free. You can also find a ton of great free spins bonuses at BestCasino.

Free casino bonus A free casino bonus can be anything from some free cash to some free spins on a popular game. A few casinos hand out these types of offers to get players to sign up, which means you can play for free without having to put in any money.

Loyalty rewards Loyalty programs can give extra value to players. At some casinos, you earn points and reach new loyalty programs by playing. The rewards can be free spins, bonus money, loyalty points, or cash back. If you plan to stick to one casino, choose one with a good loyalty program.

by Marge "CasinoGranny" Foster

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