Ontario is probably the richest Canadian province in terms of brick and mortar casinos. Local gamblers are lucky indeed, because they enjoy access to numerous land based gambling houses, and can also visit countless online casinos accepting Canadians. What else is needed to make a gambler happy?
Gamblers from Ontario are blessed to have dozens of legal land based casinos where they can enjoy socialization and have fun with friends. However, they can also take advantage of numerous online casinos - when one may be not in the right mood to visit a land based one. So, here we have all your options!
Ontario is full of land based gambling houses - it has over 70 brick and mortar venues for gambling, which means huge choice, and loads of fun for punters. Few other provinces can be compared with the gambling abundance of Ontario, so local gamblers can be happy and proud.
However, offline gambling houses have a bunch of drawbacks, especially when the weather or the mood is not right for visiting a facility with drunk people and loud music. So, it is good to know all the options, including some quieter places for entertaining and successful gambling. And what can be quieter than gambling at home, anytime you feel like it? This is why online casinos have some advantages compared to offline ones.
Land based casinos are fun and entertaining, and also socializing, but in the era of the Internet, online casinos can offer a bunch of truly unique benefits and features, which are simply impossible in the brick and mortar gambling houses because of the nature of things. So, gamblers may want to consider both offline and online variations.
One of the best things about web casinos is that the players can play against Live Dealer as they go in brick and mortar facilities, but… online. Live Dealer Games are the new black in online gambling, and they allow the punter to enjoy communication, socialization, and all the benefits of an offline gamblimg house, but without its drawbacks. The players can even communicate with other participants of the game at the same table, if the game allows multiple players. Such games are fun and create full impression of being there with the Dealer.
Live Dealer Games are easy to find - just look for a site that has Live Dealer category in their lobby. Pay attention to the number of games - 20+ titles is a healthy option. Also, make sure there is more than one software provider that supports the streaming from Live Dealer facility. The more software providers are represented, the better.
Please keep in mind that Live Dealer Games can’t be played in Demo mode, or with the bonus money. The customer has to make a minimum deposit to the site, in order to get access to the Live Dealer category.
One of the bestest, and the most favourite things about online casinos for all gamblers is bonuses. Land based facilities can offer bonuses to their customers only in the form of some free spins in slots machines, or a bigger win in table games. No land based facility would give you free money for simply entering the hall, would they? But online casinos do so.
Web casinos offer bonuses to their new players who register their account for the first time. Some platforms offer cash bonus, or Free Spins, only for account registration, which means the new customer can wager real money in games, and win real cash, but without depositing their own cash to the site. Other bonuses are tied to deposits, or can be granted individually by the casino. The players are able to choose whether they want to claim a promotion, or not, and if they choose to, their odds of winning more increase.
To tell the truth, no land based casino will ever provide the same level of motivation to the customers via bonuses, simply because they can’t afford that. Web casinos, on the other hand, can give away some generous prizes, which makes them more attractive in this aspect.
One crucial difference between offline and online casinos is that online can be kept in your pocket, literally. If you choose a compatible mobile online casino or has an official mobile application, you can play games on your smartphone, anytime and anywhere, and the only thing you need is a stable Internet connection.
Mobile casinos are extremely fast and convenient, sometimes, mobile apps are even sleeker than websites for PC version. The players can deposit, make bets, take bonuses, and withdraw money immediately having only their smartphone. Moreover, some platforms even offer additional bonuses to mobile users. Such flexibility in gambling, and such a wide choice are just impossible in the case of land based gambling houses.
Web casinos offer some other perks that are impossible in brick and mortar venues. Firstly, online, you can play casino games in Demo mode, also called Practice mode, or Play for fun mode. This mode means punters can have fun with casino games without making real money bets, just for fun. The majority of sites even allow unregistered users to play games in Demo mode. Do you know any land based casino that allows visitors to play its games without making a single deposit, or without even entering the hall? Impossible right? But online, this is normal.
Next, playing offline is pretty sporadic, while playing online makes you a loyal depositing customer who is eligible for additional entertainment. These entertainments include tournaments among depositing players, and the odds of winning are higher in a tournament. Another cool perk is rewards system for loyal players. Every betting customer earns points that can later be exchanged for exclusive bonuses or even prizes. All this makes online casinos way more attractive than many offline places.
If you are a fan of brick and mortar gambling houses, and you are unsure how you would choose a reliable and trusted online casino, we are here to help. Choosing a website is easier and faster, mostly because if you don’t like the platform, you can choose a different one in a matter of several minutes. More about choosing gambling platforms here.
Firstly, pay attention to whether the site is legal. If it accepts players from your jurisdiction, it should have a license by a relevant authority. Sites that accept Canadians usually hold licenses by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission. Licenses by international issuers like Malta, Curacao, Cyprus, Alderney, Gibraltar, etc., are also fine.
Secondly, pay attention to the security of your data and your money. The site must be protected with SSL encryption, and ensure that your data is not shared with third parties. Also, the signs of reliability include partnership with many payment processing companies, and numerous software providers represented on the site.
