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Legal Online Casinos in Ontario: Your Guide to Safe and Regulated Gambling

Lisa Cheban - Contributor at Casinofinder
Author
Lisa Cheban
Contributor at Casinofinder
Contributor at Casinofinder
Lisa Cheban - Contributor at Casinofinder
Biography
Lisa Cheban is CasinoFinder’s go-to iGaming expert. With years of experience writing all about the world of online gambling, she has a knack for turning complex info into clear, digestible insights that Canadian players can trust and enjoy.
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Latest Update:
Nov 19, 2024, 3:49 pm

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Over the years, the number of online casinos available to players in Ontario has increased massively. There are all sorts of casinos to join. 

However, not all online casinos are reliable. We’ve all heard stories of players losing their deposits or being unable to withdraw. Also, some players find it difficult to control their gambling and manage their bankrolls. These are some of the reasons why it’s essential to play at licensed online casinos. Licensed online casinos must adhere to strict regulations designed to protect players.

Top-rated Casinos for Ontario

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iGaming Ontario (iGO) regulates legal online casinos in Ontario. iGO helps protect consumers by working with online casinos (operators) to ensure they operate transparently and provide responsible gambling tools.

In this article, we’ll examine iGO’s work and explain why playing at licensed casinos is safer than choosing unlicensed casinos. We’ll also look at the issues surrounding responsible gambling and discuss ways in which you can manage your gambling to enhance your playing experience.

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What Are Legal Online Casinos in Ontario?

When a casino is licensed, it holds a license from an internationally recognized licensing authority. These authorities regulate online casinos by ensuring they operate legally, maintain integrity, ensure fairness, and protect players.

There are some highly respected authorities across the world. Some of the most notable authorities are:

  • United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) 
  • Gibraltar Gambling Licence (GGC) and the 
  • Curacao Gambling Board
  • Kahnawake Gaming Commission

In Ontario, online casinos are licensed by iGO. This authority is part of the Government of Ontario and is under the supervision of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).

iGO was established in April 2022 to create a regulated online gaming market. It works within the definitions developed by the Ontario Gaming Control Act, which was enacted to create a legal framework for overseeing the province’s management and regulation of gambling.

Operators wanting to join Ontario’s regulated market must complete seven steps from iGO and seven from AGCO. The strict licensing process requires operators to be transparent, trustworthy, and dedicated to responsible gambling. 

When you play at licensed online casinos, you have the peace of mind of knowing that you have some legal protections in case of a dispute. Also, these casinos are regularly monitored and audited to ensure they comply with Ontario’s laws.

So, exactly what are legal online casinos in Ontario? They are casinos that have gone through the iGO and AGCO licensing process and hold an online casino license from these bodies.

How to Identify Legal Online Casinos in Ontario

One fundamental way to know if a casino operates legally is to seek a license. Holding an iGO license shows that the casino complies with Ontario’s laws and regulations and provides some player protections. 

To help you find the right online casino, we’ve put together a quick step-by-step guide on how to identify legal online casinos in Ontario:

Check for the relevant licenses

Casinos that hold an iGO license will display the ‘iGaming Ontario’ license clearly in the top section of the site. Additionally, all online casinos with an iGO license are listed on the iGO and AGCO sites.

Read the terms and conditions (T&C)

By reading the T&C, you’ll know if the casino complies with Ontario’s regulations and has fair terms and conditions. The T&C should include fair wagering requirements and other bonus conditions, such as time limits. The casino should also have a range of responsible gambling tools. 

Check the software providers

The best online casinos only stock games from top-quality software providers. You should see games from respected providers like NetEnt, Games Global, Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Microgaming, and Evolution. 

Read player reviews

Reading player reviews is a great way to get an accurate picture of an online casino. It’s worth reading reviews from sites like Trustpilot to understand the player experience. 

Consider the banking options

A legal online casino should offer a good range of trusted payment methods. Players in Canada should expect to see methods such as Interac, Visa, Paysafecard, and Neteller.

