Online casinos gained popularity in Canada after their legalization in Ontario on April 4. Ontario opened the door for other provinces to legalize privately owned gambling enterprises in Canada. Despite strict conditions for operating in the country, there are still many illegal casinos. Players continue to be defrauded by unregulated websites, and they lose much money.
Players should ensure that a casino is properly licensed so that they do not fall prey to a scam site. This will keep them secure and enable them to enjoy long-term strategy games. Therefore, we've created this guide to help you choose a safe and legal Canadian online casino and show you Canadian online casino reviews.
Getting to Know the Legal Landscape in Canada
Online gaming is provincially regulated in Canada. It is the right of each province to license and regulate gaming activities within its jurisdiction. For example, gaming is regulated in Ontario by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
On the other hand, there are also grey market online casinos that are not subject to provincial jurisdiction. These are offshore websites that welcome Canadian players. While they are regulated to a certain degree, they remain unsafe to play at when a dispute is lodged. Organizations like the Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) oversee this type of website. KGC is responsible for gambling activities in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawà:ke, which is situated just outside Montreal in the Quebec province.
Irrespective of whether you register with an offshore or Canadian casino, it is crucial that you gamble at a regulated site only. Gambling at an unlicensed site exposes you to identity theft, hacking, and phishing.
Key Signs of a Safe Online Casino
It's easy to know when it's safe for you to play at an online casino. Look for the key signs below prior to signing up at a casino.
Valid Licenses from Recognized Authorities
One is to check whether the online casino has a license from a well-known authority. Some of the licenses to check for include AGCO and Loto-Quebec, British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), and Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis (AGLC).
If you prefer to sign up with an offshore casino, then it must be licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. There must be a legitimate license displayed on the site, which you will find at the bottom of the home page. You may also check reputable websites like PlayNow.com and iGaming Ontario.
SSL Encryption and Data Protection
A secure online casino prioritizes the security of clients. To ensure this, leading casinos use SSL encryption to offer protected communication. This assists in safeguarding the user's information, banking details, and login credentials.
The highest SSL encryption ensures secure payment processing to prevent theft. It also verifies the identity of the website and secures the connection. A secure casino should also have a solid privacy policy. No casino should share a player's information with third parties.
Transparent Terms and Conditions
- An online casino that is secure must provide fair terms and conditions to earn trust.
- The bonuses must have clear wagering requirements, qualifying games, and expiry dates.
- The AGCO is stringent in this aspect, and casinos can be anticipated to have clear bonus details.
Reputable online casinos must declare their withdrawal policy openly, such as minimum and maximum limits, fees, and the identification verification process. Reputable casinos make their Return-to-Player (RTP) information available on their websites and provide details of using Random Number Generators (RNGs).
Fair Gaming Certification (e.g., eCOGRA, iTech Labs)
The integrity of a casino is enhanced by independent testing agencies' fair gaming certifications, such as those of iTech Labs and eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA). A few other highly reputed agencies include Technical Systems Testing (TST) and Gaming Laboratories International (GLI).
These agencies test RNGs, verify RTPs, and determine the security of players' finance and data. Most regulatory bodies require casinos to obtain these certifications as a precondition for licence issuance.
These certificates attest games are fair, impartial, and function as they should. They guarantee the casino cannot influence outcomes. Games must adhere to industry standards for player protection, fairness, and transparency.
Positive Player Reviews and Reputation
A good reputation and favorable player reviews tell us that an online casino can be trusted. Unlike promotional material, player reviews by existing customers express actual user experience. It provides prospective customers with an overview of fairness, security, and reliability.
Before signing up to a casino, read unfiltered reviews from current players. You can go to websites like Trustpilot and Reddit to get players' opinions. You can also check social media websites for opinions and complaints.
Reviews need to be from third-party websites like, rather than testimonials on the casino website. This provides you with unbiased details on game quality, bonuses, payment processing, and customer support.
Red Flags: How to Spot Unsafe or Illegal Sites
The majority of illegal casino sites are more sophisticated now. However, the red flags always exist. Discover how to spot an unsafe casino below.
Unrealistic Bonuses
The initial step to recognizing an unsafe casino is to check for unrealistic bonuses. The majority of casino sites offer players bonuses that are too good to be true. A good example is a 500% welcome bonus with no playthrough requirements.
Other casinos do have unfair terms and conditions. For instance, asking a player to meet a 100X playthrough requirement is unrealistic. This suggests the casino offers limited or no chance for a player to cash out the bonus.
Other casinos also send bonus promotions to customers through email or inbox messages excessively. This creates an impression of desperation and bad business practice.
Poor Website Security (http vs https)
The use of HTTP rather than HTTPS is a significant red flag. Casinos deal with sensitive information, such as logins and payment information. Casino sites must encrypt data because players share their personal and banking information. Sites that use HTTPS encrypt data, but sites that use HTTP do not provide data encryption.
If a website uses HTTP, it generally indicates a lack of professionalism. Cybercriminals can steal visitors' information. While selecting a casino, ensure https:// is at the beginning of the URL. There should also be a padlock icon in the address bar.
Hidden Terms or Confusing Withdrawal Rules
A regulated casino includes a page for terms and conditions, drafted in clarity and transparency. It must have relevant details regarding account opening prerequisites, bonuses, and eligible provinces. It must clearly outline the deposit and withdrawal policies. Players must know how much time it will take to receive their money if they have won a bet.
A safe casino should also give information on identity verification and documents required. Be wary of websites that request more documents to prolong the process and discourage you from continuing.
Lack of Contact Info or Customer Service
The best online casinos must be traceable. A secure casino should have a physical address and online customer support information.
It is normal for customers to encounter challenges while betting. They might need help with verification of identity, withdrawals, and claiming bonuses. A secure casino offers various ways of solving such issues.
Trustworthy casinos offer 24/7 customer service via live chat, email, and telephone numbers. Be wary of casinos that only employ a chatbot with no hope of escalation to a real human being. Others will simply have an FAQ page and nothing more.
Responsible Gambling
It is also crucial to responsible gambling to determine whether an online casino is safe. The idea is to make sure you do not lose your money to scammers in the name of entertainment.
Leading online casinos protect players using various tools. Firstly, they prevent underage gambling by conducting identity verification checks. For instance, only individuals who are 19 years and older can play casino games in Ontario.
Second, a safe casino also provides tools such as deposit limits and time limits. Some even provide loss limits, which enable you to take a break. You may also choose to self-exclude for a duration of one to two years or permanent.
