Ontario Online Casinos [Updated, 2022] ᐈ Regulated Casinos in Ontario

How To Choose Web Casinos for Ontario

Playing online can feel a bit scary for people who only played offline before. However, CasinosHunter is here to show how exactly one should choose reliable online casino sites.

This detailed guide will lead the readers through a step by step instruction on the advantages of the best Ontario online casinos, what they look like, what they offer, and why to choose them.

As for the question “How to choose one?”, here is the list of the most important criteria to consider:

reliable license - not all licenses are okay for Ontario; the best license is by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, but the operator should also be registered for legal operation in the province
additional testing and certifications - if any testing companies prove that the casino software is fine, you want to know
third party seals of trust - other companies in the niche might want to recommend a reliable platform
adequate banking rules - payment options and limitations matter
adequate Terms and Conditions - all the rules applied on the platform
adequate Customer Support - preferably 24/7 and really helpful
proper technical security and protection - things like SSL encryption certificate and two-factor authentication are must-have
Responsible Gambling policies and tools - casino customers must have control over their gambling habits

These are the criteria CasinosHunter always looks at when checking each and every best online casino Ontario for real money play that gamblers from Ontario might want to check. Exploring a site and evaluating it objectively will take time and effort, but at least the player can stay on the safe side.

Pros & Cons Of Ontario Online Casinos

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.

Pros

no need to go to any specific place - you can gamble anywhere, from home, or from your subway car as you go to the office
your gambling habits do not depend on casino’s working hours, because online casinos are available 24/7
you don’t have to dress nicely, or communicate with people you don’t know, or tolerate loud music and drunk talks around
the choice of games online is usually bigger
online casinos can offer some unique promotions and other perks that are impossible offline
if you don’t like the service, you can change the gambling platform in the matter of seconds
you don’t need to wait for a place by the table, or a slot machine

Cons

gambling without company may seem a bit boring
you may miss the very atmosphere of a land based gambling house, with its people, shows, and conversations
players do not get their wins immediately, because transaction processing online takes some time

Best Online Casinos Canada

Casinos in Ontario: Online Legal Stuff

The new regulations passed for Ontario in April 2022 have opened the new regulated market for online gambling in the province. Starting from April 4, all gamblers aged 19 and older can legally play casino games and make real money bets online with registered operators. One doesn’t have to be a resident of Ontario to play, but they have to be present in the province when playing, to have access to games and real money bets, as well for the function of withdrawal. Accounts with casino and bookmaker sites, on the other hand, can be opened and managed from anywhere.

At the time of opening the market, around 30 operators have already been registered for legal functioning in the province. The majority are sports betting platforms and applications, but there are also many online casinos and the list will only continue to increase.

Before this historical event, the majority of all online casinos available for Ontario operated from abroad, and in the best-case scenario, they had the Kahnawake Gaming Commission license allowing them to work for Canadian players. Local operators could not offer their services locally online, except the OLG monopolist. As a result, the majority of the niche operated in the grey zone. Today, players in Ontario can enjoy gambling legally and with full protection of their data and their customer rights.

It is not yet clear how other online casino operators will work for Ontario if they prefer not to register for legal operation; perhaps they will eventually be blocked.

Land-based casinos of Ontario continue to work as usual, but the new law allows them to use online platforms more actively, and diversify their offers to meet the demands of a bigger gambling population.

Unique Benefits of Gambling Online

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.

Live Casinos Ontario

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.

Rich Choice of Bonuses

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.

Mobile Casinos Ontario

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.

Additional Perks

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.

Games You Won’t Find Offline

One of the main attractions of online casinos for those players who are mostly fans of land based gambling houses is of course games that cannot be found at offline facilities. Offline games machines like slots or arcades are harder to manufacture, and as a result, they are fewer, and new ones do not arrive often. Also, they cost a lot for each facility to buy its own.

Online casino games, even the simplest ones like the best Ontario slots online or scratch cards, are easier and faster to make, and many casinos have thousands of these games, buying new ones every month. Moreover, more software developers make online casino games on a regular basis, some being productive up to the point of making 10-15 new games per month.

This is why online casinos always have games of different types and categories that you just won’t find at offline facilities.

Reliable Ontario Casino Sites

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 you’re in Ontario, you should look for officially registered operators that provide legitimate services in the niche. You can find the list of the currently registered casinos above and on the iGamingOntario website. Operators that are officially registered for Ontario provide fully legal and protected services, protest your data, offer convenient payouts, and protect your customer rights. They must not only have the relevant license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, but also the license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

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.

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.

First Steps In Online Casino Gambling

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

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. Another authority is the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

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, those are regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

Top Land Based Casinos of Ontario

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:

London
Niagara Falls
Ottawa
Pickering
Sudbury
Toronto

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.

Rama Resort

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.

Caesars Windsor

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.

Gateway Casinos Innisfil

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.

Rideau Carleton

This resort offers over 1200 slot machines in its hall and more than 35 tables for classic table games. There are also 5 exclusive poker tables, and other VIP options for true gambling fans. Live Dealer games and numerous bonuses are offered 24/7. One can also enjoy all kinds of bets on racing events, and of course there are numerous options for dining.

Fallsview Casino Resort

Opened back in 2004, this is a beautiful resort that offers many entertainment and relaxation options, from casino to events to spa. It has a whopping hall of 130 table games tables, and over 3000 gaming machines of all kinds. There are poker tables, exclusive tournaments, and of course lots of promotions and prizes. The facility has been in the industry for years and it shows!

Pickering Casino Resort

This is a new resort yet it already has impressive gambling offers, including 60+ tables for table games, 2000+ gambling machines, and 140+ stadium gaming seats for tournaments in Live Dealer games. Besides in-game bonuses, the players can get reward cards and other promotions. There are also nice places for dining and some entertainment events.

Ontario Online Casino Sites : Wrap Up

This detailed guide on web casino platforms for gamblers from Ontario covers all the important points to consider when switching to online gambling, and trying to pick a decent site.

The guide covers the following points:

why to play online casinos
what are the pros and cons of playing online
mini reviews of the top sites
legal nuances of Ontario online gambling
unique benefits of online gambling
and land based casino houses popular in the province

Hopefully, this guide by CasinosHunter will be useful for all regular online casino gamblers who want to push the boundaries and find new platforms for real money bets, as well as for the regular offline players who want to spot new opportunities for themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any specific laws for online casino Ontario?

Today, Ontario has a new regulated market for online gambling and betting, so all the players can enjoy games and bets on sports with legal operators. This is a huge advantage because both businesses and players will get the necessary legal support and protection. So the recommendation for Ontario residents is to play only with regulated and officially registered operators. Luckily the monopoly of the OLG is over and the choice of games becomes wider and more varied.

Do I have to pay taxes on my Ontario casino winnings?

Previously, players in Ontario were not expected to pay any tax on whatever they won in online casinos because the majority of online casinos operated in the grey zone. However, with the new Ontario law, with time the situation may change. However, at the time of writing this overview, no new tax rules were announced.

What are the best banking options at online casinos in Ontario?

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.

Can I bet with cryptocurrency at online casino in Ontario?

Yes, this option of payment may be possible at web casinos, but you cannot deposit or withdraw in digital currency at offline facilities.

Do I need to use VPN for online gambling from Ontario?

If the player in Ontario wants to play at a legal online casino they can choose from the list of the officially registered operators that work for Ontario, and never use a VPN for that. It is not yet clear what the rules will be for offshore casino operators that choose not to register; perhaps they will be banned or blocked and therefore a VPN can become handy.

Can I bet on sports online?

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.