Ontario is a developing online gambling market, but players already have access to a large number of online casinos. While the online market is well-regulated, players should take it upon themselves to stay safe and find the best online casinos in Ontario.
Online Gambling Laws and Regulations in Ontario
On April 4, 2022, Ontario became the first province in Canada to launch a private market for internet gambling. An online casino in Ontario must implement specific rules and responsible gambling measures to operate legally in the province. Players must be 19+ years old to bet on sports and play online casino games and 18+ to play lottery and bingo. Although online, players must be physically located within Ontario’s borders when visiting online gambling websites.
To ensure that you are joining reliable online casinos, make sure they are licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). AGCO is the official regulatory agency of the province, with a Board of Directors that reports to the Attorney General of Ontario. Operators that successfully register with the AGCO sign an operating agreement with their subsidiary iGaming Ontario (iGO) to provide their games to players in Ontario.
Are Land-Based Casinos Allowed in Ontario?
Although the list of Ontario online casinos is extensive, there are plenty of land-based casinos in Ontario as well. Ontario boasts 28 brick-and-mortar casinos. Considering that 40% of Canada’s population lives in Ontario, the high number of casinos isn’t surprising. Seven of them are located near Toronto, two in Niagara Falls, five in Eastern Ontario, three in Northern Ontario, and eleven in Southwestern Ontario.
Most land-based casinos are operated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), except for the resorts, which are also in charge of slot machines at different facilities that allow such machines to be placed. Like Ontario online casinos, land-based casinos also need to secure licensing through the AGCO and have strict laws to adhere to.
Is It Safe to Gamble at an Online Casino in Ontario?
Gambling at online casinos in Ontario, Canada, is completely safe. The entire online market is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, looking to create a fair environment for players who seek entertainment on online gambling sites.
As long as you play on regulated sites in Ontario, you can rest assured that your personal and financial information will be protected and that you aren’t at risk of exposure to unwanted parties or fraud. Additionally, third-party auditing firms test software to ensure fairness in games. Top online casinos in Ontario must feature responsible gambling tools easily accessible to players. Lastly, players can easily submit complaints to the casino but also bring their cases to the iGO if they feel they aren’t treated fairly.
The Best Online Casinos for Ontario Players
Before you look for new Ontario online casinos, remember that they need to be licensed by the AGCO. If the online gambling website doesn’t have a licence, you risk entering unregulated markets, which means that you may not be able to withdraw your winnings.
As long as the casino has the proper licence and adheres to the laws of the province regarding gambling, you’re free to register and place bets. We advise players to read our expert online casino reviews and check player reviews on our website before they choose their favourite place to gamble.
Things to Consider Before You Pick an Ontario Online Casino
When signing up at an online casino, players from Ontario should look for multiple aspects. Check the following points before you register and deposit any money to the casino:
- Licensing and regulation: The casino needs to be licensed and regulated by a reputable gaming authority. Otherwise, nobody can guarantee your data's safety, game fairness, and smooth withdrawals and deposits. The best online casinos in Ontario all have adequate licences displayed for players to see.
- Game selection: The more casino games you have to choose from, the better. It is possible to see all types of casino games before you register.
- Bonuses and promotions: Top Ontario online casinos offer generous bonuses for new and existing players to motivate them to register or keep them engaged. Regular bonus offers are a great way to boost your bankroll and increase your chances of winning.
- Payment methods: Casinos can offer different payment methods, so look for ones that suit you and don’t charge any fees for deposits and withdrawals.
- Customer support: Having responsive customer service that tends to players' problems is a telltale sign of a good casino. Generally, casinos that feature 24/7 live chat and email support and solve players' queries quickly are considered more reliable.
- Responsible gambling: Look for the casinos in Ontario that boast various responsible gaming features you can easily activate.
Casino Bonus Offers in Ontario
Players from Ontario are looking for bonus offers from casinos when registering on the new site or when they want to increase their bankroll and play for an extended period. Canadians living in other provinces can explore different Canadian casino bonuses. Still, the same bonuses won’t be available for the players from Ontario, as gambling websites and casino operators aren't allowed to market them actively.
According to the AGCO, “advertising and marketing materials that communicate gambling inducements, bonuses and credits are prohibited, except on an operator’s gaming site and through direct advertising and marketing, after receiving active player consent.”
Most Popular Casino Bonus for Ontario Players
A large number of online casinos in Ontario offer welcome bonus packages for new players. The numbers differ from one casino to another, but with the matching deposit players can expect to get Free Spins as well.
Some of the best online casinos in Ontario throw in cash rewards for registrations. Remember that you need to be located in Ontario to claim the bonus. Also, read the Terms & Conditions for the bonus before you sign up.
Casino Game Software in Ontario
Operators in Ontario have partnered with the world’s most popular software providers to offer players the best games available on the market. Players have access to a wide selection of slots and table games, including poker, baccarat, roulette, and some others.
The library of games can be different for different casinos in Ontario, so make sure to find a casino that has games from top providers such as:
Payment Methods Available in Ontario
There aren’t any notable restrictions on depositing money to regulated online casinos in Ontario. Operators include different deposit methods for the players, which differ from one online gambling website to another. These methods can be grouped as:
- Credit/debit cards: Mastercard, Maestro, Visa
- Digital wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Skrill
- Bank transfers: Bank Transfer, Rapid Transfer, Wire Transfer
- Prepaid cards: Paysafecard, Flexepin, AstroPay, Neosurf
- Online payment services: Payz, Neteller, Trustly, MuchBetter, Luxon Pay
- E-wallets: iDebit, InstaDebit, Jeton
- Other payment methods: Interac, PayNearMe, Pay by Phone, eCheck
In Ontario, all payment providers offered by regulated casinos are trusted. What you choose depends on your preferences. Some of the more popular payment methods Ontario residents use include PayPal, Interac Visa and Mastercard, which are widely accepted. To determine if any fees are applied, read a casino’s Terms & Conditions and contact your financial institution to review their transactional policies before depositing and withdrawing money.
Best Ontario Casinos for Online Slots
When you’re looking for the top online casinos in Ontario, check the number of video slots in their library. This can be a determining factor in whether you choose a specific online casino.
Online casinos that offer thousands of online slots allow their players to chase different prizes and rewards, use different in-game mechanics and simply choose the types of games they prefer to play. Some of the popular types of slots include:
- Video slots
- Classic slots
- Megaways slots
- Progressive jackpot slots
- Mobile-friendly slots
Top Online Casino Games for Ontario Players
Ontario online casinos offer a lot more than slots. It’s impossible for us to list all the games you can find on different websites, but here are some of the most popular casino games you can find at different gambling sites in Ontario.
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Poker
- Baccarat
- Video poker
Not every Ontario online casino may feature the games from all of these categories. There are also some other games that players can engage with, including instant and crash games, which are purely based on luck with no skill required.
Future Online Gambling Trends in Ontario
Online gambling is a relatively new concept for Ontario residents, and although it’s becoming popular, talking about its future is relatively complicated. The Ontario government has embraced online gambling to generate tax revenue, and the emerging market is well-regulated, providing a safe environment for players while not aggressively marketing online gambling to residents who have no interest in betting.
At this point, online gambling in Ontario looks bright. There’s an emerging number of regulated online casinos while players do show interest in gambling online, but we’ll keep track of everything that happens in the market and update you with the latest changes.
Find Popular Casinos in Other Canadian Provinces
If you happen to travel outside of Ontario, you should know that gambling laws are different in other Canadian provinces and therefore the casinos available.
