How to Start Playing on a Real Money Casino
Playing at real money casinos is nothing complicated. In fact, the entire experience is fun if you choose the best real money casinos.
First, you will need to create an account with an online casino of your choice, and this often involves clicking a Register/Sign Up button and filling out a registration form. Most modern online casinos will require players to provide information such as their name, email address, and phone number in the registration form, which will be used to set up a casino account.
Once your casino account is set up, the next step is where you make your deposit and claim a welcome bonus if available. The best online casinos have easy-to-use and fast deposit options, so this process should be straightforward. With money in your casino account, you can choose your preferred real money game, specify the amount you want to wager and start playing. And if you win in the game, your winnings will be added to your casino account balance.
How We Choose the Best Real Money Casinos
We are aware that there are several online casinos in Canada, some of which can be fraud sites looking for gamers to rob their money.
So before recommending any online casino, our experts take their time to inspect different aspects. We create an account with the casino and read through the terms and conditions for any red flags. And with our experience in the iGaming industry, we can decide whether the gambling site is satisfactory for Canadian players.
Here are some factors we consider when choosing the best real-money online casinos in Canada.
Game Selection
One of the reasons people play at real money casinos is to enjoy real money games. So when choosing the best online casino Canada real money, our experts check the available game selection. The best casino Canada gambling sites partner with top-tier providers in the industry to feature a wide range of games. You may even find some with 10,000+ games carefully arranged in their lobby.
When checking the games available, we also consider the types, variations, and betting limits. Players should be able to choose between games like slots, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, which helps keep things exciting and dynamic. For instance, some players may love playing poker, and it won’t make sense if they play at casinos with only video slots. Regarding the betting limits, our experts check if the games accommodate high rollers and players that prefer to stake low wagers.
After all, our goal is to make sure every player has the finest possible gaming experience.
Bonuses & Promotions
Besides the game selection, we also consider the bonuses and promotions available to claim.
Bonuses can help boost players’ bankroll, thus allowing them to play more games and stand a chance to win more money. We first check the available bonuses on the casino’s promotions page, such as the welcome bonuses, reload bonuses and match bonuses. But we don’t just leave it at that.
Apart from considering the bonus types and amounts to see how big or small it is, our experts also read through the terms and conditions of each offer. We pay particular attention to aspects like the wagering requirements, game restrictions, payment method restrictions and so on, and we provide you with detailed information, so you know what to expect.
In addition, we check and provide you with the promo codes required to claim the bonuses at our recommended online casinos, so you are always included in the fun. And if there are any hidden details you need to know, our experts go as far as discussing them, so you can enjoy nothing but the best gambling experience.
Security
The online space is filled with many cyber threats, and several scam casino sites are out there. So as part of our selection criteria for the best online casinos in Canada, we check how secure the casino platforms are. We start by considering the license of all casinos to see whether they operate legally or not. Online casinos that target players in Ontario, Canada, must be licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). And according to Canadian gambling laws, it is legal for residents to play at offshore online casinos.
Apart from the legality, we also consider the security mechanisms used to secure these casino sites. Our recommended real-money online casinos in Canada secure their platform with SSL and other advanced technologies, including firewalls. This helps keep players’ sensitive details out of the reach of third parties or hackers.
Besides, our top casino sites work with independent testing agencies to audit their games from time to time and ensure every player has an equal chance of winning.
Mobile Compatibility
Canada is one of the countries with a high mobile penetration rate. So when choosing the best online casinos for real money in Canada, we consider how mobile-friendly their platforms are. Our experts check whether the casinos have a native app that players can install on their smartphones or tablets. And in cases where there is no downloadable iOS or Android casino app, they check if the casino sites are designed using the latest HTML 5 technologies that allow them to be accessible on mobile.
When checking the mobile compatibility of online casinos, we also consider the games available to play on mobile and the mobile casino bonuses. We provide you with this information, so you know what exactly to expect.
Best Real Money Casino Bonuses
Every seasoned Canadian casino player will agree that bonuses can add more fun to casino gaming. This section will discuss some top real-money casino bonuses you may find at the best online casinos in Canada.
