Canada's Top Real Money Gambling Sites

Types of Real Money Gambling Sites

There are many different real money sites to choose from, and they usually fall into one of the following categories:

Real Money Casino Sites

Playing at real money casino sites is just like visiting its brick-and-mortar counterpart, except you can stay on your couch and there’s absolutely no dress code. Pretty much all online casino sites offer slot games and table games, while many also feature live dealer games where the likes of roulette, blackjack, and baccarat are streamed via webcam from glitzy studios around the world. 

Real Money Sports Betting Sites

Sports betting sites offer you the opportunity to wager on a huge range of matches and events. Some of the most popular sportsbook categories include horse racing, football, hockey, and basketball, with betting options like parlays, odds boosts, and in-play markets being par for the course. 

Real Money Bingo Sites

Real money bingo sites bring the fun of this popular land-based game directly to your computer or mobile device. You’ll usually be able to enjoy a whole host of colourful bingo games, not to mention different variants, while chat functionality lets you gossip with other players as you play. 

How We Review Real Money Gambling Sites

With so many operators around, how do you know which real money gambling sites are worth signing up for? Our reviewers have done the work for you, assessing the following factors at each site:

Licensing

It’s important to feel assured that when you play at online gambling sites, real money transactions are safe and you won’t fall foul of unfair games. As offshore sites available to Canadian players aren’t subject to national regulations, we ensure we only recommend those that are licensed by reputable industry bodies like the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and Malta Gaming Authority (MGA).

Bonus Offerings

Bonuses like free spins for slots, matched deposit offers, and free bets can enhance both your bankroll and betting experience. We seek out sites with not only the most generous bonuses, but also the most player-friendly terms and conditions. 

Payment Methods

It’s always useful to have a variety of payment methods to choose from when making deposits and withdrawals. We look for real money sites that give players lots of choices and, ideally, process cashouts quickly. 

Customer Support

If something goes wrong, it’s important for customers to be able to get the problem resolved quickly. That’s why good customer support is an important factor we consider. The best online gambling sites for real money will provide several ways to contact their staff, preferably including online live chat.

Range of Games and Markets

Some sites focus on one area of gambling, such as casino games. Others are all-in-one operators where you can click between, for example, slots and soccer betting without leaving the site. Either way, we like to see lots of exciting options to keep customers interested, whether that’s an eclectic array of casino titles or serious market depth on the sportsbook side of things.

Real Money Bonuses and Promotions

Many online gambling sites offer a variety of bonuses and promotions to bring in new players, as well as encourage loyalty from existing customers. Here’s a round-up of some of the offers you might come across: 

Free Bets

Free bets are a common bonus at online sportsbooks and are often provided as an incentive for new bettors to sign up. For example, you might get C$50 in free bet credits after you make a minimum first deposit. While free bets can provide a great way for gamblers to try out a new site, bear in mind there may be a fair few terms and conditions attached – including minimum odds stipulations and caps on winnings. 

Bet x Get y Bonuses

Some sportsbook sites offer promotions where, if you make a qualifying wager, you get a free bet credit. For example, wagering C$20 on certain markets might get you C$5 in free bets. As ever, you should read the terms of the promotion carefully so you’re certain your wager meets the qualifying criteria. Bet X get Y bonuses are especially popular during major sporting events.. 

New Customer Sign Up Offers

Real money casinos and sports betting sites will often provide the most generous bonuses to new players. As mentioned above, these can include free bets at sportsbooks, while real money online gambling sites with casino sections may also offer free spins for certain slots. 

A particularly popular sign up offer for both sports bettors and casino players is the matched deposit bonus, where a proportion of your first deposit is given in bonus funds. For example, if there’s a 100% matched deposit bonus, paying C$50 into your account will give you an overall bankroll of C$100. 

Existing Customer Sign Up Offers

Many of the best online gambling sites for real money will repay customer loyalty by providing ongoing bonuses and promotions. Look out for rewards schemes where you can rack up points that can be exchanged for free bets, extra spins, and other goodies. Matched deposit bonuses may also be offered to existing players at regular intervals.

Real Money Payment Methods

Top betting sites will offer a range of banking options, so you won’t have any extra hassle when managing your funds. Here are some of the payment methods that are popular with Canadians who enjoy gambling online for real money:

Interac

Interac is a widely used service that lets you make payments between bank accounts. There are two Interac options. Interac e-Transfer is widely supported and involves entering the gambling site’s email at your online banking page to go ahead with the transaction.
The other choice is Interac Online, which is a more seamless process as the payment gateway opens at the gambling site itself.

iDebit

iDebit is very popular with Canadian bettors, acting as an intermediary between your bank and your gambling site account. You don’t even have to create an account the first time you use it to make a payment – just take the ‘guest’ option and you can use the iDebit pathway to pay into your account. This method is highly secure as bank details never have to be shared with a gambling site.

eCheck

An eCheck is just like writing a paper check, except you fill in the required fields online – the service will then connect directly with your bank to ensure you have the funds available.
It’s good to know you can also make withdrawals via eCheck, but bear in mind that processing times for deposits and withdrawals tend to be slower than other methods.

InstaDebit

InstaDebit works similarly to iDebit, acting as a digital bridge between your bank account and the gambling site. It offers the same key benefits – namely, swift transactions, and the sense of security that comes from knowing you don’t have to share sensitive bank or card details at gambling sites.

ecoPayz

An e-wallet like ecoPayz provides a great way to keep track of your funds when you play at online gambling sites. Many bettors like the way it can be used to keep your gambling funds separate from your bank account, and, of course, you won’t have to enter bank account details when making transactions online.

WebMoney

WebMoney is a Russia-based e-wallet provider that’s becoming popular with casino players around the world. One of its distinct perks is that it allows you to have multiple virtual wallets in different currencies, which can be a plus for globe-trotting players.