Best Ontario Online Casinos

List of Casinos In Ontario

Of course, that doesn’t mean there aren’t great land-based casinos in the province! If you’re visiting Ontario and need ideas, or already live there but want to switch things up from your current casino, take a look at our list below.

History Of Gambling In Ontario

Before 1892, gambling in Canada was unregulated – including in Ontario. This changed with the introduction of the Criminal Code, which took a hard stance on gambling and deemed all forms of gambling-related activities and betting illegal.

Early amendments to the Criminal Code in the 20^th century reversed the blanket ban on gambling and allowed bingo games and charity raffles to take place. But the first major change to the Criminal Code and the one that started the campaigning for legalized casinos took place in 1925, when changes to the law allowed fairs to organize small-scale gambling events.

In 1969, an additional amendment led to the legalization of lottery games and slots. This meant Ontario residents were finally given the chance to try their luck on fruit machine slots located in bars and hotels. There were no casinos at this point.

As time went on, gambling advocates started pushing for the full legalization of the industry and this pressure, coupled with the worldwide rise in casino establishments, led to the 1985 legalization and regulation of gambling on a nationwide level.

This meant that once the 1985 law passed, every province, including Ontario, was given governance rights to establish and oversee gambling licenses and regulations. This responsibility fell on the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), which remains the primary regulator today.

Even then, it would be another 9 years before the first casino, Casino Windsor, would open its doors for the first time. This casino is still the most well-known and popular today, particularly since it re-branded its name to Caesars Windsor in 2006.

Are Ontario online casinos licensed in Ontario?

Once land-based casinos were well established, Ontario residents started gaining access to online casinos as well, particularly foreign online casinos that cater for the Canadian market. As long as the online casino is located abroad, they are not required to obtain a gaming license in Ontario.

The simple, fast and convenient sign-up process were and still are strong selling points for online casinos. After all, they also provide several benefits and features you don’t find in land-based casinos, like welcome offers, cashback offers and additional benefits.

In light of this steady shift to the online space, reputable casino brands such as LeoVegas, William Hill and Mr Green entered the market, as did hundreds of medium to small-sized online casinos who opened their digital doors to Ontario residents.

Ontario officially launched its legal and regulated online gambling market on April 4th 2022.

How do I know which Ontario online casinos are safe?

First off, you must make sure that the casino is licensed and regulated. Checking for a license is rather simple and easy. All you have to do is access the official website of the casino and scroll to the bottom of the home page. The licensing information should be advertised – if it’s not, you’re probably on an unregulated site, and we strongly recommend you don’t gamble there.

Naturally, not all casinos will have an Ontario license! Many reputable casinos have licenses from Malta, an EU country, or Curaçao, and are also open to Canadian players. We review many of these on our site.

Once you’ve made sure you’re looking at a licensed casino, it’s also worth checking whether the casino site runs on secure encryption technology. You can easily verify this by looking at the address bar and checking whether a closed lock is next to it. If so, this means your data is protected and you’re good to go!

Which Ontario online casinos have the best offers?

From here, it’s time to look at what the online casino has to offer. As stated earlier, one of the biggest advantages of online casinos is the fact that they provide registered players with tons of perks and benefits. The more rewarding they are, the more you stand to gain if you become a loyal player. Always read the terms and conditions to make sure you’re comfortable with the wagering requirements. Most online casinos require you to bet bonus funds a certain amount of times before you can withdraw winnings obtained from the bonus funds. We find that the average wagering requirements at most online casinos hover between 35x-40x.

Satisfied with the fine print? Next up, you should check out the game library. Now, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, you need to make sure that the games are supplied by established game providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, Red Tiger and Evolution. You’d also want to check whether there are a variety of game genres available, like slots, live casino and table games. It’s also worth making sure the site is optimized for mobile use. One of the best things about online casinos is that you can play on the go!

Ontario online casinos checklist

There’s a lot more detail we recommend you check carefully before you start playing such as:

• Which Canadian banking methods are accepted
• The minimum and maximum deposits and withdrawal amounts
• The speed with which withdrawal requests are processed
• Whether any fees are charged for these transactions
• Available customer support (ideally, there should be a 24/7 live chat open)
• How easy it is to navigate the website

What Casinos Are Regulated in Ontario?

The following is a list of all the casinos and betting sites offered by fully registered and approved operators in Ontario.

Source: https://igamingontario.ca/en/operator/operators. Updated May 2023

Are Table Games Available At Ontario Online Casinos?

Yes, of course! As the name implies, table games include casino games where play is carried out on a table. This game genre also includes a variety of card and dice games. Some of the most popular options include:

• Blackjack
• Roulette
• Poker
• Baccarat
• Sic Bo

What’s even better, is that game providers have created plenty of variations in each of these popular table games. That is why you can enjoy European Roulette, Lightning Roulette, Blackjack NEO, Blackjack Multi-Hand, Texas Hold’em Poker, Omaha Poker and so on. This is one of the advantages of playing at an online casino – you’re unlikely to find this level of variety in a brick-and-mortar casino due to space limitations.

Plus, nearly all online casinos offer these table games in two ways: video table games and live casino games. The latter type gives players the best of both worlds – an online yet interactive experience. As the name suggests, live casino games are played in real-time with real-dealers which players can join via a live stream. Players can interact with other Canadian or international players in the chat and can also chat with the dealer.

Can you get bonuses at Ontario online casinos?

Yes, you can! Some have no-deposit bonuses that do not require any deposits, while others ask you to deposit money first before you can take advantage of the welcome offer.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Play Casino Games In Ontario?

As the Gaming Control Act of 1992 states, to enter a land-based casino in the Ontario province, you need to be at least 19 years old.

Whenever you enter a casino or a casino resort in Ontario, you need to show a valid ID that confirms your age. Ontario residents can show their ID to confirm their age, but foreigners need to show their passport as it is the only piece of document that casinos in the province accept.

The same rules apply when playing at Ontario online casinos. When registering for an account, players would need to provide documentation providing their identity, age and residency status.

What is the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG)?

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, simply known as OLG, is an entity owned by Ontario’s government. It was established in February 1975 under the Ontario Lottery Corporation Act.

What does the OLG do?

The OLG’s site provides and oversees gambling entertainment activities to Ontario citizens in a socially responsible way. Since its establishment, it has given back over $55 billion in profits to the province and its people.

Where is the OLG headquarters?

The company is headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie, however, its centre is located in Toronto. Unlike the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (ALCO), which is in charge of regulating casino gaming, the OLG is responsible for managing the actual operators and venues of gaming services.

Who does the OLG answer to?

The OLG was under the Ministry of Infrastructure up until 2007, but then, it was decided that the OLG’s board of directors will report to the Minister of Finance.

How can I find responsible gambling support in Ontario?

Ontario players who feel they are developing a gambling problem, or would simply like to rein in their gambling habits, can reach out to multiple organizations that can provide help and support. Here’s a list:

• ConnexOntario – Confidential mental health, addiction and problem gambling services available through a mobile app or reachable via a hotline on 1-866-531-2600.
• Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline – Players that have gambling addiction or are developing one can get in touch with this organization on 1-888-230-3505. Concerned family members or friends can also reach out on this number.

As for online casinos, Ontario players can make extensive use of the responsible gaming tools at their disposal in licensed casinos. These include deposit limits, self-exclusion tools and even closure of account requests.

Ontario Online Casinos References

• OLG.ca
• AGCO.ca
• ConnexOntario
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)