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Best Online Casino Reviews – Understanding The Ins And Outs Of Online Casinos

Welcome to our guide on online casino reviews. Why would you need an online casino review? The sad truth is: Many online casino owners want money. Fast. With so many online casinos out there, each one offering a ‘completely unique’ gaming experience, it can be a real challenge to tell which ones really want to run a trusted online casino.  Luckily for you, you’ve got us. Our job is to help you avoid the scammers and only gamble at the best online casinos Canada.

How Would We Describe Our Online Casino Review Process?

We are all fans of online casinos. We have seen both good and bad online casinos, we’ve played at many of them (and some of us got scammed, too).

That’s exactly why we started doing this. We want to help casino players like you find the next best place for playing online casino games. Not only that, we want to help you find the best new casinos that fit YOUR NEEDS, be it table games, slots, whatever. So, let us tell you how we do our online casino reviews, bro.

Online Casino Details

We always start each online casino review with the details – the name of the casino, the owner, and the casino license. Basically, in these sections, we answer whether this online casino is safe. While you may not recognize every single name when we talk about casino owners (we don’t always either), it would do you good to learn about a few online casino licenses. The three most popular online licenses are:

• Malta Gaming Authority
• Government of Curacao
• United Kingdom Gambling Commission

If you see any of these, an online casino has passed the inspection. By inspection, we mean that their casino games aren’t rigged, that their terms are acceptable, and that they will be legally held accountable if they refuse to issue a valid withdrawal.

You may be thinking this is enough but think again. Just because an online casino has a license doesn’t mean they always follow all the rules by the book. We’ve seen it happen too many times to count. An online casino gets comfortable and slowly starts bending the rules, especially those concerning withdrawals or bonus wagering. If we clock them, they end up on our blacklist.

Pros And Cons List

For people who only need a general idea of what they can expect from an online casino, the pros and cons list may be just what they need. On each of our online casino review lists, we cover three pros and three cons to help you gauge what kind of gaming environment to expect.

Availability

In this section, we cover restricted countries. For most casino players this won’t make a huge difference because if the casino is unavailable, you’ll simply see a message saying that an online casino isn’t available. It never hurts to know how many restricted countries an online casino has. It can paint a clear picture of how hard a casino has worked to fit in so many countries into their little family of players.

Luckily, most online casinos will accept players from Canada so, you’ll have plenty of choices for your next favourite online casino.

Online Casino Bonuses

Easily one of the most popular aspects of our online casino reviews. Casino players just love to know what kind of deposit bonuses, no deposit bonuses, and free spins each casino offers. With so many online casinos out there, it makes sense that players should pick the most generous one, right? We like to state that there is no such thing as a perfect online casino, however, bonuses just might be what makes a perfect online gaming site for you.

In this section, we list every single regular bonus available in the casino. We don’t usually include seasonal or limited-time bonuses because those come and go or may just expire by the time we publish each casino review. For each casino with bonus offers (match bonus, free spins, reload bonus, etc.) we list the minimum deposit, the maximum winning amount as well as the wagering requirements. We also list all the available ways how players can earn free spins and how exactly the VIP/Loyalty system works.

Online Casino Games

Our online casino reviews will always include a beefy section on what kind of casino games players can expect. Here we break down all the games available in an online casino and categorize them accordingly. Of course, we always list how the slots work, which software providers are available, and so on. Software/Gaming providers can also have a huge impact on what kind of games you can expect from an online casino.

For example, veteran fans will know what kind of UI (user interface) they can expect from Microgaming. Many of us here at the office are huge fans of classic casino games such as roulette and blackjack so we always give proper praise to casinos that have larger libraries with these golden oldies.

We also include jackpots and live dealer games. Sometimes we will also give recommendations but only if we have extra time and space (don’t hate us if we don’t cos there are only so many times we can recommend Book of Dead).

