Ontario’s top instant play casinos of 2023

Dasha Goncharova Last updated on September 22, 2023

Checked by Elena I.

Instant play casinos are every punter’s favourite way to play — conveniently. Also known as flash or no-download casinos, these platforms can be accessed without downloading any software.

This comprehensive guide covers the different types of casinos and introduces you to instant play. Our experts dig deep into instant play games to bring you the pros and cons of the best instant play casinos in Ontario.

Editor's note

This is an overview of the best instant-play offer in Canada. If you see a casino high up but with a lower score, it means that this casino does instant-play gaming better than the rest.

How to choose a Canadian online casino: Instant play

How do you find the best online instant play casino? There are other things you should consider beyond being able to play without downloading. These factors include instant casino game selection and excellent online customer support.

We look at each factor that goes into making the best instant play online casino, below:

Instant play features
The best instant play online casinos should offer a number of features. They should have a fast and relatively simple sign-up process. You should be able to search and find online casino games easily; the best sites allow you to filter and refine your searches. The interface should be visually appealing and organized. Look for instant play casinos like Unibet, for example, which categorize games according to type, newest and popular favourites, to name but a few options. You should also choose casino sites with fast loading times. If your favourite online game takes longer than a couple of minutes to find, it might be worth looking elsewhere.
Support
In terms of customer support, top online instant play casinos should offer multiple channels like email and live chat and a phone number. Instant play casinos in Ontario should have responsive live chat facilities, answering your questions within 2-3 minutes. When contacted via email, the best casinos will reply to you within 24 hours. You should go for casino sites that offer 24/7 customer support; although some sites may only offer support during normal business hours.
Mobile
Most Canadian online instant play casinos will have a site that is optimized for mobile users. That means you should look for apps that allow you to sign in and play your favourite games as fast as possible. Instant play online casinos should also offer a native app for Android and iOS; apps make picking up and playing a lot easier for users. These mobile casino gambling apps should be glitch-free and easy to navigate for players of all experience levels.
Payment methods
When you’re choosing the best instant play casinos you should look at the range of online payment methods on offer. They should offer a couple of mainstream payment methods, including Visa and Mastercard. Payment methods e-wallet payment methods, such as Interac and PayPal. Minimum online deposit amounts should be around C$20; the maximum amount you can withdraw tends to differ based on the payment method. Ideally, withdrawals should take fewer than five working days, but anything under three days is great. Look for fast payout casinos as well, which offer a variety of options for same-day withdrawals.
Games
An instant play casino should offer online slots and table games like poker, blackjack, and roulette; they should be easy to use via your browser so you can start playing straight away. Look for instant play casinos that offer live casino games by top studios like Ezugi and Evolution. The best providers will allow you to play the game in demo mode before wagering real money.
Safety
Safety is a must at an instant play casino; all the casinos we rate use SSL encryption technology, which protects player data and monetary transactions. All instant play casinos and flash casinos we rate are licenced by Ontario iGaming. Look for the logo when you land on the site (it’s usually in the header or the footer). Third-party organizations, such as iTech Labs and eCOGRA, audit games, ensuring that all reviewed and rated casinos are both safe and fair.

What are instant play online casinos?

An Instant play casino is a site where players can access and play the casino’s online games and features using their browser. That means online casino software downloads aren’t required.

Top instant play online casino operations offer quality games by leading gambling software providers. These games should be optimized for desktop and mobile users.

Instant play casinos should be available in mainstream browser options such as Opera, Internet Explorer, Chrome or Mozilla.

As an alternative to Adobe Flash, some instant online casinos use Java, which is equally simple to use and has more powerful capabilities. We should note that iOS devices don’t support Adobe Flash, and this is also the case with some Android devices.

HTML5, Java and Flash casinos explained

You may have heard of the terms HTML5, Flash and Java casinos before – they refer to the online software platforms that instant play casinos use.

Adobe Flash initially enabled the successful operation of online casinos. Flash became outdated due to its inability to work on devices other than computers. Java casinos provided an updated and better that players to play from their mobile devices. Today, most casinos use HTML5 technology, which is far superior to any previous system.

Instant play casinos, using HTML5 software, allow for high-quality gameplay. Players simply play using their regular browser using a device of their choice.

HTML5

HTML5 technology shares similar qualities to Adobe Flash. A plug-in is not required for players using HTML5 instant play casinos. Its consistent high performance across all devices elevates it above any other software platform.

Java

Java used to be used for instant play on players’ mobile devices. Java is no longer used for mainstream instant play casinos.

Flash

Flash casinos get their name from the Adobe Flash freeware, used for viewing multimedia content across the web. It used to be the best no-download casino software on the market, but is now obsolete thanks to HTML5.

