How to find the best online gambling sites in Canada

Gambling online is easier than ever these days. No longer do you have to use sketchy sites overseas. Thanks to the fact that online gambling is getting regulated by the government, it’s safer than it used to be to play at online casinos. This quick write up should help you find the best online casinos in Canada, whether you live in Ottawa or have since moved from the nation’s capital. Here’s everything you need to get started with iGaming in Canada.

The Legality of Online Gambling in Canada by Province

The legality of gambling and sports betting online and offline in Canada varies by province and territory. Remember, laws are subject to change. Do your own research first Here’s a brief look at each of the 13 provinces and territories that make up Canada and how they handle online gambling.

Ontario – Online gambling is legal after they launched their regulated market back in 2022. It’s easier than ever for players to find the best online gambling sites in Ontario these days.
Quebec – Residents of Quebec can play at any online casino licensed in the province or Canada
British Columbia – Besides hosting one of the best universities for psychology in Canada, BC has a vibrant gambling scene. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation runs PlayNow, a site created in 2004 that offers casino games, sports betting, and lotteries.
Alberta – Residents of Alberta can only play at Play Alberta, but it luckily has just about everything you could ask for.
Manitoba – PlayNow Manitoba is the only government licensed online casino in the province.
Saskatchewan – Saskatchewan has no government licensed online gambling sites, but players can use other sites that cater to Canadians.
Nova Scotia – Like the previous province, Nova Scotia has no government regulated gambling sites, but players can use other sites that cater to Canadians.
New Brunswick – New Brunswick may one day have regulated online gambling, but for now it does not. Players must seek other iGaming sites made for Canadians.
Newfoundland and Labrador – There are no regulated online gambling sites. You must find alternatives if you reside in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Prince Edward Island – PEI residents are free to gamble at other Canadian gambling sites since there is no PEI regulated site.
Northwest Territories – Players in the NWT will have to visit other gambling sites, as the NWT government does not regulate or license any sites.
Yukon – Yukon residents can play at internationally licensed sites.
Nunavut – Despite being the largest province or territory in Canada, Nunavat has no land based casino or online one regulated by the government. Players in Nunavut will have to seek other Canadian sites.

Finding a Trustworthy iGaming Site

Now that you have a better understanding of the legality of online gambling in Ottawa and Canada, you can start looking for a spot to play. It can be difficult to find a site to play at with so many choices out there. Regardless, the most important thing is that you find a site with a license from a regulatory authority. Online casinos typically list their license at the bottom of their homepage. If you’re having trouble finding it, ask customer service about it.

Avoid unlicensed casinos at all costs. You wouldn’t play Blackjack with a random person on the street for money, would you? Of course not. Playing at unlicensed casinos is essentially the same thing, as you have no proper recourse should something go wrong. You’re more likely to get robbed by an unlicensed casino than walk away a winner, that’s for sure.

Looking at Bonuses and Promotions

Bonuses are also a great way to vet online casinos. It’s not enough to simply compare bonuses between casinos, however. You need to read the terms and conditions associated with them. These terms often include something called a wagering requirement. Wagering requirements stipulate how many times you need to wager the bonus and potential winnings before they’re eligible for withdrawal. If two casinos offer the same exact bonus, but one has a higher wagering requirement, it’s not as good of a deal as it looks.

Player Reviews

Player reviews are another great way to find a trustworthy iGaming site. Fake reviews do exist though, so you should look for organic reviews on forums and social media where you’re more likely to find people actively discussing an online casino. A pattern of people complaining about not receiving winnings, games being rigged, and other negative things is a red flag you should heed.

Keep in mind that there are always players complaining about bad beats. Unless you see a systemic pattern of people complaining about unfair odds or loses, take it with a grain of salt.

Software Providers

Software providers are what give online casinos their games. Online casinos often just hosts for these slots and table games. There are countless software providers out there, which is why it’s important to recognize which ones are quality and which ones ain’t it. You ought to look for providers like Spadegaming, Yggdrasil, Evolution Gaming, and other reputable companies.

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