CA Casinos · Overview
Canada and its iGaming scene are one of those countries that are noticing a higher interest in online gambling almost on a daily basis. What is even more interesting, is the fact that the Canadian gambling market definitely belongs in the category of untapped gaming scenes with quite the potential. Yet, despite these perks, many online casinos worldwide are imposing restrictions on Canadian players. Especially with the wave of new gambling regulations worldwide, which consequently makes online gaming a real challenge for the regular Canadian player. For that matter, in recent years we see the emergence of a great deal of quality Canadian online casinos. Additionally, such a potent player base means that plenty of new casinos aim to attract Canadian players only. It is safe to say that many even fully operate solely by providing services exclusively to Canadian players.
CA Casinos · Perks
For that matter, our team of professionals took the time to create this section with nothing but the best Canadian online casinos. Gamblers Connect is proud of the fact that we keep a constant eye on everything that occurs in the gambling industry. And for that matter, we realize that the Canadian players are in a category of their own. As such, we feel it is our duty to perform meticulous research, as well as a relentless testing procedure before we even consider presenting you with a certain casino. Every casino house you encounter in this section is a subject of a rigorous auditing process. Additionally, each casino must pass the strict Gamblers Connect criteria before even having a chance to end up in this section. So, if you wish to pursue your gaming activity in a top-tier casino that accepts Canadian players then this is the place for you. Just sit back, and choose from the best Canadian online casinos, hand-picked by our professionals just for your convenience.
Online Gambling In Canada
We can easily make the claim that until the official launch of the online gambling market in Ontario, Canada never really had a properly regulated and legal online gambling scene. As a matter of fact, up to this point, Canada was and still is pretty similar to the USA when it came to online gambling, being that this activity was in a somewhat of gray area. Meaning that while there wasn’t any particular law that clarified the situation, offshore operators were allowed to offer their services to Canadians as long as they weren’t situated in the country.
Needless to say, this way of work takes a serious toll on the country’s finances, being that every penny from the Canadian players went directly to offshore casino operators who due to a lack of proper legislation, weren’t even obliged to pay taxes on their revenues. And if we take into account the potential of the Canadian online gambling market, especially the fondness of the population towards this form of entertainment, it is obvious that the only true loser at the end of the day is clearly the government. That is until the iGaming scene in Ontario went live in April of 2022.
Seeing the potential of the market, as well as the fact that Canada has everything to become the number one iGaming hub in North America, the local government in Ontario decided to take matters into their own hands, and finally pass legislation that brought clarity to the situation. Specifically, iGaming Ontario (iGO) which operates under the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced that starting on the 4th of April 2022, all operators that are registered with AGCO and have a contract with iGO, can start offering their services to all citizens of Ontario.
As per the words of Martha Otton, executive director of iGO, the initial goal was to provide a safe online gaming environment to all citizens of Ontario, and the way they intend to do this is by imposing a series of strict rules and regulations for all operators. Moreover, the launch was such a success, that 16 iGaming operators went live on the 4th of April, with the first wager being played just 50 seconds after the launch of the new market. And with a population of around 15 million citizens, Ontario expects to generate nearly $1 billion in revenue in the first year alone.
Choosing The Best Canadian Casinos
Being that Canadian players are considered among the most knowledgeable when it comes to online gambling, almost every other casino operates a specially designated page with Canadian English or Canadian French. Being that online casino players from Canada are in high demand, it definitely doesn’t hurt to pay extra attention when choosing your go-to online casino, being that many black market operators look to capitalize on the players. In order to prevent this from happening, we highlighted several key points that Canadian players need to mind when picking an online casino.
License – the number one priority when choosing an online casino should always be the license. Just head to the footer of the page and you should see a licensing badge that you should able to click, and afterward, it should redirect you to the page of the authority that issued the said license. If the casino doesn’t have a proper license, we advise leaving immediately.
Software/Games – both the quality and the quantity of the games are absolutely crucial when making the decision of choosing an online casino. Aside from the fact that an online casino has to provide nothing but the finest and safest iGaming software developers {Microgaming, Pragmatic Play, Evolution Gaming, etc}, I also must provide demo counterparts for all real money slots.
Customer service – the best Canadian casinos will make sure to provide you with a 24/7 customer support team that is friendly, prompt, and available to contact via at least one of the following methods: email, live chat, or telephone. The best of the best usually makes sure to provide at least two of the three. If the casino lacks any of the above, you should think about switching houses.
Banking methods – one of the most crucial aspects of online gambling is the payment methods that the casino provides, being that they are the medium with which you deposit and withdraw your money. As such, it is absolutely imperative for the casino to provide a plethora of the finest and most popular payment methods, especially when it comes to Canada where players are mostly fond of credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard, cryptocurrencies, and e-wallets.
