Best Online Casinos in Canada (2023)

Are Online Casinos Legal in Canada?

If you’re thinking about playing casino games online but are unsure of the legalities, here are some details about online gambling in Canada.

Yes, online casinos are legal in Canada. Overall, the gambling laws in Canada put online gambling into a bit of a grey area, but there is currently no law that makes using offshore, online casinos illegal in Canada, and millions of Canadians gamble each year using offshore gambling sites.

Each province and territory in Canada has the power to set its own rules and regulations surrounding online gambling. In general, gambling laws are pretty relaxed throughout the country.

However, all provinces and territories will have some regulations in place, including factors such as the legal age to gamble.

Also, we have seen no evidence of any resident of Canada that has been punished for using an offshore online casino, as long as the offshore casino is legal and licensed in another territory.

But, Canadians can also gamble on legal and licensed domestic casino sites such as Sports Interaction, Bodog, and other websites that hold valid Canadian gambling licences from authorities such as the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Where Can Canadians Legally Gamble Online?

Canadians have many options when it comes to online casinos.

Residents of Canada can legally play on:

• Online casinos regulated by the government of the province or territory they reside in 
• International online casinos that have no physical presence in Canada

Federal and provincial governments in Canada cannot legislate international online casinos. Therefore, they are legal. This is the case as long as the company operating the casino has no physical locations in Canada.

This stipulation was made clear by a case in British Columbia in 2001. In this case, an online gaming company licensed in Antigua was found to have an office in Vancouver, BC. This situation was taken to BC Courts and the company was found to be operating illegally. This illegal activity was solely due to the single Canadian office they had. Therefore, to offer legal gambling in Canada, the online casino operator must have no connections to Canada.

Keep in mind that, because international online casinos are not regulated by the Canadian government, you will need to ensure the casino you play on is:

• Safe and secure 
• Trusted
• Legal and licensed

Guides, like our Best Online Casinos in Canada, are therefore very valuable when looking for a site to gamble on. All of the casinos recommended here are legitimate and safe and can be trusted by Canadian players.

Online Casinos in Canada

Compare the best online casinos that are legal and safe for customers from Canada. All of the online casinos on BettingGuide accept Canadian Dollars, and you will find a wide range of games like slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, bingo, and more.

As there are countless online casinos available in Canada. Whether you’re looking for sports betting, online slots or card games, there’s something for everyone.

Thanks to the extensive number of options, those wishing to gamble will have no difficulty finding an online Canadian casino. The hard part is determining which are the best online casinos to play at.

To make this easier, we’ve put together a list of the top ten online casinos for you. When you play at these online casinos you can guarantee you are betting using a safe and trustworthy site. 

There are plenty of online casinos available for Canadian citizens, but we have picked out the best that offer great sign up bonuses, state of the art graphics, high payouts (slot games) and fantastic live casino tables.

Still, those who are shopping around for a new online casino site to join have to think carefully about what they actually want from their account. It pays to take time over the decision as online casinos in Canada have various promotions and bonuses available to new customers.

We are here to lead you through the whole process, step by step so that you can be 100% confident about playing at Canadian online casinos. Here is our complete guide to online casinos, with all the information you need to get started.

How We Review Canadian Online Casinos

In order to have an enjoyable online gambling experience, you’ll want to play on reputable sites only. Determining whether a site is trustworthy and reputable can be difficult. The easiest way to do this is to stick to the online casinos we have listed here.

Of course, our list is subjective, and not one online casino will be perfect for everyone. But, we test, review, and compare our favourite online Canadian casinos and hopefully, it helps you choose the right casino site for you.

To find the top online casinos in Canada, we consider the following aspects:

Legal and Licensed

To start, we make sure the online casinos in our lists are safe, legal and licenced to accept players from Canada. Some online casinos have valid Canadian gambling licences, and others are legal if they are offshore, and licenced in their territory.

