Best online gambling sites in Ontario
In 2022, Ontario opened its virtual borders to welcome online casinos! With so many legal Ontario online gambling sites on the horizon, you may be wondering which are worth your time (and money).
Time2play casino connoisseurs are here to help with thorough reviews and in-depth insights into all things gambling. But first, we’ll cover what’s legal in Ontario, gambling laws, and which casinos our experts recommend.
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1
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94/100
Expert Rating
by Elsa F.
83%
Playscore
based on
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Best gamified casino experience
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Play |
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2
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93/100
Expert Rating
by Elena I.
92%
Playscore
based on
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Reliable and award-winning operator
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Play |
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3
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92/100
Expert Rating
by Elsa F.
86%
Playscore
based on
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Read review |
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4
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92/100
Expert Rating
by Elsa F.
85%
Playscore
based on
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Great casino for table games
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Read review |
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5
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91/100
Expert Rating
by Elsa F.
91%
Playscore
based on
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Top casino for live games
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Play |
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6
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91/100
Expert Rating
by Elena I.
92%
Playscore
based on
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Most reliable casino operator
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Play |
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19+. Terms and conditions apply. Play responsibly. Connexontario.ca |
7
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90/100
Expert Rating
by Elena I.
87%
Playscore
based on
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Rich live dealer lobby
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Play |
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8
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90/100
Expert Rating
by Elsa F.
85%
Playscore
based on
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Excellent games library
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Play |
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9
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90/100
Expert Rating
by Elena I.
96%
Playscore
based on
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Fastest transaction times
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Read review |
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10
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89/100
Expert Rating
by Elsa F.
79%
Playscore
based on
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Fast and secure payments
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Play |
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Editor's note
Our ranking is based on casinos and sports betting operators that can legally operate in Ontario at this time. Since this is a relatively young market, rest assured that we’ll be updating the ranks as our experts conduct their thorough reviews of newly licensed operators.
Features of top Ontario online gambling sites
We have considered several factors while listing the top online gambling sites in Ontario. Many gamblers consider a casino’s or sportsbook’s online game selection as the key factor when choosing Ontario gambling sites. We go beyond this and instead focus on a set of parameters so each gambling site is put under the same scrutiny.
As part of our rating process, we look at many casino and sportsbook features such as online customer service, mobile friendliness, quality of payment methods and overall ease of use. With this in mind, our aim is to bring you the most trusted legal Ontario gambling sites.
Gambling laws in Ontario: What’s legal?
In this section, we will take a close look at what type of gambling is legal and regulated at all gambling sites in Ontario. There are different casinos and sportsbooks for different tastes. The most ideal place to start in order to see which casino is better suited for you is to go through our Ontario gambling site reviews. Since real money gambling is involved, we only recommend sites that are licenced within the province and are considered legal.
All regulated online gambling sites in this province have a range of casino games from several providers. These platforms can be accessed through a variety of devices be it mobile or desktop computers. Both native apps and browser sites are available. Considering that all online gambling in Ontario was launched on the 4th of April 2022, there is already a good deal of betting to be done.
So what about what’s available to play or bet on? Many of the gambling sites available will offer both casino games and sports betting as their staple. Some will also offer poker or bingo. Many forms of gambling are legal in Ontario and in this section, we will take a deep dive into each of them to learn more about what you can find available at Ontario gambling sites.
Online gambling sites
Top gambling sites in Ontario are licensed by iGaming Ontario (iGO), a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). These licences ensure that the casino operates legally and preserves the integrity of fair play. They also offer a diverse range of payment methods, software providers and the option to play casino games, like online slots, table games, jackpot slots and more.
Ontario sportsbooks
Ontario sports betting sites must also abide by the laws and regulations in the province and fit similar criteria as Ontario casinos online. Online sports betting is still a new thing in Ontario since it was only launched in April 2022. When looking at Ontario sportsbooks we search for a variety of features such as betting odds, payout percentages, and sports markets as well as pre-match and in-play options.
