What it Takes to Start Your Own Online Casino Business
If you’ve spent any time gambling in an online casino, you may have noticed a few things. For one, the games are extremely entertaining. There are hundreds to choose from, with rules and themes to appeal to anyone and everyone. With so many online casinos vying for your membership, there’s clearly some healthy competition in the industry. Perhaps most important of all, you’ve recognized that the house has a distinct advantage in every game.
If casino games are designed to win more money for the house than they pay out to players, wouldn’t it make sense to play on the side of the house? And what better way to do that than to own the house? With that in mind, we’re going to take a look at how to start and online casino. It’s not easy, and it’s certainly not cheap, but if you’ve got the means and the drive, it may very well be worth your time and effort.
What it Takes to Start Your Own Online Casino
While the concept above – the casino always wins, so I’ll just open my own casino – is a common theory, it’s not necessarily a realistic one, which is why most people don’t do it. The truth is, there’s a lot that goes into opening an online gambling site; much more than most people realize. It’s a lengthy, step-by-step process, and an expensive one at that. The very first thing you’ll need to do is…
Register and Host Your Online Casino Domain
The first step is to choose a domain name. It should be something quick and catchy, and directly to the point. The shorter the name, the more likely people are to remember it. Betfair, LeoVegas, PokerStars – they all meet this easy-marketing requirement.
Once you choose your domain name, you need to register it with a domain registering service. Then you have to pay a server to host it.
Even if you don’t intend to launch your casino for a year or two, registering the domain should come first. Search engines take into account the longevity of a domain when indexing. Simply put, a website created two years ago ranks better than one launched two weeks ago.
Apply for an Online Gambling License
This is going to be the most expensive step, by far. Your operation must be licensed to garner any respect from the iGaming community. Where you obtain your license from will directly impact the cost and reputability of the operation.
Some jurisdictions, like Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, pretty much anywhere in Central America, offer very little in the way of regulation. You pay a smaller fee, but sacrifice the respect of strict player protections. Obtaining a license from the Malta Gaming Authority carries much more respect, as you’ll have to comply with their high standards. But, you’ll also pay a lot more for that license.
Also consider which countries you want to accept players from. Black markets, including much of the US, require lax regulation, but could get you into trouble down the line. To accept players from the UK, the world’s most productive iGaming market, you’ll need a UK license, which comes with the strictest standards, and highest price tag. A Maltese license will grant you access to most legal markets, including Canada.
Every license comes with fees. Expect them to be in the five-figure range. Then there’s financial reporting and taxes to be considered. Think very carefully about which way you want to go here, and do your research.
Employ One or More Casino Software Suppliers
Every online casino needs an assortment of games to offer their players. There are dozens of highly respected content studios to choose from. You may wish to go with a single platform with a large portfolio of games. Or, you could employ a collection of software brands to offer more diversity. Just keep in mind, you’ll pay a separate fee for each casino suite you integrate. Then there’s always the option of going beyond csaino games and into the field of poker, bingo, sports betting, etc.
Another thing to consider is just how involved you want the software supplier to be. There are generally three options.
Casino Games Only: Employ the casino suite only, granting you a license to supply its games.
Games + System Platform: This option comes with the casino suite license, plus a back-end platform that administers and manages player account services.
The Whole casino Package: If you take the full package, you’ll get the casino suite license, the player account system, plus integration of security features, software certification, and a dedicated customer support / tech support team.
The more you want, the more you’ll pay for it, but the less you’ll be responsible for managing in the long run. Choose a full package from a major content supplier like eCOGRA-certified Microgaming, and you can rest assured everything that needs to get done, will get done.
Payment Processing – Choose Your Banking Methods
As any avid online casino gamer knows, the security and availability of payment methods is paramount to attracting new player sign-ups. Today, iGamers expect a wide selection of banking options for deposits and withdrawals.
Some players are very picky, and will only use eChecks, or Paypal, or Instant Banking methods like Interac or Citadel. Others are esteemed supporters of the cryptocurrency movement. If you want to cater to these types, you have to supply a long list of trusted payments to hit all niche players. And of course, credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) are a must.
Once again, consider your options, do your research, and know your intended customers.
Catering to the Mobile Generation
Ten years ago, the mobile casino movement was hardly a quiver. Today, it’s rushing ahead like a locomotive. You don’t have to build a mobile app for your casino, but you could miss out on an entire generation of would-be customers if you don’t.
Now You Must Build It…
With all these steps out of the way, it’s time to put all the pieces together. You may want to hire a web design team for the website, as well as a mobile app developer. That’s more money going into your project. And once you get the casino up and running, you’ll need to factor in software and licensing renewal fees, plus additional costs like marketing and employee salaries.
As I said, this will be an expensive venture. There are cheaper routes, but as the old adage goes, “You get what you pay for”. Like any successful business, the more you’re willing to invest into a quality product, the more you’re likely to get out of it.
If learning how to start your own online casino business was enough to make your head spin, maybe it’s not the right choice for you. Maybe playing those online slots and table games, despite their slight disadvantage to the player, weren’t so bad after all?
Anticipating the launch date for legal sports betting in Canada.
Like most major countries of the world, sports is a very big deal here in Canada. We love our ice hockey, just as Brits love soccer, Australians love Aussie rules, and Americans love baseball (and basketball, and football, and boxing – I could go on.) It doesn’t have to be hockey, though. Like Americans, we Canadians are drawn all sorts of major sporting leagues, from CFL and NFL football, to NBA basketball. (Go Raptors!)
