Best Online Casino in Canada: Top Canadian Casino Sites

Online gambling is incredibly popular in Canada, and it's not uncommon to see television advertising promoting different online casinos. As opposed to online casinos in the USA, there are no federal laws around online gambling, meaning that it can be enjoyed by players all across Canada so long as the casino they choose adheres to their provincial regulations.

What do you need to know about the best online casinos Canada and how can you find the best ones? 

How We Review the best online casinos canada

There are tons of casinos out there, and many of them will claim to be the best. Some casinos have thousands of casino games to play and enjoy, while others will have incredible casino bonuses to extend your bankroll and keep you in the game longer. At Odds Shark, we look at a variety of factors, including the overall experience of playing at a casino, in our reviews.

Our casino ratings are broken up into two distinct categories: the Summary section, and the Value & Benefits section.

What We Look For in Real Money Online Casinos in Canada

The best online casinos in Canada are not particularly different from many of the other online casinos that are available around the world. The next few sections outline some of the things that you can expect to find at the best online casinos in Canada.

We rate casinos based on the desktop experience (how easy the site is to navigate, and how many games the site has), the mobile casino experience (how fully-featured a casino on mobile is, and if it's on par with its desktop counterpart), and the quality of the welcome bonus.

Value & Benefits

The Value & Benefits section of our casino reviews provides an analysis of the longer-term experience of playing at a casino. These include the ongoing promotions that are available to players, the casino's VIP or loyalty program, and its customer support options.

Since different people look for different things in a casino, which one is the best is subjective. However, our reviews aim to give you all of the information you need in order to make that decision. At minimum, you should want to play at a casino with a good selection of games, strong bonus support for both new and long-term players, compatible casino banking options, and good customer support.

To learn more about Odds Shark's review process, visit our casino reviews page.

Game Selection & Variety

Some people may consider bonuses to be more important when considering which online casino to play at, but without games, there wouldn't be anything to do. Online slots make up the majority of every casino's selection, though you can also expect to find games like online baccarat, online blackjack, online roulette, and even live dealer casino versions of these games. Every casino has a slightly different games selection, so games like Red Dog or Sic Bo online may also be available.

Bonuses & Promotions

When we rank online casinos we always look at how lucrative the Welcome Bonus is. After all, this is the big hook that attracts most new players to a casino site. We analyze each bonus in detail to make sure it’s worth your money. Our team looks beyond the flash and takes into account things like wagering requirements and expiration dates.

There are lots of other bonuses in addition to the Welcome Bonus and we review these as well. Common types of bonuses include match bonuses (a percentage of what you deposit is added as a bonus), free spins bonuses (depositing earns you a number of free spins on slot machines), and cashback bonuses (earning back a small percentage of your losses). We have more on these bonus types further down the page.

VIP Program

While they aren't as enticing as bonuses, VIP and loyalty programs can be worth taking part in at the best online casinos Canada, particularly real money casinos. As you make bets, you'll accumulate points, which determine which tier you're currently in and what rewards you receive. While those who play the most and have the biggest bankrolls will go the furthest, there's certainly nothing wrong with earning a few extras based on things you were already doing.

Safety & Security

The online casino industry in Canada is highly regulated, but we still review casinos for their own security practices. The best online casinos will always have their SSL certification up-to-date and follow all the latest, world-class security guidelines. When you add the various security features of the most popular deposit methods, your sensitive information is iron-clad. 

Customer Support

The final staple of online casinos in Canada is great customer support. In the best-case scenario, there should be email, 24/7 live chat, and phone support options provided, though it's not unusual for one of these options to be missing. Support is an incredibly important aspect of playing at an online casino because not only can you receive answers to your questions, you can be assured that they have your back if a problem or error arises.

Maple Casino offers an extensive breakdown of the differences between Canadian online casinos and their American counterparts.

Casino Bonuses for Canadians

When you play at an online casino in Canada for real money, you may wish to take advantage of the various bonuses on offer. Bonuses for Canadian players can help you play longer without necessarily needing to add more money to your account, though they are usually tied to making a deposit. Here are the various types of Canadian casino bonuses to look out for:

Welcome Bonus

Most online casinos in Canada put on a big show when it comes to their welcome bonuses. After all, most players are looking to start strong, and a solid welcome bonus is the way to do it. These typically consist of a deposit match plus free spins. For example, at Sportsbook you can get 200% deposit match up to $1000.

Free Spins Bonus

The free spins bonus is exactly what it sounds like. You get a number of free spins to play. This bonus usually accompanies a welcome bonus and normally, the free spins are only good on certain games like Starburst.

