Online Gambling Sites in Ontario - April 2024

Ontario, one of the most liberal provinces in Canada, has a fascinating history of gambling. It is considered one of the first provinces in the country to open a commercial casino after the Criminal Code was amended in 1985, which allowed each province in Canada to regulate its gambling industry independently. Thus, in 1994 Casino Windsor was established by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation. Later on, a full-blown casino resort opened, offering more than 2.5 million square feet and 3 thousand slot machines. Nowadays, there are more than 25 land-based casinos active in the province, some of them are government-owned others are operated or privately owned. This is a clear testament to how much entertainment the province has been offering to its residents. But, it also reflects the increasing acceptance of the gambling sector in Ontario. Some statistics indicate that no less than 8 out of 10 Ontarian residents have been gambling on a regular basis. What about the online gambling and betting market in Ontario? Here is everything you need to know, including the most recently updated laws.

Online Gambling Laws in Ontario - Is Gambling Legal in Ontario?

Ontario was one of the few provinces to have government-run online casinos. In the meantime, there were no laws to regulate online gambling for Canadian citizens. So, it was somewhat a ‘grey market’. However, all of that has changed and the province entered a new era of online gambling in 2022. Ontario started letting private gaming websites that qualified through licensing process to take wagers as of 4 April 2022. It is run by iGaming Ontario, the new Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario subsidiary. This new Ontario gambling regulation aims to capture new tax revenues and impose responsible gambling standards and anti-money laundering protections. But, how can players identify Ontario gambling sites that are licensed and trustworthy? There are very easy ways explained hereinafter.

Online Gambling Sites in Ontario - Licensed, Trustworthy Websites

Private gambling operators can secure registration and obtain an operating agreement with the Ontario gambling authority. It allows them to enter revenue-sharing agreements with the province. However, that does not erase any potential grey areas in the market. Instead, a selection of online casinos may be unlicensed or licensed somewhere else and still accept players from Ontario. So, if you reside in Ontario you have to be aware of what type of online casino you are choosing. You may easily check out the complete list of fully registered and authorized operators on the official iGaming Ontario Website. Otherwise, you may see iGO’s logo displayed on the website to make sure it is regulated by the Ontario gambling commission. Also, it is very crucial to know that the legal gambling age in Ontario is 19. There are so many benefits for players to play at fully regulated Ontario gambling sites. So, let us go through the main ones here.

Benefits of Using Licensed, Trustworthy Websites

For starters, playing at sites regulated by iGaming Ontario ensures that your deposits are protected. It also ensures that your winnings are paid out and your personal information and data are securely stored. What is more, the gameplay has fair competitive odds at regulated sites. Of course, should you encounter any issues concerning your personal information or funds, you have a way to raise a complaint and ask the site to resolve your issue.  It goes without saying that regulated sites are trustworthy and they have great customer service. Should you have any questions, you will likely get an answer in no time. Even if you are unable to find a solution through the site’s customer service, you can easily seek help from the Ontario gambling authority. Okay, so let us talk about the new online gambling technology in Ontario.

Ontario Gambling Apps - How to Play on your Mobile from Ontario

When it comes to any type of online entertainment, including gambling, players nowadays look first for mobile apps. Simply because they are easy to find and always accessible. Therefore, most Ontario gambling sites have apps on both Android and iOS. You can obtain them on your mobile device to enjoy gaming at all times from the comfort of your home, or maybe when you are hanging out in a cafe.  

How to Install Ontario Gambling Apps

Installing apps should be easy and simple. You may just look at your favorite app on the play store or app store, check out the reviews, download it and start playing. Here are a few important notes to keep in mind prior to installing your favorite gambling app on your mobile device:

• Take a look at different apps available on the play store or app store. Check out the description of the app, the very latest reviews, and how many stars each app has.
• Download the app and install it on your device. This should be straightforward. Make sure to have enough space on your memory card.
• You will be required to complete the registration process and deposit initial funds, and then you can immediately begin playing.

Ontario Gambling Apps’ Features

Apps provide a ton of exciting features like player props, a high value of odds, and a user-friendly interface. Not only that but you can personalize what teams and sports you want to follow. This saves you a lot of time and keeps you focused on the events that you actually want to bet on. What is more, some apps are faster than others. Finally, you would rather select the app that offers the type of sports you want to bet on. Fortunately, all big brands have major Canadian sports leagues such as hockey, football, basketball, and baseball available for betting.

Ontario Online Gambling Payment Methods - How to Deposit and Withdraw Money in Ontario?