Now, like so many other major countries, Canadians will soon have a legal and locally regulated means of betting on sports. Not just low-odds parlay bets, either, but real, bettor-friendly, single-event wagers. The kinds of bets that attract genuine sports fans. We’re talking about everything from game winners and point totals, to futures and live in-play betting.
Speaking of futures, now that the government has legalized single-game betting, what’s the future look like for Canadian sports fans?
Canada Sports Betting FAQ
This FAQ will answer some of the most common questions, including how soon we can expect live and online sportsbooks to launch in Canada. But first…
Is Single-Game Sports Betting Really Legal in Canada?
Yes! On June 22, 2021, The Senate passed Bill C-218, otherwise known as the Safe and Regulated Sports Betting Act. Exactly one week later, on June 29, 2021, the measure received Royal Assent, officially enacting it into law.
“This enactment amends paragraph 207(4)(b) of the Criminal Code to make it lawful for the government of a province, or a person or entity licensed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council of that province, to conduct and manage a lottery scheme in the province that involves betting on a race — other than a horse-race — or fight, or on a single sport event or athletic contest.”
Wait – was sports betting illegal before?
Not exactly. It was illegal for any provincial regulator to provide anything more than multi-pick, parlay betting. Provinces have done this for years, promoting it as a sports lottery. And it was illegal for any Canadian-based company to offer any form of gambling without provincial authorization. However, there’s nothing illegal about placing bets with international sports betting websites. So long as they have no physical presence in Canada, they are not bound by Canadian law.
The only real difference before and after the passage of Bill C-218 is that Canadians will now be able to place single bets with locally licensed and regulated sportsbooks (not just the international variety), and our own government will profit from it.
Will All Provinces and Territories Adopt Single-Game Sports Betting?
Most likely, yes, with the sole exception (maybe) of the territory of Nunavut. Nunavut is the only region that may choose to refrain, simply because commercial gaming has never been authorized there.
At present, Canada’s 10 provinces, plus the Northwest Territories and Yukon, offer the current parlay-style sports lottery. Most of of them also provide casino games and lotteries, either online, on land, or both. It would certainly make sense that these jurisdictions would want to work quickly to convert to single-game sports betting in the digital and retail space.
Will There Be Online Sportsbooks in Canada?
Absolutely! As previously stated, most jurisdictions already promote a locally operated online gaming portal. There’s no doubt that the new rules will be applied to both retail and online sports betting operations. In fact, some provinces were so eager for legalization, they were prepared for launch the moment the law went into effect.
British Columbia Lottery Corp (BCLC) has already made clear its intentions to launch an online sportsbook the moment they are legally capable and prepared to do so. It says it right on their iGaming portal, PlayNow.
Is There a Launch Date for Sports Betting in Canada?
This is the question everyone wants answered – when will single-game betting arrive in Canada? Unfortunately, no one is talking about actual dates yet. In fact, regulators aren’t talking much at all, except to say that sportsbooks are coming. That leaves us with little more than the obvious speculation that a launch could and should occur sometime this Fall.
Why in the Fall, you ask? Well, for one, regulatory guidelines and licensing stipulations must still be written, and there isn’t a lot of summer left to work with. Second, provincial regulators are hoping to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible, because as the old saying goes – “time is money”. And third, the 2021-22 NHL season gets underway October 12. This should light a big enough fire beneath local legislators to get the job done, post haste.
What Commercial Sportsbooks are Coming to Canada?
There’s little doubt that all of Canada’s provincial iGaming portals will launch a sportsbook. What makes this new legislation so interesting, however, is that commercial operators are being given permission to compete – not just in the retail market, like casinos, but in the virtual market. Never before has Canada’s online gambling industry been allowed to host competition within jurisdictions.
It’s too early to devise a definitive list of what companies are going to compete in this upcoming market, assuming provinces choose to let them. Licensing guidelines have yet to be finalized, and until they are, license applications cannot be submitted for appraisal. Even then, there are no guarantees – except maybe one. Canada will cater to its home-town-hero sports betting brand, theScore Bet.
Of all the commercial operators looking to expand from the US market into Canada, theScore is the only one with roots deeply embedded in the Great White North. Another highly-likely competitor is PointsBet. That company recently launched an all new Canadian Operations team, appointing CEO Scott Vanderwel and CCO Nik Sulsky. If nothing else, PointsBet’s determination to penetrate the market is indubitably clear.
Here’s a list of operators you can expect to see opening Canadian sportsbooks (in order of most-probable), and why we think they’ll be approved to do so.
theScore Bet – Based out of Toronto, theScore runs one of the nation’s most popular sports media brands. This company might as well already have the license in hand.
PointsBet – These guys have set up an entire Canadian division for their company, complete with executive figureheads. They’ll stop at nothing to get a foot in the door.
DraftKings – This brand already operates online and mobile DFS betting in Canada, and is a respected member of the Canadian Gaming Association.
FanDuel – This is another brand that already operates online and mobile DFS betting in Canada.
Caesars – A global brand, this one owns and operates Caesars Windsor in Ontario, one of the largest integrated resort casinos in the country. It’s also an active member of the Canadian Gaming Association.
