🇨🇦 Best Online Casinos in Canada

Our main goal with Lion Casinos is to offer transparent reviews of online casinos that accept players from Canada. Unlike many of our competitors, we pride ourselves on being objective and not letting advertising fees cloud our judgment on which brands are the best for players.

How so? It’s quite simple actually – when our objectives align with yours, it’s great for business and you keep coming back for more, as our seal of approval actually holds value. That’s what you’ll get from casinos that are accredited by LionCasinos.com

Now you can either jump into the list of sites presented below or take a look at what are some of our core values for reviewing casinos slightly lower on this same page. We presented some of them on our homepage too, but here we’ll go into more detail.

These days, fans of online casino games are being spoilt for choice. More and more brands fight to attract new players and keep the existing ones from spending their money at one of the many competing sites, and eventually, players benefit. At the same time, it gets increasingly difficult to decide where to play.

We know that you’d rather spend time having fun than waste hours trying to find a safe gaming venue able to satisfy your needs, so we’re doing the research instead. Our comprehensive reviews address crucial elements of the casino’s offering and assign ratings based on safety, fairness, and quality of the gaming experience. If you care to read on, we’ll explain the metrics used.

Read More

Too long; didn’t read? Let us summarize in one sentence: PLAY WHERE YOU’RE TREATED BEST!

