Canada has a complicated history with gambling. In the country’s younger days, its frontiers were gambling hot spots, with small-time card parlours and casinos to keep the traders and miners entertained when they made their way in to town from the wilderness.
As time went on, the government cracked down on gambling and introduced incredibly strict gambling laws.
Finally, in 1985 each province was granted the ability to make their own gambling laws. This allowed a healthy gambling industry to develop in certain provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. After a long debate, it was decided in 2020 that the same system would apply for online gambling.
By April 2022, Ontario had legalized online casino gambling. They quickly made up for lost time and in the last two years a very healthy online casino industry has grown in the province. Thanks to the regulations put in place by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), there is a simple procedure for online casino companies to follow to become licenced to operate in the province. This means that the people of Ontario have a steady stream of new gambling sites to try all the time.
For new players the number of online gambling sites can be confusing, especially since so many have similar names and branding. To help new players get started, or experienced players looking for something new to try, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best online gambling sites to try in Ontario this year.
Below is everything you need to know to get started playing at online casinos in Ontario:
FAQs about gambling in Ontario
- What is the legal age to gamble in Ontario?
The legal age to gamble in Ontario is 19-years old. This is the same for playing at both in person and online casinos.
- Are all online casinos legal in Ontario?
There are no federal Canadian laws banning online casinos, so technically the legality of unlicensed casinos is a grey zone. However, in order to stay safe, you should only play at online casinos that are fully licensed by the AGCO.
- How can you tell if an online casino is licensed?
Operators must obtain a registration from the regulator of the province — AGCO — and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario (iGO), the conduct and management authority. Approved operators will have the iGO logo (two overlapping dice in green, blue, and yellow) prominently displayed on the site, and all will be listed in both the AGCO’s and iGO’s databases of licensing information for all legal online casinos in Ontario.
Where can I find more information about Ontario online casino gaming?
There are many online casino guides that provide information on the legalities of online gaming, casino reviews, and information about bonuses and other special promotions. The Time2play guide at https://time2play.com/ca-en/ontario/ is a great example.
888casino
888casino is one of the original online casinos. It was first launched in 1998 and over time has grown to be one of the biggest and best online casinos in the world. They’ve used their decades of experience to create a site that really understands what players want. While they don’t have one of the biggest libraries of games, they do have one of the most balanced. Their live dealer section is one of the most comprehensive in the industry.
One of the things that 888casino have done right is their work with the best game developers. Play’n GO and NetEnt are their most popular providers and two of the most respected game studios in the industry. They also have plenty of bespoke games that players can’t find anywhere else.
The payment method options at 888casino are good and include most of the leading options (Visa, Interac, and Paysafecard). While the average withdrawal time is 2-4 days, some players have reported much longer waits. This is likely due to their strict Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols. Customer support is available by telephone, email, and live chat. Only verified customers can use the live chat feature so hopefully you don’t run into any problems while creating your account.
LeoVegas
LeoVegas has been showing players a roaring good time since 2011 and were in the first wave of online casinos to join the Ontario market. They were one of the first companies to recognise the potential of mobile gaming and so they have a great mobile site and app. While the site may lack the flashiness of some of their competitors, it makes up for it by running smoothly and having an intuitive user interface.
The library at LeoVegas has over 1,700 games. The majority of these are slots though players will also find an impressive selection of live dealer games. Poker, however, is weirdly underrepresented with only 11 tables on the site.
Customer support at LeoVegas can be reached by email and live chat. They also have a detailed FAQ and Help Desk so players can troubleshoot minor problems. A telephone number would be a nice addition to their customer support but is currently unavailable.
PlayOJO
PlayOJO is a new online casino brand that has quickly become hugely popular around the world — and not just because of their very catchy jingle. The main reason they have so many happy players is their library of nearly 3,000 games. Almost 2,500 of those are slots with a theme for everyone. Canadians are well known for their love of sports and the outdoors and PlayOJO has plenty of slots that cater to those themes. One of their newest slots is ice fishing themed!
There are eight different ways to make a deposit on PlayOJO. These are Visa, Mastercard, Interac, MuchBetter, Paysafecard, Jeton, ecoPayz, and Apple Pay. This is an impressive selection and there are no fees. While deposits are processed instantly, withdrawals can take considerably longer. It is disappointing that PlayOJO does not provide enough transparent information about the withdrawal process.
PlayOJO players can enjoy the site on desktop, mobile, or on their app. Like most young sites, there are some glitches that users have reported but these seem to be addressed by the company quickly.