Hard Rock – An American based company, they own and operate the famous Hard Rock Vancouver in BC, and will soon open another Hard Rock Casino in the Canadian capital of Ottawa. They’re also is a member of the Canadian Gaming Association
Sports availability is sure to mimic the major events already available in certain US states. As we’ve seen there, variety will surely differ from one operator to the next. You can expect to find all major sportinging events and tournaments, including the following:
Baseball (MLB)
Basketball (NBA)
Football (CFL, NFL)
Golf (PGA Tour)
Hockey (NHL)
Olympic Games
Soccer (European, MLS)
Tennis (Grand Slam)
What is the Legal Age to Bet on Sports in Canada?
The legal age to gamble in Canada varies from one province and territory to the next. The following alphabetical chart shows the appropriate age for sports betting across the country.
Provinces and Territories of Canada
Legal Betting Age
Alberta
18
British Columbia
19
Manitoba
18
New Brunswick
19
Newfoundland & Labrador
19
Northwest Terrorizes
19
Nova Scotia
19
Nunavut
19
Ontario
19
Prince Edward Island
19
Quebec
18
Saskatchewan
19
Yukon
19
What Payment Methods will be Available?
Like the sports categories themselves, availability of banking options will be determined by each operator. No doubt, debit cards will top every list, just as they do now on Canada’s provincially run iGaming portals. Canadian exclusive payment methods like Interac eTransfer are sure to get some attention, along with major web wallets like Paypal. If the US market is any indication, Canada’s sportsbooks may also look to employ the versatility of a Play+ prepaid gaming card.
All in all, I believe the payment options list for most Canadian sports betting sites will look something like this:
Can I Still Bet at International Online Sportsbooks?
Yes. From a legislative perspective, there is still no reason Canadians can’t do their online betting with offshore operators. It’s never been illegal before, and recently enacted amendments to the law don’t change that. All they’ve done is make it legal for provincial regulators to offer the same single-game sports betting options we’re already able to access via international websites. If you’ve established a report with one of those operators, building your way up the VIP ladder as a loyal member, there’s no reason to stop now.
Can an online casino refuse to pay out your withdrawal?
Online casinos provide the world’s gaming fans with a quick, easy way to play their favorite gambling amusements for real money, from home or anywhere else their travels may take them. It’s all so easy. Sign up an account, make an instant deposit, and start playing. Convenience, entertainment, the thrill of the risk – these are all things we can easily understand. What’s difficult to wrap our heads around is that sometimes, after winning a little money, the online casino may refuse to give it to us. What’s even harder to understand is that, 99 times out of 100, they’re correct in their refusal to pay up.
Can an Online Casino Refuse to Pay Out?
The simple answer is yes, they can, but not for the reasons you’re probably thinking. Rogue casinos are not nearly so common as they once were. Yes, they do exist, and if you didn’t bother checking on the legitimacy of your chosen online casino before signing up, well – you may be a victim of fraud. More likely, if your online casino is refusing to pay out, it was your own fault.
The following is a list of the top 10 reasons online casinos can deny a withdrawal, in order of most to least common. If your withdrawal got canceled, odds are the reason is on this list.
1. You violated the terms of a bonus.
The most common reason of all is that players have violated the conditions of a bonus. Far too many players don’t bother reading the fine print. There are game restrictions, bet size limits and wagering requirements to comply with. Read the terms. Know the rules. Follow them.
2. You haven’t finished bonus play through.
This is a direct follow-up to the last issue. Maybe you’re following all of the rules of the bonus, but you didn’t complete the wagering requirements yet.
Example: If you have to complete 40x WR on a $50 deposit, that’s $2,000 in wagers that must be placed before you can withdrawal any winnings. You have two options; finish WR, or run out of bonus money trying. Only then can you cash out anything you have left.
3. You haven’t verified your account.
Somewhere between the time you register your account, and the time you request your first withdrawal, you will need to verify your identity. This is true of all legitimate, reputable licensed online casinos. They’ll need you to upload a picture of your photo ID, a bank statement or utility bill, and, depending on your method of deposit, maybe proof of that as well. It’s all standard KYC practice. If you don’t do it, they can’t pay you.
4. You used someone else’s identity / payment info.
Identity theft is a big no-no! If you read #3 above, you know you’re going to have to verify your identity at some point. Fake IDs rarely work anymore. The person you stole the ID and/or banking info from will get their deposit refunded eventually, and you’ll get nothing (except maybe some jail time).
5. You typo-ed your own information during sign-up.
I’ve said this a thousand times. Double check your information when you sign up an online casino account. If you misspell any part of your name or address, you’re effectively signing up with a fake ID. You can’t sign up with false information, even if it was an innocent goof up on your part. If you’re lucky, your account will be closed with original deposits refunded.
6. You gambled as a minor.
Adjusting your date of birth to play as a minor won’t get you anywhere either. Casinos can get in severe trouble for allowing underage gambling. And, thanks to the ID verification rules, you’re going to get caught anyway. Once caught, you don’t get paid.
7. You have multiple accounts with the online casino.
This is incredibly common, but rarely done on purpose. If you read the terms of any online casino, they’ll tell you that multi-accounting is not allowed. That is, one person cannot have two accounts with the same casino. In fact, you can’t have two accounts from the same household or IP address, either.
Short version: “One account per casino, per household.”
