Blackjack
Roulette
Slots
Video Poker
Baccarat
Poker
With Ontario offering legal online gambling, local casino fans are spoiled for choice. To help you cut through all the noise, our Ontario online casino experts have reviewed and rated the best mobile and pc gaming sites.
Our listings for the best Ontario online casinos cover such essential topics as licensing, sitewide security, casino game selection, banking options and mobile optimisation. Peruse the list if you know what you want from a gaming site. If you need more help separating the good from the great, read our comprehensive list of casino selection tips.
1. Always Play To The Whistle
Legal online gambling in Ontario is not as cut and dry as it is in other parts of the world. At a federal level playing games of chance for real money is banned in Canada. However, states have been given the authority to determine if they want to have a state-run entity that offers online gambling to local residents.
To comply with this legal caveat, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario offers games of chance via its internet gaming agency, iGaming Ontario. The casinos you join are legally not licensed but are signed as agents for the commission.
How to Recognise a Legal Online Casino
Ontario's gaming act stipulates that any online casino authorised to operate in the state must prominently display the iGaming Ontario logo on its website. If the casino offers an app, the same logo must be displayed in the app.
What Limits Are Placed on Ontario Casinos?
The agent agreement between the gaming site and the commission also ensures the region's strict gambling access and advertising limitations are adhered to. While Ontario online casinos can offer bonuses and incentives to their player base, they cannot induce them to visit the casino website or encourage potential players to join.
This is why you will find that all our reviews for Ontario operators delve into their benefits and services but refrain from making mention of any specific promotional offers.
Legal Gambling Age Matters
As with most regulated markets, there is a legal online gambling age. For Ontario, that age has been set at 19 or older for games of chance. The only caveat is that residents of Ontario can access an online gaming site to purchase lottery tickets from 18 years of age.
2. Know The Rules of Engagement
Several common-sense measures need to be considered when choosing an online casino. These are universally true and can be applied no matter where in the world you find yourself.
Always Play at Regulated Sites
To ensure that you have access to the best service and the safest software and can withdraw your winnings, you need to play at an online casino that has been approved for Ontario.
The AGCO list the following benefits:
- Gameplay transparency is guaranteed.
- Winnings will be paid out in full.
- Secure personal information and data.
Also, should you have a reason to file a dispute, you have legal recourse and support in the state to help you resolve the issue.
Accessible Customer Support is Vital
The best online casinos are those that ensure you have access to 24/7 customer support to assist you with technical, account and game-related queries. We advise looking for sites that offer email and live chat at a minimum, with a higher value placed on those that also provide telephonic support.
Seek Out Convenient Payment Methods
A significant advantage of a regulated gambling market is depositing and withdrawing using local banks. This allows you to bank with a trusted institution, not have to open a new account just for gaming and avoid the costs associated with international currency conversion. Withdrawals via local banks are often processed far quicker than at unlicensed offshore sites.
Always Read the T&Cs
Even with the security that joining a regulated online casino brings, it is important to read its terms and conditions. Do not limit yourself to promotional terms. Check out their withdrawal schedules, deposit limitations and account closure procedures.
3. Your Safety Must Come First
Anyone who is a true fan of gambling and betting online knows there is always the chance for compulsive behaviours to creep in. Only join a venue that prioritises your personal safety and information security.
Responsible Gambling Tools
The best Ontario operator will be the one that ensures you have access to a full suite of safer gambling tools. These will include the ability to set various limits on your gaming, notifications of timeline, the ability to self-exclude, and easy access to the local responsible gambling organisations should you ever need counselling.
Set Your Own Limits
No tool is any good if it is left unused. Before you begin playing, we strongly advise setting your deposit limits, time spent in the casino notifications, and planning when you intend to gamble next. Don’t let it become a habit, plan for it like you would any other night out or excursion.
Sitewide Data Security
To gamble with complete peace of mind takes knowing that your personal information, gaming history, and banking information are safe and secure. We recommend placing a higher value on sites that comply with international data security standards, secure their websites with 128-bit SSL encryption keys, and allow third-party reviews of their systems and processes to ensure there are no weaknesses in their security measures.
4. Follow The Fun, Not The Money
While online gambling has an attractive financial aspect, the only way to play safely, in the long run, is to find games you truly enjoy and savour the experience. Players in Ontario have access to the games of chance the industry has to offer.
We always recommend finding the types of gaming that suit your playstyle, availability, and appetite for risk. These categories include:
- Online slots
- Table games
- Lottery-style games
- Live dealer games
- Crash titles
Gambling at a multi-product venue will also offer you access to other forms of online gambling, including sports betting, esports betting, and online poker. If you like to mix it up, look for operators that offer all the gambling entertainment you want.