And lastly, look at what games the platform offers. Today, having less than 500+ game titles is ridiculous. Opt for the platform that has its games divided into comprehensive categories that can be filtered according to providers. The lobby should include jackpots, Table Games, and Live Dealer games.
Pay attention to your overall user experience. If the site is slow or glitchy, or it does not represent information in a comprehensive way, better avoid it.
It may seem weird, but to start gambling online, you should not register an account. First and foremost, choose several casinos you believe are safe and reliable. Secondly, go and check what banking options they offer to the customers, and which of these are available in your area. If you do not have at least one banking option, you should go and get it - get a plastic card, or open an account with an e-wallet. Only after that, you should go back to your casinos.
Now, don’t deposit yet. Go to the casinos’ Promotion pages and see what bonuses they offer, and what conditions apply to these bonuses. The point is, if you want a deposit-based bonus, you have to claim it during depositing; it is impossible to do so afterwards. So, check the bonuses and if you want one, deposit and claim the bonus. But before depositing, you need to open the account.
Account registration at a web casino is simple. Click Sign Up, indicate your name and email, generate a password, and indicate currency and country. Then, confirm registration via the confirmation email, and proceed with more details like phone number, address, etc. Please make sure you provide real info; otherwise, your account will not pass the verification, and all your efforts will be in vain.
After your account is ready, you can deposit, claim bonuses, make bets, and withdraw real cash you win by playing casino games!
Gambling in Ontario is controlled by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). This organization was established here in 1975, while gambling as such became legal in Canada back in 1969. OLG regulates slots machines and table games in casinos, horse racing, sports betting, and several local lotteries.
OLG overviews all local casinos of the province - over 70 houses, mind yourself! - and makes sure entertainment is provided according to the law. Everyone who is 18 can take part in a lottery in Ontario, while gambling at a land based casino is possible for those who are 19 and older. As for online casinos, no such websites can be operated in Canada and offer services to Canadian punters. Canadian punters are only able to play at legal offshore platforms.
If you would like to enjoy entertainment in a vivid atmosphere of a brick and mortar gambling house, it makes sense to visit the most popular facilities. Also, the abundance of choice depends on your location. Obviously, some cities can boast more venues than others. The cities with the biggest number of land based houses are:
Other big cities in the province have 2 or less gambling houses; if you would like to bet your money in the most entertaining facilities, maybe it makes sense to travel to the neighboring city.
In any case, all land based facilities are legal, legitimate to operate, and provide high quality services according to the local laws. Below, you can check out three of the most popular ones in Ontario.
One of the oldest houses, this resort was opened in 1996. By today, it boasts over 110 table games, and 2500+ slots machines in its hall. There is a separate poker room with 12 poker tables for high roller guests. The facility is huge, and it is not only entertaining, but beautiful and provides excellent customer service. The guests are particularly happy with dining and evening shows.
This luxurious resort was opened in 1998, and now it can offer 90+ table games, and over 2600 slots machines. There are 14 poker tables that will make high roller poker players happy. Besides the casino hall, there are 750+ hotel rooms for the guests, 8 restaurants, 6 bars, and a theater with 5,000 seats. There is a full-fledged SPA area in the facility, as well.
This facility combines casino entertainments and racing events. There are 26 table games and 1000+ slots machines in the casino hall. Moreover, there is ⅝ mile race track for national and international horse racing competitions. Those visitors wanting more than betting will be satisfied with the 35,000 square foot grandstand facility.
There are no specific laws for gamblers who play at offshore casinos. The only requirement is that the site is reliable and secure for the users’ data and finance. However, since only access to offshore sites is allowed, it is the player’s responsibility to check the site’s safety, as the government will not be able to protect their interests.
Canadian gamblers are super lucky, because no taxes are applied to casino winnings. If you take part in a lottery, the tax is already included into the price of the lottery ticket. If you play at a land based facility, the bets actually cover the taxes; if you win a jackpot, a small tax may be deducted. However, if you play online, no taxes are expected to be paid.
The best option is prepaid vouchers for depositing and e-wallets for withdrawing. Prepaid vouchers like Neosurf keep the payer’s data safe, and allow them to regulate the deposits. E-wallets, on the other hand, are fast and convenient for the management of your finances. You can also use one of the facilitating services like iDebit, to pay safely from your bank account.
Yes, this option of payment is possible at web casinos, but you cannot deposit or withdraw in digital currency at offline facilities.
No, if you are accepted as a real money customer to an offshore casino, it is okay to play there. Using VPN is actually wrong, because an online casino operators will find out you try to conceal your location, and will most likely block your account. To play safely in online casinos for real money, just choose a legal platform for Canadian punters.
If you want to make real money bets on sports, just choose a web platform that has sports betting included into its services. Most often you will find fantasy sports betting, which is also a fun experience.
Reviewed by - Mike Hunter
Hi there hunter. I’m Mike, gambler and casino expert. Subscribe, grab your rifle, and let’s hunt down some juicy prizes!