8. You claimed multiple bonuses with the same operator.
This is similar to the above problem, but goes deeper, and only involves bonus collection. We’re not just talking about having two accounts with the same online casino, but the same operator. For example, DigiMedia operates Royal Vegas Casino, plus around a dozen other online casinos, like All Slots, Euro Palace, and Platinum Play. You are allowed to have one account with each, if you wish, but you can only claim the bonus from one.
Short version: “One bonus per operator, per household.”
9. You used a VPN to sign up and gamble.
Online casino gambling is illegal in some parts of the world. But where there is prohibition, there are always a determined few who think they should be able to do it anyway. Using a virtual private network (VPN) to mask your IP address / location, making it appear you’re in a country players are accepted from, is illegal. It rarely works these days, anyway. Geo-location systems are constantly getting smarter. If you get caught using a VPN, don’t be surprised when your online casino is refusing payout.
10. The casino is not reputably licensed and can’t be trusted.
In the least of cases, the online casino is to blame. Rogue operators do exist. They aren’t licensed by a strict regulator that demands compliance with player protection laws. Therefore, they can refuse to pay out a large amount of winnings simply because they don’t have to. They have no obligation to obey a higher authority.
Once this type of online casino refuses to pay out, there’s not much you can do. The only good news is that these situations are easily avoidable. All you have to do is take a moment to check up on a brand before signing up an account and making a deposit. To be honest, anyone who’s willing to give all of their sensitive information to some random website without verifying its reputation first is just as guilty as the website that’s ripping them off.
Inside Look: ALC online casino comes to New Brunswick.
Take a step back in time to nearly a decade ago – February 2011. That was when the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corp (NBLGC) first showed documented interest in launching an online casino for its adult population. They had already begun talking with the Atlantic Lottery Corp, which was in the process of filing draft regulations to expand further into online gambling.
The ALC, which supplies regulated gaming services for all four Atlantic provinces – New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island – was unable to get those regulations passed. Despite consistent lobbying within the provinces, no progress was made over the next nine years. And then, with no prior notice, residents woke up one morning in August with access to a New Brunswick online casino, courtesy of ALC.
A Look Inside ALC Online Casino New Brunswick
The quiet, overnight launch of internet casino gaming on ALC.ca was a surprise to just about everyone. The start-up came with a small variety of games from digital gambling powerhouse, International Game Technology (IGT); 34 online slot machines, 7 table games, plus IGT’s famous Game King, a dynamic virtual machine that features 9 of the most popular video poker games. ALC promises many more games to come, but for now, you can see the complete list of what’s available below.
Full List of Games (current Jan 13, 2021)
ALC Slot Machines
Anchorman
Cats
Cleopatra
DaVinci Diamonds
Double Diamonds
Doubleplay Super Bet
Elephant King
Foxin’ Wins
Ghostbusters Level Up Plus
Golden Goddess
Endless Treasure
King Kong Fury
Little Green Men Nova Wilds
Lucky Tree
Mad Mad Monkey
Medusa II
Medusa Megaways
Merlin’s Millions
Pixies of the Forest
Raging Rhino
She’s a Rich Girl
Siberian Storm
Spartacus Gladiator of Rome
Sphinx Wild
Starmania
The Big Easy
The Demon Code
The Mask
Wheel of Fortune On Tour
White Orchid
Wild Play Super Bet
Zeus
Zeus III
ALC Table Games
Baccarat
Blackjack
Blackjack Multihand
Let it Ride
Fortune Pai Gow
Roulette
Three Card Poker
ALC Video Poker (Game King 9-in-1)
Bonus Poker
Bonus Poker Deluxe
Deuces Wild
Deuces Wild Bonus
Double Bonus Poker
Double Double Bonus Poker
Jacks or Better
Joker Poker
Triple Double Bonus Poker
Who Can Play at ALC Casino Online?
Anyone physically located within any of the Atlantic provinces of Canada is welcome to sign up an account and play the full variety of games in “demo” mode. However, only players in New Brunswick, age 19 and above, are able to deposit and bet real money.
Ways to Move Money In and Out
The ALC website accepts the follow methods of payment.
Deposits: Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Interac and Web Cash.
Withdrawals: Interac, Cheque
Note that ALC offers an optional weekly deposit limit as part of its Responsible Gaming protocol. Players can set, increase, or decrease their weekly deposit limit by logging into the website, then choosing My Account > Play Responsibly, and entering a new limit. It takes 24 hours for a limit increase to be approved, whereas decreases take effect immediately.
What About the Other AC Provinces?
Residents of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are not currently able to gambling at the ALC online casinos. It is open only to eligible players located in New Brunswick. The ALC recently announced its intent to expand into Nova Scotia and PEI, likely to occur sometime in 2021. There are no known intentions of launching the ALC casino website in Newfoundland and Labrador at this time.
Internet Casino Gambling: Can I win real money at online casinos?
As a long-time
iGamer, it seems strange to me that people still ask this question.
Online casinos have been around so long, the industry itself is of
legal gambling age! They actually started popping up in the mid to
late 1990s. But alas, I do realize not everyone has been spinning
digital slots reels and flipping virtual cardboard as long as I have,
so let’s start from the top…
“Can I win real money at online casinos?”
Yes! There are
thousands of internet gambling sites that permit customers to deposit
money, make real wagers, and withdrawal their winnings as cash. But
it’s not as easy as all that. You can’t go to Google, search
“online casino”, click the first link you see and start playing.
You can’t even type in “real money online casino” and get the
right links these days.
