Canada has a long history of being friendly to online gambling. Both land-based and online casinos are legal in multiple major provinces. As a result, all the top web-based gambling companies operate at least one online casino in Canada. TheSportsGeek is here to ensure Canadian players know where to find the most satisfying gambling experience possible. With so many options from which to choose, it can be difficult to know which gambling sites to trust. That’s why our experts have compiled a list of the best online casinos in Canada and ranked them for your convenience. In addition to sharing Canada’s top online casinos, we’ll explain the qualities we look for in a site, factors that contribute to our ratings, and helpful tips to get you started at an online casino in Canada. Finally, our guide examines some of the top land-based Canadian casinos, for readers wanting to forgo the convenience of playing online.
Canada’s Best Online Casinos
How We Rate Online Casinos in Canada
Criterion | Details |
---|---|
Safety and Security | Our highest priority is to deliver Canadian gambling sites that are proven to be safe, secure, and legitimized by regional regulatory bodies. |
Sign-up Bonuses | The top online casinos in Canada offer generous real money welcome bonuses that are easily redeemed. |
Customer Support | Excellent customer support is crucial to having a positive experience gambling online. Our favorite Canadian online casinos are helpful and quick to respond to any issues that may occur. |
Casino Game Variety | The best online casinos in Canada have massive libraries of classic table games and slot titles, keeping you engaged and entertained forever. Casino games are available in virtual and live dealer formats, while slots come in an array of different themes and jackpot styles, and with different combinations of numbers of reels and lines to play. |
Promotions and Loyalty Rewards | Great online casinos offer lucrative VIP rewards programs for loyal players as well as frequent promotions like tournaments, special jackpot events, and other bonuses. |
Deposit and Withdrawal Options | We also rank online casinos in Canada based on their available deposit and withdrawal options. The best Canadian gambling sites accept a variety of payment processors, banking methods, and cryptocurrencies that can cater to a broad range of players. |
How to Play Online Casinos
Now you have a list of the best online casinos in Canada, and we’ve detailed some of what goes into our rating process. It’s finally time to get signed up and start playing! Here are the few steps remaining between you and gambling at online casinos in Canada.
- Compare Canada online casino rankings and sign-up bonuses – Check out the top Canadian gambling sites on our list of recommendations. Compare our rankings for each online casino, the banking options they accept, and any sign-up bonuses being offered.
- Choose one (or more) gambling sites from our list – Once you’ve picked an online casino (or two) that best meets your needs, follow our link to the site’s sign-up page, where you’ll provide the information required to start an account.
- Make a deposit – After your account is created, you can deposit money into your online bankroll. Depending on the payment method you choose, the funds could either be available immediately or take multiple days to finish processing.Setting up Your Account
- Collect any available bonus money – Depending on the terms being offered by your chosen Canadian gambling site, you should be able to access a sign-up, deposit, or no deposit Canadian Casino bonus. On your account page, there will be an option to accept your bonus and add the free cash to your bankroll.
- Find your favorite casino games – Now that your account is funded, all that’s left is to browse the selection of games and decide what you want to play. You’ll find a wide assortment of classic casino table games, video poker offerings, and slot titles. Most Canadian online casinos will also allow you to play games for free if you’d like to take a few trial runs before gambling real money.
- Play and win! – Hit the casino, get lucky, and start building your fortune online! Make sure to submit required verification documents ahead of time so that by the time you have winnings to collect, your account is already approved for withdrawal.
Land-Based Establishments Compared to Online Casinos in Canada
You can gamble at land-based establishments as well as online casinos in Canada, depending on the jurisdiction. And while these two types of gaming operations share several key similarities, they have many more qualities setting each other apart. It’s up to each individual player to decide which method of gambling best suits their needs.
Similarities:
- Casino Games – Whether online or in person, casino classics remain the same. No matter where you play, you’re bound to find table games like blackjack, baccarat, roulette, craps, and three-card poker. Both locations usually offer a variety of slot machines and video poker games as well. We can’t forget about the best Canadian betting sites.
- Odds of Winning – Some people trust physical gambling tools like cards and dice more than the digital versions online, which use random number generators to determine their values. Nevertheless, the odds of winning are similar in both types of casinos. The payout percentages for table games are almost always set to the same probabilities as their real-life counterparts (if not better).
- Loyalty Rewards/VIP Programs – Land-based and online casinos alike offer loyalty programs to reward their most valuable customers. Online, your gambling habits are tied to your account and tracked automatically, ensuring every bet is counted towards your rewards. Brick-and-mortar casinos require you to apply for a rewards card, which is then swiped at each machine or table to record your playing.