Online Casino Payment Methods

In the payment methods department, we always list three things: deposit methods, withdrawal methods, and accepted currencies. We don’t spend a lot of time chit-chatting here because everything speaks for itself. Sometimes we can say how disappointed we are when a casino has only a few withdrawal methods or how a casino doesn’t accept cryptocurrency but that’s about it.

Customer Support

We like to think that an online casino is only as reliable as its customer support. While we have gotten savvy when it comes to figuring things out using the casino T&C, we always find ourselves asking or confirming some things with the customer service. This is good because it gives us a great excuse to have a nice long chat with them and see how much they are willing to help. Unfortunately, not all of them are.

Heck, many online casinos don’t even have 24/7 live chat support and we strongly believe that such a thing is unacceptable. We also like to list which languages are available on the casino site.

FAQ

For people who don’t like to read through long explanations and know exactly what they are looking for. Those players will be glad to know that we have an FAQ section at the end of each review that covers most questions they may want to be answered. These are super quick and easy-to-digest questions and answers so if you don’t have a lot of time for reading, these may be just what you need.

Online Casino Reviews Summary

We like to end each of our online casino reviews with a summary of our casino experience. We’ll praise the good and criticize the bad while also stating whether we would visit this online casino again. Please note that just because we like or dislike a certain online casino, that doesn’t mean that our opinion is the correct decision. Just like everyone, we have opinions and they may differ from other opinions.

Types of Bonuses and Promotions

When we cover bonuses, the list can be large or small, depending on what the online casino may be offering. However, almost every single casino out there will offer one or two welcome bonuses, maybe a few reload bonuses, and some bonus spins for good measure. You can usually find the following promotion subcategories:

Welcome Bonus

Sometimes we like to state that the sign up bonus is what separates the best online casinos from the rest. After all, this will usually be the first time that players will deal with online casino bonuses and figure out how things work. A good online casino will usually offer several welcome bonuses that will include options for both standard and high roller casino players. These will usually include a 100% match bonus, a few free spins, and maybe other goodies as well. One thing we always like to warn players about (and yet they keep forgetting to check) is the wagering requirements. If the wagering requirements are too high, the bonus will be harder to achieve too, so make sure to always check them out before you decide to make that first deposit.

Other Bonus Offers

In this section, we cover every other bonus (that isn’t the welcome or the no-deposit bonus) that might be available. The only requirement is that the bonus is not seasonal or limited-time only. These usually include reload bonuses, genre-specific bonuses and free spin reload bonuses. Otherwise, these will be displayed just like the welcome bonuses. We will note what they do, what they affect and, again, how large/small the wagering requirements are.

Free Spins

Even if there are no free spins to talk about, we will still include a section simply because we like free spins so much. Here, we will list all ways how players will be able to obtain free spins whether they be through deposit bonuses, VIP rewards or any other method. We may even include entire deposit bonuses if all they offer are free spins. Something you should always keep an eye out for in regards to free spins is how large the max bet is since this can either make or break your slot game.

VIP System

While not mandatory, VIP and Loyalty programs can truly demonstrate how much an online casino wants players to keep coming back. 4 out of 5 online casinos will usually have some sort of loyalty program, however, not all of them are built the same. Many VIP programs will offer really valuable bonuses and awards while others will offer basic features (such as higher withdrawal amounts or even VIP customer support) for players who spend an exorbitant amount of money.

Needless to say, we prefer the former while we call out the latter. We like to list each tier in the VIP/Loyalty ladder and tell you our opinion on whether or not we think it’s worth pursuing.

No Deposit Bonuses

One of the best offers that online casinos can offer to their new players is the no-deposit bonuses. This technique has proven time and time again to draw in brand new players and yet, online casinos refuse to implement it. While turning a no deposit casino bonus into a withdrawal is really difficult (sometimes almost impossible) casinos still don’t like to, for lack of a better term, gamble with players’ luck. Online casinos really don’t want to have to issue a withdrawal to someone who has not made a deposit in the past so they often avoid making any no deposit bonuses to their players. Casinos that do have no deposit bonuses will certainly earn more favourable reviews from us than casinos that don’t.

