Slots, roulette, cards, table games, you name it, Canadians love to play them in their free time. The gambling industry in Canada is thriving because of government support. This also led to more and more online casinos operating in the country, including its capital city Ottawa.
Ottawa, the metropolitan located in southern Ontario, has a population of 1.2 million. It’s the political center of Canada and played a significant role in the law-making aspect of the gambling industry. Casinos in Canada are administered by the provinces, Ottawa’s gambling industry is regulated by the Gaming Control Commission Ontario (GCCO).
If you are living in Ottawa, looking for online casinos to have some casual fun time, this guide might come in handy.
Our Top Recommended Ottawa Online Casinos
- Software providers Microgaming and Evolution Gaming help to offer an extremely enjoyable casino platform.
- Certified by eCogra and licensed by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
- Many progressive jackpot games available.
- Jackpot City is hugely entertaining, with the design or their site being very user friendly.
- Exciting, themed and rewarding games, including a large number of slot titles.
- Customer support available 24/7 through a variety of avenues.
- 500+ casino games available
- Excellent mobile options
- Best iGaming’s software providers
- 24/7 Live chat
History of Ottawa Casinos
Past
Canada has an interesting history when it comes to gambling. Canadians have been gambling for Centuries, no matter what region it is. The first record dates back to 1497, discovered by John Cabot. It was definitely not as sophisticated as today’s casino games.
Gambling was widely popular among the natives till the 1950s. but with the arrival of Europeans, the perception of gambling started changing. They didn’t have an accepting mindset when it came to these games. Dice games were illegal under the British Common Law. Hence, a law banning all forms of gambling was passed in 1892.
This ban was very short-lived though, the locals didn’t seem to comply with it either. It lasted 8 years only, till 1900. Even when the ban was imposed, Canadians went on playing the games as nothing had changed. Thus, the game of chances remained well-loved by them.
In 1900, the government legalized raffle draws and bingo tables for charity events. Later, betting on horse races were granted permission as well. Lotteries played an important part in raising the Olympic funds in 1974.
The rules became more flexible over time and the provinces were permitted to host horse racing, sell lottery tickets, poker machines, and slot machines. The first brick and mortar casino was opened by Playtime Gaming in 1999. At present times you will find casinos bustling in every region of Canada. The casino business is one of the most profitable ones right now.
Present
As a Canadian, you are probably aware of the gambling scene there. It is a national pastime among many Canadians. Let it be trying their luck at slots or roulette, or playing table games baccarat, and poker in casinos. As a result, the Canadian online gambling industry is rising in popularity.
Will you be surprised to know that the Canadian casino industry is one of the wealthiest in the market now? It generates a revenue of around $16 billion a year. Ottawa residents are no exception when it comes to gambling, they enjoy it just as much as the people for other reasons.
While people love gambling, dressing up and going to a land-based casino can be time-consuming. Thanks to online casinos, that factor gets eliminated. Online casinos provide the players with the opportunity of playing 24/7 from any place. Hence, the amount of people participating in gambling keeps increasing. Gamblers in Ottawa have the chance to make real money playing in online casinos.
Ottawa is nearby to one of the first brick ‘n' mortar casinos, Casino du Lac-Leamy. Established across the Quebec River, this largest land-based casino is just a few miles from Ottawa. This casino has 64 gaming tables and more than 1,800 slot machines for the players.
The gambling industry in Ottawa has grown exponentially over the years and players love to take part in all sorts of bets. Let it be betting on sports like hockey and soccer or gambling on a game of craps, there is a scope for all of it.
Online Casinos in Ottawa
Looking for playing in world-class online casinos from Ottawa? There are plenty of options for you.
Ottawa has its own state-run government casino website that is considered the safest. There are no gambling limits set when it comes to Ottawa’s online casinos. You just have to be over 19 years of age. There is no tax cut for Canadian citizens, which adds a great advantage.
As an Ottawa resident, you have the option to choose from thousands of games online. You can try your luck at slot machines or roulette, play bingo or keno. And if you’re confident, you may join table games like Texas Hold'em Poker online.
It’s not just limited to that. You name the game, it’s pretty sure to be there in Ottawa’s online casinos. If you are playing in sites regulated by the Ottawa government, you can be sure that it is safe.
Many of these wonderful internet gambling sites in Ottawa offer free instant gameplay to encourage you to start playing without risking your funds. Because once you feel confident, it's easy to switch to casino games for real cash.
Popular Online Casinos in Ottawa
If you are someone who loves to stay comfortable and relaxed in your own space, rather than dressing up and heading out to your local casino, then you’re in luck. We found some of the best places where you can play your favourite casino games online.
