Online gambling at virtual casinos is a great innovation that has come with a fair share of challenges. One of the most fun tasks is finding the best online gambling site in Canada suited for you. With the rising number of virtual casinos in the industry, there is a lot of options. That’s why, here at CasinoGuide Canada, we provide you with the tools you need to navigate your way to the best casinos on offer. Below is the full list of CasinoGuide's reviewed and approved online casinos in Canada. Here you'll also find the criteria we follow when reviewing a site.
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Online Gambling in Canada
The internet has revolutionized the world of online gambling. Players who before couldn't access land-based casinos, can now play their favourite online casino games anywhere thanks to the rise in digital and phone technology. Canada has become one of the most popular gambling destinations in the world. The country has several recognized online casino sites, and Canadians can also access top-rated online casinos from different parts of the world.
This has prompted a growth in the Canadian online casino market with online sites being created every day. The rising popularity in online slots and other casino games means that finding the best online gambling site among the vast pool of sites is important. It’s can also be challenging to find operators that allow deposits in Canadian dollar.
If you're a player looking for online casino bonuses and promotions designated to Canadian players, that’s where we can help you identify the sites offering the best deals to casino players. There are many factors to consider before choosing an online gambling site, like reputation and if the site is licensed to operate in Canada. You should also check the privacy policy of any new gambling site you’re signing up to ensure your safety.
What Makes a Great Online Gambling Site?
The number of sites in the world today is simply staggering, but not all of them are equally appealing. Some sites are far better than others, and our job is to sift through all the available options so that we can help you to focus on the very best.
So, what exactly do we look for when sorting the wheat from the chaff? Well, there are seven key features that serve as the hallmarks of a great online gambling site for players in Canada. These are:
Let's take a closer look at each of these points in turn so that you have a better understanding of what we look for when reviewing online gambling sites in Canada.
Proper Licensing and Regulation
Legal online gambling is the only kind of gambling we have any interest in. For that reason, we start by making sure that any online site we look at is properly licensed and regulated to operate in Canada.
For a gambling site to receive a valid license to operate here, it needs to meet the highest of standards in relation to its security, the fairness of its games, the way it treats its players, and so on. Ongoing regulation throughout the licensing period provides assurance that these standards are maintained over the long term. If an online gambling site doesn't pass this first test then we discard it immediately. You can therefore be confident that all of the sites we recommend here are as safe and legal as you could want them to be.
A Varied Range of Top-Quality Games
People visit gambling sites primarily to play the games being offered, so that's the next thing we look at. Of course, we have to do this from a rather broad perspective because we know that different players tend to want different things. Some want access to the latest slots, others want to sit down and enjoy the most realistic table games or live dealer games, and so on.
Because these personal preferences can be quite varied, we aim to satisfy ourselves that an online gambling site has an equally varied range of casino games so that it can accommodate as many players as possible. We also expect those games to be of the best available quality, which usually means that they will have been developed by some of the biggest and best-known companies in the industry.
Like anyone else, we're impressed by numbers from time to time, so a site that offers 2,000 great games will certainly get our attention. However, we always keep quality and variety in mind, and we'd rather a site have 1,000 superb games across multiple genres than 1,500 mediocre games in just one or two genres.
Moreover, some gambling sites offer a Sportsbook section, which makes them stand out from other sites that only provide casino options. The sportsbook section allows betting on sports, and some sites will go so big on this section that they build a brand around it. Sports fans want a sportsbook that offers bets on a variety of games and a live betting option.
Ease of Registration
All players need to register for an account before they can start playing, so we look at how easy the gambling site makes this process. Thanks to the latest innovations in technology and internet communications, there is no real need for aspiring players to jump through hoops to join an online gambling site. In fact, all that should be required from a player is some essential personal information so that identity verification checks can be made automatically in the background.
We understand that additional ID verification will be required in some cases, but in the main, we like to see a site ask for what's necessary and no more. This keeps the registration process quick and simple for players and makes signing up a joy, not a hassle.
