Ontario Casinos

The online casino choices in Ontario as numerous, PlayOLG is not the only game in town. There are better casinos with higher quality games, we have listed them for your enjoyment.

Ontario Online Casino Guide For 2023

Online gambling is very popular in Ontario and this has led for many people to search for Ontario online casinos to play at. There are literally hundreds of sites that Canadians can choose from and this often tends to cause a problem. Too much choice. If you are looking for an Ontario casino online then you have come to the right place and our gambling portal for Canada will give you all the information you need on real money gaming in Ontario.

Quick Facts About Online Casinos in Ontario

It is legal to gambling both online and offline in Ontario once you are 19.

PlayOLG is the official provincial online gambling site and is for residents of this province only.

Gambling in Canada, including Ontario, is generally tax free.

Offshore online casinos are completely legal to play at.

Legal Gambling In Ontario

Up until 1969 gambling was illegal in Canada. The federal government then delegated the responsibility of the laws pertaining to gambling to each province so that the provincial government was in control of what happened within their province. In 1992, the Gaming Control Act was passed and this controlled the growth of the gaming industry. Two casino in Ontario were introduced, Windsor and Niagra Falls. The Gaming Control Act was enforced by the Gaming Control Commission Ontario and was later replaced by the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act (Ontario) in 1996.

There were no laws relating to online gambling at this stage but this was changed in 2006 when Ontario passed Bill 152. This Bill included an amendment of the Consumer Protection Act and related specifically to the advertising of illegal sites. It stated that no person shall advertise an internet gaming site that is operated contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada. The amendment to the Act and the passing of Bill 152 came at a time when online poker was massive and huge brands such as Party Poker and PokerRoom.com were creating massive advertising campaigns that were aired on Ontario TV networks, shown in newspaper publications, and showcased at local sports arenas such as the Air Canada center. The amendments came into force on the 1st of January 2008. By then PartyPoker.net and other sites had devised clever marketing schemes to get around this and the introduction of "free play" was born. For more information on casino laws in Canada you can check out our legal casino page.

Play OLG - The Official Ontario Online Casino

Play OLG is the official online gambling site for the province of Ontario. This took a number of years to come to fruition but they finally opened their doors in January 2015. This is the only legally licensed Ontario online casino and is similar to the PlayNow brand of the BC online casino BC-Casino .The OLG choose SPIELO G2 (GTECH) as their software provider back in April 2013 but some red tape got in the way of the official launch.

The site kicked off with a one month soft-launch for selected players but the feedback wasn't great. There were a lot of problems and glitches including lack of customer support. Games didn't load properly and many were left unsatisfied with the Play OLG offering. This site offers residents in Ontario a selection of casino style games including slots, video poker and table games. Lottery products are also available.

Play OLG vs International Online Casinos

Despite the launch of an online casino in Ontario, players are still accessing international gambling sites to play for real money prizes. There are so many to choose from and many of these international sites are highly reputable, regulated, and open to accepting players from Canada. These sites also offer software that is accessible using PC, Mac, mobile, or tablet. The software is also available in English and French and wagers can be made in Canadian Dollars. Toll free customer support numbers are also available. This makes it easy to see why many are still opting to use international sites over Play OLG's offering. There are a number of advantages to choosing an international casino online for Ontario and these include:

    • Greater Game Choice : Many of the international sites have hundreds of games that are all mobile responsive and available in download or no download instant play flash casinos. New slots are added all the time and the game choice for Canadian players is outstanding. Play OLG uses SPIELO G2 software and while this offers excellent Vegas style slots, the agreement is probably exclusive and this will prevent OLG from licensing top games from other software providers including games with massive progressive jackpots.
    • Bigger Bonuses and Promotions : Bonuses are a big thing and international casinos have a lot more to offer. Their customer base is worldwide which gives them far more leeway when it comes to offering player promotions. Many of the big brands have no deposit bonus offers, free spins, free time, freespins and excellent VIP programs that reward player loyalty. OLG's site has a smaller customer base and therefore the bonuses are a lot smaller too.
    • Progressive Jackpots : International brands allow players from all over the world and this contributes to much bigger progressive jackpot. Play OLG is a provincial online casino and therefore only allows residents of Ontario to register. This means a much smaller player base and much lower progressive jackpots. The progressive jackpots will also grow a lot slower than the international brands.

Best Online Casinos For Ontario Players

If you are living in Ontario and you want to find the best online casino to play at, you have come to the right place. We only list the best Ontario online casinos and all the Reviews you will find on our site are aimed at helping you find the site that matches your need. We look at the history of the casino as well as the bonuses they offer, the game selection, ongoing promotions, banking options, currency selection, software compatibility, and more. Feel free to browse through out comprehensive list of reviews so that you can make the choice that suits you. Below is a list of our top real money Ontario casinos online.

Top Casinos for Ontario Players

Playing at Casinos Online in Ontario
Frequently Asked Questions

    • Is it legal to play real money games online in Ontario?
      Enjoying online gambling in Ontario is completely legal. There is no law that says you can't play online.
    • Is the Play OLG Site My Only Choice now that it is live?
      Play OLG is the government run online casino for Ontario. It launched in early 2015 but they are lacking in the bonus and promotions department. The game selection isn't the best either. This isn't your only choice though and there are plenty of international sites that you can choose from that accept players from Canada.
    • Do I have to live in the province to play?
      If you want to register for real money games at Play OLG, you must be a resident in this province. For international casinos, you only need to inform the site where you are based so they can process your payouts correctly. You don't need to be a resident to play at any of the Ontario online casinos we recommend. The sites we recommend are all licensed internationally and accept players from most countries.
    • What are the benefits of playing at international sites vs the OLG casino?
      That's an easy one. The jackpots are bigger, you get more bonuses including no deposit bonus offers, free spins, free play bonuses, cash back offers, VIP programs, and a much bigger selection of games.
    • Can I play for free at an online casino in Ontario?
      Yes you can. In fact, all the sites that we recommend have free play option so that you can test out all the games before committing to a deposit. We also have exclusive bonus offers that include free spins and no deposit deals so be sure to check these out too.
    • Can I use my credit card to make deposits?
      Yes you can. We have tested various credit cards from Canadian banks and they work perfectly. The sites that we recommend have plenty of payment options available including those specially developed for Canadian players including eChecks and Instadebit.
 

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