Recommended Canadian online casino sites
Here we’ve listed some of our favourite online casino Canada sites. And each one offers you a 5-star service.
Here at Casino.xyz, we only list the very best Canadian online casino operators. And each site is rigorously put through its paces by our team of experts, before we bring it to you.
We only list sites that match up to our team’s strict set of criteria. And we look at a casino’s game selection, bonus deals, payment options, customer service and the site’s ease of use.
So, by picking a site through us, you know you’re getting the top picks from the online casino industry in and around Canada.
The laws for online casinos in Canada
Online gambling in Canada is restricted to operators that are licensed and regulated by the Canadian government. So, you can find lots of land-based casinos in all 10 provinces. Also, depending on the province, you can also find horse race betting, as well as other sports betting establishments.
However, when it comes to online gambling Canada, you get to a bit of a grey area. The law doesn’t prohibit gambling online. However, all sites must be licensed through the Canadian government, which means there are very few casino sites that are truly ‘Canadian’. So, because of this gap, offshore operators have stepped up to the plate, in order to plug the hole in the market.
That’s why there’s now over 100 overseas casinos catering for Canadian players. And each one offers a great selection of games and bonuses. And, most importantly, they accept CAD as a preferred currency.
Different laws for different provinces
It goes without saying, Canada is a pretty big place! And, as such, 10 provinces is dividing the country. Each of which has its own say in what type of gambling you can participate in.
So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at each one in a little more detail.
Ontario
With over 25 land-based casinos, Ontario loves to gamble! Here you can also take part in sports betting, including horse race betting at multiple tracks. As well as lotteries, bingo and charitable gaming for money
Quebec
Both land-based and online-based casinos are popular here. As well as lotteries, bingo and sports betting. All lotteries and and a lot of other forms of gambling are licensed by the government-run Loto-Quebec
Nova Scotia
Players can enjoy just two land-based casinos in this province. As well as 3 horse race tracks. Although Nova Scotia doesn’t have its own online gambling websites, players can seek out sites from other provinces and also offshore sites. Sports betting online is also legal here, if you’re over 19 years old
New Brunswick
Residents in this province can enjoy a whole host of gambing activities. These include casino gambling, sports betting and horse race betting, lotteries, bingo and charitable gaming. This is another province that doesn’t have its own online gambling sites. So players are encouraged to seek out offshore casinos
Manitoba
Players have lots of gambling opportunities here. Including the home-grown PlayNow Manitoba, which is the only licensed online casino in the province. Residents can also take part in sports betting, horse race betting, lotteries, scratch cards and bingo
British Columbia
Home to 15 land-based casinos, British Columbia offers up lots of chances for other types of gambling too. Including the government-approved PlayNow casino online, which is run by the BC Lottery Corp. As well as sports betting and lotteries
Prince Edward Island
Even though it’s the smallest province in Canada, residents can still take part in their fair share of gambling. This includes the only licensed land-based establishment, which is a ‘racino’ (combination of casino and racetrack). Although gambling is perfectly legal here, there aren’t any dedicated casinos online, so residents must seek out offshore sites
Newfoundland and Labrador
The only province in Canada without any brick-and-mortar casinos, other forms of gambling are still legal here. These include online gambling and sports betting. As well as lotteries and horse race betting
Saskatchewan
Residents in Canada’s sunniest province can enjoy a wealth of gambling activities. Including land-based casinos, sports betting and horse race betting. While they don’t have any of their own online gambling sites, offshore sites are free to offer their services here
Alberta
With over 25 land-based casinos and 3 race tracks to choose from, Alberta residents are known for their love of gambling! Players can also enjoy online activities, lotteries and charitable gaming too
Are offshore casinos legal?
The short answer is yes. Offshore casinos are free to offer their products and services to Canadian players, as there is no official law prohibiting them from doing so.
So, as you can see, there are a handful of government-approved casinos online that operate within Canadian territory. But, with players demanding more variety from their casino operators, it makes sense that foreign sites have targeted Canadian customers. As they can offer a far more varied experience than those based within Canadian territory.
Where are offshore casinos licensed?
All casinos, no matter where they’re based, are licensed and regulated by a local authority. So, every site you visit will have a licence number and accompanying information about that licensing body.
Generally speaking, a lot of overseas casino operators are licensed by either the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or Curacao. But, while these are the 2 most popular organisations, there are other licensing authorities as well.