Generally speaking, gambling sites allow you to deposit money via a variety of methods. These methods include an online bank transfer, debit or credit card, and PayPal or any other available e-wallet. However, each site provides a list of accepted deposit and withdrawal methods. So, it is always recommended to check the list at the site you play. There is no information yet if any specific payment method is restricted by the Ontario gambling authority, but you should expect the popular options to be available at all online casinos in Ontario. What about currency options?

Online Gambling Sites that Accept CAD

All authorized gambling operators in Ontario likely accept players to play and reap big in Canadian Dollars. After all, it is the official currency for Ontarians but also it has so much strength and the gambling operators recognize that. Using online gambling sites in Canadian dollars gives you incredible value for your money. You will not lose anything due to differences in exchange rates, or due to expensive fees for opening a bank account in a foreign currency to play. We are all aware of how high fees and commissions for currency exchange can be a constant pain in the neck. So, you will certainly avoid that pain by using Canadian dollars and you will also avoid extra time for completing transfers from one account to another. No need to worry about all of that as you may enjoy your financial security when playing.

Online Casinos in Ontario

Ontarians have almost unlimited choices when it comes to choosing where to play. Plenty of world-class online casinos has already entered the market scene in Ontario. That means there are more and more safe and legal online casinos in Ontario for players, especially since 4 April 2022. Not only that but all the latest innovations in gambling software, new games, and all the classics are available for Ontarians. So, what type of online casino games are available in Ontario? First and foremost online casinos in Ontario offer an abundance of real money slot games which are hugely popular among Ontarians. Second, they have a selection of online table games that are the exact replicas of classic land-based casino games. So, if you prefer to play Blackjack, Baccarat, Craps, or Roulette, you will most likely find these games available for you.

Online Poker in Ontario

Since many privately owned big brands have recently jumped into Ontario’s regulated space, poker players can find a lot of exciting offers. However, Ontario gambling laws on online poker are still in the making. So, probably some changes will occur in the future, but there are some things that have already been decided. Chief of them is that iGO’s licensed online poker in Ontario is segregated. It means that players in Ontario play in games and tournaments that are separate from the rest of the world, including the other provinces in Canada. However, there are discussions among decision makers in Canada for Ontario to join a multi-jurisdictional compact. Such a compact can allow players from Ontario to play against players in other provinces in Canada. However, if you are keen to access the global market and a larger player pool, then you will have to navigate the overseas online poker sites.

Online Lottery in Ontario

The lottery was previously owned by the government of Ontario similarly to the other popular types of gambling in the province. It went through multiple stages of modernization including the launch of full-fledged online lotto sites in Ontario. However, on 4 April 2022, the private sector of online lottery entered the iGaming market scene. So nowadays, Ontario residents can enjoy access to more innovative and fun lottery options than anytime before.

Online Bingo in Ontario

Over recent years the popular way to play bingo in Ontario has become electronic bingo. This gives you the option to play bingo on your computer or smartphone screen. It is super fun and easy and provides you with many different ways to play unlike the traditional on paper bingo. You can find different types of bingo such as 90-ball bingo, 80-ball bingo, 75-ball bingo, and many more.  The main advantage of online bingo sites in Ontario is that you can play at any time and the games are faster. All you need to do is to pick your favorite online bingo room, register and try to play a few cards at a time to spread your chances.

Online Sports Betting in Ontario

Single-sports betting has been legal in Canada since 2021, under Bill C-218, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sports betting). However, in Ontario legal sports bets were limited to parlays (multi-game wagers) and only through certain platforms controlled by Canadian lottery organizations. With the new Ontario gambling regulation, the province started allowing as of April 4 legal single-game, single-event, and live proposition betting. In addition, moneyline bets, spread bets, total bets, and other types of betting are available to Ontarians. Anyone with legal gambling age in Ontario of 19 or older is currently able to place a single-sports bet. In addition, Ontarians are able to follow all the sports they like including NFL, NHL, CFL, etc. Not to mention that they are able to put real money on their beloved local teams such as the Maple Leafs, Raptors, and Blue Jays.

Online DFS in Ontario

Daily fantasy sports (DFS) are included as a gambling product in the province’s latest regulations. However, DFS faces a segregated market similar to online poker in Ontario. As for now, big private operators are not offering DFS in the province due to some regulatory issues. Such issues are related to large registration fees and taxes on DFS revenue, which are yet to be addressed. There are an estimated 2 million DFS players in Ontario according to the Fantasy Sports and Gaming Association (FSGA). So, those who wish to enjoy DFS will not be able to find online DFS sites in Ontario. But, they may physically cross borders to other provinces in Canada and within US states, where daily fantasy is permitted.