In the next few
paragraphs, I’ll explain (in brief) how the system works, how to
know if you’re eligible to gamble online, and how to find the right
sites to do it safely, securely, and fairly.
Internet Casino Gambling – The Basics
There are two
types of internet casinos. The first and most common is a “social
casino”. Their games are free to play, but will never award
real money. Most of them are mobile phone apps with in-app purchases.
You can pay cash for chips, but you can’t trade your chips back for
cash. This is not gambling.
Online gambling
can only be only done at “real money casinos”.
They won’t offer the option to register your account via Google or
Facebook. You have to fill out an inclusive registration form,
complete with your real name, real address, real date of birth, etc.
Once you do this, you’ll need to make a deposit from a financial
account or credit/debit card belonging to you.
Once you’re
account is funded, you’ll get a nice bonus of some sort to enhance
your bankroll. You can then browse the full menu of casino games –
slot machines, table games, video poker, etc. you’ll have the
option to play the games for real money, or for free in demo/practice
mode.
How do I know if it’s legal for me to gambling online?
Every
jurisdiction has its own laws that apply to online gambling. They
come in three distinct varieties:
Expressly
Legal: These are explicit laws that specifically address the act
of gambling online to be legal. Certain European countries (UK,
France, Spain, Italy, etc.) and US states (New Jersey, Nevada,
Delaware, etc.) have these laws in place. These laws will define the
age requirements for gambling in their respective jurisdictions.
Expressly
Illegal: Like the section above, these are express laws that
specifically name the act of gambling online – or certain forms of
gambling online – to be illegal. In these jurisdictions, residents
are not permitted to participate in real money online casino games.
Australia, for instance, explicitly legalizes online sports betting,
but expressly prohibits online poker and casino gambling.
Not
Expressly Defined / Grey Market: The term “grey market”
applies to a jurisdiction in which the laws do not explicitly permit
or prohibit an activity. In short, it is not illegal, therefore it
is legal. Canada is a perfect example.
The laws in Canada are
so unclear that it is considered legal to gamble online at offshore
casinos, as well as the government-run casinos of certain provinces.
The only ones that are truly “illegal” are online casinos
operating within Canada, but without the regulatory consent of their
local government.
If you’re
still not sure, check with your local authorities for clarification.
How to Find Real Money Online Casinos
This has been
one of the most frustrating problems for novice players. As I
mentioned above, you can’t just search for a relevant key phrase on
Google and expect to find one. While there are around 4,000 gambling
sites online, there are literally millions of affiliate websites
competing for your traffic. Thus, these affiliate sites will appear
in the search engines long before an actual casino operator does.
The best advice
I can offer is to be very specific in what you’re searching for,
because most affiliate sites cater to anyone and everyone. Look for
operators that apply to your situation. They should accept players
from your country, process deposits and withdrawals in your preferred
payment methods, offer the games you like most, etc. If they don’t
fit your needs, they’re no good to you.
Use those
affiliate links to make a short list of possible candidates, but you
don’t have to take their word at face value. After all, affiliates
are looking to make money, and to be honest, most of them don’t
care about the players nearly so much as they do the profit. You can
protect yourself by performing a bit of due diligence on the sites
you shortlist.
Here’s a bit
of reading material that should help you out with this.
If you find the above challenge too daunting, you can always skip all that and do your online gambling at Royal Vegas. Don’t trust me just because I said it. Trust me because Royal Vegas is 20 years old, employs the industry’s oldest and most respected software brand, Microgaming, is licensed in the immensely respected European jurisdiction of Malta, and offers upwards of 1,000 games, including live dealer casino games. Internet casino gambling doesn’t get any safer than that.
Existing options and preferred alternatives for Western Union gambling deposits in Canada.
There was a time when Western Union was ranked among the absolute most secure ways to make an online casino deposit. That was back in the days when internet security was questionable, at best. Technology simply wasn’t advanced enough to shore up all the potential cracks in cyberspace, and it left a lot of people afraid to enter any financial details over the world wide web. Therefore, the easy answer was to instantly wire the money – usually overseas – via Western Union.
As many of you
may remember, those international cash transfers weren’t cheap.
They came with a hefty convenience fee, but one many of Canada’s
online gamblers were willing to pay for the peace of mind it
afforded.
Thankfully, with
the rise of greater internet security and multitude of online payment
methods, Western Union has lowered its fees to remain relevant. But
does that make it the right choice for Canadian iGamers? Let’s take
a closer look…
Western Union Gambling Deposits in Canada
There’s one
very important fact you need to know about Western Union. When the US
government decided to crack down on internet gambling between
2006-2011, it sent a lot of major, US-based financial companies
scurrying. Western Union was among them.
The US-based but globally operating cash transfer agency chose to play it safe, prohibiting online gambling related transfers to/from in any country where the laws do not explicitly legalize online gambling. The US market was off limits, of course, but so was Canada. You may be wondering, and for good reason, how can this be?
As you probably
know, online gambling is not illegal in Canada – far from it.
Several provincial governments run their own iGaming websites,
providing services like online lottery sales, casino games, poker,
bingo, etc. We can also visit thousands of internationally regulated
websites with no fear of legal recourse.
