Best Online Casinos in New Brunswick

Online Gambling’s Legality in New Brunswick

Like many other provinces in Canada, online gambling in New Brunswick is legal but remains a relatively untapped market. Residents can gamble at the site of the Atlantic Lottery Corporation (ALC) — a joint online gambling outlet shared by residents of the four Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick. 

The ALC regulates all gambling activities in these four provinces. At its site, casino players in New Brunswick can access an array of online slots, table games such as roulette and blackjack, bingo titles, and a selection of sports betting markets. However, in recent years, the ALC has lobbied for changes in legislation, imploring local governments to open up the industry to private third-party operators in order to capitalize on profits being spent at sites in other gambling jurisdictions.

The provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec each have their own recognized gambling sites, approved and regulated by their respective provincial governments. The ALC wants this option granted to residents in its four member states, increasing revenue opportunities within its borders and generating income to invest in Atlantic Canadians. Some provinces want amendments made to legislation, calling for offshore sites around the world to be officially introduced into Canadian online gambling markets.

‘The Grey Zone’

Canada’s online gambling laws are unusual. Although officially considered illegal to those not using a province-run site, online gambling in Canada is permitted at offshore sites. These offshore casinos aren’t regulated in Canada, but since they have no physical presence in the country, they cannot be charged with illegal gambling activities. 

Only one online casino has ever been convicted of offering its services to Canadian gamblers. In 2001, British Columbia successfully prosecuted a gambling company called Starnet Communications International for having an office based in Vancouver, thus violating Canadian gambling laws.

This area of uncertainty — where online gamblers are allowed to access online casinos regulated in foreign jurisdictions, despite legislation technically forbidding it — has become known as the grey zone. 

Offshore sites hold regulatory licences from other respected gambling authorities, such as the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority, but aren’t licensed to operate in Canada. But the grey zone is a legal loophole, and until it’s closed, Canadian gamblers are legally allowed to continue using these sites — which offer more variety in services than Canadian state-run casinos — and provinces will continue to miss out on revenue opportunities.

How We Review the Best Online Casinos in New Brunswick

Before we list any site on BestOnlineCasinos.ca, it must first undergo a rigorous review process carried out by our expert team. This review is all-encompassing, covering any area of interest to prospective new members — here are the key details we look at.

Licensing

All of our casino reviews begin with licensing. Casino licences make sure operators’ games aren’t manipulated, and that they maintain security standards by encrypting customer data. Casino licences are upheld by independent regulators, who audit sites and their games at regular intervals throughout the year to check everything is above board. Any non-compliant operators risk hefty fines or losing their licence entirely. We’ll never recommend an unlicensed site, and you should never place a bet at one. 

Games Selection

The top online casinos in New Brunswick will have broad games libraries supplied by the industry’s best software developers. These games will cover all of the most popular categories in online gambling, including slots, classic table games, live dealer experiences, and bingo. A strong games selection is dependent on depth as well as variety, and we favour sites that offer players a range of games within each category — plenty of poker variants, for example. 

Bonuses and Promotions

Consistent, accessible, and generous bonuses are often what makes a great casino site. We’re under no illusions about this, always looking to recommend the casinos that prove they’re offering their customers good value for money. Having said that, we won’t be wooed by sites that over-promise and under-deliver — bonuses and promotions are only as good as their terms and conditions allow them to be. That’s why we consider both when providing an overall impression of a site’s bonus deals. 

Customer Support

We know that gambling can sometimes be a tense exercise. There may well be times when players need to fall back on excellent customer support. In our eyes, there should be easy access to a variety of communication channels that are available and responsive throughout the majority of the day. The best New Brunswick online casinos in this category will be on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Site Design and Layout

Well-designed sites with clear, intuitive layouts go a long way when it comes to determining a player’s gambling experience. This means games are clearly categorized and filterable, account features are easy to navigate, and the site’s general aesthetics are pleasing on the eye.

Casino Games in New Brunswick

Here are the most popular types of games you’ll find at New Brunswick’s best online casinos. 

Slots

The game portfolios of casino sites are often dominated by online slots — computerized slot games that simulate the reel-spinning action of physical slot machines. The possibilities of online slots are infinitely more interesting than their real-world counterparts, since their creators have a blank canvas on which to work. 