Best Canadian Online Casinos

Casino
Free Spins
Welcome Bonus
What's Hot
Visit Casino
200
$1,000
$5
25xB
200%
T&C Apply
200 Free Spins
Extraordinary Branded Live Casino With a Separate Bonus
Huge Variety of Game Suppliers
200
$1,000
$5
25xB
200%
T&C Apply
200 Free Spins
Extraordinary Branded Live Casino With a Separate Bonus
Huge Variety of Game Suppliers
100
$1,000
$5
35xBD
100%
T&C Apply
French Language Version Available
Powered by White Hat Gaming - Tons of Games
Loyalty Program Earning You Cashback on Every Wager
* Free spins awarded on Starburst. Winnings have 35x wagering. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
200
$400
$7.50
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum Deposits Accepted
Withdrawals Processed in 10 Minutes
Interac for Deposits & Withdrawals
50
$100
$5
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
Amazing Loyalty Rewards Via The Wheel of Rizk
Withdrawal Flushing Option
One Of The Fastest Paying Casinos In The Business
200
$1,000
$5
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
Interac Deposits Accepted
Super Fast Withdrawal Processing
Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum Deposits Accepted
* $AUD 1,000 Welcome Package awarded over 4 deposits. Free spins are available on games powered by BGaming. Max cash out with free spins $AUD 100.
20
$1,000
$5
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
200 Free Spins on Fire Joker Over 10 Days (After 1st Deposit)
Part of the Genesis Group - Great VIP Rewards
Strong Licenses in Malta, UK & Sweden - Safe Playing Environment
* Free Spins on Fire Joker. Skrill & Neteller Deposits Excluded. Full Terms & Conditions Apply to All Bonus Offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly.
300
$1,500
$5
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
300 Free Spins on Netent Slots Over 10 Days (After 1st Deposit)
Part of the Genesis Group - Great VIP Rewards
Instadebit & Interac Deposits
* 18+ Full T&C's Apply. New players Only. $10 min deposit. $5 max bet using bonus. 40x wagering applies. Bonus valid for 14 days. 20 Spins on NetEnt Slots will be credited instantly + then 20 per day for 9 days. Free Spins valid for 72 hours from credit. Max Free Spins winnings $100. Skrill + Neteller excluded. Always refer to Bonus Terms - www.begambleaware.org
200
$1,000
$5
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
200 Free Spins on Fire Joker Over 10 Days (After 1st Deposit)
Part of the Genesis Group - Great VIP Rewards
Strong Licenses in Malta, UK & Sweden - Safe Playing Environment
* 18+ Full T&C's Apply. New players Only. $10 min deposit. $5 max bet using bonus. 40 x wagering applies. Bonus valid for 14 days. 20 Spins on Fire Joker will be credited instantly + then 20 per day for 9 days. Free Spins valid for 72 hours from credit. Max Free Spins winnings $100. Skrill + Neteller excluded. Always refer to Bonus Terms - www.begambleaware.org
300
$1,000
$5
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
C$1000 Awarded as 4 Separate Deposit Bonuses
Popular Deposit Methods Available (Interac/Instadebit)
Great Track Record & Strong Licenses
* 18+ Full T&C's Apply. New players Only. $10 min deposit. $5 max bet using bonus. 40 x wagering applies. Bonus valid for 14 days. 30 Spins on Fire Joker will be credited instantly + then 30 per day for 9 days. Free Spins valid for 72 hours from credit. Max Free Spins winnings $100. Skrill + Neteller excluded. Always refer to Bonus Terms - www.begambleaware.org
20
$1,000
$5
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
Great Range Of Game Suppliers (Like Red Tiger, Netent, Microgaming, Push Gaming etc)
Separate Live Dealer Casino Bonus
Top Tier Licenses in Malta & from UKGC
* 18+ Full T&C's Apply. New players Only. £10 min deposit. £5 max bet using bonus. 40 x wagering applies. Bonus valid for 14 days. 20 Spins on Starburst games will be credited instantly + then 20 per day for 9 days. Free Spins valid for 72 hours from credit. Max Free Spins winnings £100. Skrill + Neteller excluded. Always refer to Bonus Terms - www.begambleaware.org
N/A
$400
$5
60xB
200%
T&C Apply
Playtech Live Casino With Progressive Jackpot Roulette
Always Transparent With Terms & Conditions for Players
Proprietary Loyalty System With Wager Free Rewards
Very Few Big Time Gaming Slots (Bonanza & Extra Chili)
* New Customer Offer. T&C’s Apply. 18+. Offer available over first 4 deposits. Each deposit includes 50 Free Spins. 1st Deposit - 200% up to $400 • 2nd Deposit - 50% up to $500 • 3rd Deposit - 100% up to $300 • 4th Deposit - 50% up to $300. New customers only. Full T&C’s apply. No Neteller/Skrill. Min deposit $10.
300
$1,500
$5
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
Welcome Bonus Awarded On The First 4 Deposits
Part of the Genesis Group - Great VIP Rewards
Strong Licenses in Malta, UK & Sweden - Safe Playing Environment
* 18+ Full T&C's Apply. New players Only. $10 min deposit. $5 max bet using bonus. 40 x wagering applies. Bonus valid for 14 days. 30 Spins on Fire Joker will be credited instantly + then 30 per day for 9 days. Free Spins valid for 72 hours from credit. Max Free Spins winnings $100. Skrill + Neteller excluded. Always refer to Bonus Terms - www.begambleaware.org
N/A
N/A
T&C Apply
Amazing selection of slots & live casino games playable in BTC.
Withdrawals processed within 30 minutes.
Some of the highest betting limits you'll find online.
150
$100
$5
200xB
100
T&C Apply
150 Mega Moolah Free Spins on First Deposit ($0.25 per Spin)
Complete Suite of MicroGaming Games
48 Hour Pending Period for Withdrawals
200
$1,000
$5
35xBD
200%
T&C Apply
Above Average Value Welcome Bonus Package
Powered by White Hat Gaming - Great Selection of Slots
Evolution Live Casino Games
* Bonus awarded as a package on the first 3 deposits. 1st Deposit qualifies for a 200% bonus up to $1000. Min. Dep. to qualify $20. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
100
$1,000
$5
35xBD
100%
T&C Apply
Offers a Higher Welcome Bonus Package Than Most
Powered by White Hat Gaming - Wide Selection of Game Suppliers
Unique "Daily Upgrade" Promotion
Most Rewards Appear To Have Additional Wagering Attached To Them
* 18+.New players ONLY. First deposit only. Min deposit $20. Max bet $5 while the welcome bonus is in play. 35x wagering requirement. 1st Deposit - 100% up to $200 + 25 Extra Spins on Starburst™. 2nd Deposit - 50% up to $200 + 25 Extra Spins on Aloha!™. 3rd Deposit - 50% up to $300 + 25 Extra Spins on Fruit Shop™. 4th Deposit- 25% up to $300+ 25 Extra Spins on Gonzo's Quest™. Offer may not be combined with other offers. Game weighting, time limitations apply.
100
$100
$1
40xB
100%
T&C Apply
Bitcoin, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum Deposits Accepted
Withdrawals Processed in Under 12 Hours
Great Selection of Slots From Top Tier & New Suppliers
Maximum Bet When Using Bonus Money is $1/Spin
* Min. deposit for the bonus is $20. Free spins winnings capped at $100. Play responsibly. Full T&C's Apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
N/A
$200
$5
25xB
100%
T&C Apply
Sports Betting Available
Frequent Promotions
Fantastic Live Dealers
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
T&C Apply
Slick Interface
Frequent Promotions
Friendly Customer Support
N/A
$999
$5
25xB
100%
T&C Apply
Regular Tournaments
Frequent Promotions
Fantastic Live Dealers
260
$1,200
$5
35xBD
100%
T&C Apply
Welcome Package for First 4 Deposits
Interac Deposits & Withdrawals
More Than 1500 Slots On Offer Including Megaways
* $CA1,200 awarded as 4 separate match bonuses. Free spins awarded on Starburst. Winnings have 35x wagering. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
100
$200
$5
35xBD
200%
T&C Apply
Awesome 200% welcome package with free bonus spins
Frequent promotions to loyal players
Fantastic loyalty program
* Bonus awarded as a package worth aa total of $1,100 on the first 4 deposits. 1st Deposit qualifies for a 200% bonus up to $200 + 100 bonus spins. Min. Dep. to qualify $10. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
100
$1,500
$5
35xBD
100%
T&C Apply
Great Value Welcome Bonus Package