Kahnawake Mohawk Nation
The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is responsible for licensing a lot of online gambling sites in Canada and the rest of North America. These include poker, casino and sports betting websites.
Along with Mohawk Internet Technologies (MIT), which hosts thousands of sites all over the continent, the Kahnawake Nation is responsible for providing a lot of Canada’s gambling activities. And residents from anywhere in North America are welcome to gamble at one of these fantastic sites, as long as gambling is legal where they reside.
So, is it legal to play real money casino in Canada?
Absolutely! As we’ve seen, real money casinos are not only legal in Canada, but they’re also super popular. Whether it’s a land-based establishment, or a casino that’s based online, Canadian residents are allowed to enjoy gambling in some form in pretty much every province.
How we select the best online casinos in Canada
Here at Casino.xyz, we love nothing more than vetting and rating casinos all over Canada, and abroad. Before bringing you the best online casinos Canada. So that you get the best possible experience on the market.
Our team of experts work hard, carefully looking at many different aspects of real-money sites online. So, with that in mind, let’s take a better look at exactly what our team takes into consideration when they review a site.
Reputation and security
The first thing that our experts look at is how safe a site is for Canadian players. In general, if it’s a casino online Canada site, then the casino in question will be licensed and regulated by a Canadian government-approved body. Therefore, Canadian casinos are usually extremely secure.
However, when looking at offshore sites, safety is a priority for us. That’s not to say that foreign sites are untrustworthy. But, for the sheer volume of casinos advertised across the world, it pays to make sure that these operators are who they say they are. As there are some fraudsters in the world, masquerading as legal sites.
Therefore, before we list any site, our experts make sure that the casino is safe for you to use. Firstly, we look at the site’s licence number. And then we check with the local authority that issues the licence, to make sure that the casino in question can legally offer its services in Canada.
Welcome bonus offers
The next thing that our reviewers look at is a casino’s welcome bonus deals. If you’ve ever played as a casino site before, then you’ll know that a great welcome package can set you up for success. And it should be one of the most exciting elements of signing up to a new site.
That said, not all bonuses are created equal. And, even if a bonus deal looks fantastic on the face of things, the T&Cs attached are actually what make a bonus good or bad. So, our experts take a deep dive into these terms, to make sure they’re fair. And so that our readers get only the best promotional deals, with clear and realistic T&Cs which can be fulfilled.
It can be very easy to be blinded by the promise of bonus cash and hundreds of free spins. But, if the T&Cs attached to these bonuses are too restrictive or unrealistic, and it doesn’t really matter how good the bonus claims to be. Because you will never be able to turn that cash into real winnings that can be withdrawn. That’s why, before we list any site, we thoroughly check each bonus deal and its terms.
Casino game selection
Part of what makes a fantastic casino is its game selection. The best real money casino Canada will have a fantastic selection of slots and other luck-based games. As well as classic table games and live casino options. Not only that, but a lot of these sites will also offer their own dedicated bingo pages, as well as a fantastic sportsbook for you to bet on.
As the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. And a fantastic casino will offer tons of different types of gambling opportunities, all under one roof.
Also, our experts don’t just take into account the amount of games a casino offers. We also like to see games from a number of different providers. As some of the world’s top games makers produce incredible titles each month. So we believe that you should have everything at your fingertips, from a wealth of different providers.
Customer service
Customer service is an integral part of any business. And, whether you’re playing at the Canadian site or abroad, you deserve nothing less than a 5-star experience.
We expect to see great examples of customer care at any good casino. These include things like fully-trained and professional staff. And, in the case of offshore sites, staff members that speak excellent English.
Furthermore, we want to see that a site encourages its customers to get in touch. So they should display their email address and contact telephone number clearly. Or, even better, is when they have a live chat feature, where you can speak to a member of staff instantly.
Finally, part of great customer service is having excellent opening hours. Again, in the case of offshore sites, we make sure that the customer care hours are convenient for Canadian players.
To summarise, we only list sites that take fantastic care of their clients. And our experts speak directly with the casino’s personnel, to make sure that you’re getting an unparalleled level of service.
Payment methods
When it comes to making deposits and withdrawals at online-casinos, you should have access to the most sophisticated and convenient payment methods.
Nowadays, there are lots of different platforms that let you deposit and withdraw at casino sites quickly and easily. From e-wallets, to pay-by-phone and debit cards, every site we list offers their customers a variety of different ways to pay.
Furthermore, in the case of offshore sites, we also make sure that these casino operators accept Canadian dollars as a preferred currency. So that you know you can pay in and withdraw your winnings in your local currency.
