Ontario Online Casino

As the biggest province in Canada and home to over 14 million people, it shouldn’t surprise you that you can find some amazing casinos here.

Whether you’re looking for traditional brick-and-mortar casinos or the topic of this article, legit online casinos, Ontario has got you covered.

Slots, poker, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, it doesn’t matter what you’re into. All you have to do is find the online casino for you, pick your poison, and hopefully make off like a bandit with a fat stack of cash.

Unfortunately, if you’re new to the world of online gambling, it’s not the easiest thing in the world to find good websites. But don’t worry.

With a new season just around the corner, we’ve decided to give you an early gift and lend you a helping hand. After having read our guide, you’ll know everything you need to know about Ontario online casinos.

Top Online Casinos for Ontario October 2024

If you live in Ontario and are looking for the best Canadian online casinos to scratch that itch you have, you’ve come to the right place. It’s taken us a long time, but we’ve made a list of the top Ontario real money casinos that we’re sure you’ll love.

Why You Should Switch to Online Casinos

Once upon a time, if you didn’t have a casino in your city or town, you’d have to make a long trip across the province to do some gambling. Not anymore.

Online casinos have made it possible to play all of your favourite casino games from the comfort of your couch.

Not only has the internet made gambling more convenient than ever, but if you’re using the best online casino Ontario, you can enjoy a lot of advantages that physical casino gamblers cannot.

Generous bonuses

Online casinos will always one-up traditional casinos by offering casino bonuses. Bonuses are rewards that gambling websites use to attract and keep users.

They’re great because they can help stretch a tight budget and allow you to gamble more than you could’ve with your own money, which means a lot more chances to win.

The best sites almost always make them easy to use, with terms and conditions that are openly displayed and simple to understand.

To claim bonuses, usually, all you’ll need to do is log in and play, but lots of sites will also give you a catchy little casino bonus code to enter.

Privacy

The internet provides certain anonymity you just can’t have in person. If you’re making wagers or playing at a live casino, nobody knows who you are if you don’t want them to.

You can be completely anonymous, going by a username that reveals nothing about your actual name and with a profile picture that doesn’t have to show your face.

No judgmental eyes are watching how you use your money on the internet. The only people you are likely to interact with on an Ontario online casino are probably also gambling enthusiasts who love your hobby as much as you do.

Payment options

Another way online casinos are better than brick-and-mortar casinos is the wider availability of payment options. Traditional casinos generally take cash or cards only.

On the internet, you not only have the same options, but you also have access to all sorts of online payment processors.

Providers like Interac, iDebit, Instadebit, Ecopayz, MuchBetter, and heck, even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are all on the table with a lot of Ontario casinos online.

This makes using online operators a lot more convenient than physical casinos, as you have more flexibility in how you can fund your account or get your payouts.

Customer service

Instead of dealing with dead-eyed, underpaid customer service reps in real life, why not do it online? In all seriousness, though, we find that customer service is often superb on quality online casinos in Ontario.

It’s easier to click a few links and get in touch with a representative than it is to look for a cocktail waitress or the person manning the help desk at a traditional casino.

As online casinos are also more numerous, they try their best to make their website as easy to use as possible, which means providing better customer support than their rivals.

Ease of Use and Aesthetics

Not only is any given Ontario online casino generally only a few clicks away on your browser or phone, but they’re generally also easier to use.

On quality websites, games are usually well laid out, with instructions for how to play plainly displayed, while traditional casino games may be hard to find due to the size of the casino building.

Instructions may also not always be there, making it more difficult for newbies to use the games. Online casinos can often be more visually appealing to look at than their traditional counterparts.

It takes a lot less effort to design and manage an attractive website than it takes to design and maintain a building.

Variety

Last but not least, there are so many online casinos to choose from. Because the internet is not as regulated, new websites pop up every day.

While this can be a bad thing as it’s easy to create scam sites that are designed to steal users’ money, it can also be a good thing in that you have many more options as far as what casinos you can use.

With the new iGaming Ontario license, you can easily spot what websites follow provincial regulations and are 100% legal.

With the brick-and-mortar kind, you’re stuck with the casinos in your area, as building new ones is way more difficult than establishing one online.