More Than 50 Game Suppliers Available
$20+ Million in Progressive Slots Jackpots
* Bonus awarded as a package on the first 3 deposits. 1st Deposit qualifies for a 100% bonus up to $350. Min. Dep. to qualify $20. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
100
$2,000
$5
35xBD
200%
T&C Apply
One of The Best 200% Match Bonuses In The Business
Monthly Prize Draw With a Mercedes Benz Car Up For Grabs
Deposits & Withdrawals Via Interac Available
* Bonus awarded as a package worth aa total of $2000 on the first 3 deposits. 1st Deposit qualifies for a 200% bonus up to $2000. Min. Dep. to qualify $20. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
50
Wager Free Spins 50
0
T&C Apply
No Wagering On Any Rewards - Ever
3,000+ Games Under One Account - All Top Tier Suppliers On Board
UKGC & MGA Licensed - Secure & Fast Paying
* New players only. Min deposit is $10. 50 Free Spins on Book of Dead. Spin Value: $0.10. After your first deposit, you may claim your 30 Extra Free Spins by visiting the Kicker Section. No min withdrawal. Play responsibly. Full T&C's Apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org.
100
N/A
$5
10xB
200%
T&C Apply
22 No Deposit Spins on Book Of Dead
Extraordinary Branded Live Casino With a Separate Bonus
Huge Variety of Game Suppliers
20
$500
$5
30xB
100%
T&C Apply
Players first attitude in all scenarios.
Very fast withdrawal processing with no payment limits.
Daily tournaments and promotions for slots players.
* 19+ New customers only. Opt-in required. 100% deposit bonus up to $500. Minimum deposit $20. 20 free spins on Jammin’ Jars game upon registration. 30x wagering requirements apply for bonuses. Regulated by MGA under licence no: MGA/B2C/217/2012. rgf.org.mt. T&Cs apply.
100
$500
$6.50
50xB
100%
T&C Apply
$C500 Bonus With a $6.50 Max Bet
Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum Deposits Accepted
Monthly Slots Race Worth $C70,000
* T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
200
$1,000
$5
35xBD
100%
T&C Apply
Slotnite available in French & English
Interac & Instadebit Deposits
The Loyalty Rewards are Credited as Bonus Cash WIth a 35x Wager
* Bonus awarded as a package on the first 3 deposits. 1st Deposit qualifies for a 100% bonus up to $250. Min. Dep. to qualify $20. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. Free spins on Gonzo's Quest, Starburst and Twin Spin. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
N/A
BTC5
N/A
100%
T&C Apply
Huge 5BTC Welcome Package on The First Deposit
Crypto Live Casino, Slots & Sports Betting In One
Extremely Fast Withdrawals With No Limits
* Make your first deposit today at Cloudbet - in BTC, ETH or BCH - and we'll reward you with a bonus of 100% up to a maximum of five bitcoin, Ethereum and bitcoin cash. Your bonus balance will be automatically released when you make your first deposit and play!
N/A
$1,500
$5
30xB
100%
T&C Apply
$C1500 Welcome Bonus Package
$88 No Deposit Bonus For New Registrations
Epic Private Live Casino Tables With Evolution Gaming
* $CAD1500 Bonus consists of 5 separate bonuses awarded on the first 4 deposits made with different match percentages of 30-100%. Please gamble responsibly. Strictly 18+ only. Full T&Cs Apply.
50
$500
$5
35xBD
100%
T&C Apply
Live Casino Doesn't Contribute Towards Welcome Bonus Wagering
Great Range of Megaways Slots
EVO + Netent Live Casino Tables
* Bonus awarded as a package on the first 3 deposits. 1st Deposit qualifies for a 100% bonus up to $100. Min. Dep. to qualify $20. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
N/A
$200
$5
35xB
100%
T&C Apply
Slots, Live Casino & Sports Betting Under One Account
MGA Licensed
7 Tier VIP Loyalty Scheme
* Deposit of $10 or higher needed to trigger the bonus.
50
$1,000
$5
35xBD
100%
T&C Apply
Above Average Value Welcome Bonus Package
Powered by White Hat Gaming - Tons of Games
Interac for Deposits Available
* Bonus awarded as a package on the first 3 deposits. 1st Deposit qualifies for a 100% bonus up to $250. Min. Dep. to qualify $20. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
N/A
$200
$5
35xB
100%
T&C Apply
Slots, Live Casino & Sports Betting & E-Sports
MGA Licensed
$5 No Deposit Bonus On Registration
* Deposit of $10 or higher needed to trigger the bonus. 14 Days to Fulfill Wagering Requirements.
100
$500
$5
35xBD
100%
T&C Apply
Above Average Value Welcome Package
Powered by White Hat Gaming - Tons of Games
Netent & Evolution Gaming for Live Casino Players
* Minimum Deposit of $20 required. Total of $500 in bonus money over the first 3 deposits. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
250
$200
$10
20xBD
100%
T&C Apply
Up To 250 Free Spins on Your First Deposit
Sports Betting, Fantasy Sports & Casino In One
Separate Live Casino Bonus With Good Wagering Terms
* Winnings from Free Spins are wager free. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
22
$222
$5
35xB
100%
T&C Apply
22 No Deposit Free Spins on Dead or Alive
Interac & Instadebit Deposits
Powered by White Hat Gaming - Tons of Games
* T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
100
$1,500
$5
30xBD
100%
T&C Apply
Generous 4 Step Deposit Bonus Package
iGaming Cloud Platform for a Smooth Gaming Experience
Lightning Fast Withdrawals (Interac & Instadebit Accepted)
* The Luckydays welcome package consists of 3 deposit bonuses: 1st deposit gives you 100% up to $500, 2nd 100% up to $500 and 3rd 100% up to $500. All free spins offered on Book Of Dead. Deposits made from Neteller, Skrill, paysafecard and ecoPayz are excluded from this offer.
100
Wish Spins 100
35xW
T&C Apply
100 Spins on Dead or Alive 2 for a $20 Deposit
iGaming Cloud Platform - Extraordinary User Experience
UKGC & MGA Licensed With Fast Payouts
* New depositing players of $20 or more get 100 Wish Spins on Dead or Alive 2 ($0.09 value/spin) with a max win of $10,000 and 35x wagering on the winnings.
100
$1,000
$5
35xB
100%
T&C Apply
$1,000 Welcome Package Over 3 Deposits
White Hat Gaming Brand - Great Ranges of Suppliers
Interac Not Available for Withdrawals
* T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
20
$500
$5
35xB
100%
T&C Apply
21 No Deposit Free Spins on Book Of Dead
Powered by White Hat Gaming - Tons of Games
UKGC & MGA Licensed - Secure & Fast Paying
* T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
200
$2,000
$3
25BD
T&C Apply
Average withdrawal processing time of 5 hours.
Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum + FIAT Accepted.
Epic loyalty store with merchandise & cash bonuses available.
100
$123
$3
50xB
50%
T&C Apply
More than 20 game suppliers on board!
Fast withdrawal processing & Interac available.
Deposit bonus is less generous than that of competitors.
99
$99
$5
40xB+D
50%
T&C Apply
Great Selection Of Slots
Part of a Casino Group With a Proven Track Record
Bonuses are Generally Less Valuable Than Competitors
100
$100
$7.50
35xB
100
T&C Apply
Fast Payouts With High Monthly Limits
Private Live Blackjack & Roulette Tables
10 No Deposit Spins on Signup (Starburst)
20
$100
$5
35xB
100%
T&C Apply
10 No Deposit Free Spins on Book Of Dead
Powered by White Hat Gaming - An Epic Amount of Games
MGA & UKGC Licensed - Secure Experience
* T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
90
$300
$5
35xB
100%
T&C Apply
10 No Deposit Free Spins on Book Of Dead
Powered by White Hat Gaming - Tons of Games
30+ Game Suppliers
* T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
50
€360
€5
35xB
100%
T&C Apply
120% up to €360 + 50 FS
Live Dealers Available
Regular Tournaments
*
N/A
$359
$5
35xB
200%
T&C Apply
200% up to $350
Live Dealers Available
Multiple languages
50
$500
$5
35xBD
100%
T&C Apply
French Language Version Available
Powered by White Hat Gaming - Tons of Games
Loyalty Program Earning You Cashback on Every Wager
* Bonus awarded as a package on the first 3 deposits. 1st Deposit qualifies for a 100% bonus up to $100. Min. Dep. to qualify $20. Skrill & Neteller excluded from the bonus. T&Cs apply to all bonus offers. 18+ Only. Please Gamble Responsibly. BeGambleAware.org
N/A
$1,600
$5
25xB
100%
T&C Apply
Poor customer support
Delayed payouts
Poor reputation
*