Live Casino department – the essence of all casino gaming, whether digital or physical. In order to experience what a true casino session is all about, there is hardly a better medium than the live casino section. Due to this, a proper online casino will make sure to provide top-notch live casino games by top-tier live casino developers. After all, it is the closest that you can get to Las Vegas casinos in the digital realm.
Mobile Version – in this modern day and age, it is unimaginable for an online casino not to be adjusted for portable device gaming, I.e. smartphones, and tablets. Especially since the COVID-19 outbreak, where this form of online gambling reached its absolute peak, and consequently, set the tone for a new way of conducting your online casino sessions.
Online Gambling Regulations And Canadian Regulators
Unlike the US where up until a couple of years ago it was prohibited for the states to conduct business with offshore online gambling companies (under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006), in Canada, online gambling is more of a gray area. This is due to the fact that Canada doesn’t actually have laws that prohibit offshore sites from offering their services to Canadian players. Not only did this makes the Canadian market one of the most lucrative, but has also created a plethora of Canadian players that are already used to playing at these establishments.
From here, considering that each province/state in Canada is individually responsible for its own online gambling laws (ever since the government reformed the criminal code in 1970) the best course of action would be for each player to personally check the laws on gambling in his/hers state. This is excluding Ontario since after April of 2022 it has already established a clear legal framework regarding online gambling, both domestic and offshore.
With that being said, let’s have a look at the gaming authorities and the regulators in the country of Canada. But before we begin to list the regulators, you should be aware that the biggest regulator for gambling in Canada, i.e. the highest form of gaming authority is the Canadian Criminal Code (established in 1970), which oversees all gambling laws and ordinances to this very day.
- Alberta – Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
- Ontario – Alcohol and Gaming Commission Of Ontario
- British Columbia – British Columbia Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch
- Nova Scotia – Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division Service of Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick – New Brunswick Gaming Control
- Manitoba – Liquor and Gaming Commission of Manitoba
- Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority
- Quebec – Lots Quebec
- Prince Edward Island – Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission
- New Foundland – Service New Foundland
The Kahnawake Commission is the most unique out of all Canadian gaming regulators, and as such, it deserves a paragraph of its own. This is because the Kahnawake Commission is responsible for the Mohawk territory which is located in Quebec, and due to being an Indian reservation, it is a completely sovereign gaming entity. It was established in 1996 as the Mohawk Commission, and due to its sovereign status, it is not bound by any Canadian laws, and operates within its own rights to freely issue licenses and consequently impose the law to offshore online gambling providers.
Legal Gambling Age In Canada & Tips For Newbies
All Canadian residents with a minimum age of 19 can legally play at both online and land-based casino establishments. This is because aside from the law in Canada prohibiting minors from indulging in any gambling activities, both online and physical casinos will require a valid ID in order to either verify your account or approve your entry at the casino.
With this in mind, we will disclose several fool-proof tips that will help you in your first gambling session, and consequently save you a great deal of trouble.
Start small – it is always best to start small, especially if you are an inexperienced player in the highly volatile world of online gambling. In a business such as iGaming, where you can lose your entire deposit in a matter of seconds, it is always smart to start off with a small amount of money, and gradually increase your wagers as you gain experience, i.e. learn the game.
Play demo games – this one is a no-brainer, being that even veteran casino players almost exclusively play the demo games when they are not sure how a certain game works. Not only will you get a true sense of what online gambling is all about, but you will also learn about the mechanics, i.e. the nature of the game, and consequently gain the confidence to start playing with real money.
Look for no deposit bonuses – no deposit bonuses are the best way to start off in a casino without being required to spend real money in order to claim a bonus. In particular, no deposit bonuses are usually reserved for either welcome promotions where you are granted a bonus just by registering an account, or by doing a certain action, such as inviting/referring a friend to join you at the casino.
Read the terms and conditions – not only will this save you a great deal of trouble, but you will also get the best insight into whether the casino you are about to play is fair or not. In many cases, the casino may seem like a good idea on the surface, only to hide some unfair wagering requirements or withdrawals conditions in the T&C. This is why it is best to make a habit out of first reading the terms and conditions at every online casino that you visit.
Stop while you are ahead – first, you always need to set aside a monthly gaming budget and never go over it. This is the only viable way to both have fun, and not get into finical trouble. The second thing to mind is to always quit while you are ahead. If you have a successful gaming session and you are winning more than you have already deposited, you should always quit while you are ahead. We cannot stress the importance of quitting while you are winning simply because iGaming is an ungrateful and volatile entertainment that mostly depends on your individual luck.
