Canada has some of the most relaxed gambling laws in the world, with some form of gambling permitted for adults everywhere in the country. While legislation does change between each province and territory, everyone in Canada can legally access some form of gambling both at real-life venues and online. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, more than three-quarters of Canadian adults engage in some form of gambling, which is around 30 million people.
The advent of online casinos has resulted in more opportunities to gamble. With the younger generation leading the way in a gradual shift towards more online play. The proliferation of online casinos available across Canada means that finding the right site can be complex. When looking for an online casino to sign up to, there are several factors that most people will consider.
Choice of Games
Diversity of games is one of the key reasons online casinos are increasing their market share. Most will offer a comprehensive range of games, but some people will be looking for specific types of games that may not be found everywhere. Some casinos specialise in slots, others are better known for their table games. Some people will be looking for games themed around recognisable brands, while others prefer niche market games that they may not find anywhere else. There are also major variations in the stakes required to play the games, so establishing which casinos have high or low stakes may be a factor. Some casinos offer free-play games, while other require a deposit for all games.
Technology
While online casinos are rapidly gaining in popularity, there are still arguments to be made for visiting the land-based casinos as there is an atmosphere that cannot be recreated on a screen. However, this is changing with the introduction of new technologies that make the online experience more immersive and recapture the thrill of the casino. The best online live casino for Canadians has introduced live dealer games such as live roulette. Live casino games allow players to experience the action as it happens. Some casinos are even offering augmented reality or virtual reality versions of popular games that facilitate the player feeling as if they are right in the thick of things.
Live dealer casinos have now been introduced online to give the feel of a land-based casino from the comfort of your own home.
Security
Signing up to a casino website requires handing over some form of payment details for deposits and withdrawals. Some may also require personal identification of some description to ensure no underage players can join illegally. When sharing personal details such as these, security should be a key concern. Reputable online casinos will offer secure payment options and be transparent about how they handle and store personal data. Online casinos should also be licensed and adhere to the gambling regulations of the state or province they operate in.
Bonuses and Promotions
The online casino industry is highly competitive and as such, most online casinos offer a range of bonus packages and promotional offers for new and returning customers. These can range from free spins on slots, to deposit match bonuses that can reach thousands of dollars in value. Most bonuses come with restrictive terms and conditions, such as having to wager so many times the bonus before it can be cashed out, so read the terms and conditions carefully before signing up to a site offering free prizes.
Players are advised to look out for bonuses and promotions when signing up to play on an online casino.
Customer Support
There are likely to be times when each customer requires some support from the online casino, whether that is to help with the withdrawal process, ask questions about site navigation of any other questions. Good customer service is just as important online as it is in a brick and mortar casino, so look for those that offer 24/7 live chat support so that any issues that do arise can be resolved quickly and efficiently.
Usability and Functionality
A casino website can offer thousands of games that might look amazing, but if the website is hard to navigate or difficult to use, a lot of the appeal will quickly be lost. Reading reviews can help new players check out factors such as game loading times, simple and fast registration processes, easy to see action buttons, interactive live-action notifiers and mobile optimisation before committing.
Gambling in Canada has proven to be a popular past-time among Canadians both online and in any of more than 100 land-based casinos in the country. Canada is ranked eighth in the world in terms of online gambling use and the returns from online casinos are high – players have registered 96% in wins across all online casinos in Canada, compared to 60% in brick and mortar casinos. As more advanced technology is introduced, helping to recreate the buzz of a real casino from home, it seems likely that the gradual shift towards online over real-life in the casino industry will continue.