Our Value Proposition

An Approval Seal That Has Value

Truth be told, most sites are full of it and their rankings are strictly based on the fees casinos pay them.

Instead of using this morally bankrupt approach, we test each casino individually and offer an honest overview of what is offered.

Brands then earn our seal only if they are worthy of it and we’d be comfortable depositing at the casino in question ourselves.

Monthly Payout Reports

Oh, the glorious promises of fast payouts at every online casino you visit! Yeah, right…

Instead of praying that you get paid after winning big, how about doing proper groundwork (research!) beforehand and picking a site with a proven track record of paying big winners.

That’s exactly the purpose of this monthly test – we’ll compare all the approved casinos based on the speed they process our withdrawals.

New Casinos & Slots

Sometimes you’re just tired of the same old routine and want to try something new. We got you.

We review the new casino brands that launch and are able to tell you which ones are worth trying out, and which ones are rogue, and will simply steal your money.

The same goes for slots, although it is definitely more subjective in this area.

We try to review most of the worthy new releases and offer an educated opinion on these.

When it comes to new casinos, we list most of the promising ones with basic due diligence, but these are in no way equal to the approved ones.

Casino Promotions Tracker

Promotions are an easy way to get more value out of playing casino games.

Want to play live blackjack? How about participating in a live casino raffle while you are at it?

Immortal Romance? Grab a reload bonus and get some of that extra RTP.

Here’s a little secret – promotions generally offer better value than signup bonuses, as they are a part of a larger scope player acquisition campaign and the outcome is harder to predict or measure beforehand.

Sometimes casinos are willing to lose a little money to make noise, use it to your advantage. We’ll help you with that!

Before you jump into the amazing world of online casinos, we would like to take this moment to remind you that playing casino games should only be a form of entertainment.

If you feel like it is turning into a problem, please refer to our responsible gambling section for extensive advice on how to better control yourself.

Our Promise

We want you to have an enjoyable online casino playing experience and thus we follow a couple of simple, but important principles to ensure that this will in fact be the case.

All casinos approved by Lioncasinos are:

  • Licensed in reputable jurisdictions and safe to play at.
  • Approve payouts within 72 hours.
  • Do not stall the verification process.
  • Have high monthly withdrawal limits.
  • Offer original games with fair RTPs.
  • Take problem gambling seriously.
  • Provide great customer support via e-mail, phone and live chat.
Read More

What Makes a Good Canadian Online Casino?

Online casino sites have long ago started growing like mushrooms, with both world-famous gaming operators adding new casinos to their portfolio and relatively unknown gaming companies starting new projects, hoping to get a share of the profits.

Due to the fact that casino gamers now have access to a plethora of online casinos, it is now more important than ever for industry experts such as ourselves to review all those establishments and ensure that casino enthusiasts only play at reputable gaming venues that treat their customers with the utmost respect.

While you can easily see the final product of this painstaking process, we would also like you to be fully acquainted with how we at Lioncasinos.com review and rate different casino rooms searching for the very best online casino there is.

For another point of reference on the best Canuck casinos take a look at the Canadian version of Gambla established and run by the notorious Erik King who’s very, very good at listing casinos in a table.

Read More

$CAD Accounts + Local Banking Methods

Needless to say, you will be wanting to play in Canadian Dollars to avoid monetary loss from currency exchange.

This is why we’ll mainly work with online casinos that have $CAD.

The only exception to this will be cryptocurrency sites working with coins like Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum.

On top of that, being able to quickly deposit and withdraw with a bank card or even bank transfer is a major benefit as well.

The brands that are most recommended by us generally offer Interac and InstaDebit as deposit methods both of whom let you deposit from a Canadian bank account instantly, securely and cheaply.

Strong Track Record

We start by paying close attention to the company that stands behind the casino in question, making sure they have an impeccable track record when it comes to treating players fairly.

Any problems they may have experienced in the said department in the past would immediately raise red flags.

We want all our readers to only play at venues that boast excellent reputation and are 100% safe and secure, meaning we will immediately eliminate any websites from our approved list that do not meet these requirements.