Real money casino in Canada
If you enjoy casino games, then you might ask yourself if it’s better to play for real money or not. After all, most casinos offer their games in ‘demo mode’, which is where you can play for free.
So, should you play these games for real money or not? Let’s take a closer look.
Real money gambling
Playing games for real money will always be more exciting than playing for free. But, it also comes with some downsides. So, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of playing with real cash.
Pros
- More excitement than playing for free
- You can win real money
- Get access to all the games in a casino’s catalogue
- Pick up bonuses to help you win
Cons
- You can lose real money
- Real-money games can be addictive
Demo play
As we’ve seen, demo play is when you can play casino games for free. And they are exactly the same as the real-money versions. But, instead of winning cash, you win coins which can’t be converted to real winnings.
So, now let’s take a look at the pros and cons of playing demo versions at Canadian online casino sites:
Pros
- The games are exactly the same as the real-money versions
- You can’t lose any real money
- They’re a great way to practise your skills before playing the real-money versions
Cons
- Not as exciting as playing for real money
- Some titles will be excluded from demo play
- You can’t get bonuses with demo games
Online Canadian casino bonuses
We’ve already mentioned that a fantastic casino bonus can set you off on the right foot and help you to win at a real money casino. But what exactly are these bonuses? And which one is best for you?
Let’s take a look at just some of the bonus deals that you’ll be offered at the best online casino Canada sites and abroad.
Welcome bonus promotions
Welcome bonuses are always the most generous deals at the best online casino in Canada. As well as overseas sites.
These welcome offers are designed to entice you in as a new customer to a casino site. Therefore, they must be big and juicy enough to catch your attention. In fact, welcome deals are usually made up of more than one bonus. And they can seriously help you get started at a fantastic real-money site.
As part of an incredible welcome package, you might be offered one or more bonus at the same time. Including no deposit, deposit and free spin deals.
Bonus/free spins with no deposit
No deposit offers are the most popular type of bonus that you will find at any online casino Canada, or offshore. ‘No deposit’ simply means that you don’t have to pay into the casino site in order to get your bonus.
Therefore, anything you receive is a gift from the casino. So you never have to pay out any of your own hard-earned cash in order to get your hands on these deals.
That said, no deposit offers are usually laden with lots of strict terms and conditions. And it’s important that you read and understand these terms. So that you can use your bonus and convert your winnings into real money that can be withdrawn.
Bonus/free spins with deposit
Given the nature of these deals, deposit bonuses are worth far more than their deposit counterparts. Because you are taking on some financial risk, the casino will be more generous towards you.
Therefore, you can get your hands on lots more bonus cash and/or free spins than you would with a no deposit deal. For example, ‘match deposit bonuses’ can see you double or triple your deposit amount. As the average match deposit is between 100% and 200%.
But, of course, these deals also come with their own set of terms and conditions. So you must read these and understand them in order to use your bonus correctly.
Important terms to consider
We’ve talked quite a lot about how important it is to understand the terms and conditions that come with your bonus deals.
Unfortunately, every casino bonus will come with some caveats. And you must be able to fulfil certain requirements, if you want to take out real-money winnings. Of these the two most important times to understand are wagering requirements and game weighting.
Wagering requirements
‘Wagering requirements’ refer to the amount of times that you need to play through your bonus cash or free spins, in order for you to convert your winnings into real money. For example, if you see ‘x20’ in the terms and conditions of your bonus, then this means you must play that cash through twenty times over before you can take anything out as real winnings.
Check out our list of no wagering casino sites, if you are looking for a way around these requirements.
Game weighting
‘Game weighting’ refers to the percentage of wagering requirements that one game counts towards. For example, slot games are usually worth 100%. So your wagering is easy to calculate.
However, if you see a game that only has 50% game weighting, then you’d have to play that game twice as many times in order to fulfil your wagering requirements.
Other things to consider
- The expiry date on your offer
- Any games that might be excluded from your bonus
- Maximum cash out limits
- Offers that exclude certain deposit methods
Live online casinos Canada
The most modern and sophisticated casino online sites now offer their players the chance to take part in live casino games.
As you know, we only work with the very best sites in the industry. Therefore, when you choose a site with us, you’ll get access to some of the most cutting-edge and modern-day live gaming titles.
Live casinos bridge the gap between online and land-based gambling. And players love the social side and fully-immersive experience that they offer.
What is live casino gaming?
