Top Categories of Online Casino Games
Regardless of your style, you’ll find quality games to enjoy at top Canadian casino sites. To help you decide, we’ve highlighted the top ones below:
Online Casino Slot Games
Slots remain the most played games at online casinos — not just in Canada but globally. They’re straightforward, featuring reels filled with symbols, and to play, you just have to hit the spin button. If you land matching combinations, you score a win.
Based on our experience, online casino slot games come in several varieties. On one hand, there are classics that take after the traditional versions with 3 reels and fruit symbols. On the other hand, you can play video slots with modern mechanics like Megaways, cascading reels, progressive jackpot prizes, Hold & Win, and more.
At Canadian online casinos, you’ll also find slots with diverse themes. For instance, a popular title like Starburst by NetEnt has a futuristic galaxy design. Meanwhile, Legacy of Dead by Play’n GO takes on an Ancient Egyptian theme. There are more themes in mythology, movies, horror, fantasy, and many others.
The wide range of slot types is the primary reason why the game category is famous among Canadian players. At a top gaming site, it’s common to find 1,000 to 3,000 titles with spinning reels or more. That way, you have more slots than you can ever play.
Live Casino Games Online
All top gaming sites in Canada feature a Live Casino section. In this category, you’re looking at real-time games with human professional dealers. They’re different from the regular titles that are simply based on software. Instead, you watch the gameplay in high-quality video as it’s streamed straight from a land-based casino or studio.
Popular live dealer games include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker. These are your standard table games, and the rules don’t change. However, in addition to the table games, you also get live game shows.
If you’re looking for the best live casino games online in Canada, consider titles from Evolution, Pragmatic Live, and Playtech. One of our top favourites is Lightning Roulette by Evolution, which offers rewarding multipliers. You can also try game shows from the developer, like Crazy Time and Monopoly Live.
Table Games Online Casino
Most Canadian players prefer table games at online casinos because they introduce that classic vibe. Indeed, options like blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and poker are traditional. Besides them, Canadian gaming sites also offer dice titles like craps.
The interesting aspect of table games is that they have individual structures and rules. We’ve detailed how to play each one below:
Blackjack
This is a favourite for strategic online casino real money players. At the same time, it’s a simple game. You just have to get a hand close to 21 without going over to beat the dealer. If your hand gets above 21, that’s a bust, and you lose the round. The same applies to the dealer if their hand goes above the benchmark.
When you begin a blackjack session, you receive 2 face-up cards. In contrast, the dealer gets one face-up and one face-down. Now, you have to calculate your hand total, which is pretty simple. Cards with numbers get their value, while an Ace is either counted as 1 or 11. If you receive face cards (King, Queen, Jack), they count as 10.
Next, you decide whether to hit and take another card or stand to keep your current hand. You can also double down, which means increasing your bet by 2x and getting an extra card. If you have 2 of the same cards, you can split them into 2 separate hands. When making your move, always consider your total hand and the dealer’s up card.
The dealer gets their turn after you take an action. In most online blackjack versions at Canadian casinos, they have to hit until a hand of 17 or above. At that point, the dealer must stand. You then evaluate the hand and know the winner.
Blackjack casino games online for real money come in different variants. These include options like European Blackjack, American Blackjack, Multihand Blackjack, and Blackjack Switch. However, the basic rules usually don’t change.
Baccarat
With origins in Asia, online baccarat is a staple at many casino sites in Canada. From our research, we see that the game is preferred by many high rollers due to its wide betting limits. It’s a card game, and the rules are straightforward: you bet on the Player or the Banker hand. Whichever gets the closest value to 9 without going over wins.
In a way, baccarat is similar to blackjack. However, the cards are counted differently. In baccarat, 10s and face cards are 0s, while Aces are worth 1. On the other hand, cards from 2 to 9 maintain their face value.
Unlike blackjack, there’s no busting in baccarat. If a hand goes above 9, the dealer simply counts the second digit. Let’s say it’s a 9 and a 5. That’s a total of 14, so the hand is counted as 4. Another interesting aspect of baccarat is that you can bet on a Tie, meaning that both Player and Banker will have the same hand after the dealing.