Poker sites in Ontario
You’ll find a decent selection of online casinos in Ontario with a solid poker offer. There are two ways you can play online poker. The first is to launch the online poker site on your device, and then select your game. The other is to visit the operator’s site and download the native app from there, if available. We judge poker sites based on game variety, bet limits, quality and more.
Bingo
Casinos in Ontario seldom offer bingo games, but when they do, we take note. Online bingo is available in several variants, such as 30, 75, 80 or 90-ball bingo. Players also have the option to try Slingo, which is a hybrid of online slot games and bingo. When it comes to rating Ontario online casinos by their bingo offer, we consider the game availability, variety, betting options and production quality.
Lotteries
The province of Ontario legalised online lottery in April of 2022. Operators like 888, Rivalry, theScore, PointsBet, Bet365 and FanDuel have all secured licences from iGaming Ontario, the subsidiary of Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, to offer Ontario lottery games. Lottery games are available in several formats, and can be played directly on the operators’ websites or mobile apps.
Horse racing
Even though horse race betting is technically legal at Ontario gambling sites, you will find it hard to find an operator that provides this. The issue is a complicated one as, when the law was about to be drawn up there was pushback from the horse racing industry. We will continue updating this section as more information becomes available.
Offline gambling
Ontario has more than 80 online gambling parlours which have more than 31,262 slots and gaming machines, as well as over 900 table games. Regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, these Ontario casino hubs are perfect for players who prefer land-based play. Top gambling destinations in this province include Fallsview Casino, Casino Niagara, Caesars Windsor, Capitals Casino and Shorelines.A brief history of Ontario gambling laws
Before 1874, all forms of gambling in Canada, including Ontario, were unregulated. All this changed when the federal government amended the Criminal Code to regulate this activity.
In 1925, an amendment made it legal for fairs to hold gambling events. This was the first instance of the law establishing a gambling site in Ontario. But it will take until 1969 for a lottery to become available together with slots and gambling machines.
Then, in 1985 every Canadian province was given jurisdiction over its gambling regulations. The first casinos were opened in Winnipeg and later on in Ontario. Let’s have a look at the history of Ontario gambling laws right to the moment online slots, sports and live casino gaming became available.
Where it all began
The federal Canadian government regulated all forms of betting as a way to discourage real money gambling on non-sporting events. Any game of chance, including lotteries and card games, was considered gambling.
Ontario Lottery Corporation Act
It would take around 100 years for the Ontario Lottery Corporation Act to be passed. This corporation would raise funds for public projects, major capital works and cultural programmes within Ontario. By 1999, their 25th Anniversary, the lottery will have raised over c$10 billion.
The OLG is set up
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation replaces the Ontario Lottery Corporation. It is fully owned by the Ontario government and oversees the province’s lotteries, casinos and sports betting. However, the OLG does not regulate casinos. This instead is the responsibility of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
Online gambling in Ontario
The AGCO launches its subsidiary, iGaming Ontario, to oversee licensing and regulation of online gambling sites. On April 4th, 2022 the government moved to make online casinos legal together with sports betting and poker. Currently, there are are more than 40 online gaming operators registered with AGCO with over 80 gambling websites.
Separation of regulatory and managing bodies
In May 2025, the iGO officially separated from the ACGO. The new administrative independence of the iGO means it can focus on creating market growth, while the ACGO is solely responsible for market and operator oversight.
Online gambling Ontario: Safety
Look for the seal of trust while searching for top Ontario gambling sites. You can find this seal at the bottom of the home page of your chosen casino online. Players must also check whether their new selected casino is safe for online transactions. You can do so by checking out the site’s URL. If you see a lock-like symbol there, it means the site is safe thanks to up to date SSL-certificates. This is a technology which encrypts all casino data when it’s transferred between you and the casino.
Know-Your-Customer checks
The best online casinos in Canada also ensure player safety by verifying all their gambler accounts. When withdrawing money, you must submit documents that confirm your identity. This is part of the Know-Your-Customer (KYC) checks that all legally regulated Ontario casinos are required to implement. Some gambling sites might also ask for proof of funds to make sure you’re not spending more than you are earning. Gambling websites also promote safe and responsible gambling behaviour amongst their community. They will offer tools to help you keep in control of your gambling habits. The top Ontario casinos online (and sportsbooks too) will have a dedicated responsible gambling section you can access complete with these tools and links to sites that can help with problem gambling.
