Online Gambling Information

Gambling Information is your one-stop for everything related to the world of gambling. Our goal is to give you expert advice on gambling sites and games, with transparent reviews and content that can give you in-depth and reliable information. This allows you to make safe and informed decisions when navigating this exciting world.

Best Gambling Sites in Canada October, 2024

Our Experts’ Opinion in the Canadian Gambling Sites

Here at Gambling Information, our experts take special care in making sure that Canadian gambling sites are thoroughly assessed, giving you transparent and informative reviews to help you make the best choices possible.

Over the years, we have developed a robust system to effectively review sites and decide on our top picks, which we’ll share with you in the following steps:

• Safety comes first and we verify that the site we’re focusing on has a license from a trusted regulator and uses top-notch encryption to ensure your security.
• We then take a look at the variety and quality of the games and betting services that these sites have to offer. Assessing the site’s selection, as well as the providers it supports.
• Following that, we look into the site’s promotional offers, making sure various deals are catering to different players. We also assess the promotions’ terms and conditions making sure they offer a fair deal.
• Payment providers are also incredibly important, so we assess the site’s supported payment providers. We highlight deposit and withdrawal limits, processing times and any associated fees.
• Lastly, we look at a site’s loyalty and VIP programs, while also assessing the site’s overall ease of navigation and UI friendliness.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Canada?

Yes, online gambling is legal in Canada, as long as the gambling site is not based in Canada and is instead licensed internationally. So, as long as you are playing at an international gambling site, there will be no legal repercussions. Having said that, some provinces like Ontario allow residents to enjoy online gambling from local providers.

This is mainly because online gambling laws and regulators in Canada are set on a provincial level and so aren’t determined across the board by the federal government. This also extends to land-based casinos and lotteries.

Gambling Laws and Regulators by Provinces

Each Canadian province is responsible for creating and maintaining its gambling laws. This ultimately still falls under the umbrella of Canadian law, but each province sets up its regulator to handle all of the gambling operations happening within its jurisdiction. This regulation covers a variety of gambling activities, including the management and regulation of land-based casinos, lotteries and – of course, online gambling.

This system lets provinces tailor their gambling regulations to their needs, focusing on the requirements and priorities of their local markets. The flexibility this allows each different province can be incredibly helpful, but it also means that regulations vary significantly across the country.

Below, we’ll be exploring the specific laws and regulators that handle gambling in each Canadian province, looking at the similarities and differences between them.

Ontario

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation are two authorities regulating gambling in the province. The AGCO oversees a broader variety of gaming activities such as casinos, online gambling and lotteries, ensuring their fairness and responsibility according to the law. On the other hand, the OLG takes care of the provincial gaming revenues, managing facilities and the sale of games in the region.

These regulators follow laws set by the Gaming Control Act of 1992, as well as the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act of 1999, both of which are responsible for the framework for regulating gaming activity in the province. In 2022, Ontario also entered the online gaming market, the first province in Canada to do so. These operations are licensed and regulated by iGaming Ontario, a subsidiary of AGCO.

Quebec

All gambling activity in Quebec, including land-based casinos, lotteries and online gambling is handled by Loto-Québec. The regulator follows laws and regulations set by the Loi sur la Société des Loteries du Québec. While players from Quebec can enjoy online gambling from all around the world, the province only has one regulated online casino within its borders.

Loto-Québec’s regulations all emphasize the importance of responsible gambling, fair play and the protection of online players, making sure Quebec’s residents are getting a safe space to play. The regulator also handles all of the region’s gambling-related revenues and creates initiatives to promote safer gaming and prevent problem gambling.

British Columbia

The Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch regulates gambling in British Columbia, making sure that all gaming activities are conducted fairly and responsibly. The regulator follows the Gaming Control Act, the province’s primary gambling legislation which makes sure operators in the region are up to scratch with gaming standards.

But when it comes to the day-to-day management of gambling operations, it’s the British Columbia Lottery Corporation that takes charge. This entity is in charge of running lottery games, land-based casinos and the single online gambling platform in the province. Keep in mind that just like in Quebec, although there is only one online gambling platform in the region, players can still enjoy online gambling on international sites.