Jackpot City
Do you want to play at the most popular online casino in Ottawa? Jackpot City might just be it! This casino has a huge collection of over 640 casino games. These products are provided by Microgaming, which ensures the great quality of games.
This casino has been in the industry for more than 21 years, giving them quite a long time to become the best at it. Jackpot City has games for everyone. If you are someone who doesn’t want to play complicated games, you always spin the slot reels. It’s easy, fun and requires no special skill. This online casino has over 300 types of slots for you. If you are looking for something more strategic, Jackpot City has plenty to offer as well.
If you are someone who enjoys participating in live casinos in Ottawa, Jackpot City has got you covered. Whatever it is that you want to play, you are guaranteed to find it here. You can enjoy their games from any device as their website is smartphone-optimized as well. The casino comes with a wagering amount of 50x and supports almost all kinds of payment options.
The casino has a free loyalty program that gives away special rewards to regular players. Not only sign-up bonuses, but it also provides promotional bonuses for existing players. Its progressive jackpots are one of the best. Another great thing about Jackpot City is its 24/7 open customer support team.
Royal Vegas Casino
Want to play in an online casino where customers come first? Look no further because Royal Vegas is what you are looking for. The rewards program of this casino is one of the best out there in Ottawa. This program is not made for pro gamblers only, it includes players of all experience levels. It doesn’t matter how much you are willing to wager, there is a loyalty program for you.
Royal Vegas has an average Return to Player Percentage (RTP) of 96% on slot games. When it comes to table games, the casino gives a payout percentage of 98.86%, which is one of the best deals you can get as a player.
Another great thing about this casino is that it is very straightforward. It does not riddle its players with complicated terms and conditions, thus, making your gambling experience extra fun.
This casino has over 700 casino games from Microgaming, giving you plenty of options to choose from. You are sure to have an amazing gaming experience as the website is very colourful and lively. The games have great animations and sound effects too.
Ruby Fortune
Ruby Fortune is a very popular name among the Ottawa gamblers. It has won multiple awards in different categories. You can play classic progressive jackpots like Mega Moolah or play with live dealers.
This casino provides its new customers with an appealing welcome bonus. The bonus comes with a 50x wagering requirement. In addition to giving their existing gamblers multiple promotional rewards, it also has Progressive Jackpots!
Ruby fortune came into the online casino business in 2003 and it keeps getting better with time like a fine wine. The casino has an average wagering amount of 97.24% which brings in a lot of new players every day. The online casino holds multiple competitions monthly, motivating enthusiastic punters to participate more. It provides over 450 Microgaming games, serving players with one of the best gambling experiences out there.
Ruby Fortune’s website is mobile-friendly, which means you can access it from any device of your choice, be it iOS or Android. Ruby Fortune also prides itself in offering safe and swift payment and withdrawal methods. Not to mention, their customer support is very co-operative, ready to help you out at your time of need.
Live Casinos in Ottawa
The live casinos in Ottawa offer a great variety of titles. Almost all the online casinos in Ottawa have live dealers available. Here, you will be able to have a very similar experience of being in a real-life casino.
The casinos we featured will serve you with the best live dealer experiences. Following is a checklist of all the important qualities that we look for in a live casino before recommending it to you:
Selection of Games
The casinos already have quite a good collection of games. With the increase of demand and developing technology, they are adding more to their collection. As a player, you should be able to find your perfect cup of tea in the ocean of titles, which is precisely why you need the array of options available at your disposal.
We assure you that we only pick the online casinos with the biggest selection of live dealer games. It sure can be disappointing to visit an online casino and find out that it doesn't have your favourite titles on its roster.
High-Quality Video and Graphics
Our featured casinos use the best quality cameras to stream high-definition live videos. This ensures that you get to see every detail clearly. Usage of up-to-date technology helps you play with live dealers without facing any lagging or glitches. Some games even come with multiple camera angles so that you can watch every move.
We understand how distracting background noises can be when you are trying to concentrate on the game. Therefore, we only chose the casinos that deliver the clearest audio during the gaming session.
Professional Dealers
One of the most important aspects of playing in live casinos is getting to interact with real-life dealers and players. A good dealer enhances your gambling experience. You will feel more comfortable playing in a live room where the dealer is friendly and helpful. We make sure to only recommend casinos with friendly and highly qualified live dealers.
Mobile Casinos for Online Gambling in Ottawa
Most of the top casinos in Ottawa have their own version for mobile gambling. Some casinos provide their users with optimized websites to make it more mobile-friendly, while others came up with specialized downloadable apps. In this era, you can use mobile devices for all sorts of casino games, whether it’s slots, live dealers, table games, etc.
