With the online casino market opening up in Canada for the first time, excited new players are logging on to check out the games and bonuses on offer. Some of these players have never visited an online casino before, so are none the wiser as to what they should look for in joining a new casino.
We’re here to help you when you visit the best Online Casinos in Ontario and the other provinces of Canada with this handy guide – simply give it a read, follow the easy guidelines and you’re on your way to playing at a quality online casino!
Make sure the casino is trustworthy
With the Canadian market being so fresh, plenty of well-known, big-name casino operators are setting up in the provinces. But along with these big-name operators, there may be some less-than-legitimate casinos trying to worm their way in.
The first thing you always want to check is to make sure the site you’re looking at playing on is totally legitimate. You can do this by double-checking the licensing of the casino – it should be registered by one of the main governing bodies in gambling such as the UK Gambling Commission or the Malta Gaming Authority, as well as your provincial authority. These licences ensure the games are fair and protect you as a player in case anything goes wrong.
As well as checking the licensing, you also want to make sure the site has SSL encryption. This level of encryption ensures any financial or personal information you enter on the site is kept away from any would-be hackers.
Check the range of payment methods
The next thing to do is to make sure there’s a payment method available at the online casino that you know how to use and that you trust. You’ll often find a great range of well-known payment providers such as PayPal or Interac, which will allow you to get your money in and out of the casino both quickly and safely.
You should also have the option for more traditional payment methods such as debit cards and bank transfers – these are widely accepted at many of the online casinos that are popping up. Some casinos are even allowing payments to be made in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin for the ultimate privacy and anonymity when you play.
Have a look at the games selection
Now you want to check to make sure the casino has plenty of the games you like. If you’re a slots player then you’ll want to see thousands of different slots, so you always have a game to play no matter where the mood takes you.
If you prefer the strategic gameplay of table games, make sure there are ample live casino games as well as video versions of poker, blackjack etc. This allows you to play in a casino-like atmosphere with a live dealer as well as just your standard video format if you ever get bored of the live dealer play.
Also, be sure to check out the software providers. Any legitimate casino will partner up with well-known game providers such as NetEnt, Microgaming and Evolution Gaming to provide their hit games on the casino platform.
Get your hands on a great bonus
Most players instinctively pick their casino based on the bonus it offers – without taking the prior steps we’ve laid out here. This would be foolish, as it doesn’t matter how good the bonus is if you’re playing in a fraudulent casino that doesn’t pay out!
Bonus-wise, this is again down to what types of games you enjoy. If you prefer online slots, then you’re going to be looking for plenty of free spins on hit slot games. If you prefer live action then you’ll be wanting a decent amount of bonus cash or a big matched deposit bonus to spend on your table game of choice. It really does all come down to your preference. And remember – make sure you read the terms and conditions!
Set your budget
The final step is to set your gaming budget. It can be easy to lose track of your bank balance and the time you’ve spent playing when you’re totally engrossed in a game, so it’s always best to pick a set in concrete budget and then stick to it.
It’s best to make your budget an amount you’d be comfortable totally losing. That way if you happen to go on a bad streak and lose every game or spin, you haven’t lost anything and you still had fun whilst also not risking any of your finances.
And never, never chase your losses! Remember playing at an online casino should always be fun.
Interesting Related Article: “What is Responsible Gambling?“