Types of Online Casino Games

When we talk about different types of casino games we like to categorize them according to type. For all casino games, we include how they work, how many there are (if that information is available) and, obviously, how much we like or dislike them.

Slot Games

It’s pretty much mandatory that at least 80% of all available casino games will be slots games. Casinos like to boast about the number of slot games they have available and for good reason. More variety means more types of players to appeal to. However, in our experience, that isn’t always the case. Quite a few well-established casino sites create great game libraries when they first come out and never update them again. A library like that, even if it has 5,000 titles, is usually worth less than a library of only 1,000 brand new titles. Unfortunately, there really isn’t much we can usually say about slots except whether or not they work, and they usually do.

Table Games

Something that many brand new online casinos don’t pay much attention to is the table games. Online casinos like to think that as long as they have enough video slots, players won’t even notice that the table games are missing. Well, we notice. In fact, having very few table games is mentioned on our cons list. Regardless of the size, most online casinos will at least offer one roulette, one blackjack, and some form of video poker. More equipped casinos will also offer many other forms of single-player table games such as dragon tiger, sic bo, or craps.

Jackpot Games

Most online casinos will have their own sections for jackpot games. Many online casinos will have large libraries of jackpot games but we honestly prefer smaller ones. Something that many casinos do while others ignore is put a little label on each of their jackpot games to show the exact jackpot. This makes us happier than it should so we always give praise where it’s due. We also appreciate it when online casinos have a little bar that shows all the latest jackpot winners.

Live Casino Games

Live dealer games have become such a fundamental part of every online casino that the websites usually have a special place for them, away from all other casino games. It makes sense since these casino games are the closest you can get to actually being in an actual brick-and-mortar casino. Titles such as live blackjack, live baccarat, and live Dream Catcher (Wheel of Fortune) are really accessible and easy to play. It also helps that you get to look at an attractive dealer while you wait for the results.

One huge issue with live casinos online and table games, in general, is that many of them don’t have that many bonuses. And if they do, they tend to cover only about 10% of the wagering contribution. Live dealer games are an important factor when we review casino games so we do pay special attention to them.

Scratch cards and other games

Sometimes casinos will have another category that will usually be titled “Other games”. In this category, they will usually put any other casino games that don’t fit the others. In most cases, these are scratch cards and weird titles such as Aviator or Poke the Guy. These fun online gambling distractions can be a great pick when players are left with only a few extra Canadian dollars on their account.

Types of Banking Options – Deposit And Withdrawal 101

One thing that can bring and drive away potential customers to an online casino is the payment methods they offer. Our Online Casino Reviews try to list every single available payment method so that players can know right away if they are able to deposit real money into that online casino. Down below, we will list some of the more popular payment methods that we see in some of the best online casinos out there. All our casino reviews divide each payment option available into Instant banking and non-instant banking methods.

Instant banking withdrawal and deposit methods

These are, naturally, more preferred than the non-instant payment methods. After all, players who want to play real money games aren’t exactly known for their patience and the sooner they can play and withdraw their funds, the better.

E-wallets

Famous for being one of the most preferred ways of buying things online, E-wallets such as (Skrill, Neteller, Paypal, etc.) are a great option for making a deposit and a withdrawal. While each transaction using e-wallets does carry a fee, the added extra security and speed of each transaction make up for the costs.

ecoPayz

While ecoPayz is simply another type of e-wallet we feel like it deserves a special mention on our list. Not only is this method available in most online casinos but it has proven to be one of the most popular payment methods for Canadian players. ecoPayz also has its own Mastercard card which players can use as a credit card should ecoPayz not be available. Many of us here prefer ecoPayz as our default payment method for casino games as it has never let us down.

Paysafecard

A Paysafecard is a great payment method for people who wish to stay anonymous with their bank details. This is a very convenient card that you can purchase at your local newsagents, deposit some funds and simply use it at any casino that might accept it (and almost all of them do). The only real issue with Paysafecard is that it only works for depositing money. Withdrawals are completely impossible using this method.

