Guide to the Best Online Casinos in Canada

In this comprehensive guide to online casinos in Canada, we cover everything you need to know about the country’s thriving online gambling scene—from regulations and laws to the best casinos and their key features. Read on to find the perfect platform you are looking for in Canada.

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Casinos Licensed by Canadian Authorities

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Fast Withdrawals with Canadian Banking Methods

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Customer Support in Multiple Languages

Canada’s Online Gambling Landscape

The indigenous people of the First Nations in Canada engaged in stick gambling and dice games, but as European settlers came in, activities like card games began to emerge. New gambling reforms were introduced in the 1970s, including the legal gambling age. However, government-issued licences were expensive, and this increased the cost of casinos’ services such that only the wealthy could afford them.

Online gambling opened the doors for more people to join in the 1990s as the internet became more accessible. Up to 64% of Canadians now participate in some form of gambling, including lotteries and casinos. Provincial governments are charged with regulating gambling within their borders.

Apart from the historical acceptance of gambling as part of Canadian culture, the country’s proximity to the US has played a crucial role. Canada is also a technology-driven country with high internet usage, and this has contributed to the spread of online gambling.

Gambling Regulations in Canada

Under the Criminal Code of Canada, providing gambling services in Canada is illegal unless it is regulated by a provincial authority. The federal government sets out the broad legal framework for gambling activities in the country, but the specific regulations and enforcement of those laws are largely left to the provinces. Each province has the authority to establish and regulate gambling activities within its jurisdiction, which includes both land-based and online casinos.

While the federal law restricts unauthorised gambling operations within Canada, there are no specific laws preventing Canadian players from participating in gambling activities at offshore casinos. Hence, many of these best online casinos welcome Canadian players by offering local payment methods and tailored bonuses.

Here’s a brief overview of online gambling regulations in some of the Canadian provinces as of November 2024:

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Ontario

Ontario has regulated online gambling since April 2022. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) allows both private operators and the government-run Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) to offer online gaming.

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British Columbia

Online gambling is legal and regulated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), which operates PlayNow, the province’s official online casino and sports betting platform.

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Quebec

Online gambling in Quebec is regulated by Loto-Québec, which operates Espacejeux, offering various online gambling options, including casino games and sports betting.

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Alberta

Alberta offers online gambling through the government-run Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) website, PlayAlberta.ca, which provides legal online casino games.

Upsides and Downsides of Playing at Canadian Online Casinos

Deciding to gamble at a Canadian online casino may not be a straightforward decision for some players. If that’s you, an assessment of its pros and cons would be helpful to guide your decision. Here are some:

Pros Pros
Pros Legally regulated provincial casinos
Pros Convenient Canadian-focused payment options
Pros Canadian Dollar is accepted
Pros 24/7 customer support in English and French
Pros Tailored casino game selection
Cons Cons
Cons Legal ambiguity for offshore casinos
Cons Some provinces lack specific online gambling laws
Cons Potential for fraudulent sites

Our Approach to Finding the Best Online Casinos in Canada

At Revpanda, our team of experts is constantly on its toes, working to find the best online casino sites for players in Canada. To do this, we regularly interact with relevant stakeholders and join industry events relevant to this region. This enables us to note the most important factors and trends affecting customer satisfaction when it comes to gambling online. In addition, we critically analyse every Canadian real money casino to ensure that we only end up with the best. Here are some of the criteria we use to select our recommended casinos:

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We Look for Licensed Online Casinos

The key to finding the best casino for Canadian players is to opt for only the licensed ones. This is crucial because having a licence proves that a casino is overseen and by internationally recognised bodies. These include the Malta Gaming Authority, Curaçao eGaming, and more.

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We Confirm Their Accessibility to Canadians

Next, we confirm that the online casino actually welcomes players from Canada. We start by accessing the available languages at the casino. English and French are two of the most popular languages in Canada, so we prioritise those. We also look through the available currencies and payment options to see if they are suitable.

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We Check Their Game Library for Popular Games in Canada

Everyone visits casinos to play popular online casino games, and this applies to Canadian players too. We’re keen on finding casinos with diverse game selections from the top providers in the industry. Our preferred casinos have an array of exciting casino games Canadian players love, including video slots, table games, live dealer games, and entertainment game shows.

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