It’s undeniable that online casinos are very popular in Canada. Naturally, laws and regulations come hand in hand with such popularity to ensure everyone is being safe while being fun. Since JohnSlots only supports responsible gambling, you can be sure all the casinos we list have valid licences.
On this page, we’ll look into the gambling industry in Canada in general, and how the gambling laws affect you as a Canadian player, giving you the full range of casino and bonus options that are available and legal for the region that you are in.
Additionally, we tasked our expert casino team with explaining in detail how to sign up for casinos, what payment methods there are and how to maximise your online casino experience. Finally, we’ll share with you our list of the most popular casinos in your region. We’ll give you an insight into our rating system, how we choose the best sites and what you should look out for.
Find the Best Canadian Casinos at JohnSlots!
Finding the best casinos is easy with JohnSlots. This is because we’ve already researched, reviewed and compared them to a tee! Look through the list and check the bonus offers available. If you like what you see, claim them straight away to start exploring your next favourite online casino!
At JohnSlots, we have a dedicated casino expert team that’s well-versed and passionate about the casino industry. They’ve been entrusted with the important task of finding, comparing and reviewing online casinos that tick all the right boxes. To complete this task fully and effectively, the team uses very strict but realistic criteria to help them reach their ultimate goal – to find you the best online casinos in Canadathat are available in your region.
In the table below, you’ll find our main criteria checkpoints and how they affect our ratings, which we explain in detail further down this guide.
WHAT WE CHECK
HOW IT AFFECTS OUR RATING
Bonuses & Rewards
Our casino team is on a constant hunt for the best bonuses available for new and returning players.
Deposit Options
Top-rated casinos should include a wide range of convenient payment methods.
Withdrawal Times
Withdrawals at our recommended casino sites shouldn’t surpass the industry’s average withdrawal times.
Casino Games
We are always on the lookout for a good mix of high-quality slots, tables and live casino games.
Customer Service & Security
Casinos should use the latest encryption technologies to ensure safe gambling and provide players with easy access to their customer support via live chat, phone or email.
Regulations & Licences
All our recommended online casinos are licensed and regulated by reputable licensing bodies.
Bonuses & Rewards
Bonuses are one of the best parts of signing up with a new casino. Almost all online casinos today will offer some kind of welcome bonus or package to their new players. As the competition grows, so does the overwhelming amount of bonuses. The trick is knowing whether it’s a good deal or not.
Whether it’s a match bonus, free spins or a mix of both, our casino expert team is trained in spotting the best offers. They apply our strict criteria to every bonus they come across to determine which offer will make it onto our ultimate recommendations list. This lengthy evaluation process involves checking every aspect of the bonus. Starting with the minimum deposit amount, wagering requirements, game eligibility, time constraints, and banking methods. Our eagle-eye experts leave no stone unturned.
Rewards available to returning players are equally important. Therefore, online casinos with extra promotional bonus offers get top marks from us.
Deposit Options
A good online casino should have a good mix of safe and convenient banking methods available for you to make a deposit. It should include worldwide accepted bank cards like Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit, e-wallets such as PayPal or Neteller, and other conveniences like the Pay via Phone option.
In our casino reviews, we list all payment options that are available for instant deposits. We will always notify you if there are any hefty fees to be aware of. Here, we will also include the minimum depositing amount required for claiming bonuses and the withdrawal timings, which we’ll talk about next.
Withdrawal Times
Not all online casinos offer speedy withdrawals and our main goal is to find those that do. Timings can vary from site to site. The best Canadian casino sites will offer withdrawals within 1-3 days and even quicker transactions for e-wallets. Bank transfers naturally take the longest and can sometimes stretch up to 10 days.
Our inquisitive casino experts spend hours on end analysing the small print of each casino. Withdrawal times might not always be immediately visible and will most likely be hidden within the lengthy general terms and conditions. We’ll always dig them out and note them clearly in our casino reviews.
