The Best Online Casinos in Quebec

Online Gambling’s Legality in Quebec

As each Canadian province makes its own gambling regulations under federal law, there can be notable discrepancies between them. For example, Quebec is the only Canadian province with a legal gambling age of 18, one year younger than the rest of the country. 

Furthermore, players in Quebec have numerous gambling options, but only one local one, Espacejeux from Loto-Quebec. The lottery provider has had full control over gambling in the province since way back in 1969, and this stronghold has been maintained through the inception of online gambling. 

In 2015, Loto-Quebec attempted to cement its monopoly on online gambling by banning all online casinos based offshore from operating in the province, something no other regulator had tried before. Despite vocal pushes from the lottery provider, the Superior Court of Canada finally rejected Loto-Quebec’s efforts in 2018, meaning players in the province are free to play at a range of other sites. 

‘The Grey Zone’

Canadian provinces have very strict online casino laws for sites based within the country, with many regions only allowing one state-run site. However, players in the country are not as limited as it may appear, as the same stringent regulations are not applied to casino sites based outside of Canada’s borders. This means some of the top international operators offer high-quality sites with a range of games, bonuses, and more to Canadian online casino players. This unregulated side of the Canadian online casino market is often referred to as “The Grey Zone” and it’s big as it essentially covers everywhere outside of Canada. As mentioned above, Loto-Quebec tried, unsuccessfully, to ban offshore sites, meaning they are still available to players in the province.

How We Review the Best Online Casinos in Quebec

If we recommend a site that is part of the Grey Zone, and therefore unregulated in Canada, rest assured we go to every length to ensure it is a safe and secure place to play. Here are just some of the factors we consider when reviewing the best online casinos in Canada. 

Licensing

If a site is not licensed in Canada, how do you know it’s trustworthy? One of the best ways is to ensure the casino is licensed by a trusted regulatory body such as the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The online casino site will state in the footer what licenses it holds, and you can check the regulator’s website for confirmation. The MGA, UKGC, and other regulators will ensure that a casino is fulfilling all necessary requirements when it comes to fair play, security and transparency. Always remember, we will never recommend a site that is not licensed by at least one trusted body. 

Games Selection

You want to know that your chosen online casino offers a great range of games to choose from, and we will turn over every stone to make sure that every site we recommend does just that. This means that there not only a wide array of slots on offer, but also table games, live dealers, and preferably some exclusive titles too. We also look for top-of-the-range software developers like Evolution Gaming, Microgaming, and Playtech so we know that each games library offers quality as well as quantity. 

Bonuses and Promotions

An excellent welcome bonus is the least we expect from the top Canadian online casinos. We also like to see a broad range of promotional offers for existing customers including deposit matches, free spins and no wagering bonuses. 

Customer Support

However safe a casino site is, you still want to know there’s additional help if you need it. The best online casinos provide numerous ways to contact support including e-mail, phone, live chat, and social media. As such, we look for sites with well-reviewed customer service and quick resolutions to problems. 

Site Design and Layout

A well-designed site doesn’t just look good, but it also creates a better all round user experience. We like to see a site that makes navigation easy across games, promotions, cashier, and more. We especially appreciate those sites that offer easy-to-use interfaces for desktop and mobile casino players. 

Casino Games in Quebec

The best online casinos in Canada provide titles that cover a range of categories. As such, we look for sites that offer a variety of game types so that you can find exactly what you’re looking for. 

Slots

Usually the busiest area of any online casino, slots come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from three-reel classic fruit machine-style games to multi-payline behemoths. We look for a range of themes and bonus features, as well as analysing new releases alongside old favorites like NetEnt’s Starburst and Book of Dead from Play’n Go. We also like to see titles from a wide range of lesser-known developers such as ELK Studios, Red Tiger Gaming, and Yggdrasil.

Table Games

The table games sections at the best online casino sites in Canada include multiple variants of roulette and blackjack as well as baccarat, craps, and poker. We like to see table games specialists like Side City Studios and Switch Studios offering titles in this area, as well as the likes of Microgaming’s Gold Series. 

Poker

Poker is one of the most popular games you can play, which is why some big-name operators like 888 have dedicated poker sites. Those who like variety should look out for multiple variants such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha, coming from dedicated poker developers like Shufflemaster as well as the top gaming providers including NetEnt and Playtech. 