Loyalty Programs

The welcome bonus gets you in the door, but loyalty programs keep customers happy. Most online casinos in Canada offer returning players a bit of incentive to keep playing. These can include rewards points you can redeem for prizes and free game play. Often, members will qualify for perks that casual players do not, like access to exclusive events, tournaments and more.

Weekly or Seasonal Bonuses

It’s common to find that casinos offer different bonuses by weekday, month or season. These all vary by casino and are quite common, so it’s worth a look at the bonus and promotions page for all the details.

Cashback Bonuses

Sometimes you find yourself in a bit of a slump. That’s ok, it happens to the best of us. Many Canadian casinos offer a cashback bonus, which is usually equivalent to 10% cash back on losses. They’re normally tied to a specific timeframe or day of the week so check the T&Cs before you play.

How to Sign Up at an Online Casino in Canada

Signing up for online gambling Canada is actually quite easy. Provincial lotteries have their own websites where you can play casino and other lottery games. You can also sign up at numerous independent online casinos that are legal in Canada. No matter which option you choose, the process is always straightforward.

First, decide where you want to sign up after you’ve researched your online casino options. Once you’ve chosen a casino, there’s usually only a couple of steps you need to follow in order to get started. 

Casinos will ask for your basic information like name, address, email and phone. In some cases you’ll need to create an account with a username and password. Remember to choose something secure. 

At most casinos you’ll be offered a welcome bonus or the option to play a few games for free. If you want to play for real money, you’ll have to make a deposit. Simply head to the cashier or account page and select your preferred deposit method.

Top Online Casino Games in Canada

You can play almost any game you like at online casinos in Canada, nowadays. Here are some of the most popular games in the country:

Slots

It’s hard to imagine a casino without rows of slot machines. It’s the same with online casinos, too. Casinos in Canada feature slots from all the best developers including NetEnt and Microgaming. Choose a theme that suits you and get spinning!

Blackjack

Blackjack is one of the simplest games to learn and master. That’s why it’s always on our list of top casino games in Canada. Look for lots of variations like Lighting Blackjack and more.

Roulette

Watch the ball and spinning wheel and hope it lands on your chosen number! Roulette is one of the most exciting casino games to play, so it’s no surprise that online casinos in Canada have a ton of roulette games to choose from. Look for games with side bets to increase your chances  of a big win.

Live Dealer

The pandemic certainly increased the popularity of live dealer games. These games let you play online with a real, live dealer from the comfort of your couch. If you like one-on-one interaction with a live human being, these types of games might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Sports Betting

From basketball to badminton, many online casinos in Canada have a sports betting arm. Turn that fantasy win into a reality with game odds, futures, expert picks, matchups, scores and more.

Safety & Security at Online Casinos in Canada

Online casinos in Canada are highly regulated, that’s why they’re so safe to play at. Each province has its own regulations and casinos themselves offer the highest levels of security to players. You can be confident that if you’re playing at a regulated casino in Canada, it will be completely secure. Read on for more about Canadian casino regulations.

How Are The best online casinos canada Regulated?

Online gambling in Canada is legal, as there are no laws at the federal level. Instead, every province or territory has its own laws around gambling, just like different states have different rules. Many provinces allow online casinos that are licensed by international authorities, such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority. However, there is one exception: the Kahnawake Gaming Commission is a non-provincial, First Nations authority.

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission is one of the major licensors of online casinos. However, unlike other governmental institutions, such as the Curacao Gaming Control Board or the Dutch Gaming Authority, it is overseen by the Kahnawake First Nations community. Located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake in Quebec, they are the sole licensor of online casinos in North America.

However, there is a notable caveat: in order for any casino to be licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, it needs to be hosted by Mohawk Internet Technologies, a web service provider owned by the Kahnawake First Nations community. Canadian gambling sites hosted in other provinces, or any other online casino based around the world, cannot be licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

PlayNow in British Columbia

PlayNow is the first provincially-operated online casino in North America, and can only be played at by those who live in British Columbia. Initially launched in 2004, the online casino portion of the site was established in 2010. The success of PlayNow inspired other provinces to create their own gaming portals, allowing for more opportunities to gamble online in Canada.

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)

Similar to PlayNow, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (or OLG) offers an iGaming site for residents of the province. PlayOLG allows players to enjoy casino games including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, craps, and more.

