April 4th, 2022, is a date noted that is likely noted on your calendar. Of course, this is when online sports betting and mobile wagering are set to go live across your province.Â
In recent times, it appears that all online gambling news across Ontario has focused heavily on the sports betting scene. However, we are pleased to report that online casinos have not been left in the dust.
Online casinos and PlayOLG
In 1996, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) implemented the Alcohol and Gaming Regulation and Public Protection Act, in order to ensure that all retail casinos, online casinos, sports betting, and lottery providers were properly regulated.
Much like the sports betting scene, online casinos have an officially sanctioned government provider of online casino gaming – PlayOLG. Backed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), the PlayOLG website presents you with the chance to wager across a host of popular slot titles, video poker, table games, lotteries, and more.
Although it is something of a gray area, you are able to make use of any regulated and licensed online casino, regardless of its location. Naturally, the province tends to promote online gamblers to make use of PlayOLG – a platform that they can confirm provides provably fair games, secure deposits, and reasonable return to player percentages.
Retail casinos and proposed sportsbooks
Currently, Ontario is home to over 50 retail casinos. Some of these are run by the government while others are privately-owned entities. Alongside brick-and-mortar casinos, you can also look to test your luck at the province’s racetracks. Here, you will find the chance to wager on the horses, as well as the chance to try out some of the best slots action around.
Many of these retail destinations have dedicated sportsbooks, too, allowing you the chance to place parlays and single-game wagers in-person at your preferred retail casino. With the proposed launch of online and mobile private sportsbooks across the province set for April 4th, we can’t help but wonder if any of these operators are set to provide an online casino experience to you, too.
As we have already noted, it is legal to join, deposit, and stake at an online casino across Ontario provided they are licensed and regulated. However, aside from those governed by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, we are yet to hear any news about a specific online casino launch across the province. With that being said, there are plenty of private sportsbooks set to launch on April 4th that host their own online casinos.
A stand-out name amongst the pack is
Caesars.
The popular online operator looks set to join the Ontario sports betting market in April; however, it is also home to a truly immersive online casino experience. Table games, jackpots, live dealer games, and popular slot titles, including,
Cleopatra
and
Big Bucks Bandits Megaways
come as standard at Caesars.
After becoming one of the first operators to register their interest with the AGCO to provide a fully functioning online sportsbook to the people of Ontario,
PointsBet
is another notable name that is ready to launch come April 4th. PointsBet, like Caesars, also hosts its own online casino, meaning those residing in Ontario should have access to this licensed alternative, too. PointsBet may not provide quite as an immersive experience as Caesars, or PlayOLG for that matter, but its mobile accessibility, usability, and range of slots are nothing to be sniffed at.
When can we expect online casinos to launch in Ontario?
Unfortunately, there is still no official launch date regarding online casinos in Ontario. We expect this is partly due to the fact that regulated and licensed online casinos are not strictly prohibited across the province.
Although PlayOLG is the province’s top pick, you are due to find some elite private sportsbooks soon to enter the frame. If you are interested to find out more about those that provide an online casino experience, too, we recommend heading over to GamblingGuy and taking advantage of our online casino comparisons.