Taking inspiration from anything from Marvel superheroes to feline gangsters, these software providers concentrate a large chunk of their development resources into creating the next blockbuster title. As well as classic and video slots, we also like to see progressive jackpots, where players from around the world pool a small portion of their wagers into the same max jackpot until somebody wins it.

Table Games

For those seeking a more traditional online gambling experience, New Brunswick casino sites will feature a range of different table games. These games position players against the house, as represented by a dealer, rather than other players at the table. Blackjack, roulette, and baccarat are the three major options, but the best New Brunswick casinos will also offer sic bo and craps, as well as specific variants of each game. 

Poker

While poker is considered to be the modern world’s most popular card game, its availability at online casinos remains fairly limited. Still, we like to see at least a few variants on offer, particularly varieties of Texas Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, and Jacks/Aces or Better. 

Live Casino

Since their emergence in the mid-2000s, the influence of live casinos on the online gambling industry has grown exponentially. Live dealer games are streamed directly from bespoke studios and casinos around the world, allowing players at gambling sites to enjoy the customs and authenticity of a real casino without having to leave their homes. The best live casino experiences make use of multiple camera angles to capture all the action. As well as featuring a range of table games, these casinos also host popular TV-style game shows adapted for a gambling audience.

Online Casino Bonuses

The best online casinos in New Brunswick will offer their members an excellent welcome bonus when they first sign up, before following up with additional deals throughout their time at the site. Below are some of the most common bonus categories — you should always read the terms and conditions in full before you claim an offer, which may include wagering requirements, time limits, game weightings, payment exclusions, winning caps, and more.

Matched Deposits

When you sign up to a new gambling site, it’s likely you’ll be offered a matched deposit bonus — that’s where the site will match your monetary deposit at a specific percentage and up to a set limit. For example, in a matched deposit offer of 100% up to $100, you’ll receive $100 in bonus funds alongside your $100 real-money deposit. 

Free Spins Bonuses

These bonuses target the site’s slots collection, where recipients will be able to spin the reels without staking any of their own cash. Free spins bonuses are often included in welcome deals, while offers for existing players usually depend on a minimum deposit; for example, 25 free spins when players make a $10 deposit. 

No Deposit Bonuses

As the name suggests, these bonuses give players rewards without them needing to make a deposit. No deposit bonuses can come in the form of free spins or bonus funds, and are typically triggered as soon as a player registers at a new casino. 

Payment Options in New Brunswick

The growing number of payment systems at our disposal is often reflected in the list of payment methods supported by modern online casinos. From e-wallets to cryptocurrencies, there are all sorts of banking options at New Brunswick casinos — here are some of the most popular, along with their expected deposit and withdrawal speeds. 

Bank Cards

The downside to using debit cards at casino sites is plain to see — this option is among the slowest when it comes to withdrawals. But if that isn’t a dealbreaker for you, then debit card payments are familiar, reliable, and accepted at every online casino in New Brunswick. 

e-Wallets

There’s a stark difference in the withdrawal times between e-wallets and bank cards, with the former being able to pay out to players in a matter of moments once the casino processes the request. This is because e-wallet transactions aren’t slowed down by lengthy processing checks on the bank’s end, but still maintain excellent security. Often preferred by players who are wary of sharing their card details online, Skrill, Neteller and ecoPayz are the leading e-wallet brands at Canadian casinos. 

Prepaid Cards

The prepaid card option is favoured by those who want to keep a close watch of their casino budgets, since only preloaded funds can be spent at gambling sites. Paysafecard is the most widely supported prepaid card. While it’s a great option for depositing money, users won’t be able to request a withdrawal at most sites. 

Pay by Phone Bill

Pay by phone bill services like Boku are another deposit-only payment option, linking up with mobile network providers to allow online gamblers to add funds to their account by simply keying in their mobile number. Boku initially pays for the deposit, then charges it to the player’s monthly contract or takes it from their airtime credit. It’s a great option for those looking to make small deposits, but many carriers place limits on this service and it doesn’t support withdrawals. 

Interac

Both Interac Online and Interac e-Transfer are available at Canadian casinos, but it’s only the latter that can facilitate withdrawals. You’re likely to find at least one of these options available, but withdrawal times are typically as slow as bank cards.