Online Casinos with a Canadian License in 2024

Licensed online casinos to safely play in Canada

Gambling in Canada is illegal unless a specific province regulates them. This means that betting and commercial gaming are only allowed if a provincial authority manages them. In reality, the country has a strict and complex gambling industry.

Every province in Canada holds different rules and regulations about gambling.

Here is a list of regions with specific rules to give a background of its policies:

• Alberta. Alberta only considers the website PlayAlberta.ca as the legal online gambling site in the province.
• British Columbia. Like Alberta, people from British Columbia can only play on one regulated online gambling site called PlayNow.
• Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec. These provinces allow only certain types of gambling (mostly lotteries). Companies that want to organize gambling must get a license from a local commission.
• Ontario. Out of all the provinces in Canada, Ontario has the least restrictions in terms of gambling. It has various land-based casinos. Service providers must follow regulations from two authorities - the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation of 1999 and the Gaming Control Act of 1992. Also, the iGaming market is improving in the industry.

Due to harsh regulations, there aren't that many mobile casinos that Canadians can visit. Consequently, gamblers must find other platforms to bet and play games. Here they found out about the international iGaming industry.

There’re plenty of best online casinos available in Canada that operate under a foreign license. This doesn’t mean they’re scams; instead, it just indicates that the platform got permission to offer gambling games from another body in another country. These websites are 100% legit and safe to play since they adhere to the regulations of Gambling Commissions and take care of their players.

What is a casino license?

Online casinos are expected to have gaming licenses within the jurisdiction of their gambling business. While the regulation might differ in each jurisdiction, the casino license will serve some grounds allowing paying the gamblers to earn mandatory.

In most cases, online casinos with fast withdrawals have licenses to ensure the legitimacy of their business. Getting that license means adhering to regular audits of the casino's business conduct and general management. Furthermore, the company must commit to practicing lawful and honest gambling within the website. This, in turn, allows online casinos to earn the trust of their gamblers and consequently gain more website traffic.

There are specific processes every licensing company imposes. But these licensing agencies also have some things in common. It includes the following:

• One-time or yearly fees
• Background checks
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Business plan
• Compliance checks
• Server location
• Incorporation within the jurisdiction of the licensor

Also, new online casinos have options on what kind of gambling license they want. See the list below:

• Local. Online casinos that have been in the business for a long time already have secure approval from their local gaming jurisdiction. Otherwise, they will be forced to shut down.
• Offshore. This license is issued by a special gaming committee that enables online casinos to operate in various international jurisdictions legally. Because of this, Canadian dollar casinos can provide their products and services to any player from around the world legally.
• Game-specific. Licenses can also be imposed on certain games the online casino can offer its gamblers.

An essential thing an online casino must consider in applying for a license is knowing the general gambling jurisdictions, the requirements, taxation policy, costs, and the processing timeframe. From here, you can identify the software that meets the requirements of the jurisdiction and the legal entities in the required jurisdiction.

Why is it important to play at a licensed casino?

Indeed securing gaming licenses can be costly. Licensing fees, application fees, and taxes can strain the casino's budget. Also, getting that license is a challenging job. Some licensing authorities have complicated bureaucratic application processes that can discourage new operators.

However, in the long run, one realizes the essence of these licenses. Firstly, most banks and other financial institutions will not process gambling transactions with unlicensed casinos. Licensing authorities generally conduct background checks to ensure casinos have no criminal records and gamblers will not be victims of money laundering.

Since games are also regulated, customers can ensure that each player is given fair chances on betting and other casino transactions. This means added protection for gamblers. Also, as a customer, you can seek help from these governing bodies when you file disputes against the online casino.

As you know, unlicensed online casinos will do no good in your gambling journey. You may be prone to financial or data theft, rigged games, and abusive bonuses. Since any authority does not govern these casinos, they can do whatever they want, which results in the abuse of the customers.

Most important regulatory bodies in the world

Be familiar with the different licensing agencies of online casinos. This will give you an idea of what to look for when assessing casinos.

• Curacao. This may be a small island in the Caribbean, but Curacao plays an essential role in the iGaming industry. Online casinos can apply for master and sub-licenses, valid for five years. These are the usual ones new online casinos get because of how straightforward the application process is.
• Malta. The island of Malta is known to be the gold standard in iGaming licensing. Getting licensed under the Malta Gaming Authority includes favorable tax benefits, operating in EU jurisdictions, and ease of business transactions in payments providers and banks.
• Gibraltar. Some online casinos also prefer this licensing agency because of its lower taxes. Additionally, Gibraltar is known to have the most exclusive jurisdictions. Online casino operators must prove their financial capacity and business plan. Casinos under Gibraltar licensing mean reliability and trustworthiness.
• Kahnawake. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission has been providing licenses since 1999. With Kahnawake, online casinos will not worry about corporate tax and additional gaming taxes. The licenses issued from this institution are initially valid for six months.

Choosing the best licensed casino for Canadians

There are so many online casinos today, and it's overwhelming to list those with legitimate licenses and choose the best among the licensed ones. Also, as an online gambler, you must consider some essential things, which include the payment processing speeds, the casino's reputation, the number and quality of the games they offer, the bonuses, and, more importantly, the security.

All these cannot be done in one sitting. To filter the best, you must visit review sites and assess them individually. To ease the burden off your shoulders, our experts provide you with a list of the best licensed Canadian casinos. We carefully listed them based on ranking and customer reviews to ensure gamblers will have a top-notch gambling experience.

How to know if a casino is licensed?

If you want to do it your way, we can also provide you with pointers on carefully assessing online casinos' legitimacy. You can refer to the following points below:

• Check for the logo of the licensing authority. You can find the logo at the bottom of the casino's homepage. Without it, it means that the online casino is not regulated by any of the committees. This further means that you must not make any transactions with them.
• Verify the logo. If such a logo is available, you can click it and see if you will be redirected to the licensing commission's website. If not, then the logo must be fake.

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