The problem is that, while those offshore gambling sites are not illegal, they aren’t expressly legal, either. The fact that they’re not illegal makes them legal – but not in the same way as jurisdictions where they are explicitly permitted. Thus is falls into what legal eagles like to call a “grey area” of the law. As such, Western Union chooses not to facilitate any online gambling related deposits for Canadian users. “Better safe than sorry”, so the saying goes.
Alternatives to Western Union Canada
Fortunately, as I said above, internet security has improved by leaps and bounds. There are now many safe ways to move money online. Here are some of the top recommendations for Canadian iGamers:
Interac
This is my favorite option. Not only is it superbly secure, it’s available to the vast majority of Canadians. Interac works with over 250 banks, credit unions and other financial institutions. All you need is an online banking account. Best of all, if the online casino you play at accepts Interac, you already know it’s a safe, trusted iGaming brand. Learn more about Interac
eCheck
Using eCheck is
much like writing a paper checque, except that you don’t have to
write it, mail it, or wait for it to clear the bank. The entire
process is performed electronically. All you have to provide is your
bank account number, and the bank’s routing number – the same
info found on a paper cheque. Learn
more about eChecks
Debit Card
When all else fails, just use your debit card. I would not have recommended this 15 years ago, but today, there are more than enough safety nets and assurances to protect your personal and financial details. The key is to only do business with highly reputable iGaming operators. Learn more about online casino safety
DinersClub Canada: Depositors guide for the discerning iGamer.
In the shallow pool of credit card issuing companies, Visa and
MasterCard drown the competition so thoroughly that most of us
don’t even consider the possibility of using an alternative credit
card online. Truth be told, those cards are the most common because
they are so readily available to any and all applicants. For the most
discerning credit card holders, a DinersClub Card can
be much more valuable.
DinersClub International is known for issuing cards to the world’s
more affluent members of society. In turn, prestigious rewards are
distributed to users for making purchases with their card. They are
the types of rewards today’s business professionals are more likely
to appreciate; things like frequent flyer miles, car rental, and
hotel discounts.
The company describes its card services as “the smart payment
choice for mid-to-large corporations, individual business people and
professionals.” In short, DinersClub appeals to the wealthy, not
the average Joe.
DinersClub Canada for High-Rolling iGamers
In the last fifteen years or so, the number of online casinos
advertising DinersClub acceptance has fallen dramatically. It’s not
that Canadians don’t use the card as much, nor is it a reduction in
Canadian-facing online casinos that accept it. The problem lies below
the 49th parallel.
In that time, the United States government has altered the legal
opinion of online gambling more times than I’d like to recall. At
one point, the penalty for any illegal online gambling activity was
laid at the feet of payment facilitators. Credit card companies
recoiled, setting up a special transaction code to specifically
identify online gambling. Any such code that comes through an
American transmission will be rejected. Even if the player is in
Canada, if the card company is based in the US, rejection is likely.
Fortunately, DinersClub International is a part of the Bank
of Montreal (BMO), with headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. The
only online gambling payments they reject are those initiated by US
players. So long as an online casino accepts Canadian players and
DinersClub deposits, you should have no trouble taking advantage.
DinersClub Online Casinos of Canada
As I mentioned above, DinersClub is a card best reserved for the
discerning iGamer. It is not a cheap card to possess, but for
professionals, the rewards are easily worth the annual fees. Card
holders aren’t the only ones who pay to use these cards, though.
Commercial businesses that want to accept DinersClub payments pay to
host such transaction, and again, it’s not cheap. Therefore the
online casinos that accept DinersClub are among the industry’s
largest and most respected operators.
They include companies like William Hill, 888 Casino, PartyPoker,
Royal Vegas and Foxy Bingo. Some smaller operators also hail
themselves as DinersClub Canada promoters, but be careful where you
play. Look for major operators licensed in the UK and/or Malta. These
are the most secure and responsible in terms of player protections.
Rogue casinos are well aware that DinerClub card holders have lofty
bank accounts. If they can sucker an unsuspecting iGamer into
depositing at an unsafe, improperly regulated gambling site, they’ll
have a hay-day with your identity! Be smart and stick to the safety
of distinguished operators.
Top live dealers casino websites for Canadians in 2020.
We’re kicking
off the New Year with a fresh list of top-tier live casino operations
welcoming Canadian players. Live dealer games are preferred for their
realistic experience, closely mimicking that of a land-based casino –
as close as you can possibly get on a computer or mobile device.
There are real live dealers, operating real table games, with
multiple real players joining in the action.
Here in Canada,
we are limited in the number of online casinos we can play at. Some
provinces are privy to locally-regulated gambling websites, but only
two of them have live casino games. There are many more highly
reputable and strictly regulated international offerings, but only so
many have a good live dealer presentation.
Top Live Dealers Casino Sites for Canadians
Normally, a “top” list of anything has 3, 5, 10, or maybe 20 of the best whatever you’re listing. I’m going out of the box with this list and giving you the “Top 4”. Yes, four of Canada’s best live casinos in 2020. Why four? Because I couldn’t possibly cut this list down to three, and there really isn’t a fifth worthy of inclusion.
I’m also not
giving the operators a number ranking. I don’t feel that any one is
better than another. They all have differentiating qualities that
earned them a spot on this list. For instance, the first two, PlayNow
and PlayOLG, are both home-grown operations. Then
again, they’re ring-fenced to their local provinces, limiting who
can access them. The second two, LeoVegas and Royal
Vegas, are open to all Canadians, but present very different
live gaming options. With that being said, let’s get right to it…
PlayNow Live Casino – BC and Manitoba Only
PlayNow is a
great iGaming operation built, maintained and regulated by the
provincial government of British Columbia. Through a player sharing
contract with the BCLC, Manitoba residents are also able to partake
in PlayNow’s internet gambling activities. For residents of these
jurisdictions, the degree of security and player protections can’t
be beat.