Benefits of Playing at Legal Online Casinos in Ontario

Playing at online casinos can be a lot of fun. However, there are many casinos, and not all are reliable. So, you need to be careful about which casinos you join. Joining licensed casinos can provide some much-needed safeguards. In the section below, we’ll examine the key benefits of legal online casinos in Ontario and why they’re essential:

  • Safety and Security

    Several steps in the iGO and AGCO licensing processes have stringent stipulations about safety and security at online casinos. Operators must ensure that their IT systems meet the high standards of both authorities. These standards focus on data encryption, payment methods, system security, and more.
  • Fair play

    Holding a casino license requires that the casino games be independently tested and certified. Several respected labs test games, such as eCOGRA, GLI, and iTech Labs. They ensure that the games are fair, partly by testing the Random Number Generators (RNG). The games are regularly audited to ensure they are fair and comply with the terms of the casino license.
  • Responsible Gambling

    One of the most important principles of iGO and other licensing authorities is that online casinos must encourage and facilitate responsible gambling. iGO licenses are only granted to casinos that promote responsible gambling and give players access to responsible gambling tools. These tools include time limits, loss limits, deposit limits, and self-exclusion.
  • Trusted banking options

    Players in Ontario and internationally should be able to use various trusted payment methods. Casinos should be clear and transparent about processing time and fees and provide clear guidelines on making deposits and withdrawals.
  • Dispute resolution

    This is one of the key benefits of playing at licensed casinos. If a dispute does arise between the casino and a player, the player can escalate it to the licensing authority. Most licensing authorities, including iGO, have a transparent dispute resolution process.

Best Legal Online Casinos in Ontario

At the review time, 51 operators held iGaming Ontario licenses, with 83 sites registered. There’s an excellent range of the best legal online casinos in Ontario. The casinos work across devices so that you can play on your mobile. 

We’ve picked three of our favourites to show you what makes iGaming Ontario casinos stand out:

PlayOJO

PlayOJO logo
4.1/5
  • Great live casino
  • Great selection of scratch cards
  • C$10 min deposits
playojo homepage screenshot

This fantastic casino offers a wide selection of games, including slots, table games, live dealer games, crash games, bingo and more. You will find classic slots from Pragmatic Play alongside excellent Evolution live dealer games, meaning that PlayOJO offers a full online casino package. 

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Ontario License
  • Great live casino
  • C$10 min deposits
Cons
  • Website is a bit outdated
  • Mobile app could use improvement
  • No Crypto

Bally Bet

ballybet casino logo
3.9/5
  • Licensed by iGaming Ontario
  • Good selection of slots
  • Rewards program
ballybet homepage screenshot

Bally Bet Casino offers a wide range of high-quality games, including some of the most popular games from the best software providers. The casino’s selection of bonuses and rewards program allows you to earn extra rewards as you play. New bonuses are regularly added to the site, so it’s a good idea to look out for them. Bally Bet Casino is a great choice for Canadian players who want a trustworthy, licensed casino with an excellent selection of games.

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Ontario License
  • C$250 risk free games
  • Great slots
Cons
  • No Mobile App
  • No Sportsbook
  • Website is a bit outdated
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Legal Online Casino Games in Ontario

You can play a huge variety of games at online casinos in Ontario. Slots are the most popular games, but there’s an extensive selection of other types of legal online casino games in Ontario, as detailed below: 

Slots

Players in Ontario can play classic, video, fixed jackpot, and progressive jackpot slots. Top software providers are continually coming up with new games. 

You’ll find games from providers such as Play’n GO, NetEnt, Microgaming, Nolimit City, and more. Some top titles are Book of Dead, Mega Moolah, and Sweet Bonanza.

Table games

These games are Random Number Generator (RNG) versions of classic table games, like blackjack, poker, roulette, and baccarat. 

You don’t play against a live dealer; instead, you play a digital version of the game. There are both traditional and modern variations of the games to choose from, such as Texas Hold’em Poker, Classic Blackjack, and Auto Roulette Burgundy.

Live Dealer Games

When you play these games, you experience the excitement of playing a live casino without visiting a brick-and-mortar casino. 