Live Casino

Most of the top online casinos in Canada will provide a broad spectrum of live dealer games from Evolution Gaming. Undoubtedly the best developer in this field, Evolution offers numerous unique versions of classic table games including Lightning Blackjack and First Person Roulette. The provider also has a range of game show-style titles such as Crazy Time, Deal or No Deal, and Monopoly Live. Alongside Evolution, we like to see live titles from other excellent developers including Ezugi, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play. 

Online Casino Bonuses

Promotions are a great way for a casino to stand out, and also an excellent opportunity for players to claim some extra plays on popular games or even a bit of bonus cash. Here are some of the most frequently offered bonuses at the best online casinos in Quebec:

Matched Deposits

Matched deposit bonuses are relatively self-explanatory. Basically, you make a deposit, and then the casino matches it. This is usually a full match up to a certain amount, such as 100% up to C$200. However, some online casinos offer 200% matches or even higher in some cases. Matched deposit bonuses are frequently part of a welcome bonus, but can also be given as a promotion for registered players.

Free Spins

Another bonus that’s regularly given to both new customers and existing players. Free spins promotions give players the opportunity to play on one or more slots without spending any money. Sometimes, free spins will be usable on all available slots, but normally the casino will set one or a small number of titles to choose from. Either way, it’s a great way to get some free play. 

No Deposit Bonuses

No deposit bonuses can be claimed by simply registering at an online casino before you spend a single cent. Usually, you will be given a small amount of bonus cash or a few free spins, giving you the opportunity to try out a casino site without depositing any of your own money. 

No wagering bonuses will tend to come with more restrictive terms and conditions than other promotions, however, and the bonus amount available will usually be pretty small. 

Terms and Conditions 

Almost all casino promotions come with small print attached, so it’s important to know what to look for. Some deposit-related offers will not allow certain payment methods to be used, while max spending caps and games restrictions are also commonplace. 

The most important of the terms and conditions to be aware are wagering requirements. When these are attached to a promotion, any bonus funds must be wagered a set number of times before any winnings from the offer can be withdrawn. 

Payment Options in Quebec

Th available banking options will differ between casino sites in Quebec, but here are some of the most popular options for deposits and withdrawals:

Bank Cards

Credit and debit cards are one of the oldest ways to make deposits and withdrawals at an online casino, despite slower withdrawal times compared to other methods. The simplicity of bank card transactions, along with the ability to access all bonuses, ensures this remains one of the most common ways to make Canadian casino payments. 

E-wallets

Canadian online casino sites do not accept three of the most popular global e-wallets, NETELLER, PayPal, and Skrill. But e-wallets like ecoPayz and MuchBetter ensure it’s still possible to make both deposits and withdrawals at one of Canada’s online casinos. 

The benefits of e-wallets include fast payouts, as well as the ability to keep your banking information separate from the casino site. Additionally, this payment method avoids the possibility that your bank may block payments to offshore online casinos. 

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards are a way to deposit at an online casino using cash. You can, for example, buy a Paysafecard voucher at a retail outlet, which will be loaded with a set amount of money. You then input the voucher code at your chosen online casino and your deposit is made. While Paysafecard and other prepaid cards are usually deposit-only methods, you will be able to claim your cash using a different payment method. Just make sure that your chosen site allows you to deposit and withdraw using two different banking options. There are also prepaid cards available from major bank card providers like Mastercard, which can be topped up more than once and sometimes will allow for payouts as well as deposits. 

Pay by Phone Bill

Pay by phone services like Boku and PayForIt will take your deposit amount from your Pay as You Go balance or your monthly mobile bill. This is a simple and swift way to make payments at online casinos. Due to the nature of the method, withdrawals are not possible and there are often strict limits on how much you can deposit using your phone bill. 

Interac

Interac is an immensely popular payment method at online casinos in Quebec and throughout Canada. There are two ways to make payments with Interac. The most common is the Interac e-transfer where the casino gives you an email address and security question which you provide to your bank, allowing for a deposit to be made. 

The other option is Interac Online, which works in a similar way, except you log in to your online account and use a payment gateway to make your deposit. Withdrawals via Interac tend to arrive within a few hours of being processed by the casino site, making this one of the quickest payout banking methods.