The recent pandemic saw a natural spike in online casino activity, and this has also been supported in Canada in recent years by legislative changes made to encourage more domestic private casinos. This was driven by a fear from Canadian politicians of getting left behind by the USA, with more Canadians playing south of the border. Ontario was the first province to take advantage of new laws that empowered provinces to set up their own online casino markets, and there’s now a healthy and growing range of betting platforms for players to join, offering everything from slots and blackjack to bingo and sports.
Finding Top Ontario Online Casinos
It can be a little daunting for those entirely new to the world of online casino gaming to decide where to register and play. There is a comprehensive list available on the website of iGaming Ontario but this is pretty hefty to trawl through and the information made available is minimal. It is always possible to search and check out individual online Ontario casinos oneself, of course, but the downside with such an approach is that it can be immensely time-consuming and require literal note-taking to compare different welcome promotions, game selections, banking methods, and other important aspects. And, as the whole point of online casinos is to relax and have fun, turning it into unpaid work is rather counterproductive.
A good alternative to this is to take advantage of local and independent, third party review websites such as OntarioGambling.ca which use their extensive expertise to compile objective assessments of a large number of betting sites. This means that all the most important information can be easily digested in a far more rapid manner than searching the whole internet oneself, and comparisons can be made in a matter of minutes rather than the hours or even days needed if doing all the legwork oneself. Such online casino portals consider a wide range of factors, including the available games (and which software developers are contributing them), welcome and existing player bonuses, mobile optimization and any apps, banking methods, the presence of a live casino, and other aspects. Most players have certain key factors they want or a deal-breaker that they wish to avoid (having a preferred banking method is a common example) and using casino review sites is a smart way to speed up the process of finding a great casino in Ontario at which to play.
Check the Licensing
Another matter casino review sites will always check is the licensing situation. A player who prefers to browse the internet themselves is well-advised to pay full attention to this as well, as licensing is critically important when assessing how trustworthy and reliable an online betting site is. Commonly, this information is clearly presented at the bottom of each and every casino page, making it amongst the easiest things to check. On rarer occasions, licensing information may be hidden in the Terms and Conditions page (or even in the About Us section).
Why does licensing matter? Because this determines how well-regulated an online casino is. No licensing at all is a huge black mark and should be considered just cause to abandon thoughts of registering at an online casino. It’s also worth noting that online casinos that are international in nature frequently have multiple licensing arrangements. In Canada, licensing is typically provincial, or may be offered by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. On the international stage, top regulatory authorities come from Malta, Gibraltar, or the United Kingdom. Operators that are fully approved and registered in Ontario will also feature iGO’s logo.
Another consideration of a similar nature is the presence of affiliation with a testing and auditing firm. While not essential in the same way a license is, such an affiliation is a very reassuring sign because third party firms such as eCOGRA independently verify that the games offered by an online casino are being run with the correct RNG (random number generator) setup and are treating players fairly.
Signing up - Process and Bonuses
After having selected a casino, it’s time to sign up. This process is very straightforward and involves entering a small amount of personal and contact information (setting up a password and contact e-mail, for example). There may well be a welcome bonus for new players to enjoy too, as these are almost universal nowadays. Introductory promotions commonly come in the form of free spins, a match deposit bonus, or a combination of both. To make the most of a match deposit bonus it is, of course, necessary to make a deposit. Be aware that casinos strongly prefer players to use the same banking method for deposits and withdrawals (if it can be used for monetary transfers both ways, as most financial systems can these days). A free spins no deposit promo will require no deposit to redeem but a token deposit will likely be necessary if there are winnings to withdraw, so the withdrawal can occur via the same means as the deposit was made.
This is why checking the banking method options ahead of time is wise, as a flashy special offer does not mean much if a deposit can only be made with a new system a player does not want to be forced to use. At the same time, players are advised to check the processing times and fees attached to particular banking methods. Fees are rare (from casinos) now, but may be applied by financial institutions or e-wallets themselves. Different methods can have drastically different withdrawal times, with PayPal and Bitcoin very swift, and credit/debit cards taking rather longer (up to 5 business days is common).
Players should also give the fine print of welcome bonuses a look to ensure the expiry date is not too near and the wagering requirement (WR) is not too high. The WR is the total sum that needs to be placed in wagers prior to withdrawal of bonus cash and associated winnings, in order to stop players redeeming a match deposit deal and immediately withdrawing it as free money. A good level is 20x or 30x the value of a promo, with higher than this eroding the value of a bonus as the WR takes longer to fulfill.
Playing Games
Games are the beating heart of any online casino in Ontario, and while specific navigational setups vary in detail, the broad approach is similar across most betting platforms. Players will be presented of a choice between slots and table games (and live tables if these are available). Some sites also have a wider offering, with game categories such as keno, bingo, or scratch cards. Within slots, the largest and most popular category, games be filtered (jackpot games are a common filter) and most sites also allow for direct searching of a particular title. Multi-developer websites may facilitate filtering by software studio. Stakes for games can be altered significantly, and wagers can be made for as low as a few cents. In addition, many casino have tools within the settings section of a player’s account to setup deposit and wagering limits, which can be a great way of ensuring betting does not get out of control.
What to Look For
What really matters in a casino is largely a subjective matter with individual player preference varying significantly (beyond the universal importance of sound licensing and a trusted reputation). Some online casinos have extensive live dealer sections, while others have a plethora of software developers contributing to the range of slots. Many casinos now offer a sports section which can be ideal for players who like to dabble in such wagers, including live/in-play betting. Mobile support is absolutely critical for some players, but irrelevant to others, entirely depending on how a player likes to place wagers.
Signing up and making the most of welcome bonuses is pretty straightforward. A wise player always checks ahead of time for factors such as banking methods, reputation, and licensing before deciding which Ontario online casino is right for them.