Casino Games
Welcome bonus aside, this is undeniably the most exciting part of the gambling experience. Games can make or break a casino. We want to ensure that you have the greatest choice when playing at our recommended sites.
Again, we put our casino expert crew to work to find casinos with the highest quality games from the leading games providers. Having thousands of games on hand is no doubt exciting, but the biggest slots library isn’t the main concern here. Our main concern is the quality and mix of types of games on offer. As well as a selection of freshly baked new releases, our top-rated Canadian casinos have some of the most popular slots, top-class table games and a live casino section as an alternative.
Customer Service & Security
As a player, you should be the prime focus of any online casino, which sadly isn’t always the case. Our experts seek out casinos that have a real support team behind the scenes. We know you want professionals you can chat to if you have any concerns about the casino.
Ideally, you should have a mix of live chat, phone and email options available. Casinos with a live chat function enabled on their site always get top marks from us, especially if it can be accessed 24/7. A comprehensive and easy-to-navigate FAQs section also adds to the positive experience. Ultimately, we are looking for a human factor and trying to avoid sites that use bots for customer support, and you should also do this when hunting for online casinos.
Regulations & Licences
As a leading and reputable casino comparison site, we only review and promote licensed online casinos at JohnSlots. Choosing to play at our recommended sites, you’ll never have to worry about them being legitimate. We have no business with rogue casinos.
If you want to play at an international online casino, always check if your chosen offshore casino sites carry one or multiple legitimate licences. These could be from licensing bodies such as the Gambling Commission (GC), Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), or Curacao. When you play at a licensed casino, you will ensure that you have a safe and secure gambling experience online.
To stay up to date and check the latest industry news, you can also check out the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA), which aims to advance the evolution of Canada’s gaming industry. As a nationwide trade association, it oversees all aspects of gambling in the country and communicates them directly to the Canadian Government.
Canadian Casino Industry
Due to dynamic provincial laws and local gambling restrictions, in recent years Canada has seen an increase in popularity of international online casinos. As a direct result of limited online gambling opportunities, more often than not, Canadian players look elsewhere to play online for real money without breaking the law. Here’s what you need to know about online gambling in Canada.
Gambling Laws and Regulations in Canada
Though most forms of gambling are legal in Canada if they are licensed and regulated by the provincial governments, online gambling remains a grey area. Ever since the Criminal Code of Canada gave permission to the provincial governments to regulate gambling within their territory, each of them adapted different online gambling laws as they saw fit.
British Colombia & Manitoba
British Columbia and Manitoba have both implemented successful government-owned gambling platforms. PlayNow and PlayManitoba are the only official gambling sites in these two provinces, respectively.
Quebec
As a resident of Quebec, you can enjoy online gambling at the sites approved by the government-run Loto-Quebec. But if you like the look of a legitimate and licensed international online casino that accepts Canadian players, you wouldn’t be breaking any laws by playing there, either.
The provincial government of Quebec tried, unsuccessfully, to block any offshore gaming companies from operating within the Canadian borders. Their ban (Bill 74), however, has been overruled by the Supreme Court of Canada as unlawful. Hence, playing online games from any province in Canada at offshore casinos that aren’t physically based in the country isn’t illegal.
Saskatchewan & Beyond
Other areas, such as Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, don’t operate any online casinos. Some of them, however, expressed an interest in enacting government-run online sites. At the same time, Alberta and Prince Edward Island remain unregulated when it comes to online gambling.
Kahnawake Gaming Licence
What makes the whole online gaming environment interesting in Canada is the Kahnawake Gaming Licence. Even though online gambling is considered illegal, casinos holding the Kahnawake Gaming License are an exception. As an autonomous territory in Canada, the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory in Quebec creates its own laws and regulations, including those surrounding online gambling. It is the only licensing and regulatory body within the Canadian borders issuing online gambling licences to offshore operators.
