TOP 10 ONLINE CASINOS IN ONTARIO
Browse the top 10 legal online casinos in Ontario and choose the best option for you.Looking for something specific?
Top Casino Sites for Players from Ontario
The regulated online casino market in Ontario rolled out on April 4, 2022. The province's iGaming sector has grown exponentially since then, with a litany of legal gambling sites entering the scene.
Given the depth of the competition, it can be challenging to identify what's truly best for your gaming needs. To the untrained eye, it may appear that there's little to no difference between operators, so beginners may struggle to identify a suitable Ontario casino online.
This page will provide you with a few pointers to help you select the right option for you. At the top of this page, you will find the top 10 picks for the best Ontario online casinos.
In addition, we will offer you a closer look into our selection process. We'll also provide a brief overview of the online casino market in the Heartland Province from a legal perspective, covering the key regulations and everything else you might need to know.
Online Gambling Ontario – Regulations
The online gambling industry in Canada is regulated by each province individually. Due to a lack of legal options, online casino players across the country have long flocked to offshore sites. Then, Canadian lawmakers amended the Criminal Code and passed bill C-218, lifting the federal ban on single-event sports betting in August 2021.
The abolition of the single-game sports wagering prohibition opened the door for Canada's iGaming industry to grow and evolve. However, we should mention that legal online gambling in Ontario had already been in the works before the ban was lifted.
The first legislative push was made by the Ontario Government in April 2019, when it announced plans to end the lottery's monopoly on online gambling and allow private companies to enter the province.
Following up on those plans, the government released a multi-year budget draft in November 2020, with provisions for the launch of a new online gaming market. In parallel, the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario was appointed to provide regulatory oversight (in collaboration with its subsidiary, iGaming Ontario).
The AGCO began accepting applications from prospective suppliers and operators in September 2021, after months of hammering out the details of the new regulatory framework. The market got off the ground on April 4, 2022.
The minimum gambling age has been set at 19 for online casinos in Ontario. Gambling sites and apps are geo-fenced, which means you need to be located within the province to play.
How to Choose the Best Online Casinos in Ontario
The number of legal online casinos in Ontario has quickly surpassed 50. In addition, there are a host of offshore, unregulated sites that offer their services to ON residents, as well. However, the list of casinos you can see at the top of this page only contains regulated and legal ON casinos.
As operators offer largely comparable features, spotting the subtle differences between sites and ultimately choosing the best online casino Ontario requires a sharp eye.
Our team has developed a thorough rating system for online casinos, the result of which is the rating on a scale from 0 to 5, which you can see next to each casino in the list above. If you proceed to any casino's review, you will find its casino bonuses and information like payment methods, available games, withdrawal limits, user reviews, and more.
There are several performance indicators you should consider when choosing the best online casino in Ontario, regardless of your preferences. That said, there is no one-size-fits-all online casino, and not every criterion listed below will be equally pertinent to everyone.
Safety and Legitimacy
In the global world of online casinos, there are thousands of operators, many of which can be best described as shady. Luckily, with the regulated online gambling market in Ontario, it is easy to select a safe online casino.
It's in your best interest to select an operator that has a stamp of approval. In order to be licensed by AGCO and its subsidiary iGaming Ontario, online casinos in Ontario must adhere to strict protocols for transparency, safety, and player integrity.
In legal Ontario online casinos, the iGO seal is often prominently displayed in the footer (and sometimes the header, as well), so you won't have to dig through various menus to verify the licence.
Also, all online casinos listed on this page hold an Ontario license, so you can be sure that any site you pick from our list of top 10 casinos in Ontario will be regulated and fully legal.
We have a separate article dedicated to online casino regulations in Canada, which also covers the specifics of regulations in Ontario. Read it to learn more about the topic.
Game Variety
When it comes to ranking assessment factors by importance, many players place game diversity near the top. And it only makes sense — if your chosen casino doesn't feature the game you want to play, then what's the point?
The best online casinos in Ontario have partnered up with a range of prominent game suppliers to ensure game quality and variety. These include IGT, NetEnt, Play'n GO, and Playtech, to name a few.