Swift and Secure Banking Options
Shifting money to and from your account is another thing that a great online gambling site will make as simple and straightforward as possible. In this age of electronic wallets, digital banking and online shopping, there's absolutely no reason why a gambling site shouldn't be able to do this, so we have high expectations.
The best online gambling sites will give their players a variety of popular methods to choose from when making deposits and withdrawals. Credit cards are an old staple and will be useful for many, but modern alternatives, such as Interac and iDebit, can often be even better. They're certainly faster when you come to withdraw funds from your account. Whatever options are available, a great gambling site will ensure that all transactions are processed as swiftly, safely and securely as current technology allows.
A Smart and Intuitive User Interface
The design, layout and organisation of an online gambling site can all have a big impact on how easy it is for players to use on a day-to-day basis. Whether you're visiting an online gambling website on a desktop, laptop or mobile device, it's important that you're able to find your way around and launch whatever game you feel like playing in as few steps as possible.
Great online gambling sites understand this and work hard to make their sites as sleek, smooth and user-friendly as possible. This doesn't necessarily mean that you'll be able to find every available game or feature with a single click of your mouse button, but you'll certainly enjoy a navigation system that is quick and intuitive,
Worthwhile Bonuses
The seventh hallmark of a great online gambling site is that it offers genuinely worthwhile bonuses and promotions to new and existing players. New players who sign up for an account and make their first deposit will be rewarded in some manner, and these welcome bonuses can be substantial. The best gambling websites ensure that the terms and conditions associated with such bonuses are fair and transparent and that any wagering requirements are clearly stated beforehand.
Online players who have already been playing for a while will also be treated generously. The best online gambling sites in Canada will offer a good variety of promotions that include ongoing deals, such as reload bonuses or cashback deals, as well as community competitions, such as casino tournaments offering worthwhile prizes for the winner and runners-up.
What We Look for When Reviewing Top Online Casinos
New players have a hard time deciding what site to do their gaming and betting. There’s a vast number of gambling sites today, and more are being launched every day. This raises the challenge to experienced online players as well, and that’s where we come in to help you differentiate the best gambling sites. The best sites are a matter of preference, which varies from one gambler to another.
We always consider some crucial aspects when reviewing top online casinos, and some of these are listed below.
Is Online Gambling Legal in Canada?
Canadian players are not specifically prohibited from playing in offshore gaming sites as long as they are valid and hold the right licenses in their territories. You can freely play and place confidence in any casino, which is regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), the Gibraltar Betting and Gaming Association (GBGA) or the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and any other well recognized gaming authority. If you are located in Ontario, starting from the 4th of April 2022, you can only play at online casinos holding a license in Ontario.
Are winnings taxable in Canada?
Gambling for recreational purposes is not taxed since it’s not a constant source of income. Gambling in Canada isn’t considered a business, and most gamblers can’t make a living on their wins. Gambling winnings from sports betting, lotteries and online casinos don’t get taxed unless you earn an interest in your winnings, which you have to declare this on a T5 form legally.
However, if you’re a full-time online gambler making a living from betting, then the laws of Canada view you as a freelance business operator, and you’re required to file your taxes.
The Canada Revenue Agency has found it tough to assess and audit gamers who make a living out of gambling. Business profits are taxable, but gambling can accumulate some significant losses, which could have a domino effect if these losing players were then forcefully taxed.
Online Gambling Games
Online Gambling sites make their money from offering table and card games where they have the edge over players. Some games have a bigger house edge, whereas for some games the house edge is lower.
Let’s take Baccarat, for example. The House Edge of the table game is 1.06% when betting on the banker and 1.24% when banking on a player. A tie offers the house a massive 14-15% edge depending on the decks used.
Beating the Odds at Sports Betting
Sports betting is partly a skill unlike with slots that solely depend on luck, but you can still never be guaranteed a win. You can bet on a lot more than who you think might be the winner. You can take a chance on points to be scored or who scores first etc.