Real Money Online Casinos in Canada
Canadians have a wide selection of casinos that will allow them to play for real money. With that said, all casinos are not created equally. We have done all the hard work and curated a list of Canada’s top “real money” casinos for you. We have reviewed each one, ensuring that we are recommending the safest online casinos for players that live in Canada.
Real Money Online Casinos for Canadians
Below we look at what makes an online casino worthwhile. Is it mobile friendly? What payment options are available to you? Should you play for free vs. for real money? Are there welcome bonuses? Is there a playthrough on that bonus? These are all criteria we consider when writing a review of a casino.
We do all this work so that if you want to play at an online casino in Canada for real money, you know which one to pick. Our FAQ section at the bottom of the page will help to answer the most common questions people have when it comes to playing for real money.
How Do We Evaluate Casinos?
Before you pick an online casino, there’s a certain amount of homework that must be done. When we review these sites, we ensure that when you hit the big win, it is easy to withdraw your winnings so you can keep your streak going.
First and foremost, when we’re reviewing an online casino, we confirm its availability for Canadian players. Depending on laws, licenses, etc… there are casinos out there that won’t accept Canadians. So, you need to know which ones will let you play if you live in Canada. You can rest assured that all the casino sites we promote will safely allow Canadian players to play for real money and withdraw their winnings.
Here’s a breakdown of what we evaluate to make sure that you have the a great experience:
Gambling License: A gaming license is a permit issued by a state or country to allow an online casino to legally operate. Does the casino have one? Is it from a reputable jurisdiction? This helps to confirm how trustworthy the operator is and whether they are committed to a fair gaming policy. We also consider whether they are eCOGRA certified, which ensures that the casino’s games are fair and secure.
Welcome / Deposit Bonuses: Every casino has a welcome bonus, but they all differ. Some bonuses come with free spins and some bonuses allow for multiple deposits. You also need to know what kind of playthrough requirements come with the site. A massive welcome bonus is much less enticing if you have to wager 60 times that in order to withdraw it.
Banking Options: How do you get your money in and out of the casino? What methods will the site accept? How long will it take to get your money? Will you have to pay fees on transactions? These are all things players won’t even have to consider as we include all that information within our reviews.
Customer Service: What happens when things don’t work? You need to be able to ask questions, and those questions need to be answered. Our reviews will always look a casino’s customer service options so that you know who’s responsive and who’s not.
We also take into account Game Selection when doing a casino review. Is there a particular casino game or slot that you are interested in? Did you want slots with a progressive jackpot? Or maybe you are looking for a live dealer. We look at the overall selection of games at each casino, whether they are from reputable developers and which ones are mobile-friendly.
A mobile casino is something that is very important to us. Being able to play whenever, wherever is something that is a necessity in the busy times we are currently living in. Whether casinos offer their own specific app, or allow players to play through their web browser, we ensure this experience is seamless.
The Most Popular Casino Bonuses
There is a wide range of bonuses that are offered at the casino sites we recommend. Bitcoin bonuses, live casino bonuses, reload or cashback, and even refer-a-friend bonuses are all things we see on a regular basis. That being said, we think these are the bonuses you need to consider if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck:
- Welcome Bonus – This is the bonus that usually entices players to sign up in the first place. Typically, casino’s offer a large sum and free spins on a certain slot. This will be broken up over a players first couple deposits in order to really be able to take advantage of it.
- Match Bonus – Match bonuses are one of the most beneficial deposit bonuses a casino can offer. They pertain to the casino matching the players deposit usually at either 50% or 100%. For example, if a casino is offering a 100% match bonus, and you deposit $100, you will get $200 total in your account. This means in some cases, players are getting double what they pay for!
- No Deposit Bonus – This is a less common, but very rewarding bonus. It usually comes in the form of a reward of free money for signing up for an account at that particular casino. While the amount is usually quite low ($5-$10), it is still free money that you can win with! No strings attached.
- Free Spins – This is a very common bonus, especially paired with a welcome bonus. Many sites give players free spins as a way to say thanks and that they appreciate their players. The amount of free spins can be anywhere from 10-500 depending on the bonus it’s paired with. One thing we would like to note, is that these spins are almost always for a specific slot game assigned by the casino.
Every casino is unique, and that means they offer unique bonuses. If you have a specific casino you’re interested, check out our review where we go over all the bonus information they offer.
The casino games are a huge part of what makes an online site great. That’s why when we’re making our evaluations, we ensure each casino has a wide array of unique games that we know you want to play. Whether you want to spin some online slots, try your luck at keno, or roll those craps dice, we will let you know what your options are right away.
Poker – Poker is one of the games we focus on the most when it comes to our recommendations. We know that it is one of the most popular online casino games (aside from online slots) so any casino we recommend MUST have options. Video poker, live poker and even separate poker rooms are big bonuses in our eyes.
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Roulette – Is a casino even a casino without roulette? We don’t think so. Whether you’re playing the European, American, or French version, roulette is guaranteed fun with every single spin. And if the casino offers a live version? Even better. That gives players the opportunity to feel as though they are right there with the dealer.
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Blackjack – Another classic card game we just know our players can’t get enough of. When vetting each casino, we always check to make sure they have more than one or two variations of Blackjack for players to indulge in. Atlantic City, Blackjack Gold, Spanish 21, these are all Blackjack types we love to see offered by our favourite casino sites!