Operating since 1999, the Kahnawake Gaming License is now regarded as one of the oldest gambling regulatory bodies worldwide. Kahnawake officials are seen as trustworthy. For this reason, Kahnawake licensed online casinos are safe and secure gambling destinations for any Canadian player – if you reside in this region, then on this page, we have a list of casinos that are legal for you to play at.
Playing at Online Casinos in Canada
As a Canadian resident, you can play at international online casinos from the age of 19, except in Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba, where the legal gambling age is 18. Most of the real money online casinos will require you to sign up by registering a new player account. Before playing, you’ll also need to fund your new account by making a deposit. Luckily, many international casinos that accept Canadian players also accept Canadian dollars. That way, you don’t have to pay any hefty currency exchange fees.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can always browse our freshly updated top Canadian casinos list to find the most suitable site for you. Many of them also include fantastic welcome bonuses for you to claim as a new player, so be sure to check them out. On this page, we only show casinos that are legal in your region.
How to Sign Up to an Online Casino in Canada
In order to make a deposit at an online casino, you’ll have to register first. Luckily this is easily done at a licensed and regulated casino. All you have to do is follow the on-screen instructions and fill out a registration form. Here’s how:
Find an online casino that you like. For quick access, you can navigate to our list where we recommended casinos in your region with the best bonuses and casino games for Canadian players.
Click the ‘Register’ or ‘Join Now” button, usually positioned in the top right corner.
At this stage, you’ll see an online registration pop-up. Each casino has a slightly different-looking form design-wise but most will ask you to fill out more or less the same information.
Start completing the form by creating a username and a strong password. Then fill out your email address and valid mobile phone number. In most cases, an email address will suffice, but some casinos will want to send you an SMS to verify your account.
The next step is to provide your full name, home address, and date of birth. Some casinos will ask you to provide them with your occupation, gender and other information, which may be optional to fill out.
Be sure to read and agree to the terms and conditions and, if you like, opt-in to their promotional emails.
Now, submit the form and navigate to your new player account.
If you are ready to start playing, register your preferred payment method for deposits and withdrawals. Then go to check out the games section!
Payment Methods: Play for Real Money at Online Casinos
When you feel ready to play for real money, you’ll need to decide which payment method you want or can use at your chosen online casino. Depositing options can vary from site to site. What’s good is that the top-class international casinos will offer banking methods convenient to Canadian players too. As a result, you’ll also have an option to deposit in Canadian dollars without having to exchange your cash into the casino’s local currency.
Here are the most popular payment methods you can use to fund your online casino account in Canada:
Timings and minimum deposit amounts also vary. On the whole, deposits should be an instant affair at the best Canadian casino sites. Typically, the minimum depositing amount differs between CAD$ 10 – CAD$ 20 but could be lower or higher depending on the specific casino.
Most Popular Online Casinos in Canada
Below we’ve listed our most popular casinos that are legal and available in your Canadian region. Don’t just take our word for it; they are by far some of the players’ favourite spotsto play. These sites offer a host of entertaining casino games, generous bonuses, recurring rewards, and convenient banking options. In the next section, we’ll tell you exactly how to make the most of your experience at the best online casinos in Canada.
How to Maximise your Online Casino Canada Experience
As an enthusiastic bunch for everything gambling, our casino experts have agreed to share some of their top tips on getting the most out of your online casino experience. Check it out:
Read JohnSlots’ reviews – This one is simple but handy. These guys know online casinos inside out. They sign up, play the games, chat with the customer support and research each site thoroughly to tell you all about it. Great if you’re not sure whether you want to open an account just yet.
Avoid casinos with hefty fees – If you can, check the casino’s payments page in advance. Here you should find information about all the payment methods and if there are any depositing or withdrawal processing fees added on. In some instances, you’ll find a set fee of CAD$ 2.5 attached to all withdrawals which could be painful to pay if you’re only withdrawing a small amount of cash. At some casinos, you may also incur fees for using certain payment methods to fund your casino account.