Cryptocurrency

We are slowly seeing the rise of cryptocurrency casinos. While we strongly believe that they will one day become the dominant payment method, until that happens, we can at least use them to play casino games. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, or Tether are all very common forms of payment in any modern online casino. Some online casinos will only accept crypto payments made through certain wallets. While the gas fees on some crypto transactions can be somewhat expensive, there’s no denying that crypto security as well as the instant deposits and withdrawals.

Instant Play/Trustly

While payment methods that directly involve the bank aren’t famous for being fast, payment methods such as Trustly prove them wrong. Instant Play options not only create a super-fast bridge between your bank account and the casino but also offer players to use the same account for multiple casinos (as long as they support Instant Play). In terms of speed, Trustly is easily there at the top.

Non-instant payment methods

The following methods aren’t unreliable however, they are known to take from a few hours up to seven business days to process. Please keep this in mind when you choose one of the following methods.

Mastercard, Maestro, Visa, Visa Electron cards

Using credit and debit cards for online transactions has existed since the Internet itself. This form of payment is super simple to use and accessible to everyone with a credit card. With that said, it has a few drawbacks. While credit card deposits are normally instant, the withdrawals are anything but. A credit card withdrawal can take anywhere from 1 to 5 business days and the bank can also charge their own fee on top of that. Because of the speed of withdrawals, we tend to avoid credit cards unless they are the only available payment method.

Wire/Bank Transfers

We tend to avoid almost any casino if all they offer is a bank transfer for their withdrawals. This is, by far, our least favourite method based on multiple factors. It is slow and it is expensive. Bank Transfer withdrawals can take upward of 7 business days along with a nice hefty bank fee. Not to mention that, in most cases, you will have to physically go to the bank in order to issue and withdraw a bank transfer. Payment options like Interac Online have made this a bit more tolerable but the fact remains that Bank Transfers are not the most popular method for playing casino games.

Types of Customer Support

We’ve already mentioned how invaluable customer support can be and we always like to test each method extensively when making our online casino reviews. Actually, we get really radical when it comes to how fast you can reach customer support as we strongly believe that online casinos need to have someone to help you at any given moment. Because of this, we will often give an online casino a worse rating simply if they have live chat support that isn’t available 24/7.

Telephone support

While using a landline phone in today’s day and age seems a bit primitive and outdated, a landline help support can still help you out in a pitch. While we don’t often prefer this form of customer support we have had to use it a few times to get some answers. The only type of telephone support we don’t like are the ones that have you press numbers so you can navigate through various menus where they try to use automated messages to help you resolve your issues (this is mostly used in older online casinos). Look, we don’t mind holding on for a few minutes, just don’t make us navigate to specific types of problems using the numbers on our primitive landline phone. While it is old and primitive, it’s not our least favourite way to contact customer support, unlike…

Email support

Email support simply doesn’t work as efficiently for online casinos. The simplest reason is that email support is too slow and unreliable. It can take days until we finally get a response from anyone – if we get a response at all. And even if we bring this up, the casino can simply claim that they have never received any of our emails or the classic “something must be wrong with our system”. Regardless, we really don’t like to rely on email support and when online casinos don’t offer anything but email support, their overall casino review rating will show it.

Live chat support

Easily our most preferred way of contacting customer support. Not only are live chats super fast and reliable, but they are also non-invasive and perfect for introverts who hate direct conversations. Live chats can also tell us a lot of hidden details about an online casino. For example, having a live chat is fine and all but what if it’s only available during business hours? What if the online chat support is run by bots? Or, our personal favourite, what if it is run by real people who behave like bots?

The number of things we can learn from online live chat support is invaluable and we always look forward to our little keyboard sessions. We have very little tolerance for sloppy online casino customer support, especially if live chat support isn’t available 24/7.

Responsible Gambling

Even if an online casino has the casino latest games, the best bonuses, and the greatest customer support in the world, it can easily get a lower score due to a lack of addiction prevention. We all know that online gambling can become a problem. Prevention methods include self-assessment tests, financial limits, time out periods, manual flushing, and many other ways when playing at an online casino.

