If you love playing online casino games like slots, blackjack, roulette, poker, and dice games, you are not alone. Gambling is almost a national pastime in Canada, with vast swathes of the population claiming to enjoy an online flutter. While every type of gambling, from lottery to sports betting and everything in between, is popular, online casino games are of particular interest.
One trend of note is the rising popularity of live dealer games, which provide an immersive, interactive experience where players interact with real dealers and play against other players in real-time. The seeming wizardry is down to tech advancements like high-speed internet connections and high-quality streaming. They are popular because they combine the convenience of playing online with the social aspect of a physical casino.
However, whether you prefer old-school video versions, live dealer gaming or the perennial favourite online slots, you still need to know which sites you can trust and where to find the best games, odds, promotions and overall fun levels. Even in Canada's increasingly regulated system, some scam and sham operators still manage to lure unwitting gamblers to their unsafe and unethical gambling sites. This is where a website like Casino.org comes into its own and guides readers to the best online casino sites available.
As senior content editor at Casino.org, Jemma McColgan points out,
"When even the most tech-savvy generation admits to being the victim of an online scam, we all need to know who to trust when transacting online. When consumers want to play at online casinos, they need to divulge a large amount of sensitive personal information, so they must be able to verify the site is safe and secure. At Casino.org, we hold ourselves to the highest standards and set out to be a beacon of professionalism in the industry."
"Because we are independent, we can stand by our high ethical standards and not be bought to promote a website that we do not believe measures up. We only recommend the best online casinos in Canada so our readers can enjoy blackjack, slots, roulette, and more for real money. We have over 25 years of experience and our expert reviewers compare features of over 75 casinos spanning ten provinces. We exist to help Canadians uncover their favourite sites."
She goes on to explain,
"You might think that an operating license is a stamp of approval. In theory, it is; unfortunately, some operators have been known to display fake licences to lure players in. While you might think you would spot a fake, it is amazing how people can be fooled, particularly when offered attractive odds or enormous jackpots. We always advise people to stop and check before depositing money or sharing any data."
"At Casino.org, we follow a rigorous 25-step review process so that our recommendations are data-driven and not based on whim. Of course, we always give readers our personal feedback, but our system is process-driven. This means that all the sites are compared on the same scale, and here is how we go about it."
"We believe that safe gambling starts with secure sites. We expect to see sites owned by industry leaders like Baytree Interactive Ltd, the company behind Spin Casino, Ruby Fortune and Jackpot City. We check to see who regulates the sites, like the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, because they ensure fair games and legal operation. Another indicator of a trustworthy site is being a member of eCOGRA, an independent auditing service. While casinos are not obliged to join, membership is a big plus in our eyes."
"While you might think of bonuses as a nice 'added-extra,' you can tell a huge amount about an online casino by the bonuses they offer. Great bonuses are not just about the headline amount but also about the wagering requirements. So, a casino offering a $1,800 deposit match might look like great value, but the small print reveals 70x wagering requirements that will be hard to complete. A casino with a deposit match of up to $1,000 but only a 35x turnover will likely be a better offer for the customer. Our ratings take these into account so that you do not get stung. The same is true of free spins as part of a welcome bonus; they are only really free if you can claim them without wagering requirements."
"We aim to do the hard work for customers so that they can get on with the fun. This means that we read the terms and conditions and make recommendations if customers genuinely have a chance of winning. We look for sites that go the extra mile to allow players to maximize their bankroll from no deposit bonuses, to VIP schemes and cashback promotions.”
"The competition between online casino sites in Canada is fierce, and they are always vying to have the most attractive site. The average games lobby is as high as 3,000 games and it can take a lot of wading through to find the best payout. We rate games and online casinos on their payout rate. Spooky graphics and entertaining narratives might impress some people, but if a game does not give a player a fair chance of winning, it will not get a good rating from us."
"Most of us like the freedom to play what we want, where we want. While playing on big computer screens is acceptable, what matters is how accessible casino games are on the go. Our highest-scoring casinos have apps for iOS and Android that can be downloaded from the app stores. We believe there should be a seamless experience when crossing between a casino site's browser and app version.
"Players should not be forced to use a payment option they are uncomfortable with. We check out what options are available and expect to see familiar names like Interac, PayPal, Visa and Mastercard. The top-rated casinos will also offer specialist payment gateways like MuchBetter Paysafecard, and we are also looking for crypto options."
"Sometimes things do not go to plan, and an online casino will only get full scores from Casino.org if they have responsive and available customer services. We expect to see 24/7 live chat, a contact form, email options and a phoneline publicized on the site. We check out the service on offer and expect a response within 30 minutes on live chat and no more than a couple of hours by email."