Alberta

All land-based casinos, charitable gaming events, lotteries and online gambling activity in Alberta are regulated by the Alberta Gaming, Liquor & Cannabis Commission. The organization follows the legal framework set up in the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act, ensuring fair, legal and responsible gambling activities within the province.

The AGLC also manages the running of gambling operations and handles the revenues generated from the sector. These are used to support local charities, community organizations and public programs within Alberta. As with British Columbia and Quebec, while players can enjoy online gambling from all around the world, there is only one regulated casino in the province.

Manitoba

Over in Manitoba, the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba oversees all of the region’s gambling activities. It operates by following the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act, protecting players’ interests and safeguarding against illegal activities. The LGCA also promotes responsible gambling and handles revenues from gambling, using them to improve provincial programs and public services within the community.

But it’s the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation that runs the gambling operations and management in the region. This covers the running of all land-based casinos, as well as the single online casino in the region – a responsibility that the MLLC shares through a partnership with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

Saskatchewan

The main gambling regulator in Saskatchewan is the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority and this entity is in charge of everything from casinos to lotteries, charitable gaming events and more within the region. It follows and upholds the laws and regulations set in the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act of 1997 to ensure integrity, fairness and responsible gambling. In 2022, it launched its very own online gambling platform in conjunction with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation.

But the province also has a second gaming regulator called the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority and this organization plays a crucial part in managing the First Nation casinos of the region. The regulator also runs two casinos in the province, specifically in Moose Jaw and Regina.

New Brunswick

Gambling activity in New Brunswick is overseen and regulated by the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation. The association covers the management of all activities in the province, following the Gaming Control Act to make sure all gambling in the region is being done fairly, responsibly and transparently.

The regulator has also partnered up with the Atlantic Lottery Corporation to operate all the lotteries and online gambling platforms in the Atlantic provinces. This initiative has connected New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia, creating a more cohesive regulator on this side of the country.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador handles all of its gaming regulation through the Consumer Affairs Division within the Department of Digital Government and Service NL. All of the laws and regulations follow the Lotteries Act and the Games of Chance Regulations. The entity handles responsible gambling, the operations of gambling operations in the region, as well as revenue generation.

Although Newfoundland and Labrador doesn’t have any land-based casinos, it still forms part of the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, and this allows residents to take part in lotteries and online games that the ALC offers on its platforms.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is yet another member of the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, together with other, previously mentioned Atlantic provinces. This entity is in charge of the region’s lottery and online gambling services.

On the other hand, the Prince Edward Island Liquor Control Commission is the local gambling regulator that manages the province’s casinos, lotteries and charitable gaming events. It follows the Gaming Control Act and Lotteries Act to make sure players are protected and that operators run a responsible gambling business. The PEILCC also handles revenues from the gambling industry, using generated funds to support local communities.

Bonus Available at Gambling Sites

You’ll find several different promotional offers at Canadian gaming sites, and these are aimed at different types of gamblers. As a new player, you’ll get a welcome bonus which can be claimed by making your first deposit. Casinos come up with different welcome deals but most of them tend to offer bonus cash, free spins or a mix of both.  
In some cases, you can also get a no deposit deal which is awarded as soon as you register your account, without asking for any money in advance. These deals generally have better terms and conditions but they also tend to be way smaller than their deposit counterparts.

Best Online Slots

Video slots remain one of the most popular casino games in Canada, with their wonderfully flashy graphics, intricate features and lucrative win potential. Although new and exciting video slots are constantly being released, there are a few classics that have proven to be the top online slots in Canada.

Developed by Microgaming, Mega Moolah is one of Canada’s most-played slots. Although its 2006 graphics are quite dated and its mechanics are quite simple, it’s the win potential that makes it such a hit. The game offers progressive jackpots that can reach incredible heights, including an astonishing C$23 million prize awarded in 2021.

