The Best Online Casinos in Ontario

Online Gambling’s Legality in Ontario

With the first of the land-based casinos in Ontario opening its doors back in the mid-1990s and offshore online casino sites starting to pop up around the same time, Ontario residents are no strangers to casino games. However, despite the popularity of online gambling, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) didn’t launch its own iGaming platform until 2015. 

This move was partly motivated by the fact that Ontarians were parting with up to $500 million in real money deposits at offshore gambling sites, and the OLG was understandably keen to take a slice of that pie. Things are now set to evolve further, with the recent launch of iGaming Ontario, a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Its mission is to create a regulated online gaming market where private operators can apply for permission to offer casino gaming to Ontario players.

Meanwhile, the incumbent, state-run Ontario casino site PlayOLG is shaping up well to compete with its imminent rivals. October saw Evolution Gaming’s live dealer games launch there, substantially enhancing its offering of table games.  

‘The Grey Zone’

The question of whether online casino sites are legal in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada is common among prospective players. The answer lies in something of a grey zone, with Canadian gamblers accessing some of the best online casinos in the world, even though these sites aren’t legally allowed to operate on Canadian soil. The operators get around this by locating their servers outside Canada, while still expressly offering real money games and gambling bonuses to Canadians.

Although change is on the horizon for Ontario residents, Canadians across the entire country are continuing to enjoy online gambling at offshore sites. Some of the top examples of reputable offshore sites, licensed by respected gaming authorities like the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), can be found right here at BestOnlineCasinos.

How We Review the Best Online Casinos in Ontario

When conducting our real money online casino reviews, we always pay particular attention to the following key features before recommending a site.

Licensing

For us, the presence of a reputable licence is non-negotiable. When it comes to offshore sites, we look for licences issued by trusted regulators like the Malta Gaming Authority and UKGC. For newly regulated Canadian casino sites, we’ll look for the iGaming Ontario seal of approval. Either way, these licences tell us that a site offers a safe and fair platform for enjoying real money gambling games. 

Game Selection 

The game selection at any online casino is a pretty big concern of ours. After all, most Ontario players enjoy the freedom to try out online slots with different themes, and jump to other categories like table games and live dealer experiences. The best online casinos will offer a varied game library from an assortment of software providers. 

Bonuses and Promotions

We love to see online casinos welcome new players with a generous welcome bonus, perhaps featuring free spins, a matched deposit bonus, or both. We also swing by the promotions page to ensure there are plenty of perks in store for existing players too. These might be in the form of daily or weekly reload bonuses, or loyalty schemes which allow members to rack up points for prizes and extra advantages. 

Customer Support

If you ever have an issue with, say, redeeming a bonus offer, or a delayed payment, you’ll want to be able to contact customer support in a prompt and convenient way. That’s why Ontario’s best online casinos will have more than a few ways to get in touch – ideally by live chat as well as phone and email. Operators get bonus points if support staff are on hand right around the clock. 

Site Design and Layout

When you play at any casino online, it’s natural to want a site to be visually appealing and easy to navigate. We make sure that any Ontario online casinos we recommend tick both those boxes. If a site also has a native mobile app for Android or iOS, we’ll check this out too, in order to provide a 360-degree overview of the operator’s offering.

Casino Games in Ontario

The game libraries at Ontario’s best online casinos are bursting with must-try titles. Below is a snapshot of some of the most popular real money online casino games.

Slots

Slots often make up the majority of the games at online casinos. Players often have thousands of titles to choose from, with all kinds of themes and payout rates. Many online casinos in Ontario feature popular games like NetEnt’s Starburst and Play’n Go’s Book of Dead, along with a selection of progressive jackpots, where players contribute to the same top prize. Some of the best online casinos also offer exclusive online slots that you won’t find anywhere else.

Table Games

Nothing quite conjures up the land-based casino vibe like table games, and you’ll find plenty of options at Ontario’s online casinos. Blackjack and roulette are frequently in attendance, with classic versions of both games lining up alongside exciting variations like Bally Gaming’s Blazing Blackjacks and IGT’s Double Bonus Spin Roulette. You can even play a virtual version of the world’s most iconic dice game, thanks to Evolution’s First Person Craps. 

Poker 

Although you’ll need to head to specialist poker sites like 888poker or PokerStars for a wide range of poker room options, many online casinos do offer games that pit you against the dealer. These include titles like SG Gaming’s Four Card Poker, and another popular option at online casinos is video poker. While titles Joker Poker from Green Valley Games can never replicate the buzz of an online poker room, video poker is simple to play and can be great fun.