Welcome Bonuses
This is one of the typical bonuses you can claim at the top-rated real money online casinos. A welcome bonus is explicitly targeted to new players when they create an account with an online casino. It can come in different shapes and sizes, but the most common form is the match bonus, where you get a percentage of your first deposit as a bonus.
The best online casinos offer welcome bonuses to new players to welcome them on board and help them become familiar with their services. You can claim a no-deposit welcome bonus at some online casinos, where you won’t be required to make any real money deposit. This type of bonus is usually immediately added after you complete your registration. However, as you may have guessed, it is not as common as the matched deposit welcome bonus available at most online casinos in Canada.
Free Spins
Many top CA casino sites also offer free spins to their new and existing players. This casino bonus lets you play free rounds on specified slot games. And depending on the casino and promotion, the free spins can be offered as a deposit or no-deposit bonus. The number of free spins you can claim will also be determined by the promotion that you claim. For instance, if you claim a promotion with 100 free spins, you get to play 100 spins for free on a game.
However, free spins can only be used on online casino slots, and each free spin has a specific value. Not just that, it is common for gambling sites to specify the particular slots you can play with the bonus. For this reason, we recommend that you read through any free spins bonus instructions before claiming it.
VIP Programs
When you play at the best Canadian online casinos like those on our list, you can enjoy special perks as a loyal player. Top online casinos have a VIP program where players can earn points for every deposit made and real money game played. You can accumulate these points and exchange them for bonus credits according to the exchange rate specified by the casino.
At some gambling sites, VIP members may also enjoy exclusive bonuses, a dedicated account manager, faster withdrawals, higher limits and invitations to VIP events.
Other Bonuses
Apart from welcome bonuses, free spins and VIP programs, you can claim several other bonuses at the top-rated Canadian online casinos. One such is the cashback bonus, where you get a percentage of the amount lost on real money games in a specific duration. The goal of offering cashback bonuses is to give players a chance to recoup their losses and return to winning ways.
Some Canadian casino sites also offer live casino bonuses, which can be used on live dealer games. These bonuses often come as free chips, cashback or match bonuses, and the instructions for claiming them are always stated. To know all the current bonuses a CA online casino offers, check its promotions page or ask its customer support department. You can also opt-in to receive promotional newsletters from a top online casino to know when it adds new bonuses.
Pros and Cons of Playing for Real Money
Playing casino real money online has its pros and cons. And as a player that wants to start gambling on games, you must understand these benefits and disadvantages to know what to expect.
Pros of Playing for Real Money
The significant advantage of playing casino games for real money is that you stand a chance to win real money. When you land the correct sequence of symbols in a progressive jackpot slot, or you have a royal flush as a poker hand, you can have a payout. Of course, you should not forget that the outcome is solely based on luck.
Another benefit of playing for real money is competing with other players. Most top online casinos in Canada host tournaments where players can compete to be at the top of the leaderboard and win great prizes. Competing in tournaments can be an entertaining side of real money casinos.
While playing casino games for free can be fun, the games can sometimes be limited. But with a real money casino, you can play a broader range of games. After all, every gambling site is out there to make money, so all of them feature games to play for real money, but not all feature free games.
Playing for real money also gives you a chance to claim numerous bonuses. The best online casinos offer great deposit bonuses to real money casino players, which can lead to a chance to win more money.
Here is a quick recap of the benefits of playing for real money:
- There is a possibility of winning real money
- Chance to compete with other players in tournaments
- A more comprehensive range of games than free games
- Claim great bonuses
Cons of Playing for Real Money
Despite the many benefits of playing for real money, it has a few drawbacks that you should be aware of. First, playing casino games for real money means that you stand a chance of losing your hard-earned money. And when this happens, the feeling is not satisfactory. This is why we always recommend that you play real money casino games only with an amount you can afford to lose.
Another drawback of playing real money games is the risk of your sensitive details falling into the wrong hands. This is especially true with the steady increase in cyber threats. And since you need to provide your personal and sometimes banking details on an online casino, a hacker or unauthorized user may gain access to them. However, when you play at the best Canadian online casino real money licensed by a trusted regulatory body and using high-end technologies to secure its platform, you can rest assured that your sensitive information will be kept safe.