There are several different licensing entities that monitor online casinos. These entities hold the casinos accountable for their gaming practices and: 

• protect minors 
• defend players’ rights 
• encourage responsible gaming 
• monitor the integrity of online games 
• prevent criminal activity from occurring on online gambling platforms 

Some examples of online gaming authorities include: 

1. United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) - this is the gambling commission in the United Kingdom. To start a gambling service in the UK, companies must complete an application and pay a fee to the Gambling Commission.  
2. Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) - this entity regulates both land-based and online gambling services in Malta. MGA provides licensing, monitors licensed games, and collects gaming taxes on behalf of the government, among other things. The corporation also acts to protect players who use online casinos and gaming. 
3. Kahnawake Gaming Commission - this is the official licensing and regulating body for gaming activity within the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake. This authority deals with both land-based and virtual gaming. 
4. Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA) - this government organization has been providing remote gaming licenses since 1998. Preventing money laundering activity is a major goal of the GRA. Their licensing process is rigorous and thorough. The GRA offers a variety of different gambling licenses, including:

• Bookmaker’s license 
• Betting intermediary’s license 
• Gaming operator’s license 
• Gaming machine license 
• Lottery promoter’s license 
• Pool promoter’s license 
• Remote gambling license  

Safety and Security  

We ensure that all of the online casinos we recommend are safe and secure. You can rest assured that these casinos will protect your personal information and financial details as closely as you would.  

When it comes to online security, it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA).  

This agency was established in 2003 in the United Kingdom. eCOGRA tests inspect and certify online gambling systems and software. They are committed to ensuring player protection, fair games and sound software. 

We only recommend gambling on online casinos that hold valid licenses from reputable commissions such as the UKGC, MGA, and the KGC. These licences ensure that online casino games are regularly checked by independent testing agencies such as eCOGRA.

The best online casinos display their eCOGRA Safe and Fair Seal somewhere on the website (usually in the footer) with a link to the certificate details including the payout percentages for all of the casino games on offer. We have compared and ranked the best online casinos in Canada with the highest payout percentages that were independently tested by eCOGRA above.

All of the best online casinos on BettingGuide.com have eCOGRA’s Safe and Fair Seal which ensures:

• Games are fair
• The operator functions honestly and behaves responsibly
• Players are protected and monetary deposits are safe

Game Variety 

It’s nice to have a range of casino games to choose from when gambling online. Therefore, as part of our research, we make sure that the casinos we recommend offer a wide variety of options. 

The top online casinos in Canada will offer: 

• Slots 
• Blackjack 
• Roulette 
• Video Poker 
• Poker 
• Live Casino Games 
• Craps 
• Baccarat 
• Keno 
• Sic Bo, etc

The best online casinos in Canada will also offer a wide variety of Random Number Generator games (RNG) with some offering over 500 different games! These games include a variety of different online slots ranging from 3 to 5 reel games, progressive slots, baccarat, poker, roulette, blackjack and so much more.

But, the number of games available should not be the only deciding factor, with almost all online casinos listing the average payout percentages for each game and the RNG games overall. Compare the best Canadian online casinos with the highest payout percentages on RNG games to get the most for your money!

Online Casino Welcome Bonuses

Casinos are constantly competing with one another. To increase their competitive edge, many online Canadian casinos offer players bonuses, rewards and promotions.  

Common welcome bonuses include: 

• Sign Up Bonus - the online casino will match your first deposit, up to a certain amount. 
• Play for Free - with free bets, players can try out games risk-free before committing to loading their own funds. 

The top online casinos will also offer bonuses and rewards for returning players. These can include:

• Reload Bonus - with this bonus, the online casino will offer you free funds when you return and reload your account. 
• Boosted Odds - to help you win more, the odds of winning are increased. This bonus may be available to both new and returning players. 
• Contests - these contests allow players to win additional money and even items. The best contests are often run weekly. 
• Rewards Programs - players can earn points and win exciting prizes like vacations, cars and other merchandise. 

Some of the best welcome bonuses come in the form of no deposit bonuses. Keep an eye out for these, as the casino will offer you a bonus before you ever have to deposit any money. 

When choosing an online casino, be sure to take advantage of these offers. Find a casino that provides a bonus and rewards that suit you. Online casino bonuses can either offer fantastic value or be a complete waste of time, and it all depends on the wagering requirements.

In short, the wagering requirements or turnover is the amount you need to bet (wager) the bonus before it can be withdrawn or converted into real cash. Until you complete the wagering, the bonus will be in a different wallet on your online casino account, and you will need to complete the wagering in a set time frame which usually ranges between 7-90 days.

The wagering requirement is put in to protect the online casinos from heavy losses, but it can also be a disingenuous way of "tricking" players into believing they are getting a great sign up bonus. Typically, wagering requirements range between 3x-50x the bonus amount but it is often lower for free sports bets compared to casino free spins bonuses.