Some of the best online casino games in the baccarat category include Punto Banco, Mini Baccarat, and Speed Baccarat. You can usually find these at the top Canadian gaming sites.
Roulette Online
Roulette is the best table game to play if you want something different from reading cards. It’s based on a spinning wheel and a small ball. The dealer spins the wheel and ball in opposite directions, and the target is to predict the pocket where the ball will land.
Typically, the roulette wheel has 37 or 38 pockets, depending on the variant. These are the main options available in Canada:
- European Roulette: Has 37 pockets labelled 1 to 36 and a single 0. The house edge is about 2.7%, making it the most favourable for players.
- American Roulette: Features 38 pockets labelled 1 to 36 with a single 0 and a double 00. The extra pocket increases the house edge to around 5.26%.
- French Roulette: Has the same wheel layout as the European version and comes with two special rules: La Partage and En Prison. The rules decrease the house edge by preventing losses on even-money bets when the ball lands on 0.
- Mini roulette: Features just 12 pockets (1 to 12) with no 0s. It’s a simplified version, which is perfect for beginners.
Roulette is popular among Canadian players not only because of its interesting variants but also the many wagering options categorized into inside and outside bets. Examples of inside bets include straight bets on a single figure or consecutive numbers. Meanwhile, outside bets involve wagering on red/black colours, even/odd, dozens, columns, and more.
Poker
We recommend poker if you want to play online casino games with a strategic edge. In this card game, luck and chance take the backseat. If you’re skillful after receiving your hand, you can beat opponents.
To play poker, you have to build the best ranking five-card hand. It’s either that or you make other players fold with your bluffing, raising, and other actions. Notably, the gameplay pattern depends on the variant, and these are the two main types:
- Texas Hold’em: You and other players get 2 private cards (hole cards). Then, 5 community cards are dealt face-up on the table. You must make the best 5-card hand using any combination of your 2 hole cards and the 5 community cards.
- Omaha: Each player is dealt 4 hole cards. Then, you must use exactly 2 of them plus 3 of the 5 community cards to form the best 5-card hand. Hence, Omaha is more complex.
From the above, you can see how important skill is when playing online poker. Importantly, always consider actions by other players when it’s your turn. Also, weigh your initial hand and know if it’s best to fold. You can always join the next round.
Craps
Without question, Craps is the most famous dice-based table game. In our opinion, it’s most suitable for pro casino players in Canada, as the rules are somewhat complex. Plus, there are a lot of betting options in online Craps.
Since it’s a dice game, everything boils down to predicting the outcome of rolls. Specifically, there are 2 dice in Craps, and the most common bet is the Pass Line. If you put your money on Pass Line, you win if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11 on the come-out. However, if it’s 2, 3, or 12, you lose.
You can place a Don’t Pass Line Bet if you predict the shooter will roll a 2 or 3 — 12 is a push. What if the outcome isn’t Pass Line or Don’t Pass Line? Well, the number is marked as the “Point”. If the shooter rolls it again before a 7, you win. Otherwise, you lose.
Besides the Pass Line bets, there are other types like Come and Don’t Come, Odds, Place, and Proposition bets. As such, you’ll want to be familiar with each before you wager real money in craps. Thankfully, there are free casino games online in demo mode to practice.
Dice Games
While craps is the standout dice table game, there are other interesting options at Canadian casinos. Most fall under the instant-win category, and a notable title we recommend is Hi-Lo (High/Low). As the name suggests, you’ll be predicting whether the outcome of the dice roll will be higher or lower than a particular number.
Most Hi-Lo titles feature 2 to 3 dice. Therefore, you have many numbers to select from. Sometimes, you can pick a range you predict the roll will fall in — like 10 to 15, for instance. From the description so far, you’ll agree that the dice game is simple. Once the dice are thrown, you instantly know the results and move to the next round.
How to Play Online Casino Games
Whether you’re a newbie or a pro, playing games at Canadian online casinos is straightforward. We’ve outlined the steps you need to follow below:
1. Pick a Legit Casino Site
We place a particular emphasis on “legit” because you can’t just sign up with any site. You must make sure it’s legal and safe. In Canada, you’ll be looking at platforms regulated by bodies like the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and Kahnawake Gaming Commission. However, offshore sites licensed by bodies like the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or the Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) are also safe.
