The online casino market is a fast-moving one that is often riddled with minefields for new players. Changes in legislation, developments in tech and growing consumer interest mean that business is booming. However, finding a safe and fair platform can be tricky.

 

Casino.ca offers its readers the guidance they need to navigate those ins and outs and make the most of their time at online casinos. Its team of seasoned experts covers it all, from learning how to avoid criminal scams, discovering the best new games, and unpacking the latest appealing bonuses. We spoke to Lara Wilson, Content Editor at Casino.ca, about how its experts go about reviewing online casinos and games for Canadian players.

 

Hi Lara, it’s great to talk with you. First off, tell us a little about yourself. How did you get into the world of online casinos?

 

“I started out in marketing and communication before landing in the iGaming industry. I never looked back, and over twenty years later, I’m so happy to be working in an area I love. It’s a really fun niche to be in, as the market has been evolving so quickly. The sheer variety of the games and platforms coming out means that my job is always interesting! My area of expertise is in writing casino reviews and creating gambling guides for players. I love being able to share everything I’ve learned with fellow Canadian casino fans, so that they can play safely and enjoy their pastime.”

 

What exactly does Casino.ca do? 

 

“Casino.ca is the number one source for iGaming content in Canada, with over ten years of experience in the industry. Over the last year, we’ve seen more than 640,000 visitors to our site. It’s clear now more than ever that there is a real need for casino fans to have access to transparent and reliable information, so that they can make informed choices. Our mission is to empower players to enjoy fun, safe, and fair gambling experiences online. 

 

We all know it can be difficult navigating which sites are safe to use and which aren’t. More than that, players should be able to enjoy the very best on offer in casino games, platforms, and bonuses. Our guides and reviews are always thorough, honest, and up to date. Our experts are all fans of online casinos themselves, which means that we always have the interest of our readers at heart.”

 

How do you go about reviewing an online casino? What signs are you looking for?

 

“We approach all of our reviews in the same way, with a specific set of requirements that we want to see met. Our considerations include issues like security and fairness, bonuses and promotions, games and software, customer service, and payout options, to name a few. By reviewing all casinos and products according to a predetermined set of guidelines, it’s possible to rank which perform best and where we’d hope to see improvements. 

 

It’s really important to us that our reviews are clear and easy to understand, so that we can effectively communicate all that valuable information we’ve collected. We test sites ourselves by browsing through gaming portfolios, reading all the terms and conditions, and contacting customer support. The aim is really to put ourselves in the shoes of the player, and evaluate the full casino experience.”

 

What tips would you give to readers to help them learn how to spot the best online casinos for themselves?

 

“To check if an online casino is legitimate, you can check that it has a license. Scroll to the footer of the casino’s landing page, and you should see the license displayed clearly, alongside links to gambling support services. If there’s no license, you should definitely avoid that site. If you’re opting for a grey market site, it’s worth ensuring that it carries a license from a trusted jurisdiction with robust legislation, like the Malta Gaming Authority or the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

 

You can also check that a site is secure and that it uses industry-standard SSL encryption. Look for the padlock symbol next to the web address. Its payment methods should be secure and trustworthy too, so look out for well-known names like PayPal, and check that the site caters to your preferred option.

 

Another tip that gets overlooked sometimes concerns the fairness of the games on offer. Online casinos should be regularly audited by a third party that looks at the RNGs being used and ensures that no tampering has occurred. After all, no one wants to waste time playing a game where the odds are stacked against you from the start.”

 

Can readers be sure that your reviews are unbiased?

 

“All of the casinos that we review are licensed and legitimate, so that our readers can have peace of mind that they can select a safe platform that works for them. To keep the site free to use and ensure that all our readers have access to the best information, we sometimes partner with trusted casinos. However, casinos never pay us to review them, which means that all our reviews are unbiased. We are absolutely independent, and it’s so important to us that all the guidance we give is truthful, clear, and of the best quality. 

 

If, in the process of our research, we find that a casino does not meet our exacting standards, for instance by failing to have an appropriate license, or if it has unfair wagering requirements, it will go onto our blacklist. It’s just as important for players to know which sites to avoid as which are safe, which is why we’ve made our blacklist accessible to our readers.”

 

How does Canada differ from the rest of the world regarding online casinos?

 

“In Canada, the way that online casinos are regulated varies from province to province. In most provinces, there aren’t regulated private markets for gambling operators. Players can instead opt for a government-run platform or an offshore site with no local oversight. Ontario has been the exception since it launched its own private iGaming market back in 2022. 

 

Now Alberta is well on its way to following in Ontario’s footsteps, with its own market due to launch very soon. It’s a really exciting time for online casino fans, and an opportune moment for locals to read up on the Alberta online casino scene at Casino.ca, ahead of the market launch.”