The larger your bets and the more frequently you gamble, the better the rewards.
Differences:
- Convenience – Canada’s online casinos can be played from anywhere. You don’t have to get dressed, stop by an ATM to get cash or drive to a physical location. Not to mention potential issues with finding parking. Online gambling sites also never make you wait for a seat at a table game; your favorite slots are always available. The entire casino is there at your fingertips, on a tablet, computer, or mobile device. Furthermore, playing at a land-based casino requires you to dedicate a block of time to gambling; online you can play a quick hand/spin or two in a free moment and come back to the game at your leisure.
- Financial Options – Brick-and-mortar casinos require cash, which you can exchange for chips. Online casinos accept a variety of payment methods. You can use credit cards, online payment processors, cryptocurrencies, and other banking options – all of which are much more convenient than hitting the ATM.
- Availability – At online casinos, there’s always space for the player at every table game. Every slot title is available; you never have to wait for another person to stop gambling and leave their seat before you can access the game you want to play.
- Welcome Bonuses – Brick-and-mortar casinos never give players free money just for walking into their establishments. Only online gambling sites offer such lucrative deposit and sign-up real money bonuses to new customers.
- Staking Options – Online casinos in Canada are much more flexible than their land-based competitors when it comes to accepting a wider range of table stakes. In many physical casinos, you’d be lucky to find bet minimums lower than $15 at most tables. Without the strains of maximizing floor space, online operators can afford to accept bets of all sizes.
- Variety – Once again, Canadian online casinos benefit from the absence of physical restraints. Without floor space limitations, gambling sites can offer a massive selection of games and titles. You’ll often find dozens of unique versions of every table game, including digital and live dealer options. They’ll also host huge libraries of slot titles, too extensive to fit onto any real-life casino floor.
Top Land-Based Casinos in Canada
As we mentioned previously, Canada is home to multiple top-tier land-based casino resorts. If you’re looking to take a gambling vacation or need the thrill of feeling the cards and chips in your hand, the following brick-and-mortar operators are the best you’ll find in the country. Make sure you check out the gambling laws in Canada before your next trip.
River Rock Casino Resort
River Rock Casino Resort is located in Richmond, British Columbia, on the bank of the Fraser River. Offering more than 100 table games, 1,200 slots, and a poker room over a 70,000-foot gaming area, it’s the largest casino in the province – as well as all of Western Canada. In addition to the casino floor, River Rock boasts a 400-room luxury hotel with a theater and spa.
Casino Rama Resort
Casino Rama is Canada’s biggest First Nation casino, located in Rama, Ontario on reservation land. The resort and casino opened in 1996 and is considered one of the Canadian gaming industry’s premier properties. The Casino Rama is known to host major celebrities, musical acts, and boxing matches, in addition to 2,500 slot machines and 100 table games on the casino floor.
Casino de Montreal
The Casino de Montreal was sanctioned by the government of Quebec in 1992, making it one of the province’s first gaming resorts. Canada’s largest land-based casino is famous for its beautiful unique design and a sizable collection of gourmet restaurants. It attracts more than 18,000 visitors daily. On the casino floor, you’ll find over 3,000 slot machines and 115 tables featuring blackjack, poker, roulette, and more.
Fallsview Casino Resort
The gorgeous Fallsview Casino Resort is located in the province of Ontario near its namesake, Niagara Falls. The resort offers breathtaking views of the waterfalls and surrounding landscape. Opened in 2004, the massive property features a 374-room luxury hotel and 200,000 square feet of gaming area. That’s more than three football fields worth of casino floor space, occupied by over 3,000 slot cabinets and 130 table games – including a high-limits area.
Hard Rock Casino Vancouver
The Hard Rock Casino in Vancouver, British Columbia is another of Canada’s top land-based casinos. The resort is renowned for its selection of high-quality restaurants, as well as a 1,100-seat theater, that frequently hosts live concerts and stand-up comedy events. The 80,000 square foot gaming floor consists of 950 slot machines and more than 70 gaming tables, along with multiple private tables and high limit rooms.
St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino
St. Eugene Golf Resort and Casino is a Native-owned golf course and casino in British Columbia. Unlike the other properties in this section, this land-based casino is not open 24/7. It also features a much smaller gaming floor, with only 240 slots and four table games. However, the exotic casino makes up for the limited options with its own on-site, full-service lotto, and off-track betting room. The St. Eugene hotel consists of 125 rooms and suites. The resort is also home to an 18-hole golf course designed by Les Furber, two restaurants, a bar, and a spa.