Best Ontario Online Casinos

Even though it’s not necessary to learn all the gambling-related information about the place you are betting from, it’s always nice to know at least some facts to better understand the local gambling background and stay safe. Besides, it’s the information you can share with your gambling pals to get some scores on a party. So, here are some fun facts about Ontario gambling, a bit of history, and useful information for those who suspect being involved in problem gambling and are in search of help.

Facts About Online Gambling in Ontario

As for now, there are three main kinds of gambling activities in Ontario and all of them are regulated AGCO — Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. These are 25 land-based casinos located on the territory of the province (we’ll talk about the most prominent of them later), charitable gambling used to fundraise for the charity sector, and online gambling in the province-owned online casino PlayOLG.

Even though online gambling in Ontario appeared not so long ago, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation that now owns PlayOLG casino celebrate more than 40 years of history, as they claim on the official website. There was a bunch of lotteries that brought a profit of more than $1 billion to the province back in 1984 but the first official casino, the Windsor casino, was opened in 1993, followed by the first riverboat casino in 1995 to make the Windsor less crowded. It was not until 2015 that the province authorities turned their heads to online gambling and the first and only official online casino PlayOLG was launched. In 2017, the PlayOLG mobile app was released and since then, the company has been trying to keep up with time and attract local gamers to their local mobile casino instead of the overseas ones.

Laws Affecting Online Casinos in Ontario

The first and quite obvious thing to learn about Ontario is that gambling here is legal and regulated — both online and offline. On the federal level, casinos and gambling websites operate under the authority of the Criminal Code of Canada. Besides, every province has its own regulatory body to regulate gambling activities on the local level. In Ontario, this body is called the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and the two main laws regulating gambling in the province are the Gaming Control Act of 1992 and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation Act of 1999. According to the local laws, gambling in the Ontario online casino, as well as in the land-based ones, is only allowed to people from 18 years old and breaking of this law will be followed by significant fines.

At the same time, bets made by gamblers from Ontario in international online casinos are not regulated in any way, as for now. Though, it might end soon. It looks like the Ontario authorities are willing to end their monopoly on online gambling and open up the market for the private online casinos to be licensed here. We’ll soon know whether this idea works out or not but for now, making bets in international online casinos is easy and not controlled.

Getting Help for Problem Gambling in Ontario

Gambling is all fun and games but only until everything is under moderation. Unfortunately, sometimes things go out of control and just gambling turns into problem gambling. In countries like Canada, where online gambling is legal and regulated, you are never alone with your problems and there is always someone to help. In Ontario, there is a problem gambling helpline to contact if you suspect that something has gone wrong with your gambling activities or you need some advice to help your loved ones. It’s been funded by the Ontario government through in 2019 it started to cut the fundings in this area. Besides, there is a bunch of self-help gambling tools including the Gambling Quiz that you can take to understand whether gambling has some negative impact on your life or everything’s just fine. We can’t help repeating that the main rule of Ontario online gambling is to keep it under control and only use online casinos as entertainment or a hobby rather than the way to earn money or solve financial problems.

There are two ways to play online gambling games while in Ontario. You can either opt for the local gambling website PlayOLG or make your bets in one of many international online casinos available for Canadians. In this part, we’ll try to help you make this decision.

PlayOLG vs. International Online Casinos in Ontario

So, when you consider playing in a casino in Ontario online, there are several points to consider when it comes to the choice between PlayOLG and other websites. The first one is the choice of games. in PlayOLG, you’ll find quite a lot of slots made by High5 Games and IGT, a couple of video poker games, roulette, and blackjack. There won’t be any bingo games or sports betting as well as the slots made by other providers. Generally, the game collection here is poorer than the one of any large international casino. The second point is the license. PlayOLG is obviously licensed in Ontario so nothing can go wrong here which we can’t say about every overseas casino. And the final thing to pay attention to is the variety of payment options. While PlayOLG allows making bets using credit/debit cards and INTERAC, it lacks e-wallets and Bitcoins as banking methods.

How We Find Best Online Casinos in Ontario

It looks like international online casinos are winning in all respects except for the safety — but there is a way to solve it. Here on SlotsUp, we are collecting the safest and the most reliable online gambling websites so that you can pick the best online casino in Ontario in just a few clicks. Before the casino can make it to our list, we make sure it meets the following quality standards:

• License. All the casinos on SlotsUp are licensed by internationally-renowned licensing institutions like Malta Gambling Authority or the UK Gaming Commission. It guarantees that all the games there are fair and your money and personal information are safe.

• Choice of games. We make sure to update our list with the casinos that have as many games in their collections as possible. From classic slot to live-dealer roulette in best live casinos — you’ll always find something to play.

• Bonuses. In the casinos from the SlotsUp list, you’ll be welcomed by generous deposit bonuses followed by weekly and monthly promotions and special loyalty bonuses for regular players.

• Payment options. It’s always good to have a choice so we try to select the casinos that offer a lot of banking options for their players. Thus, you can choose what’s the most comfortable one for you and available in Ontario at the same time.

If online gambling can’t satisfy your needs and you want to feel that one-of-a-kind vibe of the land-based venue, there are some casinos in Ontario that are worth your attention. Here they are.

Casino Niagara

Casino Niagara is one of the oldest casinos in Ontario — it opened its doors for the players in 1996. It offers 1300 slot machines and 40 game tables located in 8,800 m². It’s surrounded by some great hotels like Sheraton on The Falls for those who need more than just one day to make bets and provides a variety of dining options on every taste and budget.

Fallsview Casino Resort

If you are into luxury resorts, Fallsview Casino is what will catch you fancy. Besides 3000 slot machines and a hundred of game tables, it offers a 374-room hotel with fitness and spa centers, shops, restaurants, and whatever else you might need on vacation. The Avalon Theater located on the territory of the resort is the place where the most spectacular events are held (in case the amazing view on Niagara Falls is not enough for you).

Caesars Windsor Casino

Caesars Windsor is a waterfront casino with more than 9000 m² of gaming space. It overlooks the Detroit skyline from the 23- and 27-stories towers of its luxurious hotels. In the casino, one can find a variety of slot machines and game tables that allows both smaller bets and places for high-rollers with up to $50000 betting limit. It’s also known for the lucrative promotions and special offers for loyal visitors.