The History of Online Gambling in Ontario

Gambling has a very long and storied history in Canada. Many players trace it back to the original European colonists, who used to play card games in the 18th and 19th centuries.

But this narrative is a bit misleading. Gambling can often be traced back to the games of chance the natives have been known to play since as far back as the fourteenth century, using sticks and stones.

Despite this, it wasn’t that long ago when all forms of gambling were illegal in Canada. But since the 70s, gambling restrictions have been lifted more and more, allowing larger numbers of people all over the country to enjoy games of chance online.

For Ontario, in particular, there wasn’t much chance as far as the legality of gambling in the province. That was until 1993 when the Windsor Casino was built.

Bringing jobs and entertainment to the province, this casino was a huge success. It has paved the way for not only the traditional gambling industry to flourish, but also for the online gambling industry as well.

Since then, Ontarians have seen the rise of websites like PlayOlg.ca (OLG stands for Ontario Lottery and Gaming), in 2010. This gaming site has become the lifeblood of the local gambling industry.

The province has taken additional steps toward regulating the market in 2024. Starting from April, private gaming operators will be able to register with the AGCO.

Registered operators can then apply for a license with the AGCO’s newly established subsidiary, iGaming Ontario. That makes Ontario the first province in Canada to permit private companies to operate in online gaming.

How Does Ontario Regulate Casinos?

The main regulatory body in Ontario is the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). AGCO regulates all slots and casino establishments in the province.

The organization’s main purpose is to make sure that all gambling activity in the province is legal and done with the best interests of the public in mind.

They conduct regular assessments on all operators that service Ontario’s gambling industry. Once they deem an applicant suitable for registration under the 1992 Gaming Control Act, they provide a license under one of six different classes.

The commission also has a subsidiary, iGaming Ontario (iGO), responsible for establishing the iGaming market in the province.

iGaming Ontario’s responsibilities include protecting consumers and ensuring regulations get followed to the letter. Players in Ontario can access the iGO website to see all iGaming websites registered and approved to operate in the province.

Taxes

It doesn’t matter if you’re gambling online or offline in Ontario, your winnings are not taxable. As all citizens are subject to an income tax, the only way you could be taxed for your gambling winnings is if it is your main source of income.

This, let’s be real here, is unlikely for most players. Unless you are a very successful poker pro or another kind of professional gambler, your winnings should be completely tax-free.

It’s worth noting though that we always advise checking with your accountant or another tax professional to avoid an unfortunate mix-up.

Regulatory outlook

Alongside casino gaming, sports betting is also one of the popular forms of gambling in Canada.

Unfortunately, at the moment, the Canadian government only allows parlay sports betting, which, for the uninitiated, basically involves rolling a bunch of small bets into one big bet for a greater payout.

This means a player can only bet on multiple games. However, the word going around this year suggests the possibility of a bill being discussed to allow legal single-game sports betting for the first time.

Ontario online casinos and sportsbooks are set to benefit from this new regulation as it injects more life into the thriving Canadian gambling industry.

The rumours going around also suggest the possibility of introducing eSports gaming in Ontario, which gambling fans will be happy to hear is going to massively open up more gaming opportunities.

One of the first developments from this legislation will be the establishment of more Ontario casino online sites in the province. This means Ontario players specifically are going to have a lot more variety as far as safe and legal casino operators to choose from soon.

From April 4, 2024, Ontario opened its doors to online casinos not run by the province itself. Operators can apply for a license and, once approved, can accept players from the province.

It takes a minimum of 90 days to complete the required steps to register with the AGCO and execute an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario.

Getting Help with Responsible Gambling in Ontario

If you’re reading this, you probably love gambling. We do too, but we understand that it can be a very slippery slope sometimes. If you’re not careful, you could find yourself in a very bad place because of your beloved hobby.

A hot streak or a cold streak can both ruin your life. You need to know when to stop, whether you find yourself winning or losing. Have discipline. Never go over budget. Never wager money you aren’t willing to lose. Your belt has to remain tight at all times.

If you find it hard not to break any of these rules, you need to accept that you may have a problem and need help. Otherwise, you might lose everything one day and wind up left with no options.

