The US has historically been more puritanical than Canada when it comes to online gambling. Despite being the home of Sin City and Monopoly City, the US been much stricter than its neighbour to the north when it comes to legalizing online gambling. But the tide seems to be turning. Multiple US states have already legalized online gambling and started regulating online providers to give players a place to play and add some money to the region’s coffers.
Canada has long allowed players to gamble at online casinos, as long as they are based in non-Canadian jurisdictions. These are typically regulated by authorities in Europe and the Caribbean. However, Ontario residents will soon have access to online casinos that are regulated by home-grown authorities, including the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and the Government of Ontario. What does this mean for players in Ontario?
This article will explore the new reality that Ontario players will experience when their online gambling market opens a bit later this year.
What is Ontario doing?
When its new market opens, currently scheduled for April 4th, 2022, Ontario will be the very first province offering a private online betting market. Some analysts believe that it could be one of the largest of its kind in North America, sparking much discussion about the future of online gambling in Canada.
The move comes after the local government recognized that turning current offshore casino players, of which there are many throughout the province, into players at legal casinos approved by the government was safer for the players and a potential source of income.
Since the announcement of Ontario’s decriminalization of gambling, along with their intent to open a new market, operators have been rushing to secure a license. Nearly 30 of them had applied for registration by February 2022, just a month after the announcement came. Of course, not all of them have received a license, but eleven operators have been successful. This is an impressive number for a market yet to have opened, and players will have plenty of choices come April.
But why is legalizing gambling a big deal, and how does it impact the players themselves?
Safer online play
Ontario’s legal market will give players access to well-respected operators who the government has vetted to approve only those with the ability to provide Canadian players with a safe and high-quality experience.
Another benefit of legal online casino gaming is the presence of new player bonuses. Most online casinos offer their new users a welcome package designed to help them hit the ground running and dive into their favourite games immediately.
There are a number of bonus types, with some of the most popular being deposit match bonuses and free spins bonuses. The former is a bonus that matches the player’s deposit by a certain percentage and up to a certain amount. A 100% deposit match bonus up to $200, for example, will effectively double players’ initial deposits, giving them up to $200 in bonus funds.
Free spins are another popular bonus. As the name implies, this offer gives players free spins they can use at various slots. Note that these slots are often selected by the casino, which means that players do not have the opportunity to pick the game they’d like to experience.
Access to great casinos
As mentioned above, legal casino players have access to high-quality and licensed online operators. But what exactly do these providers do for their players?
Any reputable online casino licensed in Ontario will offer players a few different perks. An official license ensures that the operator is held accountable for the state of their games. Licensed operators will face severe fines if they provide titles that are altered to be unfair to players or hide information about how the game works. This is one of the reasons why playing with approved casinos is a safer bet than playing with offshore options.
Access to the most popular game providers is another reason to love registered casinos. As we mentioned, sometimes offshore casinos pirate their games and compromise their quality in the process. Official online casinos offer the best titles directly from the most innovative developers in the market. These games are kept updated and bug-free, ensuring an excellent gaming experience.
Are you excited for Ontario’s new online gambling market to open? From safer transactions to better games, players stand to gain a lot from the decision.
Evan McKenzie is a contributor at Vaughantoday.ca, covering a wide range of topics including local news, politics, business, technology, sports, entertainment, and lifestyle. He focuses on clear, balanced reporting that helps readers stay informed about current events and issues that matter to their communities. His work aims to provide useful information, timely updates, and relevant stories presented in an accessible and reader-friendly way.