Below is a quick recap of the disadvantages of playing online casinos real money:
- You can lose money
- Safety concerns
Real Money Casino Deposits and Withdrawal Options
To play at an online casino for real money, you need to deposit some money into your casino account to stake with. The process of depositing and withdrawing winnings at online casinos in Canada differs from that of physical casinos. With physical casinos, you go to the cashier’s cage with cash and exchange them for chips or coins. At a casino online real money, depositing and withdrawing winnings are done entirely online.
The best online casino in Canada for real money accepts a wide range of banking options to make their deposit and withdrawal process easy, smooth and fast. Not just that, they also have reasonable minimum and maximum deposit and payout limits and may not charge processing fees. However, their processing time may vary from one option to another, and some banking methods may be available only for deposits and not withdrawals.
Before choosing any banking option to use at an online casino Canada real money, we recommend reading about it and understanding the pros and cons. You may also want to choose a casino and payment method that accepts the Canadian dollar, so you won’t need to pay any currency conversion fee when performing transactions.
Best Real Money Casino Games
Real-money online casino games come in different shapes and sizes. When you enter the lobby of top casino sites in Canada, you will find a wide range of games from leading developers carefully arranged in their lobby. In this section, we will discuss a few of the common real-money casino games in Canada and how to play them.
Slots
Slots are the most popular online casino games in Canada. When you enter the lobby of most casino sites, you will see hundreds or thousands of slots to choose from. This game is popular because of its easy gameplay and is perfect for both newbie players and pros. To win, the goal is to line up symbols in a specific fashion on the paylines or reels.
Another thing that makes slots interesting is that they often come with incredible features. The cascading reel is one such feature where you can get multiple wins in one spin after each of the winning symbols explode to make room for a chain reaction. In some slots, you may also be able to trigger bonus features like free spins, multipliers or respins. This usually occurs when you land the right number of special symbols, like wilds or scatters.
Online slots come in different types—classic, branded, 3D, progressive, and more. Regardless of the types, their gameplay is typically the same.
Blackjack
This is one of the most popular table games in the lobby of the best online casino for real money. Blackjack is a card game played against the house. The objective is to have the highest hand closest to 21 to win. Regardless of the dealer’s hand, you lose if your hand totals more than 21.
At the beginning of a blackjack game, the dealer will deal you two face-up cards (initial cards) and deal himself one face-up card and one face-down card. Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are counted as 10, Ace is counted as either 1 or 11, depending on the hand, and other cards are counted as their face value.
There are four main playing actions in blackjack— hit, stand, split and double down. You can take any of these actions depending on your initial cards.
- Hit is used to request an additional card in a bid to get your card closer to 21
- Stand is used to hold your total and end your turn in a blackjack round
- Split is available when you have a pair as initial cards, and it lets you split the pair to form two different bets, with your wager increasing by 1x.
- Double down is available in some blackjack games and lets you double your wager in the middle of a game when you think you have a good hand likely to win.
Roulette
Roulette is another table game you can play at the best casino online for real money. It is a luck-based game made up of three main components— a roulette betting table, a roulette wheel with numbered pockets and a small ball. The game’s goal is to bet on the numbered pocket where you think the ball will land before the croupier spins the wheel.
At the start of a roulette game, you place your bet, and the dealer spins the wheel and throws in the ball. The numbered pocket on the wheel, where the ball lands once it stops spinning, is the winning pocket.
One of the reasons for the popularity of this table game is that you only need basic skills to play it. Besides, you can place multiple bets in a single game round, giving you a chance to win big. The most popular roulette variations are European Roulette, American Roulette and French Roulette.
Poker
Poker is considered the most popular table and card-based game worldwide. It is a game where you compete with other players to win the entire pot. While there are different poker variations, Casino Hold ’em poker is the most popular. This variation has 5 rounds of play— the preflop, flop, turn, river, and showdown. The preflop round is when the two players close to the dealer button place the blinds bet.
In poker, the player with the best hand by poker ranking wins the game or the last player on the table that did not fold. Like blackjack, poker has its playing actions—call, raise, all-in and fold. Call is used to match the current bet of the table, while raise is used to raise the bet by an amount, depending on the game’s rules. All-in in poker refers to going in with all your chips, and fold means you concede and want out of the game. You lose any amount you’ve put into the pot so far when you fold.