Although some may classify it as a slot, Hacksaw Gaming’s Plinko is a largely different game. You select your number of rows, risk level and bet level, then watch the ball slowly trickly down the screen and land on rewards at the bottom.

Rewards in the middle tend to be smaller and gradually get bigger when getting closer to the outer sections.

The Egyptian theme is immensely popular in video slots and no game captures it quite as well as IGT’s Cleopatra. The online slot has all the ancient Egyptian-themed symbols you can think of, as well as win multipliers, a free spins bonus and a jackpot prize worth 10,000x your stake. 

Heavily inspired by the Candy Crush series, Pragmatic Play’s Sweet Bonanza gives us a similar world filled with chocolates and candy, but this time round you can score wins of up to 21,100x your stake. Of course, you’ll need all the help you can get if you hope to reach the top prize, making use of cascading reels, free spins and win multipliers.
Microgaming’s moody vampire-themed slot remains one of the most popular casino games in the world. Immortal Romance sports a gothic theme and not one but four distinct free spin bonuses which you can unlock along the way.

Game	Provider	RTP
Mega Moolah	Microgaming	93.42%
Plinko	Hacksaw Gaming	98.98%
Cleopatra	IGT	95.7%
Sweet Bonanza	Pragmatic Play	96.51%
Immortal Romance	Microgaming	96.86%

Software Providers

The games you play at online gambling sites aren’t generally produced by the sites themselves. Instead, game providers have the honour of coming up with new and exciting titles to keep you spinning at the reels and playing one more round. We enjoy playing and reviewing games from all sorts of providers including popular brands like Pragmatic Play, Microgaming and IGT, as well as more obscure, independent developers with more experimental games. 

Other Gambling Games for Free

You’ll find several free versions of online casino games and these can be very useful when you’re still in the process of understanding a particular game’s rules and mechanics. Free games give you access to all the same features you’d get in the paid version (unless they have special features like progressive jackpots), so you can experience the game to its fullest without risking your funds. Once you’re familiar enough with the game and feel ready to play for real money, you can simply switch to online gambling real money sites instead.

Popular Payment Providers used in Online Gambling

Players in Canada use a variety of payment methods including bank transfers, debit/credit cards, e-wallets and cryptocurrency solutions. These payment methods come with their pros and cons, relating to minimum and maximum deposit and withdrawal amounts, as well as processing speeds and transaction fees. Here are the top five payment methods you’ll find at Canadian gambling sites.

Provider	Processing Speed	Transfer Fee
iDebit	1-5 business days	C$1.50
InstaDebit	1-7 business days	None
Gigadat	0-24 hours	None
Interac	24-48 hours	None
MuchBetter	24-72 hours	2%

Gambling Sites to Avoid

As much as we’re happy to recommend the best gambling sites out there, we also want you to steer clear of the ones with questionable reputations. These sites may be blacklisted for several reasons including unresponsive customer support, fake bonus advertising and winnings being withheld from players. In our experience, we’ve learned to stay away from sites like Osiris Casino, Atlantic Casino Club, Casino Fiz and Cool Cat Casino, all of which have proven to be untrustworthy.

The Experts Behind GamblingInformation.com

Ed Roberts is an online casino expert, covering all areas of content related to online gambling Canada sites. He started his career as a casual player and slowly built a passion for the industry, taking an interest in all of the different aspects that make up the online casino world, while also looking for ways to share that knowledge with other players.

To this day, he remains an avid player, keeping up to date with all the latest releases and attending conferences where new sites, games and technologies are presented. Although he admittedly has a soft spot for video slots, he enjoys playing a variety of table games and live casino titles too, which bring out the more social aspect of these games.

Ed aims to make sure readers are getting a clear and transparent source of information that is free to praise and criticize without any compromises. With his writing, Ed wants you to feel like you’re chatting with a friend who’s giving you sincere advice on the best games and gambling sites out there. He’s also an advocate for healthy practices in the industry and wants to make sure that players out there have the right tools to make informed and safe decisions, helping them enjoy online gambling responsibly.