The PlayNow Live
Casino is powered by the industry’s #1 Live Casino brand, Evolution
Gaming, and includes live blackjack, infinite blackjack,
baccarat, eSqueeze baccarat, roulette, auto roulette and ultimate
Texas holdem. That’s not a bad assortment, but it doesn’t include
any of Evolution’s immensely popular game show-style productions.
EspaceJeux Live Casino – Quebec Only
Similarly,
Espacejeux is the online gambling operation of Loto-Quebec – home
grown and locally regulated by that provincial government. As such,
security and safety are unquestionable, but only residents of Quebec
can sign up an account and place wagers. That’s good for Quebecois,
as is the implementation of Evolution Gaming’s world class live
dealer software. On the negative side, the only live games are
standard blackjack and roulette, baccarat, and Control Squeeze
baccarat.
LeoVegas Live Casino – All Canadians Accepted
LeoVegas is an
internationally operated casino brand, regulated in multiple
jurisdictions. LeoVegas is licensed in its home country of Sweden,
and also holds gaming licenses from Denmark and Malta. It is powered
by more software brands than I’d care to count; somewhere in the
neighborhood of 50. Several of those software studios offer live
casino games. As such, this website presents, by far, the largest
live gaming menu of any competitor.
There are – and
bear in mind, some of these numbers will appear as duplicates due to
multi-categorization – 48 live roulette games, 31 live blackjack
games, 18 types of “card games”, 16 private Chambre Séparée
(high roller) tables, 16 “VIP” tables, 11 live baccarat
tables, 7 live “game show” style options, and 5 live poker
variants; 23 of which are ‘Fast Play’ titles.
Royal Vegas Live Casino – All Canadians Accepted
There are some
who would argue that “less is more”. By this, I mean having so
many options – as many as LeoVegas presents – can make it harder
to actually pick one. It’s not just a theory, but a scientific
fact. Studies have shown that being offered chocolate, vanilla or
strawberry ice cream makes it easy to pick one, whereas 30+ flavors
can actually cause stress, anxiety, and an accelerated heart rate.
Why such difficulty? People tend to fear that they won’t (or
didn’t) choose the best option, and it leaves a bad taste in their
mouth – pardon the pun.
If you prescribe
to this ideal, then I present to you Royal Vegas Canada. Licensed in
Malta, this operator only employs one live casino supplier, but it’s
the world’s best – also proven by statistical data – Evolution
Gaming.
Evolution has won
the eGR Live Casino Supplier of the Year Award for the last 10
years straight. It’s almost as if they’ve figured out the perfect
formula for live dealers casino games, and they’ve kept it as
confidential as Mr. Krab’s secret formula for the “Krabby Patty”.
Royal Vegas
accepts players from all over Canada. It’s also one of the few
international sites that is approved to process payments via Interact
eTransfer. Live casino games include blackjack, roulette,
double ball roulette, baccarat, casino holdem, 3 card poker,
Caribbean stud poker, private tables, game show tables, and their
signature “Party” tables.
EziPay Online Casinos: The right choice when quality and security
are more important than convenience.
When most people
search for the best way to deposit money into an online casino, their
priorities include things like easy, fast, cheap, and secure. I’m
all for saving money, and securing private details is paramount, but
sometimes, convenience has to take a back seat to the more important
qualities.
There are plenty
of “easy” deposit options out there. You can easily input your
credit or debit card details. You can easily write an eCheck,
divulging your bank account information. It’s almost as easy to set
up a typical eWallet account, or purchase a prepaid gift card. But
keep in mind, the more effort you put into securing your personal and
sensitive information, the more secure it’s going to be. It’s
that simple, and that’s the whole concept behind EziPay casino
deposits.
EziPay Online Casinos for Discerning iGamers
EziPay is an
eWallet payment system, similar in some ways to brands like Neteller,
Skrill and ecoPayz. However, EziPay goes several steps above and
beyond the assurances of those common web wallets. You can’t go to
the EziPay website, sign up an account, and start moving cash in less
time than it takes to brew a pot of coffee.
This payment
group is more like an exclusive country club. You don’t visit the
website and sign up an account. You must be invited to join. And the
only way to receive an invite is to request membership through an
existing partner. The group’s partners include all online casinos
that accept EziPay deposits.
What’s So Special About EziPay?
EziPay is owned
by a company called CSC24Seven. Founded in 2003, CSC24Seven is
a private company registered in the Republic of Cyprus, a small
island country in the Mediterranean and member of the European Union.
That piece of information is important because the European Union
demands strict compliance in all financial matters, including those
related to gambling, from all companies licensed within all its
member states.
Any EU country affiliated with iGaming adheres to some of the strictest laws on the planet. The security of their systems must be of the highest standard, or they don’t get licensed. Suffice it to say, after 16 years in the EU market, EziPay is a brand you can trust to keep your information safe and secure.
While its offices are located in Cyprus, CSC24Seven makes its payment services available to regions all over the world, but only in countries where iGaming is not prohibited, including right here in Canada.