Instant play casino games: A detailed guide

All that you need to play an instant online casino’s games is a device, an internet connection, and a browser.

Games work using mainstream browsers such as Chrome or Safari. Most instant casino games utilize HTML5 systems. Once you have logged into your account, you can access instant games immediately.

Charts and data behind casino symbols, representing an online blackjack strategy

Card games

Instant online casinos allow you to play popular online cards games such as online baccarat, in first person and with the option to play live. If you are a fan of poker, you can enjoy different variations of poker – from jacks or better to multi-hand poker. Some instant play casinos even allow you to try out the demos without creating an online account.

Table games

There are a number of online dice casino table games available at most instant play casinos, most popular of which is online craps. At an instant play casino you can roll the dice and place bets in minutes. You can also enjoy the live casino games version of these games against fellow Canadian players. There are many other available table games, such as blackjack and baccarat.

Live casino

You can as close to the bricks-and-mortar casino experience as possible from the comfort of your own home with live casino games. You can interact with professional dealers and impressive graphics. There are lots of games on offer at live instant play casino – you can choose from roulette or baccarat or blackjack.

Slots

This is the most popular choice for players of instant play casinos. Choose from 5-reel video slots such as Pompeii and Life of Riches. You could try your chances with progressive jackpots that offer huge cash prizes. Software providers may allow you to play demo versions of each game before playing in full.

Why play at instant play casinos? The pros and cons

There are a number of reasons to choose an online instant casino over other types of casino gambling sites. The main reason is that you don’t have to use up valuable storage or time downloading software; you can just sign in and play. There are some downsides to instant online play; mobile users might find the quality isn’t as good as playing via an app.

We take a look at some of the pros and cons of Canadian online casino instant play sites.

Players only need a device, web browser and an internet connection
Accessible across all devices
Convenient – no need to spend time or storage space on software downloads
Lots of choices – most casinos offer instant play

If you play using public Wifi there could be security issues
Quality – instant play may mean a compromise on quality

Friends discussing the pros and cons of instant play casinos

FAQs

What is an instant play casino?

An instant play casino enables instant access to your favourite online games. There is no requirement to download the casino-based software beforehand. Playing directly from your browser, players can access good-quality games immediately. All that players require is a stable internet connection, a suitable device and an internet browser.

How do I choose the best instant play casinos?

It’s important that the casino you choose is fast, reliable, and secure. The casino should be regularly audited casinos to make sure that players’ details and payments are equally secure. Check our section on how to choose the best instant play casino for more information.

What games are available at instant play casinos?

Instant play casinos in Canada offer a comprehensive range of games. Game offering includes online slots, table games, and live casino games. At most instant play casinos you’ll roulette, poker, baccarat, craps, blackjack, baccarat, keno, slots, bingo and online progressive jackpots. Check out our section on instant play casino games for more info.

Why should you play at an instant play casino?

Using an instant play casino is fast and convenient. You don’t need to consider your storage space as you won’t need to download any online software. Check out our section on why you should play at an instant play casino.

Are instant play casinos better than downloadable apps and casinos?

It depends on your preferences. Some players enjoy having all of their favourite apps on one device without having to log in on a website; others prefer web-browser-based gaming. Most casino operators are aware of both types of players, so you’ll often find instant play casinos that also offer a mobile app or a progressive web app (PWA). Try them out and see what works best for you.

Which instant play casinos have the fastest payouts?

There are many instant play casinos known for faster transaction times, like PointsBet and NorthStar Bets. However, how fast your deposits and withdrawals are processed depends a lot more on the payment method than it does on the casino at hand.

Bank transfers often take at least three business days to process, while e-wallet payments like PayPal can be instant or take no more than a few minutes. Before making your deposit or withdrawal, we recommend looking into your payment method of choice.

Are instant play casinos safe?

Yes. Instant play casinos are safe so long as you’re using a secure connection (i.e. not via public wifi). They use a wide range of tools like SSL encryption to ensure that their player’s information is safe. All the Ontario casinos we rate are regulated and licensed with reputable authorities. They should also include responsible gaming tools like deposit restrictions, cooling-off periods, and self-exclusion.

What are the different types of instant play casinos?

As the name suggests, instant play casinos allow playing immediate access to games. In the past casinos used different tech like Flash and Javascript. These plug-ins allow players to view and play high-quality games without needing to download the casino’s software. Canada’s instant play casinos tend to use HTML5 technology. This technology enables accessibility to all mobile devices.

How do I play at an instant play casino?

Instant play gaming is relatively easy; you could choose a site our list of casinos, set up your account by clicking ‘create new account.’ Fill in various personal details such as your name, email address, and password. Verify your account by clicking the link within an email. You are then free to deposit your account and begin playing.