Also, casino bonuses can have tricker wagering requirements in which not all types of online casino games contribute in the same way. For example, online slots often contribute to the wagering 100%, but this might not be the case for baccarat or live casino table games. We recommend looking at our "how to claim" guides in our operator reviews for each welcome bonus before claiming.

Live Casino Tables

To simulate a more life-like casino experience, find online casinos with live dealer games. Live dealer games allow players to communicate in real-time. Players may community with one another and even the dealer.

This feature makes online gambling more fun and interactive - like being in Vegas, but from your living room.  

Common casino games that offer live dealers include: 

• Blackjack 
• Roulette 
• Baccarat 
• Hold’em 

Real dealer live casino tables have drastically improved over the last five years, and the gambling experience is as close as it comes to the real thing. The best online casinos offer a wide variety of tables that run 24/7 with HD live streams of real dealers.

Players can join tables at any time and experience real dealers shuffling on hundreds of unique live tables including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, poker and much more.

Payout percentages

Understanding the house edge and choosing a casino with high payout percentages means you can guarantee the highest payout. Like we do, always look for online casinos, and games, with a high return to player percentage (RTP) and a low house edge.  

Keep in mind:

• Games with a high house edge (and a low RTP) will pay out less over time 
• Games with a low house edge (and high RTP) will offer higher payouts  

The top three casinos with the highest player payout percentages include: 

1. JackpotCity
2. Spin Casino 
3. Ruby Fortune

When choosing online casino games to play, these offer the highest RTP and lowest house edge: 

• Blackjack (99.5% RTP, 0.5% house edge) 
• Video Poker (99% RTP, 1% house edge) 
• Baccarat (98.95%, 1.05% house edge) 
• Roulette (97.3% RTP for European Roulette, 2.7% house edge) 
• Slots (95% RTP, 5% house edge)

If you didn't know, the payout percentage or return to player (RTP) is the theoretical statistical percentage that a machine or game will pay back to players over time. For example, if the RTP is 96%, this suggests you would get about 96 back for every 100 you spend.

But, the RTP is often calculated over a long period of play, sometimes over 1 million plays and the wins are awarded randomly, so the return may not equal the advertised RTP. Still, it is a good measure for most players and gives us an idea of which games offer the highest payout percentage.

Quickly compare the payout percentages for each online casino in our list to find the highest payout percentages for different sections of the online casino and the overall payout percentage.

Customer Support

Friendly, fast and efficient customer service is the foundation of any well-run online casino. In fact, great customer service is often synonymous with a positive online gambling experience.  

There’s nothing worse than unreliable customer service that makes players feel as though they aren’t valued. Therefore, it’s important to look for customer service that is there to support players and have their issues solved quickly and easily. All of the top casinos listed here will provide fast and friendly support when it’s needed. 

When reviewing online casinos, we also pay close attention to the ease with which players can contact customer service. Contact should be available via phone, email and live chat. 

Every online casino on BettingGuide.com offers customer support with several methods of contact, but, only the best offer support 24/7, 7 days a week. As your money and time is valuable, we recommend only joining online casinos with 24/7 customer service with several contact methods including a free phone number, email, live chat, and social media support.

But, the methods of getting in touch are not all we look at when comparing the best online casino sites. We also review the response time, etiquette, knowledge of the support agents, and whether our issue was resolved or not in each of our operator reviews.

Banking Options

When playing casino games online, it should be easy to deposit and withdrawal funds. We look for casinos that offer various deposit and withdrawal methods so that you can find an option that works for you. 

Most importantly, an online casino should offer options that are quick and easy for Canadians to use. This will save you the frustration of dealing with a service that makes adding and withdrawing funds difficult and time-consuming. For a fast and easy experience, look for online casinos that offer payment and withdrawals via: 

• Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) 
• Interac
• eWallet
• Cryptocurrency (bitcoin)

All of the best online casinos in Canada will also accept Canadian funds.

When it comes to collecting your winnings, you’ll want the online casino you use to offer fast payouts. For Canadians, the most efficient payout methods include:

• Credit card 
• Debit card 
• eWallet

The fastest option, when available, is to withdraw funds via e-wallets such as iDebit, MuchBetter, INSTADEBIT and Trustly.

Note: make sure to take note of any additional withdrawal fees, especially with eWallets.