Sometimes even we miss something though, so make sure you get in touch in case you’ve heard or experienced something bad about an approved casino.

Fast KYC Procedure & Support

Any casino that wants to hold a seal of approval from Lion Casinos has to offer a smooth KYC process, where they do not try to stall the procedure in any way.

We’ve experienced the pain when a casino is trying NOT to verify your account in any way by giving you lousy excuses such as asking you to physically mail them copies of your documents.

That is absolutely not acceptable, and we will not grant a seal of approval to operators like this.

On the other side of the coin, you’ll have casinos that will review and approve documents within 1 hour.

These are exactly the kind of casinos we want to work with and recommend.

Software & Games

Then it’s time to take a close look at the software providers and the quality of games on offer, since we believe that the overall gaming experience is also very important.

Most online casinos nowadays employ numerous software developers to ensure their customers have access to a diverse and impressive game library that contains feature-rich video slots, classic card, and table games, video poker, progressives and more.

Generally the more providers, the better, but we also pay attention to the quality of these. If they are what we would refer to as top-tier that is worth a lot more than having 20 game suppliers we have never heard of before.

Bonuses & Promotions

Casinos are operating to make a profit and you will not be able to make money from them in a sustainable way.

Now when that is out of question lets talk bonuses and promotions that will improve your bottom line by prolonging the playing time.

These generally come in two types – ones lure you in to deposit, but end up being bitter disappointments with unrealistic expectations while the others add great value to your time spent playing.

Our aim is to introduce you to the latter – deposit bonuses and casino welcome packages.

High Monthly Withdrawal Limits

What’s the point of playing if you cannot withdraw when you win big? We’ll do our best to point out withdrawal limits at casinos that are listed on this site.

Sometimes it does make sense to recommend a site where the withdrawal limits are relatively low ($10,000 per month for example) if they have another unique selling point, such as proprietary games.

However, we will aim to be transparent in this regard as much as possible.

Another feature that makes a casino much more legitimate in our eyes is withdrawal flushing. This lets you lock in a withdrawal request without any way to cancel it. One of our favorite all-time casinos, Rizk, offers this.

How We Deconstruct a Casino Site

We’ve borrowed this awesome ideology of deconstruction from Tim Ferriss, who does this with hundreds of successful people all over the world to understand how they got to be who they are.

This same method can be used to judge whether an online casino is worth depositing and playing at or not.

We start by coming up with the metrics that work as a foundation for a successful gambling site and these are displayed below.

Please note that we also get into less trivial sides of casinos in the end of this page that work as bonus points for brands that have already earned our approval.

Read More
properLicense-V2

Casino Licences Explained

It all starts with a license. In the Canadian casino market there are two very commonly seen licensing bodies.

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Malta License

malta gaming authority casinosMalta or MGA license is the crème de la crème for Canadian players and the most commonly found license among LionCasinos approved casinos too.

This works as a stamp of approval that the casino is serious about their business, has enough cash on hand to operate and takes problem gambling seriously.

You should still do some basic due diligence of course because even with an MGA license, the casino can delay your withdrawals, offer borderline-rogue terms on their bonuses and whatnot.

We’d rate Malta license as 8/10 in terms of ensuring that license holders have the necessary funds and adequate operational knowledge in place to offer the right kind of environment for players.

Curaçao License

Curaçao is the other popular choice in terms of licensing for Canadian casino sites and this one is wildly different than the MGA one.

We’ve heard multiple claims that the license can be acquired in as little as 24 hours with little to no due diligence.

So are all Curaçao casinos a rogue operation? Not, but don’t use this license as a stamp of approval for a casino being trustworthy.

We have tested hundreds of Curaçao licensed sites and some of them are amazing while others are horrible.

Our rating on Curaçao’s license is 3/10. This license isn’t really worth anything in terms of solving complaints and ensuring that operators treat their players in a reasonable way.

The Purpose of Licensing

When gambling online, you’re required to send your money via the internet to someone you know nothing about. Will it arrive safely, without some fraudster getting access to your private and sensitive information and robbing you blind?

If it does reach the intended destination and enables you to start placing bets, will the resulting winnings be paid fairly, promptly and in full?

The online gambling industry is currently worth over $50 billion and is therefore hugely appealing to unscrupulous operators looking to make a fortune at the expense of unsuspecting players. How can you know that the one you’ve chosen to play with is legit when they are likely located thousands of miles away and you’ve got no previous experience to show they can be trusted?

That’s where industry regulators come in. Their main objectives are to ensure that gambling is conducted in a fair and open way, free from criminal activities and that children and other vulnerable persons are protected. They are the ones safeguarding players’ rights, promoting responsible gaming in a safe environment, and ensuring the integrity of games and gaming devices.

Industry regulators set requirements for companies wishing to offer gambling services and carry out assessments to ensure compliance. They will, for example, enforce testing and certification of the operator’s gambling products by one of the independent test houses, demand that the service provider implements systems for receiving and managing customer complaints, and make sure the licensee always has adequate financing to be able to pay current and estimated obligations.

Having acquired evidence that a licensee doesn’t comply, the license issuer will react in one way or another. If the operator doesn’t revise non-compliant behavior, it will use its regulatory powers to take enforcement action.

To operate legally, online gambling operators must be registered and in compliance with at least one jurisdiction. Though the job is always the same, licensing bodies differ in terms of the level of protection offered to players.

That’s why it’s not only important to make sure your chosen online casino has a valid operating license, but also to check who is the issuer.

Popular Regulatory Bodies

Operators are frequently using the opportunity to create an offshore company in places like Malta, Curacao or Gibraltar and obtain a gambling license there. Having done so, they’ll promote their services to a worldwide gaming community (with certain exceptions).