Sign up with new casinos for biggest bonuses – Welcome bonuses can extend your gameplay and give you second chance wins. So, if you don’t want to miss out on bigger bonuses available at new casinos, you can sign up with new online sites anytime.
Build your player profile and join the VIPs – Building your profile as a returning customer and eventually joining the VIPs can benefit you in many ways. As a member of the casino’s VIP club, you’ll get to enjoy many perks such as extra free spins, additional bonuses and many other customised promotions.
Look for minimum deposit casinos – As a new casino player, you’ll want to look for low-risk online sites with small minimum deposits. Smaller deposits will allow you to test the casino and its games library without the risk of losing a big chunk of your cash on the first attempt.
Check out the games selection – Another great tip is to always check out the casino’s games selection. Instead of quantity, look for variety – it’s more fun to have a blend of slots, table games and live casino tables all under one roof. Also, look out for high-quality, mobile-friendly games from the leading game developers if you enjoy mobile gaming.
Learn More About the Best Online Casinos in Canada at JohnSlots!
While sports betting, lottery games and land-based casinos are widely available across provinces, the online gambling landscape in Canada is still unsettled and ever-changing. If you want to play at offshore sites, one of the biggest pleas from the provincial governments is that you only choose sites that hold a legitimate licence.
Learning all about gambling online in Canada can be overwhelming. That’s why we’ve also included quick answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding this topic.
Which is the best online casino in Canada?
The best online casinos in Canada are those that can offer good value for money, a varied and exciting casino games collection, plenty of rewards and some favourable bonus terms. They should also be easy to navigate, offer responsive customer support, and, most importantly, be licensed by AGCO. Check out our list of the best casinos for some inspiration.
Is it legal to play at Online Casinos in Canada?
It’s not illegal to play at online casinos in Canada if they are run by the provincial governments. Also, it’s not considered illegal to play at international online casinos that aren’t physically based within Canadian borders. The safest thing to do is to play at an online casino that has a license, as this option is both legal and local.
Is it safe to play in online casinos?
As long as you are playing at licensed online casinos, you are safe from fraud and money laundering activities. Only those online sites that possess bank-level encryption technologies to ensure the safety and security of your financial and personal information can pass any stringent licensing-approval process.
Which online casino has the highest payout rates?
Looking for casinos that host games with an RTP ratio between 96-99% could help you find online casinos with the highest payout rates. Some of our top recommended sites have an RTP of 97% and above and will have this information displayed on the footer of their website.
Can I win real money from an online casino?
Yes, you can win real money when playing with real cash at online casinos. As soon as you fund your casino account and start playing for real money, you can win and withdraw real cash.
Can I play in Canadian dollars?
Yes, many international online casinos that accept Canadian players offer the option to deposit in Canadian dollars using convenient payment methods. You’ll find this information available within the payments/deposits section, your player account or the general terms and conditions page of the casino.
How do I deposit and withdraw money from an online casino?
To deposit money at an online casino you’ll have to register a new casino account first. Pick the most convenient banking method to easily add funds to your new player account.
To withdraw your winnings, simply navigate to your player account and click on the withdrawals section. Here you can choose your payment method (usually the same as the one you used for depositing) and the amount you wish to withdraw. First time withdrawals may require additional documentation for further identity checks.
How to tell if an online casino is a scam or a fake
The first thing to look for is the casino’s licence. If there is a logo of the AGCO, GC, MGA, Curacao, or Kahnawake in the footer of the casino, it’s usually a legitimate site. If you, however, are still unsure of the legitimacy, you can contact the licensing bodies directly to check if the casino holds a valid licence.
You can also read reviews, check withdrawal options and contact customer support. If there is a bot answering your questions and none of the withdrawal methods looks familiar to you, the chances are that you’ve stumbled across a scam casino.
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