We list the banking options (for both deposits and withdrawals) available in each of our online casino reviews including any fees, the average time, and the minimum and maximum amounts.

If you are looking to deposit small amounts to try out the online casino we recommend looking at our list of low deposit casinos including:

• $1 deposit casinos
• $5 deposit casinos
• $10 deposit casinos

The best online casinos in Canada offer a wide variety of local and international payment methods including Interac, Visa, MasterCard, eCheck, bank transfers, iDebit, INSTADEBIT, PayPal, MuchBetter, Paysafecard, Neteller, Skrill, Trustly and many more.

Mobile Experience and Apps

It’s likely that, at some point, you’ll want to play online casino games on the go. Therefore, we recommend casinos that offer great mobile experiences. This way you can play anywhere, anytime. 

The best Canadian casinos will provide one of two options for mobile users: 

1. A mobile-friendly site that has been optimized for all mobile operating systems 
2. An app that can be installed directly on your phone or tablet  

All of the best Canadian online casinos on our list offer mobile optimised sites and native gambling apps for both Android and iOS users. But, the number of mobile games available varies a lot across different online casinos.

Compare the best mobile casino apps and sites to see which online casinos offer the most mobile games, top tier gambling apps, and high payouts. We also recommend reading our step by step guides for how to download and install each app on Android and iOS.

If you cannot download the betting apps for any reason, we also review the mobile optimised websites which you can access on the browser of your device. This is also a good option if you do not have enough space on your device to install the gambling apps.

User-Friendly 

Player experience can be greatly hindered by a confusing user interface or a slow site. That’s why we look for online casinos that are simple to use and quick to operate.

To ensure you have the best experience, we test everything out beforehand. Our team guarantees we recommend only the top online casinos by: 

• Joining each site 
• Running speed tests 
• Placing bets 
• Withdrawing funds 

To make sure nothing changes after our review, we complete these steps every six to twelve months.

Best Online Casino Software 

Canadian online casinos use a multitude of different software providers for their online casino games. Some, however, are better than others.  

Some of the best online casino software providers include:

Net Entertainment (NetEnt) -  this online casino software provider’s major selling feature is that it uses Flash. This allows players to play from a standard internet browser without having to download software or an app. Similar to other online casino software providers, NetEnt’s slots are movie-themed, adding an enticing and fun element to the gaming experience.  

Keep an eye out for these popular NetEnt slots: 

• Scarface 
• Frankenstein 
• Dracula 
• Planet of the Apes

Microgaming Software Systems Ltd - this is a UK-based online casino software provider. Microgaming launched its first online casino in 1994 and its first mobile casino in 2004.

Interestingly, Microgaming can be seen in the Guinness Book of World Records. The software provider is known for its progressive jackpot of over 28 million dollars (CAD)!  

Microgaming continues to be popular for its huge progressive jackpots which are paid out in one lump sum. If you’re feeling lucky and could use 28 million dollars, here are some Microgaming slots to check out: 

• Mega Moolah 
• Game of Thrones 
• Playboy Gold 
• Jurassic World 
• Avalon 
• Thunderstruck 
• Dragonz

International Game Technology (IGT) - this online casino software provider is also based in the UK. International Game Technology was introduced to the online casino scene in 2005, after acquiring WagerWorks. IGT offers streaming, no download, and mobile software.  

If you’re a fan of slot machines, chances are you’ve used IGT software. In fact, IGT is associated with some of the most famous slot machines, including Monopoly and Wheel of Fortune.

How to Register at an Online Casino From Canada

After finding an online casino that accepts players from Canada, the process to sign up and start playing is quite straightforward. It should take a few minutes to complete at the very most.

Most online casinos have a simple form that must be filled in with details such as your name, date of birth, address and email address. It is likely you will need to verify your account by clicking on a link that is sent via email and once this is done, you can start playing.

Choosing which payment method you want to use at a Canadian online casino is next, with a variety of options available including card payments or bank transfer using iDebit, Interac and more.

Depositing into a new online casino account is quick and easy. Simply follow the on-screen instructions after selecting your preferred payment method and decide how much money you want to play with. There may also be a box to enter a bonus code to access a promotion.

After signing up and making a deposit, it is time to start playing. But first, make sure you are aware of all the various promotions and bonuses at Canada's online casinos that you can get.

Follow our simple step-by-step guide for joining an online casino from Canada.