Loto-Quebec's Espace Jeux

Residents of Quebec can play online at Espace Jeux (French for "play space"), an online casino offered by Loto-Quebec. Players have access to the same games that the regulator offers in its land-based casinos, and Espace Jeux is offered in both English and French.

Atlantic Lottery Corporation

Residents of Atlantic Canada can play online scratch cards, purchase national lottery tickets, bet on their favourite team with ProLine and play endless scratch and casino games. Visit their website for more information.

Banking at Online Casinos in Canada

If you want to play at an online casino in Canada for real money, you'll need to add funds to your casino account. Many of the standard casino banking options are available for you to use, but Canadians have access to unique options that American gamblers may not.

Credit Cards

As with many other parts of the world, credit card casino deposits are the most popular casino banking method in Canada. Whether you have a Visa or a Mastercard, it's incredibly easy to enter your information, add money to your account, and start playing. Credit cards are highly safe and secure, but the downside of using them to play at a casino is that whatever you spend will need to be paid off with interest down the line, so take care not to deposit more than you can afford.

Interac

Exclusive to Canada, Interac casino deposits are an incredibly useful banking option, since they give you the opportunity to use money you already have in your bank account to play at a casino. This means that, as opposed to credit cards, you can make a full deposit up front and not have to worry about paying interest fees. However, since you are using your own money - not money that you can pay off in the future - there's a bit more reason to be cautious than you would be with credit cards.

PayPal

As opposed to directly depositing funds into a casino from a credit or debit card, some online Casinos in Canada, may allow you to use your PayPal account. PayPal is one of the largest online payments systems in the world, and serves as a secure third-party way to add money to your casino account. Please note that some casinos may require that you have a credit or debit card linked to your PayPal account before you'll be able to deposit through it.

Mobile Gambling at Canadian Online Casinos

Online gambling Canada is popular because of the ability to play on your phone. Sitting at a desktop computer is fine for live dealer games, but lots of players like to play casino games on the go. Long commutes and waiting rooms are ideal for slots or casual table games, too.

While the experience might be a bit different, there’s usually no difference in game quality. Instead of pointing and clicking with a mouse, gamblers swipe and tap with their fingers to control the game.

The best online casinos in Canada are either completely mobile friendly, or have standalone apps that players can download. When we look at mobile casino sites we always review things like menu access and responsiveness. 

Software providers design their games with mobile players in mind first. They’re always the first to take advantage of new phone features like the camera or vibrations to make their games feel more immersive.

Playing Responsibly at Online Casinos in Canada

Online gambling in Canada is meant to be fun first and foremost; no one benefits when a player spends more than they can afford to do. That's why many Canadian online casinos offer responsible gambling measures to prevent players from spending too much while they play, or even depositing too much into their casino accounts.

Through betting and depositing limits, players can put a cap on how much they're spending at once, as well as how much they're adding to their accounts to use. In more dire circumstances, players can also request a cooling-off period where they will be unable to log in. If necessary, casinos can even permanently close player accounts.

To activate any of these self-exclusion features, you'll have to contact your online casino of choice. While some Canadian online casinos may allow you to set limits yourself, you won't be able to access all of the responsible gambling measures that are offered. Despite needing to be proactive in establishing limits, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

Choose the Best Online Casinos in Canada for Real Money

The casino market in Canada is legal and there are new properties popping up almost daily. It’s difficult to know which ones to trust. Our team is committed to providing readers with the most up-to-date reviews to take some of the pressure off choosing a good casino. Of course, with real money online casinos Canada, it comes down to personal preference. Our Canadian casino guides are there to provide an objective opinion. Here are some of our top tips:

Tips for Choosing the Best online casinos canada

  • Read the reviews. The staff at Odds Shark spend hours sifting through various online casinos to bring the best of the best to our readers.
  • Check out the bonuses. Look at the Welcome Bonus offer and other offers. The best casinos will have a variety of bonuses to offer their players.
  • Make sure it’s certified. Legal online casinos in Canada will all have relationships with the various provincial regulatory bodies and proudly display them on their websites.

Online Casinos Canada FAQ

Can Canadians play online casinos?

Yes they can. Canadian online casinos are 100% legal and safe as long as they have the correct licensing and regulations. Each casino is regulated by the province they operate in, so check with your provincial government for more.

How many online casinos are in Canada?

At last count, there were more than 2,100 legal online casinos in Canada. That’s a lot to choose from. Let our reviews help you narrow it down.

Which casino is the best online?

It comes down to personal preference, but our reviews can help you choose. Whether you’re into big city nights or Samurai fights, there will be a safe, exciting casino with a theme for you.

Back to Top