Why you should only play at licensed gambling sites in Ontario
If you’re just starting out, you may be wondering why we’re so adamant about playing at regulated online gambling sites. After all, you may have seen that there are a ton of offshore casinos and sportsbooks available to Canadians. They can’t all be bad, right? Well, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think! Yes, unregulated gambling sites will have big bonuses to lure in new players and some of them may also be legit but with no jurisdiction governing their operations, anything can happen on those sites.
Your data is protected
In contrast, licensed and regulated operators have to follow online gambling laws in Ontario in order to remain operational. This means that there are strict security protocols in place. For instance, any data you provide to the casino, be it personal or banking data is protected. This is not the case with an unlicensed online gambling site, and you may find that your data is passed on to unwanted third parties.
Your funds are protected
At licensed sites, you have legal recourse if anything happens to your funds. Not so if you’re playing at offshore online casinos that operate in the grey market. Licensed Ontario operators keep player funds separate from business funds, ensuring that your money is protected. And finally, KYC checks keep everything legitimate. Not so at unlicensed sites, where you could trade anonymity for risk, including cashouts that might never materialize.
Fair, audited games
Finally, the top real money gambling sites will only use online casino games from the highest-rated providers. Therefore, you’re going to find high-quality, fair games. These casino games and their providers are regularly audited to ensure game fairness. Unlicensed operators don’t have such obligations. This means that often they use casino games from less reputable providers (which can mean skewed games), tweak RTPs in their favour, or even forego paying out sports bets for various arbitrary and often unfair reasons. If you’re playing unfair casino games, you’re not going to enjoy your gaming experience.
Responsible, safe gambling
Licensed online casinos are required to abide by the ACGO’s requirements around providing support resources and self-exclusion, loss limits and deposit limits for responsible gambling. This helps you enjoy gambling for fun while still being aware of your limits. Casinos also have to abide by strict advertising standards. As a player, you know you won’t be manipulated and exploited by false promises of guaranteed returns. While bonuses might be more restricted and harder to find as a result, it also means you’re less likely to spend more than you meant to in the false pursuit of a big payoff.
Popular payment methods in Ontario
The most popular payment methods in Ontario are widely available, fast, and easy to use. A major differentiator of a good online casino are the variety and number of payment methods it offers. Below is an overview of the most common methods you’ll find at regulated online casinos in Ontario.
Interac
In 2024, 59% of Ontario players listed Interac as one of their top-three preferred payment methods for sports betting. Interac is available through almost all banks, making it a familiar, fast, and popular choice. Some operators even offer “instant Interac” withdrawals.
Visa
Visa is one of the most widely used payment methods in online shopping, so it’s no surprise that it’s a preferred method for online casinos as well. When using Visa Direct, it allows for near-instant withdrawals, an important factor for its popularity.
Mastercard
Alongside Visa, Mastercard is one of the most recognizable and trusted credit cards for online gaming. Credit cards are preferred by 30% of bettors in 2024 for deposits and withdrawals. Mastercard has enhanced security agreements with casinos, making it a top choice for safety-conscious players.
Apple Pay
With the rise of mobile gaming, e-wallets like Apple Pay have seen a surge in popularity. Apple Pay enables players to pay with biometric identification, making it supremely easy to deposit funds while gaming on mobile. The only downside is that Apple Pay is not available as a withdrawal method.
PayPal
Like Apple Pay, PayPal is another popular e-wallet payment. It’s been around longer too, making it a highly trusted and familiar option. However, although it’s a preferred option by many players, a lot of casinos don’t yet have partnerships with PayPal, making it more rare as a payment method.
Instadebit
Instadebit is an intermediary linked to your bank, offering the security of a bank transfer combined with the speed of an e-wallet. It’s easy to set up and offers high withdrawal limits, but does charge fees around C$1.95 – C$2 per transaction, making it a better option for larger withdrawals.Market developments in Ontario gambling
The Ontario gambling market operates under an open-license model, setting no limit to the number of operators who can open online casinos. Practically speaking, this means operators must compete to differentiate themselves and offer the best player experience.