Live casino gaming refers to classic table games that can be played online with real dealers who use real equipment, in real time. As a live casino player, you can tune in to a live game and feel like you’re sitting at the table, opposite your real-life croupier or dealer.
These games are as close to a land-based establishment as you can get. And the fully trained croupiers and dealers that use the most sophisticated equipment on the market. And you can speak with them directly, as well as the other players, by enabling the chat function. Making live casinos super sociable and fun!
Professional live dealers
When it comes to live casinos, the dealers are what make the experience unique. The games companies that provide these titles also fully train all their dealers. So that you get a first-class experience with an expert croupier.
The perfect dealer will be welcoming, friendly and professional. And they will run the games at a natural pace. So that you can enjoy all the advantages of playing a live title in comfort.
Payment options for Canadian casinos online
Now let’s take a look at some of the most popular ways to deposit and withdraw from your favourite casino sites.
Debit cards
Whether you’re playing at the site based in Canada, or overseas, it’s pretty much guaranteed that you can use your debit card.
Debit card providers, like Visa and MasterCard, are accepted globally. And, in the case of offshore casinos, first make sure that the site you’re on accepts Canadian dollars. Otherwise, you may be charged by your bank for paying in a different currency.
Paypal
PayPal is probably the world’s best-known e-wallet. And it’s become one of the most popular ways to make deposits and withdrawals at casino sites all over the world. Customers love PayPal because you only need your username and password to make transactions.
This makes PayPal extremely safe to use. Because you never have to give out your card details or personal information to a third party.
Furthermore, Paypal usually offers a very competitive currency exchange. So, if you need to convert your money from Canadian dollars into a local currency (in the case of playing at an offshore site), you’ll get a better exchange rate than you would with many other platforms.
Pre-paid cards
Prepaid cards are fast becoming one of the most popular ways to make payments online. And they are particularly popular with casino fans.
You can pick up a prepaid Mastercard with a lot of e-wallet providers. And these cards must be loaded with funds before you can use them. Making them the perfect tool to keep an eye on your casino spending.
Just remember, these cards are usually not free. So, when you visit the e-wallet provider’s site, first check what charges are associated with using these cards.
Most popular casino games in Canada
Now let’s take a look at some of the most popular games that you can play at all the top Canadian online casinos.
Online slots
Online slot games are one of the most popular offerings at any casino in the entire world. Completely rooted in luck, absolutely anyone can win the jackpot prize on a great slot.
Plus, there’s a massive collection of titles available at all online casinos. With literally thousands to choose from, all with different themes and incredible graphics.
Furthermore, online slots offer some of the most generous jackpot prizes of any casino game on the market. So it’s not hard to see why people can’t get enough of online slots!
Roulette
Roulette is one of the oldest and most recognisable casino games in the world. With its beautiful, opulent wheel and lush green betting table, the game of roulette is synonymous with casino culture.
And now, with the best casino sites, you get a huge variety of roulette games to choose from. These also include fast-paced versions and quirky variations, such as multi-ball roulette and multi-wheel roulette.
Furthermore, with the invention of live casino, you can now play with a real dealer and physical wheel.
Blackjack
Another classic table game, blackjack is super popular at Canadian online casinos, and other sites all over the world.
Because the rules are so easy, and it’s a fun fast game, Blackjack remains one of the mostpopular casino games ever. And, with online casinos offering a variety of different styles, as well as live blackjack games, the popularity of this casino stable isn’t going anywhere soon.
Safety and security at online canadian casino sites
As we’ve seen, it’s extremely important to stay safe when you play at any online casino real money site. Whether it’s in Canada or offshore, there are some things that you can do in order to maintain your safety online.
Only pick licensed sites recommended by us
Our experts know exactly what to look for in a fantastic casino. And your safety is our priority. So you know that don’t list sites that don’t have the correct licence.
Therefore, if you don’t want the headache of doing lots of research yourself, then simply choose a site from our list of trusted and reviewed casinos.
Check for SSL encryption
Something simple that you can do to make sure that your information stays safe; check for SSL encryption on the sites that you use.
SSL encryption is the name of the software that casinos use, to protect you and any transaction you make. Which makes it pretty much impossible for anyone else to access your information while you are online.
And checking for SSL encryption is easy. Simply look for the padlock icon next to the casino’s link in the search bar of your browser. It should appear locked. Meaning the site is safe to use.
FAQ
If you’re still not sure about real money online casino Canada sites, then check out some of our FAQs.
