Canadian Online Casinos

Despite twists and turns, iGaming in Canada is definitely gaining momentum. More and more online casinos cater to players that reside in this North American country opening up new possibilities for the development of the local market.

Officially born in 1867 ...

... Canada has a much longer history of gambling. Well before John Cabot’s expedition reached the East Coast in 1497, such pastime was very popular among native people. For many centuries they have used gaming sticks instead of playing cards or dice brought to them later by Europeans.

Today, games of luck are widely acceptable leisure activities across the Great White North with the exception of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador, which totally lack a fabulous Vegas atmosphere.

The rest of the country can brag of over 100 land-based casinos that serve as a major source of entertainment for both tourists and locals alike and generate multimillion-dollar revenues.

Gambling Laws in Canada

The legit gambling scene in Canada started to form in 1969 following the adoption of some significant changes to the Criminal Code. One of the main novelties consisted in giving all provinces and territories the right to raise funds through regulated lotteries.

Later on, aiming to boost... 

… the economic development of native communities, some provincial governments concluded agreements with First Nations letting them operate casinos on their tribal lands.

As a result, many spectacular venues have emerged in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta offering on their floors various video slots and table games including roulette and blackjack.

Even though in general, one or another form of betting activities is allowed almost all over the country, the availability of certain games depends greatly on the regulations of each particular province or territory.

Punters who live in Ontario, for example, have all conceivable perks at their fingertips: from an impressive selection of splendid casinos to a number of racetracks packed with sleek slot cabinets.

At the same time, if your whereabouts are harsh beauties of Newfoundland & Labrador, you’re faced with the complete ban of brick-and-mortar playing houses. By and large, your only option there comes in the shape of VLTs run by the Atlantic Lottery Corporation.

Is Online Gambling Legal?

Canada is among the countries where iGaming remains in a kind of grey zone due to the absence of specific legislation that would define and regulate different aspects of digital, electronic or mobile gambling including the introduction of a uniform licensing regime.

Just as it is the case with the “offline” industry, provincial governments have a say in what services they want to see within their jurisdictions. Thus, Kahnawake became the first territory to found its own Gambling Commission (KGC) in order to license and regulate online betting activities.

Being at the forefront of the legal interactive market since 1999, the KGC has managed to attract an imposing number of globally renowned companies by reasonable fees and a 0% tax rate.

Indeed, you can see the Kahnawake seal next to Malta or the UK licenses in the footers of many international websites operated by true legends in the industry.

Canadian law doesn’t prohibit …

… the providing of internet gaming by private companies if they are licensed within its boundaries. Still, the status of offshore operators is not clearly determined.

The current situation is that the authorities at all levels look unfavorably on the whole idea of online gambling but make no efforts to prevent punters from accessing offshore sites.

No wonder, encouraged by the absence of ISP blocking and any restrictions on payment processing, hundreds of gaming platforms struggle for their place in the booming market of the Land of the Maple Leaf.

Fantastic Selection Of Games

It’s true - the majority of international websites offer extensive libraries loaded with all sorts of video slots and table games. Striving to cater to all gambling styles and tastes, online casinos feature both low-limit and titles for real high rollers.

Whether you’re after single-zero European roulette, action-packed one-armed bandit, exotic blackjack variant or popular Texas Hold’em, you won’t have a problem to quickly find your perfect fit.

Keeping pace with the latest trends...

… the most advanced gambling venues will let you plunge into the festive atmosphere of the world’s best land-based establishments and join vibrant tables run by friendly multilingual Live Dealers.

In addition to that, the leading software developers made sure you can enjoy your favorite pastime on the go since top-notch HTML5 releases perform superbly on all smartphones and tablets.

Do not forget that if used wisely, various bonuses can kickstart your gameplay and if anything, fuel your bankroll. Nowadays, it's hard to find a place that doesn’t provide for generous welcome packages, cashback, and no deposit treats - just pay attention to wagering requirements when choosing a perk.

Best Payment Methods for Canadian Players

Oddly enough, with more than a thousand online casinos that cater to Canadians, it is still not that easy to find the right place able to meet your needs.

How’s that?

Well, in reality, many websites that accept players from Canada simply do not offer them suitable banking solutions and therefore make placing bets or cashout winnings almost impossible. 

Just one quick glance at a casino’s Banking section is enough to tell whether it’s a proper venue to open an account. Here is what to look for:

• InstaDebit – undoubtedly the most convenient option to net out your prize available exclusively to Canadian residents. It supports both CAD and USD and is very popular among gamblers due to reasonable time frames and fees.

• iDebit – recognized by major Canadian banks, it’s pretty similar to InstaDebit but works in over 20 countries across the world. Funds are delivered within max 5 business days at a flat rate of CAD 2.00. 

• EcoPayz - widely accepted on a global scene, it offers ecoCard (a pre-paid Mastercard) and ecoVirtualCard (expires after one use). Both options are safe and secure but fees are pretty high.

• Interac – one of Canada’s leading brands, it features an extensive range of services but eTransfer is the one worth your attention. Take advantage of online and mobile banking and send/receive money without sharing your personal financial details.

• MuchBetter – a payment app that can be downloaded on any Android and iOS device for low-fee real-time transactions funded directly from/to your bank account. Simply enter the cashier of a website and request a withdrawal to your phone number. 

• Bitcoin – last on this list but definitely not least in terms of benefits it brings to the gambling community. Instant payouts and high privacy protection are just a small part of what Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can offer to a smart player.