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The laws around gambling online in Ontario have changed in 2022. To keep things as fair and legitimate as possible, many casinos that want to operate in this province need to acquire a license from iGaming Ontario.
On this page, you can find the full details around the new gambling laws, as well as the best fully licensed online casinos in Ontario — so that you can play with confidence.
In a nutshell, the new Ontario gambling laws have been brought in by iGaming Ontario (IGO), which is a subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario (AGCO), to ensure that online casino operators are meeting the new standards required to do business in the province. Now all casinos in Ontario must register and pay tax for access.
For players in Ontario, the new law means guaranteed safe and secure gambling at regulated casinos. Additionally, it allows the province to promote more responsible gambling while restricting underage access.
For the full details on the regulation changes, see below:
Looking for the best legitimate casinos to play at online in Ontario? Each of the casinos below is compliant with the new Ontario gambling regulations — so you can play safely in the knowledge that you’ll get a fair and balanced experience, with top-notch security for all your details to boot.
Regulated Ontario online casinos encompass both government casinos and privately owned licensed casinos. Offshore casinos are located outside of Canada and have thus previously been able to operate online in Canada without adhering to many regulations or holding a license from a regulatory body. The new Ontario gambling laws ensure that people within the province can only access government casinos or licensed privately owned casinos.
The benefits of playing at government casinos or licensed privately owned casinos in Ontario include:
However, players in Ontario may notice a difference in the way bonuses are presented — expect to see less extremely high or generous bonuses available.
Spend less time searching and more time gambling when you find leading casinos with our custom search tool, or just quick pick a safe online site from the directory below.
Looking to play at brick-and-mortar casinos in Ontario? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Check out some of the best places and find out exactly what they have to offer below.
Caesar’s Windsor boasts all your favourite table games, slot machines, and poker opportunities. For food and drink there’s plenty to choose from, whether you want a quick bite or an indulgent meal. You can also catch all your favorite games as well as wager on multiple sports at Legends Sports Bar.
There’s also a spa, gym and Ariius Nightclub! Attracting guests from both sides of the border, everyone’s welcome to stay at one of the 758 luxury rooms offering great views across the Detroit River.
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Located only 45 minutes from Buffalo and 90 minutes from Toronto, with The Falls on its doorstep, this casino’s great location a massive pull. The casino is housed within a 4-star resort which incorporates a luxury hotel, restaurants, a spa, shopping arcade and a 1,500-seat theater.
The Fallsview casino boasts more than 3,000 slot machines and over 130 table gaming options including blackjack, roulette, Caribbean stud poker, baccarat, Pai Gow poker and more. All of this set across 200,000sq ft - that’s three football fields!
With a bountiful gaming selection which includes more than 1,500 slot machines over two floors and 40 casino gaming tables including a poker room, Casino Niagara is a popular destination spot for thousands of tourists.
When you get hungry there’s loads of dining options to fill you up again. There’s also a massive sports bar where they have 50 plasma screens showing all the top games. Here you can also wager on the games, so you’re never out of action.
Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands (formerly known as OLG Casino Thousand Islands), is located 90 minutes south of Ottawa. There’s gambling aplenty at this venue, including numerous slot machines and table games. Poker is also massively popular with visitors, with cash games and tournaments being held regularly.
This isn’t the largest venue, so there is only one restaurant. But you can watch the game on the big screen while you eat. You’ll find most players collecting the Axis Reward Points, and the more points you receive, the more perks you’ll be offered.
Casino Rama Resort is widely known as a top destination for gamblers looking for an exciting getaway. You’re sure to find what you’re looking for amongst their 2,500 slot machines and over 110 table games. Not forgetting their 10-table poker room. Make the most of their games with membership to their free Players Passport Club.
If you need a break from casino games, head to the spa or the impressive 5,000-seat Entertainment Center. Sign up on their site to be the first to know about headline acts such as Jason Derulo. For that all-important food and drink pit stop, tickle your taste buds at one of eight restaurants.
Not only does this large resort offer you the chance to play live table games and a plethora of slot machines, but it also regularly hosts big horse racing events, including the Queen’s Plate and the Breeders’ Stakes - two of the Canadian Triple Crown races.
If you’ve had your fill of gambling, it might be time to head over to one of the ten different restaurants and bars. If you want to keep up with the racing, you’ll want to find a seat at one of the three trackside lounges. There is no hotel at this venue, however there are plenty in the local area.
Fort Erie Race Track, found just across the river from Buffalo, has been around for over 100 years. It still hosts many fantastic thoroughbred races, including the Prince of Wales Stakes, one of the Canadian Triple Crown races.
There’s also a 20,000 square foot casino, however you won’t find any table games. Instead, the entire area has been almost entirely filled with slot machines. The slots are available to play 24/7. There are also two restaurants to choose from, but no hotel. However there are a few in the local area.
The Great Blue Heron Casino is a charity casino. This means that all profits go to good causes. It’s not the largest casino in terms of area, however they manage to pack in loads of games, including over 500 slots and over 60 different gaming tables! You won’t just find standard table games either, as there are some less common ones offered too, such as Spanish 21 and Pai Gow Poker.
When you want a bite to eat, you’ll be able to choose from many different restaurants and bars.
A little on the smaller side than some of the other features on this page, this casino still packs a punch. With 17 live tables and 452 slot machines there’s still plenty of fun to be had playing your favorite games. Play Poker at their two live tables or try your luck with some blackjack, roulette, or Texas Hold’em.
The fully licensed Getaway Restaurant will keep hunger at bay with their delicious pub grub and extensive beer menu serving until 11pm at the weekends.
Found just 45 minutes from downtown Toronto, Ajax is perhaps better known for its race track. The casino is certainly worth visiting though, as there are over 600 slots to choose from! You’ll also find electronic table games, however there are no live tables. Many people couple a visit to the casino with some time at Ajax Downs, which holds many exciting horse races.
When you’ve finished gambling, you can head to the Getaway Restaurant. Hotels can be found close to the casino.
If you’re over 19 years of age and located within the province of Ontario, then yes, you can play at Ontario online casinos. Most casino sites can automatically detect your location through your mobile device or laptop and either permit or deny you access based on this.
When you sign up to play at a licensed Ontario casino, they’ll require you to use a valid email address and provide your home address. It’s possible they’ll also ask you for further identification, like a driver’s license too. This is all in the interest of keeping your gambling experience fair and secure.
The regulatory body for online casinos in Ontario is the Alcohol and Gambling Commission of Ontario (AGCO). They are responsible for the creation of iGaming Ontario, which helps them to license and regulate casino operators in the province. The overall goal of the AGCO is to ensure the games of each operator are regulated for true fairness and security for all Ontario players.
As of April 4th, 2022, anyone gambling online in the province of Ontario needs to be 19 years of age or older.
No, you won’t be able to access Ontario licensed casinos from outside of Ontario. You don’t need to live in Ontario to play at one of the casinos though — you merely need to be within its borders at the time of signing up and playing.