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Live Dealer – A great part of online casinos, is that players have the option to play most games live. This means without leaving the house, players can still interact with a live dealer and other players just like they’re playing in person. This is a great option for players looking for more interactivity in their online gaming experience.
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Considering Free Play vs. Using Real Money vs. Land Based
There are thousands of different slots, table games, and poker games available to you when playing at online casinos or land-based. As a result, it’s often nice to try the games out before you start playing for real money. Most casinos will let you play their games, slots in particular, for free so that you can get a feel for them.
Generally, you will be unable to play live games for free. In cases like that, try some non-live variants of the game or try free slots.
Ex. If you’re looking to try out live dealer roulette for free, consider trying one of the other variants offered.
The stakes can be as low or as high as you choose. You can bet just a few cents each time, but if you’re looking for a big win, it will come at a cost.
You can also participate in progressive jackpot slots like Mega Moolah, where the payouts can be massive.
In Canada, we’re lucky to have quite a few great land-based casinos all over the country. Some of our favourites include:
Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Casino de Montréal in Montréal, Quebec
River Rock Casino in Richmond, British Columbia
Casino Rama Resort in Orillia, Ontario
St. Eugene Golf Resort & Casino in Cranbrook, British Columbia
Your Banking Options
In order to play for real money, you have to deposit it. There are a lot of options to choose from and as mentioned above, that’s something to consider when picking a casino site. Most online casinos will offer a variety of options, each coming with its own stipulations surrounding deposit and withdrawal ranges, timeframes and potential fees. Here are a couple of our favourite deposit methods for our players:
Mastercard is one of the most popular deposit methods for Canadian players. This is because as a credit card, it is already a popular payment method, and quite easy to obtain. Players can also rest easy know that any site that has Mastercard as a payment method, has been deemed extremely reliable and safe, otherwise it would not be an option.
Like Mastercard, Visa is another great deposit option for our players for the exact same reasons. Credit cards are a very reliable and safe deposit method that players should never have any issue using to deposit or withdrawal their funds at any point. If you’re ever in doubt of which method to use, we’ll always recommend credit cards.
Interac is a debit card option for players that is starting to become widely available at casinos all over Canada. The process of a debit card is very similar, and just as safe as that with credit cards, and offers quick payout times to boot! Interac is a perfect option for players who aren’t interested in using their credit card or cryptocurrency.
Bitcoin is a newer deposit method that is taking the casino world by storm. Why? Because this digital currency is quick, has high deposit and withdrawal amounts, is extremely secure, and transactions are free. Many casinos who accept Bitcoin also offer special bonuses to players who deposit using this method. We always recommend players use Bitcoin when they can.
Each player is going to have their preference when it comes to these methods. So, check out the review for the casino you’re considering and see if your preferred method is offered.
Gambling Responsibly
Above all else, player safety and responsibility are the most important things to Team Maple. If you or someone you know might have a problem, we suggest looking into these resources:
ProblemGambling.ca – Self-Help gambling tools.
PlaySmart.ca – Gaming information & a quiz to know your gaming style.
ResponsibleGaming.org – Province-specific resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before you pick an online casino to join, it’s important to do your research. You could do that on your own, essentially exploring each casino site. But, there are sites out there that have done that for you. Sites like GambleGum.com.
The team at GambleGum.com has decades of experience writing and reviewing in the casino space. Our team of experts has assembled the site to be a one-stop casino guide for prospective and veteran players. So, we’ve done all the research for you. The reviews cover a comprehensive range of review criteria, including the types of games offered, the site’s suitability for Canadian players, and the sign-up bonuses available to new players. That way you are informed when you pick an online casino.
When you’ve won, it’s important that you understand how you turn those digital winnings into real money. When withdrawing your money, at most sites you will be asked initially provide some form of identification to verify your identity. This could be:
- Government Issued Photo ID
- Proof of Address
- Notarized Documentation
Once the site has confirmed your ID, then they will send your winnings to the method of choice. Each method comes with its own transaction time, i.e. Instant vs. 5-Business Days. You should also take into account that the option you chose for your deposit might not be available for withdrawal.
If you look for the right things when researching an online casino, then yes, it is safe to play for real money online. The top online casinos available to Canadian players have certifications from organizations like eCOGRA, the gambling industry’s foremost authority on game fairness and player protection.
Furthermore, sites like GambleGum.com exist to provide impartial reviews so that you as a player know whether the casino you’ve picked is reliable, fair and going to protect your information.
As a Canadian player, the easiest way to deposit money at an online casino is by using InstaDebit. Like its name suggests, transactions are instant. It’s also important to note is that all transactions made with InstaDebit are encrypted with 128-bit encryption and overseen by VeriSign and TRUSTe. Players should note that there is a fee of $1.95 for making a deposit, and $2.00 for making a withdrawal. It’s a great option for players not wanting to make a deposit using a credit card or other banking method.
Most online casinos are committed to transparency and provide a payout percentage figure, or return to player (RTP), on the amount of real money given back to the player from each particular casino game. It can be thought of as the opposite to the house edge, in that a 5% edge equates to a 95% payout percentage. Generally, the best slots tend to have payout percentages in excess of 95%, with most online slots falling into this RTP range. Meanwhile, the best casino table game payout percentages are closer to:
- Blackjack (99.54%)
- Baccarat (98.99%)
- Craps (98.64%)
- Three Card Poker (98.24%)
- European Roulette (97.30%)
- American Roulette (94.74%)