Some of the innovations that Ontario players benefit from include:
- Mobile optimization: the best online casinos now offer dedicated iOS and Android apps for easy access and on-the-go play. Players expect consistent experiences across phone, desktop and tablet, meaning a mobile-ready website is a standard now even if the operator doesn’t offer mobile apps.
- Fast deposits and withdrawals: Integrations with Canadian payment systems like Interac and Gigadat means some operators offer withdrawals that can be processed within 24 hours, or even instantly.
- Automated Know-Your-Customer verification: some operators are starting to incorporate AI into their KYC checks, speeding up the time from registration to play.
- Local live casino expansion: local live dealer studios provide an experience tailored to Canadians.
- In 2026, iGaming Ontario will launch a centralized self-exclusion registry so that players can self-exclude from all regulated casinos in Ontario in one go, rather than having to self-exclude on individual operators’ websites.
FAQs
Can I gamble online in Ontario?
Yes, you can! As long as you are located within Ontario’s borders, you can gamble online. Make sure your casino gambling website has an online licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to guarantee that you’re playing at one of Ontario’s quality gaming operators. At the time of writing, players can gamble on slots and table games, poker, horse racing, and a few other casino games. You can also legally bet on several approved sports. At the time of writing, the legal age of gambling in Ontario is 19.
When looking for a new gambling site to gamble, make sure that the operator complies with Responsible Gambling regulations. A good casino or betting site will be endorsed by ConnexOntario. Check out our top Ontario gambling sites.
Are all online gambling sites in Ontario safe?
No, only the licensed Ontario sites are safe. These gambling sites have received licences from the authorities by satisfying several, strict conditions. For example, these entities must demonstrate their paying capability under all conditions. Secondly, sites aiming for an online licence must encrypt their player data. Encryption means converting plain text into complex characters so your personal info stays hidden. Third, all such sites must have a random number generator. This is a special software that generates completely random results. If an online gambling site has this program, it means the casino games are fair. Avoid playing at offshore casinos. The Ontario government doesn’t recognize these platforms, meaning if you are defrauded you won’t have legal recourse.
How do I fund my account?
Players have a range of options to fund their gambling account. These include credit and debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, and bank transfer. E-wallets include PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and other brands. Prepaid cards are also a great way to control your gambling. These include Visa Prepaid, Mastercard Prepaid, Skrill Prepaid, and others. Players can also transfer funds from their banks to their casino accounts. Some Ontario-based gambling websites also accept payments through Bitcoin. Keep in mind that not all the top Ontario online casinos online accept all these payment options. Also, always check any associated fees when making payments from a particular payment method.
What are table games in legal Ontario casinos?
Most top Ontario online casinos will have online slots and table games where you can play casino games including online roulette, blackjack, and poker. These casino games are popular and a staple at most casinos, backed by industry-leading gambling software. Some casinos also offer live versions of these table games, either straight from the casino floor or from a dedicated studio. These casino games will also include a chat feature to give an extra social aspect, more closely related to land-based casinos. Check out all the different types of casino games you can play at Ontario casinos.
What are slots in Ontario online casinos?
There are thousands of different slots available. A slot is a game which has a grid of reels on different rows with symbols within them. Playing slots is simple, and to win the game, you must land symbols in a winning pattern. If you are a newbie, don’t worry, because many Ontario online casinos explain how to play slots. There are 4 distinct types of slots – video, classic, progressive, and 3-D. Classic slots are the easiest among these four and are marked by fruits, candies, bells, bars as standard symbols. Video slots come with more features and trying out a demo will get you used to the game before spending your money. Progressive slots have ever-increasing prizes, while 3D slots give you a three-dimensional perspective.
Sources
Dasha is a writer and editor with eight years of experience in copywriting and project management. Previously, she led content initiatives for well-known brands in iGaming and journalism, like EnergyCasino and Worldcrunch.
Currently, Dasha manages content publication and quality assurance across our digital channels, overseeing the editing, approval, and compliance processes in Canada.