How to Set Up an EziPay Account
To set up an account, you must receive an invitation. You can request an invite through any online casino that accept EziPay or PaySparkdeposits. PaySpark is the sister-eWallet of EziPay; both owned by CSC24Seven. They are extensions of one another, really, so where you see one logo, its sibling is also accepted.
From the online
casino’s banking page, you can choose to make a deposit, then
select either EziPay or PaySpark from the menu. If you haven’t
deposited with this method before, the casino will ask if you want an
account request sent on your behalf. Respond affirmatively, and soon
enough you’ll receive an email from EziPay with all the details you
need to complete your new account registration. The information will
include a temporary password to login with. You can change the
password once your account is set up.
You’ll be able
to start moving money at this point, but with very strict limitations
at first. These restrictions, including a $2,500 transaction limit
per calendar year, will be lifted once you verify your identity.
How to Verify Your Identity with EziPay
Yes, this seems
like another hoop to jump through, but again, this is how the payment
system ensures the highest degree of responsibility and security.
Would you give your financial information to someone just because
they say they are trustworthy? No. EziPay feels the same way.
Due to the
exclusivity of their product, most of their online casino members are
high rollers. They are not willing to get tangled up in a potential
money laundering scandal. The company needs to know that each member
is who they say they are, and that the transactions they make are on
the up-and-up, before they will grant full account privileges. As I
said, EU member states hold their financial services to very high
standards. Identity verification means it’s safer for you, and
safer for them.
Fortunately,
verification isn’t difficult. In fact, it’s the same process
you’ll undergo with your online casino before a withdrawal can be
made. It requires the submission of two forms of identifying
documentation. At least one of them must be a government issued ID,
such as a driver’s license, passport or photo ID card. The second
can be something as simple as a bank statement or utility bill, so
long as it’s in your name, and displays your address – the same
name and address you registered your account with.
The Silver Lining – EziPay Casino Deposits &
Withdrawals
If this all
sounds like too much hassle to ensure the utmost safety and security
of your online casino deposits, just know that you only have to go
through this one time. It may take more than the five minutes you
were hoping to spend moving cash into your casino account before
playing the games, but if personal security is your number one
priority, it’s hardly too much to ask.
Once you complete
registration and ID verification, you’ll be able to use this
payment method quickly and easily at any and all EziPay online
casinos. Deposits take less than a minute to appear in your casino
account. As with all payment methods, withdrawals take longer,
averaging 3-6 days. From there, you can send them to your bank, or,
as an added perk of membership, you’ll be issued a free PaySpark
ATM card. With this, you can withdrawal your funds as cash the moment
they hit your EziPay account.
1-2-Done! How to find an Interac casino Canada can trust.
Have you ever had to do a task you
really didn’t feel up to? Did you wish there was an easier way? Some
way to skip through all the hard work and get straight to the reward
at the end? Rarely do such shortcuts exist in life. If you do find
one, chances are it could either get you fired or locked up. But
sometimes, often when you least expect it, something comes along to
make your life a whole lot easier.
I’ve mentioned this little tip in other publications, but I feel it’s so important, it deserves its own section on this website. It is going to be the easiest casino-seeking tutorial you’ve ever read – and I’ve ever written. If you live in Canada, enjoy online gambling, and trust Interac, keep reading…
How to find an Interac Casino Canada can Trust
This is a simple two step process.
Ready? Here goes…
Step #1 Find
an online casino that accepts Interac.
Step #2 Join
the casino.
1 – 2 – Done! Was that easy
enough? You probably think I’m crazy. I can just imagine the thoughts
racing through your brain right now…
You can’t just go trusting the
first Interac casino you come across. It’s never been that easy
before! Why would it be so easy now?They can’t all be trustworthy.
Maybe they were trustworthy at one point, but what if a new one
launched since this was written – are they to be trusted, too?
Yes, as a matter of fact, they are.
All of them are. If it’s promoting Interac, you can trust it, and you
can join it from Canada. It’s that simple.
How do I know Canadian players are accepted?
They just are. If Interac is on the
banking menu, Canadians are accepted. You see, Interac is a
Canadian-made monetary transfer service that only serves customers in
Canada. The transfer can come from or go to any bank, domestic or
international, but either the sender or recipient account must be a
Canadian financial institution.
Simply put, if Interac is accepted,
Canadians are accepted, as they are the only players who can use it.
How do I know the casino operator can be trusted?
The beauty of Interac is that it is
powered by Canada’s largest banks. Those banks have no desire to get
ripped off or caught up in any scandals. They insure their user
accounts, and like any insurance company, they do not want to pay out
any claims if they don’t have to. To that end, they have hired
commerce investigators that look closely at the business practices of
every international company that requests the use of their services
for Canadian customers.
Suffice it to say, if the online
casino wasn’t entirely on the up and up, boasting a proven track
record for best practices and customer satisfaction, Interac wouldn’t
do business with them in the first place.
How do I find an Interac casino?
This is the only difficult part of
the task. Then again, it’s the only task, so you’ll just have to suck
it up, buttercup! It’s not that difficult, but less than 2% of the
world’s online casinos take Interac. That shouldn’t be too
surprising, considering how strict Interac is in investigating
businesses.
To make things a little easier, I’ll
suggest LeoVegas Casino, accepting Interac
Online (instant EFT) and Interac E-Transfer (via
email or mobile) deposits and withdrawals.