2. Register an Account
Of course, you can’t play the best online casino games on any site without owning an account. Therefore, the second step is registration. It’s simple, as you only have to provide basic details like your name, email, date of birth, address, and phone number. That said, some Canadian online casinos require KYC verification during sign up. Hence, you should have your ID documents ready just in case.
3. Fund Your Account
Playing casino games for real money requires making a deposit. As you log into your account, you’ll find a bold Deposit button or wallet icon at the top of your dashboard. Click it and select your favourite payment method. Then, follow the onscreen instructions to fund your account.
Usually, there’ll be a welcome bonus to claim after registration. For instance, you may find a 100% match up to $100 + 50 free spins. To not miss such offers, your deposit must be up to the minimum specified in the promo T&Cs. If the site has a no-deposit offer, you’re in luck. It means you can play free online casino games and win real money with no deposit.
4. Start Playing
Now, you just have to visit the game section and find your preferred title. From our experience, the best platforms group games based on types. Hence, it’s easy to sort online casino slot games, table games, and live dealer options.
If you have a particular game in mind, you can also enter the name in the search bar to locate it. Once the game you want comes up, click to launch. Then, set your bet and start playing.
5. Cash Out
This last step applies when you win from your sessions. You can easily withdraw using your preferred payment method when you visit the banking section. Importantly, if you win with bonus funds, you’ll first need to meet the wagering requirements.
Free Casino Games Online
You don’t always have to start with real money when you join a Canadian online casino. You can first play for free to test things out. This way, you can practice and become more familiar with the game and the website in general. We recommend playing for free if you just want to have fun.
To play for free, select demo mode when launching your preferred game. Specifically, the option is available for slots and software table games — not live dealer titles. If you don’t see “Demo”, you may come across “Play for Fun or Free Play”. You’ll get virtual credits to use upon launching.
Notably, demo mode is no different from playing casino games online for real money. For instance, free online casino slots come with the same themes, interfaces, symbols, bonus features, and mechanics as the standard games. Hence, you won’t be missing out on anything. However, since you’re not using real money, you also cannot withdraw when you win.
Free Online Casino Games that Win Real Money with No Deposit
We’ve emphasized that you can’t withdraw when playing for free in demo mode. However, you can still play free online casino games and win real money with no deposit promos. Basically, these are bonuses you claim without having to fund your account.
Based on our findings, Canadian casinos mainly offer such rewards to new players. Since they don’t require a deposit, don’t expect a huge bonus amount. It may be just $5 or 5 free spins. All the same, the upside is that you get to play without any initial commitment.
Note that no-deposit bonuses are usually awarded on specific games. If it’s bonus cash, you’ll likely get more flexibility. However, free spins will always be limited to one or two slots. Most of the time, the titles will be new casino games for free online which operators want to promote.
Therefore, when it comes to free online casino games that win real money with no deposit, ensure that you check the terms and conditions to confirm. Additionally, there’ll be wagering requirements to complete before cashing out. From our experience, the rate is around 40x to 50x for most deposit offers. It’s understandable, since you’re playing real casino games online for free.
Why Choose the Best Online Casino Games
What are the best online casino games? If anyone asks you this question, we’re sure you can give a solid answer. That said, is playing these top-rated games worth it? Our response is a firm yes, and these are some reasons why:
- First-rate gameplay: The primary reason certain games are rated as the best is that they have quality features. This includes both the graphics, audio, controls, and background mechanics. With everything meeting high standards, you’ll enjoy exceptional gaming sessions.
- Favourable odds: Top casino games in Canada are loved by players because they offer modest chances to win. This is measured as Return to Player (RTP), and you can get as high as 96% for the best slots. For table games like blackjack and poker, the percentage is even better at 98% and above.
- Fair results: We’re sure that no player prefers playing rigged games that allow little to no chances to win. Thankfully, you won’t deal with this when you play the best titles we recommend. They come from reputable software developers that use certified Random Number Generators (RNGs).
- Professional live dealers: When playing the best live casino games, you get well-trained dealers to handle the rounds. Not only will they ensure everything runs smoothly, they’ll also make your sessions interactive and engaging.