Casinos licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority are generally considered safe and trustworthy due to fairly strict regulations. What’s more, the MGA features an Online Player Support Channel you can reach out to in case of an issue with one of their licensees.

Curacao gambling authorities, on the other hand, seem to be more focused on making life easier for operators than on safeguarding players. That doesn’t mean you should avoid sites licensed in Curacao but be aware the regulator won’t do much to help you out in case of a problem.

Regulation & Licensing at a Country Level

Some countries stipulate that online casinos can’t operate on their territory without a license issued by the local regulatory body. They are highly protective of the country’s residents and overall ensure the highest level of safety and fair play. The UK Gambling Commission, for example, licenses and regulates businesses that provide gambling services in Great Britain.

This organization is renowned for being very strict and its licensees are generally considered to be highly trustworthy. But though it’s very unlikely to encounter an issue with a UK-licensed casino, you should know that the Gambling Commission does not get directly involved in resolving consumer complaints.

What they may do is launch a regulatory or criminal investigation which can result in sanctions and charges. Similar organizations regulate online gambling in Spain, Italy, France, and many other countries in which gambling is legal.

Canada is one of the countries where gambling laws are also different based on the province, similar to states in the USA. For a complete understanding of how online gambling in Canada is treated in the eyes of the law, you can visit our article here.

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Platform Used

Three different parties make it possible for you to access and play an online casino game. To start with, someone has to produce it. This is mostly (but not exclusively) done by companies specialised for developing slots, RNG and live table games, video pokers and so on, such as Microgaming, NetEnt and Evolution Gaming.

Operators will pick and choose which of their products they want to offer their clients and market them via gaming websites. But there’s another component which you may not be aware of but has a major impact on the quality of your gaming experience – the platform.

Casino platform will seamlessly integrate games from a number of different developers into a single casino lobby, allowing players to access them through a user-friendly interface on desktops or mobile devices and enabling operators to manage the entire portfolio from one central back-office.

Lines between the three are getting increasingly blurred. You’ll find that games are also being developed by platform providers as well as operators and that some game providers (e.g. Microgaming and Playtech) develop their own platforms.

Let’s imagine you decided to launch an online casino yourself. You’d have to make an agreement with one or more software providers, source a casino platform, secure operating licenses, integrate a payment system, set up customer support service etc.

Once the casino was launched, you’d need to manage day-to-day operations. The entire process takes time, money and manpower only large companies can afford. Or so it used to be. Nowadays, one can choose among numerous white label solutions and have someone else do the hard work. What’s more, this option significantly shortens time-to-market and decreases set-up and operating costs. One can easily become the owner of a successful online casino even if they’ve got no relevant experience whatsoever.

White label providers will supply a gaming platform with an assortment of RNG and live dealer games, but also provide promotional tools, customer support service, payment processing solution and operating licensing. They will be in charge of running daily operations and your job as the brand owner will be to implement marketing activities and make sure new players keep coming in.

Speed, low costs and the minimum amount of hassle is a combination which makes white label solutions increasingly popular. As the result, many of the new brands are launched on the same platform and sometimes there’s very little to distinguish one from another.

You’ll easily notice it if you visit a few gaming sites powered by Nektan (Pots Of Luck, Kerching!) or ProgressPlay Limited; other than the name and logo, these online casinos are more or less clones. Pots Of Luck and Kerching!

Casino feature identical lobbies and menus, support same payment methods, and there’s very little difference in terms of their promotional offering. Neither has a distinct personality that would make them stand out in this highly competitive environment. Due to lack of creativity and above-average performance in any of the areas, they’re unable to provide a memorable gaming experience.

It doesn’t need to be so, as demonstrated by iGaming Cloud. Take a look at “the world’s happiest casino” Cashmio and Wishmaker Casino and see if you’d ever guess they were built on the same platform.

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iGaming Cloud

These guys are behind some of the most popular casino sites in Canada like Rizk and Guts.

Their rise to the top was fast, mainly thanks to being one of the pioneers for the players-first approach.

Guts were the first brand to process withdrawals almost instantly, with the aim of the average being under 1 hour.

They set the standards for the whole industry and Canadian players loved it, along most of the other countries too.

These days you’ll still see their brands featured in many spots on Lioncasinos, but other brands have surely caught up too.

White Hat Gaming

These used to be our go-to casinos for some of the biggest casino deposit bonuses in the business. You could literally get an unlimited match deposit bonus at some of their properties.

It would appear they’ve calmed down a lot since then, but their casinos are still a great choice for Canadian players.

The deposit bonuses offered are still above average and their main competitive advantage against competitors.

We counted more than 70 game suppliers integrated at some of their properties too, so if you’re into a mood for discovery of new slots, White Hat brands are a decent match!

Softswiss

Even though these guys operate under a Curacao license, their casino sites have quickly gained a lot of popularity due to a number of reasons.

Firstly, the payout speed at their brands like Bitstarz and King Billy Casino is world-class – usually under 24 hours to get your withdrawal processed.

Secondly, they’ve integrated most of the top tier game suppliers.

But then there’s also something that distinguishes them against most other platform suppliers – all Softswiss casinos accept crypto deposits alongside FIAT.

You get to quickly switch between playing in $CAD, Bitcoin or even cryptos like Ethereum and Dogecoin.

L&L Europe Group

We’ve had these guys disregarded for quite a while, as we always assumed that they don’t take a player-first kind of an approach that we are all about.

Truth be told, they do and some of their top tier brands like Fun Casino are up there competing with the best in the world.

They’ve got Interac transfers and an outstanding selection of game suppliers including SG, WMS, Bally and a great range of Megaways slots.