Unfortunately, it is not mandatory for any single online casino to implement responsible gambling practices. However, that doesn’t mean that we can’t give them a lower rating if they don’t. Indeed, reality-check reminders have saved us way too many times from overspending and we are very thankful that they exist. After all, it never hurts to know how much you’ve spent on casino games.

How We Blacklist Online Casinos

We sometimes have to blacklist online casinos because of their poor customer support and performance. While this process never gives us pleasure, it is a necessary evil in this industry. With so many fake online casinos out there, it’s not surprising having to blacklist legitimate online casinos with official online gambling licenses. Sadly, that is the reality we live in. Here are a few reasons why we blacklist some online casinos.

• Refusing to issue withdrawals. Probably the most common reason why we blacklist an online casino. When a player complains about not receiving their withdrawal on time, it is no cause for concern. In this industry, delays happen and are understandable. The problem starts when more than 5 people start complaining about a missing withdrawal and none of them gets resolved.
• Hidden bonus conditions. There’s nothing worse than claiming a bonus, meeting the requirements, and going for those sweet withdrawal options only to find out that you haven’t done everything to turn the bonus funds into real money. This is why we always do our research and list everything bonus-related in our reviews. With that said, we can only cover what we can see. Sometimes, a bonus rule simply won’t be available anywhere on the website.
• Technical instability. Online casinos require a stable internet connection from both their server and the players. When one of these doesn’t work, it can lead to some really nasty situations. When you play a game at an online casino that constantly has games that crash or the website goes down, you can imagine how frustrated some of us can get. Another great reason to end up on the blacklist.

Online Casino Reviews Summary

We hope that you understand a bit better how we rate and berate online casinos. We hope that our online casino reviews will help you with picking the best new online casino for you. Most importantly, we hope that we can help you have a fun and exciting experience. As always, we got you, Bro!

FAQ

• What makes the best online casino?

  The best online casino doesn’t exist. The only thing that does exist is the best online casino for you. If you know what games you want to play, what bonuses you’d like to get and what kind of payment methods you like to use, we can certainly help you find a casino that will work best for your preferences.

• What do players usually look for when searching for a new casino?

  Players and industry veterans normally look at everything related to an online casino. However, if we had to pick one thing that most players look for, it would be the best deposit bonuses. Simply put, casino players are looking for the best places where they can win the most amount of money and bonuses are one of the best ways to do so.

• What makes our online casino reviews better than other casino reviews?

  We don’t think our reviews are necessarily better than other casino reviews. However, we do believe that our readers will be able to tell that our casino reviews were written by real people who make real mistakes, tell really bad jokes and really like online casino games. We don’t consider ourselves any better than any other casino player and are simply offering our opinion to people who will spare a few minutes to read about our gaming experience.

• Are Casino Bros actual gamblers?

  Most of us are. While we do have a few people on our development team who haven’t gambled a day in their life, they are mainly there to keep our website afloat. As far as us guys who actually do the research and write these things, we like to think of ourselves as online casinos connoisseurs. The bros that write all this down have players and will continue to play casino games for the sake of making sure everyone gets to enjoy online gambling at safe and generous online casinos. The paychecks help too.

• What should I do if I can’t find a review of a Canadian online casino?

  Run. Run away from that website. We don’t mean to sound like arrogant experts but when a brand new casino comes out, we are usually all over it so it’s highly unlikely that you will find a legitimate online casino that is so brand new that we haven’t yet released a review about it. The only other option is that you’ve stumbled upon a scam website that just wants to steal your money. So again, just run away.

Author

John Brokowski

Contact info

john@casino-bros.com

A groomed beard and mustache are not the only source of this dude’s sophistication. Good ol’ John is a seasoned casino player who had affairs with numerous online casinos and online sports betting sites. He’s lethal with cards, especially poker, and a go-to guy for anything casino-related. You might think this guy is obsessed with casinos, but he’s the only reason the Bro Collective boat is still sailing.