Players typically use the number of titles as the only metric for benchmarking a casino's portfolio. However, you should make sure that the main gaming categories are well represented — namely, slots, table games like roulette or blackjack, and live dealer options. It would be even better if the online casino Ontario you picked offered something unique, like a huge progressive slot or an exclusive in-house title.
Banking
The best online casino sites mostly offer a wide range of banking options, so everyone can deposit and withdraw funds using a method that works for them. Typically, you'll have access to Interac, e-wallets (PayPal, ecoPayz, Skrill), credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard), prepaid systems (paysafecard), and bank transfers.
Apart from payment method availability, you should also consider factors like processing speed and limits. Some online casinos in Ontario are known for processing cashouts faster than others (by handling payout requests more quickly) and having flexible limits that make them suitable for both casual players and high rollers.
User Experience and User Interface
The UX and UI encompass a number of parameters, all of which have a huge impact on the way you interact with your Ontario casino online. For the best experience, you should consider factors such as the page layout, loading speed, and mobile optimization. There are ancillary components that can shape your user experience as well, such as a search bar in the game library and game filters.
The mobile site or app should provide the same seamless user experience as the desktop site, so navigation should be smooth, and the layout should be intuitive — having a lot of content to unpack and banners popping up all the time could detract from your user experience.
While that may sound a bit too technical, it is simply best to choose an online casino that works well and whose design you like.
Customer Support
Even at the best Ontario online casinos, there may be some glitches, ranging from a minor geolocation problem to a more serious withdrawal issue. In either case, it would be excellent to have quick and effective customer support available to diagnose and fix your problem. The customer support staff should be available through multiple contact channels, preferably live chat, email, and phone.
To learn more, take a look at this article, which covers how we rate and review online casinos, as well as how to choose the best option for you.
How to Get Started at Online Casino in Ontario
Signing up for an account with a legal online casino in Ontario is a walk in the park. Basically, the process is pretty much universal, so once you learn the ropes, you will be ready to apply it in all casinos.
Here is a mini step-by-step guide to help you get started:
- Visit the casino you've chosen by clicking the button next to it.
- Click or tap on the registration button, which should be pretty visible. You can also complete the sign-up process via the casino's standalone apps for iOS and Android.
- Provide the necessary details in the application form. The usual boxes include your full name, e-mail, and phone number.
- Ontario casino online may send you a code via SMS or e-mail to verify your contact information after you've completed the registration process. If not, you may proceed to the next step.
- Top up your account. Since most casinos offer free demo play, this isn't a necessity. However, if you want to play for real money, it is a requirement. To deposit, click on the appropriate button (either in the header section or within your account menu). Then, choose the payment method, enter the amount you want to deposit, and follow the prompts to finalize the transaction.
- Once you've completed the previous steps, you can load the library and start playing.
Note that you'll be asked to use a geolocation plugin while playing to verify that you're in Ontario. Mobile users will only have to turn their location services on.
Best Ontario Online Casino Sites FAQ
Is online gambling in Ontario legal?
Yes, Ontario is the only province in Canada that has a regulated market for domestic online gambling. You can play legally at over 50 casino sites licensed by iGaming Ontario. You can find our top 10 list of best Ontario casinos at the top of this page.
Can I play in online casinos in Ontario from other provinces?
No, because geolocation requirements apply to all licensed casino sites in Ontario. You must be physically present in the Heartland Province at the time of play and have the casino's geolocation tracker turned on (or location services if you're playing via mobile).
Is it safe to play at an online Ontario casino?
We can only vouch for the sites featured on this page. These operators are licensed in Ontario and use foolproof security measures to protect their players' sensitive data, such as 2FA and encryption software. On top of that, they adhere to other strict regulations put in place by iGaming Ontario.
What responsible gambling tools can I use at Online casino Ontario apps?
These vary from one casino to another. As a rule of thumb, you'll get to set deposit/wager/time/loss limits, and you'll have access to other resources that will help you maintain control over your finances. Also, online casinos offer an option to self-exclude if you'd like to stop playing altogether.