Contents
Casinos are part of the Canadian landscape
Land-based casinos are a familiar sight across Canada, as are bookmakers and slot machines in bars and arcades. Canadians love to have a flutter, and six out of ten say that they have spent money on gambling. Gambling has come a long way in the last two decades, and the internet has played no small part in the changes we now see.
Mobile casino in your pocket
Through the power of technology and the internet, everyone with a smartphone can access a mobile casino. You do not even need to leave home to play your favourite games. They are all there in the palm of your hand. With a few swipes, glances and clicks, you can find yourself in the most modern casinos in Canada.
Live dealers interact with players remotely
What is extraordinary is that it is not only simulations that are available to players. There are now live dealer versions of all kinds of games to play. A real person interacts with you from a casino in a studio and is then steamed to your device. You can play blackjack or poker alongside others. This technology is the closest you can get to going to a land-based casino without stepping outside.
What does the future hold
In the future, the gaming experience will become even more immersive. Modern casinos already extensively use artificial intelligence to make your casino experience the best one available to you. The casino can present attractive personalized suggestions for games and promotions by learning your playing style. In addition, AI can spot strange patterns of behaviour that could be scammers and lock down your account to keep you safe. Augmented reality will allow you a full sensory experience, and gambling in the Metaverse is not far away.
Modern casinos today
The residents of Ontario have access to modern casinos in the newly legalized and regulated market. Unlike the other provinces, Ontario is open to commercial operators who have to apply for a license from iGamingOntario. As a result, global gambling operators can open their virtual doors and invite Ontarians in.
The AGCO has recognized that a regulated market protects players from potential gambling harms. By working with commercial online casinos, they can stipulate license conditions and generate tax revenues for the province. In this way, everyone wins, and the players can relax in a modern casino, knowing they are protected.
Security
Online casino platforms must be incredibly secure. Not only do they hold a vast amount of personal and customer data, but the games themselves are subject to cyber-attack. If criminals could manipulate the random number generators that drive most online slots and other games of chance, they could defraud the casinos of millions of dollars.
Payment Options
Modern casinos offer their customers the broadest possible choice of payment options:
PayPal Casinos
Using PayPal casinos, customers only have to share an email address and no other details. This allows for almost instant deposits and rapid withdrawals. However, it is a good idea to register for the casino with the same email address as your PayPal account to avoid problems down the line.
Mastercard Casinos
Mastercard casinos in Canada are found everywhere. This is one of the commonly accepted payment methods at modern casinos. Deposits are as good as instant, and withdrawals are within three days.
Apple / Google Pay Casinos
Apple and Google Pay are accepted at most online casinos. eWallets are the future, and modern casinos have embraced this technology. Apple and Google Pay allow players to link up one wallet but draw on multiple funding sources if they wish.
Interac Casinos
Interac is one of Canada’s most used payment options, and pretty much everyone has it and accepts it. In addition, Interac has the added advantage of payment confirmations.
Zimpler Casinos
Zimpler is a pay-by-phone payment method which means you can use an online casino even if you do not want to connect your casino account to a bank account. It is available in many countries but has not yet come to Canada
Other payment methods
There are numerous other fintech solutions for paying to play at modern casinos. These include Trustly, NeoSurf, eChecks and good old bank transfers.
All the above have their pros and cons. However, finding one that meets your paying and playing style is essential.
Apps
All online casinos have browser versions of their websites. These are great when playing on desktop and laptop computers. They have also been optimized for playing on smartphones and tablets with smaller screens. In addition, many modern casino operators have developed apps to enhance gameplay on mobile devices.
As most people who play online slots and other casino games now play on the go, game developers have pioneered graphics and animations to make these as appealing as possible. In addition, many modern casinos now offer live dealer games which recreate a genuine casino atmosphere.
Modern casinos that offer apps have different ones for different types of gaming so that they can be quite specialist and in-depth. For example, you can have a poker-only app or sports betting app. Many sports betting apps also have the advantage of free live streaming of the action.
Bonuses, deposit matches and free spins
Everyone loves a bonus; after all, who doesn’t like a freebie? Most modern casinos offer generous sign-up bonuses. These can either be deposit matches or free spin bonuses. Do read the terms and conditions carefully.
Read the small print
Deposit match bonuses have an upper limit, which can vary tremendously, so check the small print. Some bonuses need a code to redeem them; others do not.
Look out for no-deposit bonus codes
You might also be lucky and find some no-deposit bonus codes that allow you to play at the casino without making a deposit. However, these are harder to come by.
Be aware of wagering requirements
Whichever bonus you opt for, look out for the wagering requirements, as these can be high. A wagering requirement is a condition on how the winnings of a promotion can be spent. Any winnings generated will be deposited in a Held Funds account until these conditions are met. A player can only withdraw winnings generated after the wagering requirement has been satisfied.