Whether you’re looking to help yourself or someone you love, there are many ways to get support for gambling issues. Here are some to consider:

Self-Exclusion

Self-exclusion is a tool that gives players a chance to break their gambling problems. By self-excluding, you voluntarily permit an online casino to bar you from accessing your account for a particular period.

iGaming Ontario does not manage a centralized and coordinated self-exclusion program. However, iGo plans to implement the system and determine its requirements in the coming months.

Once active, the program would allow players to exclude from all online operator platforms. In the meantime, operators must have a self-exclusion program that meets iGaming Ontario’s requirements.

PlaySmart Centres

They are safe spaces located in OLG Slots & Casinos, Charitable Bingo and Gaming site which offer educational resources and advice.

If you need help or are wondering how slot machines work, friendly PlaySmart reps can answer your questions, as well as offer counselling and support for your problem.

PlaySmart Centres are run by the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC) and offer both new and experienced gamers the information they need to beat their gambling addiction.

Conclusion

After having read our guide to the Ontario area, you should now have a good idea of how online gambling works here and its benefits compared to traditional gambling.

You also should know a little bit about what makes a good casino. Hopefully, we sparked a bit of interest in finding out more about the history of Canadian gambling.

Though Canada is considered one of the most liberal countries as far as gambling regulations are concerned with their low minimum gambling age and all, the country is still adapting and changing with the times.

New legislation in Ontario seems to be coming down the pipe very soon, which should make gambling much easier for residents of the province. We hope you found our list of the best online casinos helpful and that you’ll find more of our guides as informative.

The new legislation passed in April 2024 goes a long way in making online gambling widely available to players. Rather than fighting an uphill battle, Ontario has taken a bold step forward to license and regulate websites.

That way, they can offer the best of both worlds. Players can enjoy their favourite online casinos, and the province turns a profit from online gaming.

FAQ

We get a lot of questions about online gambling in the Ontario area and we feel like we should answer some of the most common ones we come across:

• Which offshore casinos accept players from Ontario?

  Many offshore online casinos cater to players from Ontario. As we mentioned before, new gambling websites spring up all the time. Among them are offshore casinos that do accept players from Canada and other countries.

  On these, you can play all your favourite games and stand a chance to use their bonuses for more rewards. Websites that accept players from Canada should also accept the Canadian dollar as a form of deposit.

  As such, users aren’t inconvenienced by not being able to use the website once they’ve joined. You can find a list of the best offshore websites for Canadian gamers on our site.

• What is the legal gambling age in Ontario?

  For you to legally use the best online casinos Ontario, you have to be of legal gambling age in the province. Legal ages vary depending on what province you live in, so it’s important to make sure you know which one applies to you.

  Though provinces like Ottawa and Quebec have gambling ages of 18, Ontario’s official legal gambling age is currently 19.

• Is it legal for Ontario residents to gamble online?

  All Ontario online casinos must be properly licensed by the province’s governing body. Any website that operates outside of the AGCO’s watchful eye and participates in illegal activities such as letting people who are not the correct age gamble is, therefore, an illegal website.

  There are several racetracks, casinos, Pro-Line and lottery operators found all over the province.

  Online gambling is also legal because the government hosts its own iGaming websites. It is also fully legal to register to the ever-growing number of licensed offshore online casinos, even though they’re not licensed in Canada.

• How do I find the best online casino Ontario?

  There are a couple of things you need to look out for to find a good online casino. The casino has to have valid and provable licensing. It should be regulated by a proper governing body.

  It should be easy to use, with good web design and customer support. There should also be numerous generous bonuses you can take advantage of. In addition, the best websites have got diverse banking options and process payments and withdrawal requests quickly.

  Good websites also tend to have low-profit margins, diverting their income to maintaining the quality of the user experience they provide.

• What Are the Most Popular Casino Games Among Canadians?

  Blackjack is definitely amongst the best casino games for Canadians. This popular card game is favoured a lot for its low house edge. Most online casinos offer multiple versions of it.

  There’s no casino without slots, a popular game worldwide. You can find tons of slot games on any online casino as people enjoy spinning reels and standing a chance to win a massive payout.

  Finally, who doesn’t like spinning the roulette wheel? Roulette is another world-famous game that’s beloved by Canadians too for its simplicity and the excitement associated with picking the right colour.