Live Casino

Live dealer action awaits at many of the best online casinos in Ontario, and it comes in a variety of styles. Players wanting to bring the thrill of the casino floor to their fingertips can enjoy live dealer versions of classic casino games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, but there’s also a must-try selection of more unique games. Top picks include Playtech’s Dragon Tiger and Andar Bahar, and Pragmatic Play’s Mega Wheel.

Online Casino Bonuses

Ontario online casinos will usually lay out the welcome mat for new players by offering some perks when they sign up. They’ll also provide ongoing bonuses for existing players to take advantage of. Here are some of the most common promos you’ll see.  

Matched Deposits

Frequently offered to new players as an incentive to sign up, matched deposit bonuses will see casino operators give you bonus credits in proportion to how much you pay into your account. Let’s say there’s a ‘100% up to $500’ offer available. In this scenario, depositing $100 would get you another $100 to play with. 

Casinos usually attach some T&Cs to these bonus offers, so you’ll usually have to use your bonus by a set deadline, and there may be a maximum cap on how much you can win. Most significantly, there may be wagering requirements ‒ these will dictate how many times you’ll have to bet the bonus amount before you’re eligible to cash out any winnings. 

Free Spins

Free spins for slot games are often available for new and existing players. For example, making a minimum first deposit might get you 50 free spins on Wolf Gold or 200 free spins on Fruit Party. For regular customers, casinos often hand out free spins when new online slot games arrive on the site, or as part of a ‘spend $10 on slots and get 20 bonus spins’ type of offer. Once again, T&Cs will apply, and you may have to wager the total amount of your free spins winnings before you’re able to withdraw them as real money. 

No Deposit Bonuses

There are no minimum deposits involved with no deposit bonuses. They can consist of free spins or a small amount in bonus credits, which are provided just for signing up as a new member. For regular players, the rare chance to claim a no deposit bonus will probably come courtesy of a particularly generous one-off promo, or perhaps as a birthday treat if you’ve ascended the loyalty scheme ladder. Bear in mind that wagering requirements very often apply to anything you win using a no deposit bonus.

Payment Options in Ontario

Ontario’s best online casinos will make life a lot easier by supporting a range of payment options. Here’s a rundown of some of the most common ways to make deposits and withdrawals.

Bank Cards

Bank cards issued by Visa or Mastercard are readily accepted as a payment option at online casinos. They’re safe and secure, and the majority of Ontario players will already be very familiar and comfortable with using bank cards to make transactions. Bank cards are also pretty much guaranteed to qualify for any promos at online casinos. All of this being said, some customers don’t like the thought of entering their card details at casino sites, and withdrawals using bank cards can take up to six working days. 

e-Wallets

e-Wallets are a great choice if you’re after the extra layer of security that comes from not having to share your bank details online. Another big advantage with services like MuchBetter and ecoPayz is that withdrawals tend to be far more rapid compared with other payment methods; the best online casinos can even process e-wallet payouts instantly. A potential snag is that some welcome bonus offers aren’t available to players who make their first deposit through certain e-wallets.

Prepaid Cards

Another highly secure payment method, prepaid cards let you manage your funds without having to enter any bank information. It also provides a route for making cash deposits. For example, you can buy Paysafecard vouchers of various denominations in land-based retailers, then use the unique codes to transfer the funds to your Ontario casino account. Of course, this can prove cumbersome for high rollers who want to make big deposits, and withdrawals generally aren’t possible via Paysafecard.

Pay by Phone Bill

Pay by phone bill services, such as Boku and PayForIt, are fast becoming a popular payment option for many players. These services allow you to make instant deposits simply using your mobile phone number, with the value of each deposit either added to your monthly phone bill or deducted from your PAYG balance. It’s quick, easy and secure to make phone deposits, and there are no extra fees to pay or accounts to create. The bad news is that these services don’t work for payouts, and there will be very tight daily limits on how much you can deposit.

Interac

Interac frequently makes an appearance as a payment method at Ontario’s best online casinos. With Interac e-Transfer, you’ll be provided with payment details by the online casino which you’ll use to make the transfer through your online banking account; Interac Online works in a similar way but is a quicker option. A familiar banking solution for many Canadians, Interac is safe and convenient, but check with your bank about any fees that may apply.