License and Security
Before anything else, it’s the security matters to us. Especially because it’s the iGaming industry we’re talking about. The very nature of the industry creates vulnerable spaces for both players and operators. So, ensuring the security of the brand as well as the website is the first thing we need to do.
If you’re not aware, the first line of defense at online casinos is the license. Just like you need a driver’s license to drive legally on the road, casino brands need an operating license to operate legally.
Apart from the license, there are 3rd party auditors whose job is to validate the fairness of the best online casino sites in Canada. It’s mostly done by auditing the RNG (Random Number Generator) that works as the backend dealer of the casino.
After the license and fairness, comes website security. The data your input, the payments you make, and the withdrawals you request should all be encrypted at an online casino website. 3rd security seals from PCI, DSS, or corporate affiliates are usually a sign that it’s a safe website.
Game Library
It’s a no-brainer that you’re looking for the best online real money casinos in Canada to play the games. Of course, you’re trying to find the best games. And so, the quality and the versatility of the game library are one of our primary concerns.
Ideally, the more games an online casino can offer, the better it is. Because more titles mean more variety of themes and mechanics. Then again, we have to consider the software provider portfolio as well.
The game library should be balanced with online slots, table games, live dealer games, lotteries, bingo, keno, and novelty games. Slots are going to be the most abundant because those games draw the most traffic.
Real Money Payment Methods
As these are “online” casinos we’re talking about, you can’t deposit cash into your account. Everything is going to happen from the comfort of your home and you’ll certainly need a real money payment method.
In Canada, Interac is the method everyone loves and uses. So, the majority of the online operators in circulation today offer Interac. But you might not have it yet. Or, you may simply want to use something else for the sake of it.
Whatever the reason is for you, you can find all major payment methods offered on our recommended list of casinos (Pay by phone, Instant pay, Trustly, Paypal, iDebit, MuchBetter, PaysafeCard, Neteller, Neosurf, Skrill, Apple Pay, Fkexepin) . After all, these are Canada’s best online casinos we’re talking about.
From credit cards, debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers to casinos accepting crypto, anything and everything is available for the Canadian players.
Only the method is the not the end of the discussion. The limits and the fees are also very important when it comes to casino payments.
There are 2 types of limits and 2 types of fees. Both paradigms are for the online casino itself and the payment method you’re using. You should read the T&C pages for both before you decide on one to figure out the exact limits and fees.
Thankfully, the best online casino in Canada don’t charge anything for the transactions. Rather, it’s the payment methods that impose the fees. It’s mostly true for e-wallets where you have to pay fees for pretty much everything. Then again, they’re the most convenient method so far. As it seems, it’s always going to be ‘give and take’ when it comes to online casinos in Canada.
Compatibility & Usability
It’s something a lot of Canadian casino players don’t bother about anymore. And they’re right to do so. Because mobile technology has advanced a lot in the last decade. So much so that we don’t even have to consciously think about mobile compatibility anymore.
However, it doesn’t mean professionals like us can let it be. Rather, the compatibility and usability features of the casinos are something we take very seriously for our ranking.
For mobile compatibility, the crown jewel is the mobile app. Many of the modern brands offer downloadable apps for users. Even if they don’t, they must at least have good mobile websites.
Thankfully, developing mobile websites is not as hard anymore as it used to be. A lot of the credit goes to the incorporation of HTML5, a markup language that allows web pages to adapt to any screen size.
Customer Support
Another aspect that most players don’t bother about. But they certainly should. The “online” nature of the casinos makes them vulnerable to technical problems or even downtimes. In those times, you’re going to need help from the customer support team.
So, if the customer support is not good or proficient in what they do, your experience may very well turn into a nightmare. The support staff must be knowledgeable and they should be quick with the solutions. Even if they can’t solve the problem right away, they must assure the customer that they know what they’re talking about.
As for the communication channels for the Casino For Canada, the more the merrier. Ideally, we look for 24/7 live chat, telephone, and email support as the standard approach. Some casinos don’t offer telephone support because that’s a little more resource hungry for the operators.
But when it comes to live chat, we always look for human agents. If you didn’t know already, many casino operators have bots who greet the players as chat agents. The AI might’ve advanced over the past years but not as much to replace human agents.
Also, having an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) organization is a great feature. Because if you get into a dispute or disagree with the casino support staff about something, you can seek help from the ADR to neutrally solve the issue.
Bonuses and Promotions
If you’ve gone through other guides about Canada’s best online casinos, chances have you encountered the promotions section way early on the page. But in our case, we’re going to keep it last.
Do you know why?
Because online casino promotions and bonuses are a “bonus” at the end of the day and you should treat them as such. The rest of the criteria we’ve covered are your “core” casino experience. Would it be ideal to compromise your main experience for the bonus experience?
We’re not trying to demean casino bonuses in any way. They’re awesome. And they’re exclusive to the iGaming industry because no land-based casinos offer bonuses of any kind. When you’re certain that you’ve ensured all the other aspects of the casino, you can move on to the promotions section and evaluate how they are.
We’re not going to include too many details about bonuses at the most trusted online casino Canada because we have a dedicated section coming right up.