Casino Class 101: What sets the top Ontario Casinos apart

The online gambling laws and regulations in Canada have always been confusing, and most Canadian players don’t know the exact rules and regulations. Gambling laws differ across the various Canadian provinces, and in some provinces, online gambling is legal, but only through offshore accounts and not directly through Canadian betting operators. 

Ontario is the largest and most populated Canadian province, and until last year online gambling for Ontario residents was illegal. All that changed in April 2022 when Ontario introduced its new online casino regulations. With the updated regulations, online gambling, particularly online sports betting and playing at online casinos, became legal activities for Ontario residents. At Minimum Deposits Casinos, we make life easier for visitors to our site, and there are plenty of sources of information covering the online casino industry. Ontario players who want to learn more about online gambling in the province can visit our Ontario Casino page to find the best Ontario casinos. 

Below is an insight into iGaming Ontario, from its history to its progress in the industry, and we will also review three Ontario casinos that you should try out. Some of the features of each casino will also be discussed.

iGaming Ontario controls online casinos in Ontario

April 4th 2022, marked the beginning of a new chapter in the online gambling industry in Canada, particularly in Ontario. A partnership was created between iGaming Ontario, the Government of Ontario and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) to establish a new online gaming market that protects Ontario players and betting operators. Through this partnership, new laws and regulations were drawn up to legalise online gambling in the province.

iGaming Ontario controls the online Ontario gambling market, and all Ontario casinos and sportsbooks must be registered with them before they can launch their betting products to Ontario players.

With these new regulations, all Ontario casinos are wholly different to its sister casinos that may be available throughout the rest of Canada. Each Ontario casino is licensed and regulated by iGaming Ontario, and Ontario players will notice an iGaming Ontario logo on these casino websites. Ontario casinos are only allowed to accept players from Ontario, and no players from other Canadian provinces can place bets or play casino games.

iGaming Ontario has exceptionally promoted itself and online gambling in the province. Numerous information sources and advertisements highlight the Ontario gambling market’s progress over the past year. April 2023 marks the first anniversary since online gambling was legalised in the province. The latest figures from iGaming Ontario show that there has been approximately $1.4 billion in total gaming revenue, thus placing Ontario in the top five gambling jurisdictions in North America. Over 1.6 million active player accounts and more than 40 betting operators exist. With over 40+ betting operators, Ontario players have plenty of options for their online gambling destination, and below are three Ontario casinos that Ontario players should consider signing up with.

Play on Megamoolah slots at Jackpot City Ontario

Jackpot City Casino is a stalwart in the online gambling industry and has existed since 1998. Jackpot City entered the Ontario market last year and is a licensed Ontario casino. Jackpot City is a longtime favourite among many players, and Ontario players have access to over 400 casino games ranging from slots to table games and an immersive mobile casino. The casino’s bold design immediately stands out with its nightlife city background. 

Our Jackpot City Casino Review informed us that new Ontario players could claim a lucrative welcome bonus that covers their first four deposits at the casino. Players can earn up to $1600 in a match bonus. The minimum deposit to claim the bonus is $10, which comes with 70x wagering requirements.  

Ontario players who sign up at Jackpot City can enjoy the best games in the industry from software providers like NetEnt and Microgaming. One of the most popular casino slot games is Mega Moolah, a creation of Microgaming. Mega Moolah is considered in the top three video slot games and is an exciting progressive jackpot game. There are plenty of variations of Mega Moolah, including Mega Moolah Isis and Juicy Joker Mega Moolah. Mega Moolah is a low-volatility slot game with an average Rate to Player (RTP) of 88%, but with the bonus feature and free spins triggers, the RTP jumps to around 96%. With a high RTP and the possibility of big wins, it is no wonder Mega Moolah is so popular among players.

Bet and play online at Bet365 casino and sportsbook in Ontario

Another household name in the betting industry is Bet365. The popular sportsbook and casino entered the Ontario market with its iGaming Ontario license and offered Ontario players an exciting casino product plus a state-of-the-art sportsbook. New Ontario players can claim a 100% first deposit match bonus of up to $500 plus 50 free spins when they make a minimum deposit of $20. The Bet365 casino gaming library is diverse and has various slot games, table games and numerous progressive jackpots. 

Bet365 also stands out with its sports betting product and is one of the best sportsbooks in Ontario. As a minimum deposit casino, Bet365 has an affordable sports welcome bonus, and new players can make a $1 deposit and get up to $100 in bet credits. Various enticing promotions are waiting for sports bettors to take advantage of, including bet boosts, early payouts and parlay bonuses. There are thousands of sports betting options at bet365 for Ontario players, and players can place bets on Hockey, Baseball, Football, Basketball and NASCAR. Sports betting markets at the sportsbook cover prop betting, handicap betting, totals betting, live betting, and futures betting. For more information on the casino and sportsbook products at Bet365, read our Bet365 Casino Review.

NorthStar Bets is one of our favourite new Ontario casinos

One of the new Ontario casinos is proudly Canadian casino and sportsbook NorthStar Bets. A local online casino, NorthStar Bets is fully licensed and regulated in Ontario. Ontario players are welcomed at NorthStar Bets with various welcome offers, ranging from a casino match bonus to sports free bets and free spins on the latest casino slot games. Prices and rewards are also available with the NorthStar Bets VIP program, where players can earn loyalty points just by playing games. 

Ontario players who want to try out the casino and sportsbook will be pleased to find various payment options. Some of the safe casino payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, Bank Transfers and E-Wallets. As a bonus, NorthStar Bets is a PayPal Casino, and Ontario players can make deposits and withdrawals using the popular E-Wallet option. If you want to learn more and understand NorthStar Bets better, head to our NorthStar Bets Casino Review. Here you will find the latest information covering bonus offers, casino games, sports betting markets and the various ways to fund your account.

Find more Ontario casinos with our casino reviews

It is evident from the past year that iGaming Ontario and the entire online gambling industry in the province have been a success. Many new players have created online accounts, and various new and popular online casinos and sportsbooks have provided Ontario players with excellent products. Jackpot City Casino, Bet365 and NorthStar Bets are three licensed Ontario casinos and sportsbooks we recommend to Ontario players looking for safe betting operators. For Ontario players, who want to find additional online casinos, we encourage them to visit our Ontario casino reviews page, where they will find other popular online casinos.