Their brands are fresh, offer great UX and withdrawal speed is up to par. We cannot ask for much more from a group of white labels.

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Track Record of The Owners

There are other ways to overcome doubts raised by having to enter into a relationship with someone you don’t know, especially in an industry that has recorded some truly magnificent blowouts.

You may have heard about once-popular poker site called Full Tilt whose directors built up a kind of Ponzi scheme and consequently defrauded players out of over €300 million.

To quote District Attorney Preet Bharara, “insiders lined their own pockets with funds picked from the pockets of their most loyal customers while blithely lying to both players and the public alike about the safety and security of the money deposited within the company.”

Rogue casinos, part of the Virtual Casino Group, have a long history of non-payment of winnings, slow withdrawal processing and stalling of payments. In 1997, the group owner was convicted and jailed for conspiracy and mail fraud in the US, and a frustrated player who visited the company’s offices to find out why he wasn’t paid was beaten up.

There’s a number of unlicensed casinos running fake and rigged NetEnt and Playtech games and doing their best to hide information of ownership. There’s little doubt that those who have decided to play there got cheated.

These things do happen, but they needn’t to happen to you. If you were a professional considering doing business with a new supplier, you’d probably check their track record, financials and references.

The same thing can be done with an online gaming service provider. Make use of the internet, an accessible resource with plenty of reports and reviews published by independent and unbiased industry watchdogs such as Ask Gamblers (before they were acquired by a public company) and The POGG.

Research the owners to confirm the website is managed by one of the reputable companies or iGaming groups. Check to see how long the casino has been operational; those launched more than a decade ago are less likely to disappoint than a brand that is only a month or two old.

You’ll probably be safe if playing at a site owned by a publicly-traded company, such as Kindred (Unibet, 32Red, Roxy Palace) and MT SecureTrade Limited/GiG (Guts, Rizk, Cashmio, Dunder).

Being listed on a Stock Exchange means the company’s financials are closely monitored and owners will do whatever it takes to avoid scandals likely to impact price of their shares.

It’s important to point out that both public and private companies can run legitimate brands, such as is proven by Casumo, BitCasino, Casoo and many other safe Canadian casino sites..

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Player Friendly Terms

If you had ever signed a contract of any kind, friends and family may have warned you to read the small print; text printed in very small type can have a major impact on what happens next and yet it’s easily overlooked. This is equally good advice for players about to make a real money investment.

By accepting Terms & Conditions published at a gaming website, you’re as good as signing a legally binding contract so make sure to read every single sentence and ask for clarification if needed. Once you say “I accept”, that’s it; you’ll never be able to complain about not being aware of rules attached to the use of bonus funds, payment fees, etc.

Generally, the biggest issues appear in promotional terms and conditions. You’ll see restrictions such as being able to use bonuses or meet wagering requirements with only a handful of games, which may or may not be those that you actually enjoy playing.

There will be maximum bet limits and forbidden type of bets, but one of the worst things may be when operators impose (low) maximum withdrawal limit related to winnings generated while playing with bonus funds.

It’s not at all surprising to find predatory inactivity clauses with high maintenance fees and the prospect of your entire positive balance being seized as the operator terminates your account.

Casinos with good dormancy terms will allow for a reasonable amount of time to pass before labeling an account dormant, and then use all options at their disposal to contact the player prior to enforcement. If and when an account becomes dormant, they’ll charge reasonable fees.

Browsing through various T&Cs, we’ve seen sentences such as “we may, at our sole discretion and for any reason, terminate your account… we shall not be liable to you or any third party for any claims or damages arising out of any aforementioned termination or suspension of the account”, and many other similar phrases which casinos use to limit their liability.

Trustworthy operators will rarely use small print or in any way try to conceal details which may change your mind when it comes to registering or claiming promotional deals. Their Terms will provide all necessary information in an easy-to-read format.

You will rarely come across predatory terms, especially when playing at casinos licensed by one of the stricter regulators; the likes of MGA and UKGC will not allow their licensees to impose terms which are harmful for end users. Nevertheless, the casino’s T&C should be read in order to avoid a nasty surprise only once it’s too late to do anything about it.

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Responsible Gambling Practices

Online gambling can be tons of fun but it can just as easily create huge problems. Being able to stay in control is key. When you start spending unreasonably large amounts of time and money to play casino games while your private and professional lives begin to suffer, you’ve probably lost control and should ask for help.

Every online casino is required to respond by providing easy-to-use responsible gambling tools such as deposit and wagering limits, cool-off periods and self-exclusions. Once you have indicated to the operator that you may have a gambling problem, they should stop tempting you with special deals which might be hard to resist.

Rogue operators are not that keen to limit your spending. Their responsible gaming tools will not be as user-friendly and promotional emails will keep showing up in your inbox.

They will often adopt a long withdrawal processing period, hoping to give you enough time to change your mind and reinvest the money instead of cashing out. This kind of behaviour is typical for casinos licensed by organizations which do very little to protect players, such as the Curacao Internet Gambling Association.

At the same time, good online casino operators will do all they’re required to do and more, all in your best interest. They’ll provide self-assessment tests to help you identify a potential gambling problem, train their staff accordingly, and even implement unique tools such as the Withdrawal Lock.

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Withdrawal Lock

Withdrawal locking or “flushing, as it’s called within the casino community, is a useful tool that allows the player to lock their withdrawal request as soon as it’s been made.

Once that’s done, the payment can’t be stopped no matter what. This makes it impossible for you to become impatient and lose all the winnings back.

Rizk and Casumo are a few of the gaming sites that currently support this feature and hopefully, others will follow.

Many casinos consider this tool ridiculous, as it leads to players cashing out more often so that the casinos have to pay additional fees and whatnot.