Other popular poker variations besides Casino Hold ’em are Stud Poker, Draw Poker, Caribbean Poker and Omaha. Each of these variations has its own additional rules on how it’s played, so you may want to learn about them if you are considering any.
Live Dealer
The best online casinos in Canada often have a live casino section where they feature live dealer games. These are real-life games hosted in a physical casino’s lobby or a game developer’s studio. They are anchored by humans as the dealers and offer a more immersive and interactive experience not found in RNG-based games.
With live dealer games, you can play alongside or against other players, chat with other players and the dealers and enjoy a great gambling experience. Live dealer games are made possible with the help of advanced technologies like Optical Character Readers (OCRs). You can stream the game feed on your device in high-definition quality and perform actions as if you are at the actual tables. Besides, some live dealer games allow players to switch between multiple camera angles or even multple games, giving them almost the same feeling of being in a land-based casino.
Some of the common live dealer games you will find in the lobby of a top Canadian online casino for real money are Live Blackjack, Live Baccarat, Live Roulette and TV-show-based games.
Baccarat
Although not as popular as blackjack or roulette, baccarat is a table game found in the lobby of most CA online casinos. It is fun to play, and the rules are pretty straightforward. The goal of any baccarat game is to bet on the side, player or banker, that will have the best hand closest to 9.
In baccarat games, the maximum hand is 9. If you have initial cards above 9, the first digit is dropped, and the second digit becomes the hand. In most baccarat variations, you can bet on the game’s result to be a tie. This pays out higher than the player or banker bet. Some variations also allow players to place side bets, although there may be additional rules that govern such bets.
Craps
Craps is a specialty game found in the lobby of some of the best Canadian casino sites. It is played with two dice, and the objective is to roll the same number again before rolling a seven. At the beginning of the game, you (the shooter) roll the dice after placing your bet. This is called the come-out roll, which determines the game’s direction. If the come-out roll is a 7 or 11, and you bet on the pass line, you win instantly. However, if the dice roll outcome is 2, 3 or 12, you lose. Any other outcome apart from this turns into the point number, and you must roll this number before seven; otherwise, you lose.
When you play craps at a top online casino real money Canada, you place different kinds of bets such as pass line, come bet, don’t pass line, don’t come bet, place bet and field bet.
Keno
Keno is another specialty game that is fun to play. It is a lottery-based game where the goal is to select numbers that you think will be the winning numbers on a keno card. At the beginning of a keno game, you will be presented with a card with 80 numbers. You can choose the numbers you believe will be the winning numbers before the main game round begins. Depending on the variation of the game, you can choose up to 20 numbers, but the more numbers you choose that are winning numbers, the higher the payout.
The main game round is the raffle draw, where the dealer randomly selects numbered balls from a pot. If the numbered balls selected matches the number you chose on your keno card, you win. In most versions of keno, up to 20 numbered balls are selected during the draw/raffle round. Due to the game’s simplicity, it is a perfect choice for both newbies and pro players.
Video Poker
Real-money online casino sites in Canada also feature video poker. This is an electronic-based game where the goal is to form the best hand with 5 cards. Unlike poker, which is played against other players, video poker is a bank game played against the casino.
After placing your bet at the start of the game, hit the “Deal” button, and five cards will be dealt to your screen. You will then be allowed to discard cards you don’t like, but this can only be done once. To discard cards, hold the cards you want to retail and hit the “Deal” button. Any card that is not held will instantly be replaced. Your final hand with the five cards will determine your payout, with royal flush paying the highest and high card not paying anything.
Sic Bo
Sic Bo is a game of chance available at some Canadian online casinos real money. Predicting the result of a dice roll is the object of the game. Sic Bo is played with three dice, and there are different types of bets you can place, all of which have to do with the outcome of the roll of the three dice.
At the start of the game, you place your bet on the square representing your prediction on the sic bo table. After that, the dealer rolls the dice using the dice shaker, and you win if the outcome correlates with your prediction. It’s that simple to play.
Real Money Casinos vs Free Casinos
There are a few notable differences between real money casinos and free casinos. However, it is common to see an online casino offer both real money and free games. But what exactly are the differences?
With real money casinos, players must first create an account with the gambling operator to access its real money services. Not just that, you must also deposit money into your casino account to be able to play casino games for money. Whereas with free casinos, you can head to their lobby and play any game without registering an account or making any deposit.