Mobile casinos gambling much easier when you are on the go. Canadians love to stay on top of the tech game! Hence the Canadian online gambling industry makes sure to step up to their user’s demands. You can access Ottawa casino’s mobile sites from both Android and Apple devices.
Software and Games
NetEnt
NetEnt is a top casino game developer from Sweden. They are known for making games with great interactive features and high-quality graphics. Gonzo’s Quest is their most popular slot game and has become a cult favourite over time.
You must have heard of Starburst, another cult classic developed by none other than NetEnt. If you want to take part in progressive slots from NetEnt, then you can go for Mega Fortune. It has given away one of the biggest rewards in 2013.
Microgaming
Microgaming is the creator of the world-famous progressive slot, Mega Moolah. They have been in the game developing industry since 1994, making them quite experienced in this field.
They are also known for coming up with excellent movie and series-themed slots. If you are someone who enjoys movies, there is a high chance you will find something from Microgaming that suits your taste. If you are a Game of Thrones fan, they have a slot for that too!
Playtech
Playtech was established in 1999. Since then, the company has been one of the leading game developers. Playtech has also brought many gambling opportunities to Ottawa over the years.
They have made games for lotteries, raffle draws, online sports betting etc. Playtech is also one of the best providers of online live casinos. They also make other casino games that you would love.
How We Rate Online Casinos
Before recommending any casino to you, we conduct comprehensive research. We have a handful of requirements to judge the casinos. The casino is considered good only if it fulfills those requirements.
User Friendliness
The casinos should be visually pleasing, clutter-free and everything on the website needs to be easy to find. it should run smoothly without any lagging and disruption. The terms and conditions must be clear and straightforward, and the homepage must include the license information.
Quality of Games
One of the largest factors that tend to bring players to an online casino is the range and variants of games. A wide array of video slots, poker tables and live rooms should be available at the site. Along with good graphics, the games need to have an attractive design and good sound quality too.
Software
The titles provided by these Ottawa based online casinos have to be from credible casino game producers. As we have already mentioned, NetEnt, Micrograming and Playtech made games are the best in quality and are considered to be industry standards. Therefore, games developed by them are deemed safe and secure.
Payout Time
You definitely don’t want to play in a casino where it takes a long time to withdraw your payout amount. We make sure to only choose the casinos that are fast and efficient with their transactions.
Payment Options
We pick the online casinos that have all the supported payment options in Ottawa. There are many payment options available like Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, PlaySafe and PayPal. There are bank transfers available also for Ottawa residents.
Customer Support
Good customer support is very important. As a player, you want to play in an online casino where your queries are answered as soon as possible. In case you face any problems; a responsive customer service team should be available for you.
What to Look for in Online Casinos
Before picking an online casino to start gambling, we suggest you look for a few aspects. Hopefully, you will find our recommendations helpful and it will lead you to find the best gambling website.
Bonus
Bonuses at online casinos in Ottawa are just as good as any other place! Getting welcome bonuses can be very thrilling! You may not be too informed of the rules as a beginner, but make sure to pay attention to the terms and conditions to really be able to use the bonuses properly.
Most online casinos give their players bonuses. Try comparing the bonus and the wagering amount of your area's various casinos before selecting one. Slots require no strategy because it's a luck-based game. While attempting to play progressive slots, you can even get a chance to win huge jackpot prizes!
House Edge
The house edge is a casino's advantage over you as a player. The casino takes a little bit from the wagers you place while playing the games.
For example, a game has a Return to Player Percentage (RTP) of 96%. That means the casino’s house edge is 4%. We recommend that you search for casinos with higher RTP and lower house edge to increase your winning chances.
Payment Options
We suggest that you pick casinos that support safe and secure payment options. We also recommend you to play in casinos where multiple payment options are available so that you can use different methods, depending on your preference.
License
For every online gambling website, we make sure it has a valid license from the proper gambling commission. It is an extremely important step that must not be overlooked. The license guarantees that the regulations, the set of standards, and legal requirements have been met by the online casino site. The casinos must organize only fair games.
Help for Problem Gamblers in Ottawa
It is very enjoyable to gamble online, no doubt about that. However, it comes with a certain risk of developing an addiction. It is important to remember that it is only a form of recreational activity. If it's bringing harm to yourself and your close ones, you might want to consider seeking help. Therefore, we advise you to gamble responsibly to secure your finances.
If you think you need help, do not hesitate to reach out to your nearby help center. Ottawa residents can call or text 1-866-531-2600 for any form of support regarding any kind of gambling-related behavioural problems. Services like ConnexOntario strives to provide confidential support and information about local counselling services for individuals with gambling problems and their families and friend.