As players ourselves we can say that having the withdrawal lock and/or lightning-fast withdrawals is the best retention tool a casino can have to turn us into loyal customers.

Cooling Off Periods

Any casino that has been approved by us will take problem gambling seriously and honor your self-exclusion or periodic cool off requests. If this isn’t the case, please contact us and we’ll deal with them appropriately.

Other tools created for the benefit of players include daily, weekly and monthly deposit limits that come in handy when you’re steaming and perhaps chasing losses (we’ve been there).

This is where we have noticed the biggest difference between MGA and Curacao licensed casinos, as Malta ones are always taking problem gambling seriously while it’s very rare to see a Curacao licensed site do something about it.

Most of the time your self-exclusion requests will not be honored or they will re-open the account at your request.

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Fair Games

Every online casino operator will try to convince you their games aren’t rigged and you’ve got a fair chance of winning. They’ll support these claims by mentioning a Random Number Generator (RNG) used with all gaming products except for live dealer games.

RNG makes sure that every single outcome delivered by a spin of the reels or a set of cards dealt is completely random and can’t be influenced by players nor operators.

Licensing bodies stipulate that RNGs have to be tested by independent third party organisations such as GLI, NMi and eCOGRA in order to make sure that they do what they’re supposed to. The website you’re playing at should at least state which organisation tests and certifies RNG used with featured games and ideally also provide links to allow you to view certificates.

Game developers do the testing themselves prior to releasing new games. They’ll play thousands of rounds and record the theoretical return to player (RTP) – the ratio of amounts won vs those wagered expressed as a percentage.

Top tier game providers such as NetEnt, Microgaming and NYX will never launch a game without making sure it will consistently deliver arbitrary outcomes, but there have been incidents of some other developers marketing products which have later proven to be neither random nor fair.

In 2012 The Pogg did an extensive testing of SkillOnNet’s video poker gamble feature and found it to be non-random. Even though the chance of receiving a red or black card should be 50/50, in 301 gambles the team has experienced as many as 193 losses and as few as 108 wins.

BetSoft, an extremely popular developer of amazing video slots and other casino games, was regretfully caught out more than once. An extensive 9-month investigation into the company’s progressive jackpot games revealed that, at certain denominations, they were not paying jackpots at all.

There was an incident of a player who should have won a progressive while playing The Glam Life but was not paid; the company claimed it was due to the winning spin occurring during the bonus round and updated the paytable accordingly days after the event.

In 2014, BetSoft lost the license issued by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission for running a rigged game of Keno few years earlier. Pragmatic Play (formerly Top Game) was called out for mysteriously missing Wild symbols in several of their games (Diablo 13, Wild Sevens, Dougies Delights).

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Microgaming

One of the most iconic game suppliers in the business that basically built the entire industry.

Microgaming was established in 1994 and since then have created hundreds of amazing online slots including the Mega Moolah, Immortal Romance, Break Da Bank and many more.

Even though they aren’t the best of the best in slots these days, their old titles are still extremely popular among slots enthusiasts worldwide.

Netent

Another iconic game supplier that originated in Sweden and is still the most popular provider in the Nordics.

The most popular titles in their portfolio are Starburst, Guns ‘N Roses, The Wishmaker, Twin Spin and, in certain player categories, Dead Or Alive.

The company recently acquired another top tier supplier, Red Tiger Gaming, and has gone live with some games that seem to be appreciated by the community, such as a sequel for Dead Or Alive.

Play'n GO

Play’n GO is an online-only game supplier that earned their spot among the top tier suppliers by launching Book Of Dead – a better-executed version of Novomatic’s Book Of Ra slot.

They are also known as the pioneers of grid-based slots, where their Reactoonz is still highly played in the slots streaming community.

While Play’n GO is known for great RTPs on their games (usually above 95%), be vary that they are one of the few who let the operator choose between different RTP versions, so some brands opt for Book Of Dead with a horrific 88% RTP.

SG Digital/WMS

Scientific Games are an online gambling giant and under their belt, you’ll find many extremely popular slot machines that have been played for more than a decade at brick & mortar casinos.

Raging Rhino, Bruce Lee, Zeus, and Montezuma are just some of the titles offered.

Recently they’ve also signed a deal with Big Time Gaming and many of their games are now available utilizing the Megaways mechanics.

Summary

We also look at things like audited payouts, restricted territories, deposit and withdrawal methods, timeframes and fees, loyalty programs, mobile platforms, and live dealer tables.

Then and only then we all those things and delivering the final verdict on whether the gaming venue in question is a Canadian friendly, worthwhile casino or not.

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Online Gambling Canada FAQ

When choosing one of our recommended online gambling sites you will play at, pay close attention to the banking section and the currencies it accepts. All casinos featured on the LionCasinos gaming portal allow making deposits and withdrawals in a wide range of currencies including CAD. If you choose a gaming venue which accepts your own currency, it will save your time and money as you will not have to pay any additional costs on your transactions such as exchange fees.

Each new player who registers at a certain casino is eligible to claim a welcome bonus as soon as the registration procedure is completed. To make use of it, you need to make your first real money deposit.

In most cases casinos offer practice or free play mode you can use to learn the ropes as a newcomer. However, some casinos may require that you sign up with them. As long as you don’t make any payment, you can enjoy casino games for free.

With LionCasinos.com you will easily find reputable online gambling sites only in a few clicks. Scroll down the list of featured casinos and find one that suits best your needs.

Playing at online casinos is safe as long as you stick to reputable and trustworthy gambling sites. Despite the fact that they may not regulated and licensed by the gaming authority of the country you come from, the casinos listed on our website will provide you with an entertaining gaming experience in a fair and safe environment.