Another significant difference is the bonuses. You can claim numerous deposit and no-deposit bonuses at the best real money casino Canada. You also stand a chance to win money when you play casino for real money. However, free casinos do not have any bonuses for players. Besides, you cannot win money playing free games since the games are only available for testing and fun.
However, your free bankroll in free casinos cannot be completely exhausted. If you use up the free betting credits in a free casino game, you can refresh the game, and more credits will be added.
Here are a few points to remember about the differences between playing casino for real money and free casinos.
Real Money Casinos
- You need to register an account
- You must deposit money to play games
- You can win money playing games
- You can claim bonuses
- Your bankroll can be exhausted
Free Casinos
- No account registration is needed
- No deposit is needed
- You cannot win money playing games
- Free casinos do not offer bonuses
- Your bankroll cannot be exhausted
Real Money Mobile Casinos and Apps
Playing at a real money casino Canada that are mobile-friendly offers more flexibility and convenience. With mobile casinos, you can play games on the go and perform other actions like depositing money, claiming bonuses and withdrawing winnings.
The best real-money online casinos in Canada design their platforms with mobile users in mind. Some have a native app that players can download on Android and iOS devices to enjoy an even better mobile gambling experience. With the mobile apps, you can receive push notifications to stay up-to-date with the latest games, tournaments, and bonuses. You can even enjoy exclusive mobile bonuses and games unavailable for desktop devices.
However, for a real money casino online that do not have a mobile app, you can access its platform on your smartphones and tablets through a web browser. The experience is usually similar to playing on a desktop, except that some buttons in the games may be collapsed to make room for the main playing area on mobile devices’ smaller screens.
Popular Payment Methods at Real Money Casinos
As discussed earlier, depositing and withdrawing winnings work differently at online and land-based casinos. Top online casino Canada real money accept a wide range of banking options to make the payment process easy, and we will discuss a few of the major ones below.
- Credit/Debit Card: This is the most popular casino payment method. It is connected to a user’s bank account or credit facility and allows you to perform transactions directly from your bank to your casino account. The good thing about this option is its high-end security and reasonable limits. However, processing of payouts via this option at an online casino real money can take up to 5 business days,
- E-wallets: This is another type of payment method that you can use for deposits and withdrawals at online casinos in Canada. Electronic wallets let you store and use money online. They are known to have relatively faster processing speed than credit/debit cards and bank transfers at online casinos. Some popular e-wallets you can use are PayPal, Skrill and Neteller.
- Bank Transfer: Top-rated online casinos in Canada also accept bank transfers, either for withdrawals or for both deposits and withdrawals. With online bank transfers, you can send money from your bank account to your casino account or receive winnings in your bank account.
- Prepaid Cards: Real money online casinos that accept prepaid cards accept them primarily as only deposit methods. Prepaid cards (sometimes virtual cards) are cards that you can preload with a certain amount of money, and you will be able to spend up to that amount to deposit at online casinos.
- Cryptocurrencies: Some Canadian online casinos accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a deposit and payout option. The good thing about this payment method is that it offers enhanced security since it operates on blockchain technology. Besides, the processing speed is faster for both deposits and withdrawals, and the limits are reasonable.
Verification
Before you can withdraw winnings at most legal real money online casinos in Canada, you may be required to provide some identity verification documents as part of the operators’ Know Your Customer (KYC) process. These documents usually include a government-issued identity card like a driving licence and proof of residence like a utility bill. Once the documents are uploaded and approved, you will be able to withdraw winnings.
Deposit and Withdrawal Limits
Every online casino has limits to the amount you can deposit and withdraw per transaction, day, week, or month. These limits may vary from one banking option to another, and you will often see them on a casino’s payments page. For instance, a real money casino online can allow players to deposit a minimum of C$10 and withdraw a maximum of C$5,000 per transaction.
Wagering Requirements
While you can enjoy numerous bonuses at the best online casino real money, you should be aware that many of these bonuses have wagering requirements. A casino bonus wagering requirement is the number of times you are required to wager the bonus before you can keep the winnings. As a result, promotions with lower wagering requirements are better than those with higher requirements.
