Discover more about the Ontario iGaming market, see what players want from the future, and learn which online casinos in Ontario Liam Blackley recommends for safe and fair entertainment.
Liam, you’re part of the writing team at Casino.ca. Can you summarize your experience in iGaming and describe what Casino.ca does?
Liam: I mainly work as an online casino reviewer, thoroughly exploring a casino site to understand the player experience and gather statistics. Then I write up a review covering all the pros and cons, which gets published on Casino.ca, a casino review site that also publishes user guides for features like casino apps or Canadian online payment methods. I’m more than happy to steer players away from unsafe sites in my reviews, but Ontario’s regulated market often pre-empts that issue. The other side of my work is researching Canadian gambling legislation; I’ve written a few deep dives into provincial regulations for Casino.ca. Recently, with the Alberta iGaming market kicking into high-gear, I covered the new market launch and studied how the rest of Canada is expected to respond.
For those just learning about Ontario’s regulated iGaming market, are there any trends unique to the province?
Liam: Ontario online casinos are more strictly regulated than in the rest of Canada. Any online casino or sportsbook operating in the province needs to obtain a licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and follow regulations set by Ontario iGaming, both crown corporations. This method has proven quite effective at cutting predatory online casinos from the province.
As part of the regulations, promotional material including casino bonuses is heavily restricted. That means Ontario casinos turn to other methods to stand out from the crowd. In particular, Ontarians love sports betting and playing on-the-go with mobile casino apps. Fan-favourite casinos like Sports Interaction make their mark with a partnered sportsbook, or they go the route of Tooniebet by featuring an exceptionally large games library. Others deliver less variety but focus on quality; the Jackpot City app is one of the best in the province, if not the country.
Ontario is the first province to take a firm stand against the “grey market” of offshore online casinos accepting Canadian players, which drains money from the province. When Ontario opened its regulated market in 2022, a major goal was to keep gambling revenue in-province so it can be reinvested through taxing casinos. Now we see other provinces like Alberta following the trend.
Alberta’s own iGaming market is launching this year. How will this affect Ontario and other provinces?
Liam: Alberta is closely mirroring Ontario’s regulatory framework. Because of this, a good number of Ontario online casinos are set to obtain an Alberta licence. The immediate effect will be that these casinos dig their roots in even deeper, solidifying their hold over the Canadian market and guaranteeing they’ll be mainstays for years to come.
Long term, Alberta following Ontario’s lead is setting a pattern, one which Quebec is already considering falling in line with. I wouldn’t be surprised if most provinces introduce a regulated market modeling Ontario iGaming in the next few years. This will continue to push out grey market casinos.
However, the growing prevalence of online casinos creates steep competition in Ontario. The OLG and land-based casinos are already losing customers to online casinos and sportsbooks. While licensed online casinos are still taxed, less revenue is being filtered through crown corporations, changing how gambling revenue is invested in the province.
Are there any cutting-edge online casinos that you would recommend new players try out?
Liam: For flexible gambling options in an unpretentious package, check out 888casino and its sister sites, 888sport and 888poker. Players can play casino games, bet on sporting events, or sit down at poker tables across from other Ontarians. The company behind these sites has also won EGR’s award for Casino Operator of the Year three separate times.
The OLG online casino is another solid choice, especially for security-conscious players. As a crown corporation, OLG prioritizes safety, fairness, and player protection. Relevant features include eCOGRA certification, SSL encryption for browser and mobile play, and industry-leading responsible gambling features. Plus, with OLG, you know your wagers are being reinvested directly into the province.
Finally, Casino Days is one of the best all-rounder picks for Ontarians. The leading feature is $1 minimum deposits and same-day withdrawals. Complementing the fabulous banking experience is a library of over 5,000 online casino games and a polished mobile app. The high standards of Ontario iGaming regulations are partially to thank for the wide selection of reliable, top-quality online casinos like Casino Days.
