Is It Legal to Play at Online Casinos in Canada?
Canada has always been a land of people with a soft spot for gambling. In fact, the first mentions about a gambling activity on North American soil date back to the late 15th century, when the Europeans were settling the country. As a result, the first land-based casinos in Canada appeared in 1989, while taking part in online gambling is legal for everybody staying in Canada. However, when it comes to hosting an online casino directly within the country, the laws here are somewhat obscure. So while the Criminal Code defines any online gambling activity as illegal, each province has a right to regulate certain types of gambling, which are operated “through a computer.” Given this, virtually every single casino operator based in Canada works with offshores, which are not prohibited in the country. They must, however, operate only with a license, so running a gambling site within the country without a license is illegal.
Now that everything regarding the legal status of online casinos operating in Canada is clear, how old do you need to be to “join the party” legally? If you are a Canadian citizen, you are allowed to participate in gambling activity at age 19 or older in all provinces except Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, where the acceptable age is 18.
How Do We Test Online Casinos for Our Website?
Today’s online gambling market offers people thousands of online casinos for every taste. For this exact reason, they often find themselves not knowing what to look for in a casino and how to make the right choice. And while there are many aspects and features that can be considered subjective and are solely up to the players, some characteristics remain universal. Here is how we screen out online casinos before adding them to our recommendation list.
- The fact that without having a valid license from a relevant authority any casino operates illegally speaks for itself. A licensed casino is a guarantor of safety for your personal information and funds. Besides, you will by default have an opportunity to address the licensor in case any dispute, which can’t be solved between the two parties, occurs.
- Payment methods. Here we check whether all the payment methods stated by an operator really work and pay customers the deposit bonuses claimed. Since we predominantly test casinos with a low minimum deposit, it is crucial to see that this amount corresponds to reality.
- Mobile compatibility. A convenient app or a web version is a must, given how many people use their phones for online gambling. In this regard, we see how smoothly it works, how the games run and whether the functionality allows for full-fledged use of all the casino’s features.
- Customer support. Neglecting the importance of good customer support is a common mistake. We always make sure it is fast, professional and there are multiple ways of reaching out.
How to Start Playing at Online Casinos in Canada?
Once you have decided on the casino and made sure all the legal issues are delicate, follow these 4 steps to begin your gambling journey:
- Create an account. Different casinos offer different ways of registering an account. Most of the time, you will be asked to provide your full name, email, phone number, age, and residence place. Don’t forget to read the casino’s terms and conditions carefully before agreeing to them.
- Claim your bonus. Some casinos credit a welcome bonus right after the registration, meaning you don’t have to deposit anything to claim it. Nonetheless, the most widespread bonus is a deposit bonus, the type of which players tend to choose while signing up (e.g., between free spins and extra cash to the first deposit).
- Choose a payment system for deposits and withdrawals and make a deposit. If you intend to receive a bonus, make sure you deposit as much as required by the terms. Besides, check the minimum deposit amount, which may differ for different payment methods.
- Find the games you like and enjoy. If you don’t know where to start, watch some game review videos or test it in a demo mode. Once you understand how the game works, you may begin using the deposited funds with the bonus received. Please note that each bonus has to be wagered, so get familiar with the wagering requirements beforehand.