Providers like Evolution, Pragmatic Live, and Ezugi supply live, studio-based games streamed to online casinos. Ontario’s most popular titles are Lightning Roulette, 9 Pots of Gold Live, and Blackjack Berlin.

Speciality Games

You’re not limited to slots and table games at most legal online casino games in Ontario. Slingo is very popular, as is bingo. You can also indulge in scratch cards, crash games, and keno. You can try out games like Aviator, Deal or No Deal Slingo, and Gold Rush Scratch.

How Ontario Regulates Legal Online Casinos 

As discussed above, the Government of Ontario set up iGO and AGCO in 2022. They aimed to create a new online gaming market that works with operators to help protect consumers. The two authorities issue licenses that allow online casinos to operate legally in the province. The Ontario regulation of legal online casinos requires that casinos meet several criteria. 

Online casinos must ensure that their games are fair and RNG-certified. They must also protect player data, offer secure banking options, have fair withdrawal times, and be transparent about fees. 

Additionally, the casinos must agree to be regularly audited by independent agencies to ensure they comply with all licensing requirements. Responsible gambling is an essential aspect of the iGaming Ontario license. Casinos must provide tools for responsible gambling, such as time limits, deposit limits, time-outs, and self-exclusion.

You can get more information and assistance with responsible gambling from the following organizations:

  • Gambling Support BC
  • Responsible Gambling Council (Ontario)
  • Gamcare
  • Gambling Therapy

How to Choose a Legal Online Casino in Ontario

Selecting the right casino to play is crucial to your playing experience. So, we’ve compiled a quick checklist of factors to be aware of so you can choose a legal online casino in Ontario:

Check for a license: The casino should have a valid license from iGaming Ontario, which should be displayed on the site.

Browse the selection of games: there should be a wide selection of games from top software providers, including slots, tables and live dealer games.

Examine the secure payment methods: The casino should offer safe and secure payment methods for fast deposits and withdrawals. Popular methods in Ontario are Interac, Visa, and Neteller.

Reach out to the customer support team: Look for casinos with good communication channels, such as live chat, phone, and email.

Check for mobile access: If you enjoy playing on mobile devices, check the casino is mobile-compatible and look for a mobile app.

Mobile Gaming at Legal Online Casinos in Ontario

Nowadays, it is essential to access websites and play games on mobile devices. That’s why most online casinos provide responsive websites that can adapt to fit any screen size and run on any platform. 

When you play at mobile gaming legal online casinos in Ontario, you can expect the same level of security, responsible gambling tools and fairness as desktop players. At mobile casino sites, you should be able to play the same games, access customer support, and make deposits and withdrawals as quickly as on a desktop. 

Therefore, you can seamlessly move from desktop to mobile and back again. It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing on a Windows, Mac, iOS or Android device; the site or app should work efficiently on any platform.

The Future of Legal Online Casinos in Ontario 

Several factors will affect the iGaming market in Ontario. For one thing, the market has expanded rapidly and looks like it will continue to grow.

Technology is advancing in the sector, and operators are eager to offer new and exciting services to players. Virtual reality (VR) and Augmented reality (AR) can potentially change how we play games. It’s not hard to imagine a future where you can join a VR or AR live casino game.

Another factor that will affect the future of legal online casinos in Ontario is the increased personalization of online casinos, offering enhanced gamification and other impressive features. The focus on responsible gambling and the continued development of responsible gambling tools and resources will remain essential to the work of iGO and AGCO. We expect to see this continue in the future.

Conclusion

When you play at legal online casinos in Ontario, you know they have been independently vetted and met the high iGO and AGCO standards. You can expect top-quality, fair games and play at a safe and secure online casino.

Another advantage of playing at an iGaming Ontario casino is accessing responsible gambling resources. The casino should provide tools such as time and loss limits that you can use to help you gamble responsibly. 

You can use our list of licensed casinos to find the right casino for you. Sign up at a licensed Ontario online casino today and enjoy the best legal gaming options in the province!