Casino Canuck’s Review Process
At Casino Canuck, we are known for giving the best casino reviews for Canadian players. Having reviewed over 80 online casinos, you can always trust us to help you choose the right gambling site. We only recommend the top casinos after looking into various factors. In this guide, you will learn what we consider when rating online casinos.
Licenses and Regulating Bodies
Before signing up at an online casino, you need to consider its reputation. Some of the factors to consider include the casino’s license and auditing bodies. Here is how we review an online gambling site based on licenses and regulating bodies.
- Valid License
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For an online casino to operate within Canadian borders, it needs to have a valid license from a reputable licensing body. Among the trusted licensing bodies are Kahnawake Gaming Commission and Malta Gaming Authority. By bearing a valid license, a casino demonstrates that it follows the set rules and laws that ensure the safety of its players.
- Regulations and Regular Audits
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To assure players of transparency and fair play, online casinos need to undergo regular audits. These audits are conducted by independent regulators, with the leading body being eCOGRA. An audit is meant to ensure that games’ payouts are triggered randomly. Also, an auditing body ensures that a casino keeps its players’ information safe and secure from third parties.
Software and Games
The major reason why people check out online casinos is to play casino games with the hope of striking the mother lode. It’s therefore important that we consider casino games when reviewing reputable casinos. Here is what we look at.
- A Wide Range of Games
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As far as casino games are concerned, a casino should offer its players a wide selection. While some players prefer playing one or two types of casino games, others want a variety so that they can try their luck with different game variants.
We look at the casino’s games library, which should be a mix of slots, live dealer games, and card/table games, such as roulette, poker, blackjack, and baccarat. Also, these games should come with various variants. To ensure that a casino is true to its word, our team tries out some game titles for real money to give us a feel of the gameplay.
- Games RTP
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Return to Player (RTP) is defined as the percentage of the total amount of money a player wages on a specific game that the casino pays back to its players over time. Different games come with distinct RTPs. Games with higher RTP are better to play. We review gambling sites based on their RTP too to ensure that players get the best shot at winning some money while playing at real money casinos.
- Games Compatibility
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Many players prefer to play casino games on their mobile devices. That is why online casinos need to be either fully optimized for mobile gaming or feature a free downloadable app. The app needs to be compatible with iOS and Android mobile devices. In our reviews, we only recommend casinos that offer all these options to their players.
- Amazing Progressive Jackpots
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If you are a slot player, you must admit that progressive jackpots are a must. These games are popular for paying out huge amounts of winnings to lucky players. When reviewing online casinos, we look at their progressive jackpot game titles. Some of the greatest titles we look out for include Mega Moolah, Starburst, and Mega Fortune among others.
- Free Games
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Another thing we consider when reviewing casino games is the option of playing them for free. Playing casino games for free allows you to try out new games, polish your strategy, and enjoy playing risk-free. To ensure that you get the best quality and variety, our team tries different free games.
- Software Developers
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Reputable online casinos source their games from top software developers. Some of the most renowned game developers include Microgaming, Net Ent, and Playtech. They are known for developing games that feature exceptional gameplay, amazing graphics, animations, and sound, among other distinguishing features. All our recommended casinos feature high-quality games from top developers.
Bonuses and Promotions
Every online casino player loves getting free rewards from the casino. It means boosting their bankroll and enjoying playing their favorite games without risking their money. Our team scours the internet looking for casinos that offer players the most splendid rewards. Also, we ensure that these bonuses are as amazing as they sound. These casinos should tick all these boxes:
- Welcome Bonuses
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Welcome bonuses are offered to new players as a way of welcoming them to the platform and helping them have an exciting first experience. A reputable casino should offer its players a reasonable welcome bonus. We always advise players to first look at what a casino offers as their welcome bonus to determine whether it is worth their time and money.
Also, they should always ensure that they claim the welcome bonus by meeting all the requirements. There are various welcome bonuses including free spins, a deposit match, no-deposit offers, cash-back, and cash rewards. A good welcome bonus can make a huge difference to your gameplay.
- Rewards for Everyone
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Bonuses and promotions should not be solely for new players. We recommend casinos that give rewards to both their new and existing players. Our team looks at how often a casino offers gifts, new bonuses, and freebies to their players, and recommends the best ones. Promotions for existing players include weekly, daily, and monthly rewards, tournaments, extra free spins, and re-load bonuses, among others.
- Fair Terms and Conditions
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All casino bonuses come with terms and conditions that players need to meet before they can withdraw any winnings collected using the bonus. For a player to reap maximum benefits from a casino bonus the terms and conditions need to be reasonable.
That includes reasonable wagering requirements. If the wagering requirements are extremely high, it makes it harder for players to meet them and finally reap rewards from the bonus. When reviewing a casino, we read through their fine print and detail any complications associated with claiming a bonus to help our readers make an informed decision.
- Loyalty and VIP Rewards
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Besides regular casino bonuses and rewards, gambling sites offer loyalty schemes to their top players. The program allows players to earn more benefits from every wager they make. Also, high roller players are awarded VIP special rewards for spending huge amounts of money gambling at specific casinos.
We look at what a casino offers with each loyalty program tier to see whether the rewards are worth a player’s time.
Customer Support
Online casino players will at one time or another find themselves in a bind and need some assistance. That is where customer support comes in to assist players. You want to play at a casino where you are valued and your questions are answered promptly.
That is why we ensure that all the casinos we recommend offer excellent customer support. Some of the things we consider include:
- Easy and Fast Support
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Any reputable casino should offer players 24/7 customer support through various means. The best way to get hold of the support team is through the live chat option. With live chat, you can get your questions answered promptly by any available customer support team member.
It is, especially important when you have a pressing issue that requires immediate attention and a solution. Also, they should have a dedicated phone number and email option. Also, when reviewing casinos, we look at whether they also have a conclusive FAQ section where players can get enough resources to help answer their questions.
Money and Banking
If you are playing casino games for real money, you need to have a payment method in place. With online payments comes the risk of fraud, identity theft, and other cyber security issues. When it comes to playing online casino games, you need to be assured that your financial transaction details are safe from third parties.
Also, you want reassurance that you will receive your winnings fast. These are some of the factors we consider before recommending any online casino to our readers. We look at the whole process of withdrawing and depositing funds to get a feel of what players can expect. Here are some important things that we look into.
- Easy Deposits and Fast Withdrawal Processes
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Our review process includes finding out how easy it is for a player to sign up and deposit funds with their favorite payment option. We look at the available payment options, processing fees, the minimum and maximum limits, and what currencies are accepted.
Regarding withdrawals, players want to have their winnings fast. Our team checks to see how fast the casino processes withdrawal requests. Also, we consider the allowed withdrawal payment methods, but the most important aspect is how fast players will get their winnings in their accounts.
We check to ensure that casinos stay true to their word when they promise fast withdrawals. Reputable casinos don’t take too long before processing and releasing their players’ funds, especially when using payment methods that allow fast processing.
- Security
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We look at how serious a casino is when it comes to funds’ security. What measures do they put in place for the same? Our list of recommended casinos only features those that offer trusted and secure means of financial transactions. They should use Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption technology or anything similar to ensure that they keep their players’ financial information secure.
We highly recommend casinos that don’t require players to provide their credit card numbers or any other sensitive financial details each time they need to deposit or withdraw funds. These include cryptocurrency casinos and those that accept e-wallets.
Responsible Gaming
Responsible gambling refers to playing casino games for entertainment and fun sake. However, gambling can become problematic for some players, especially when they view it as a source of income or when they start gambling with more money than they are willing to risk.
An online casino can help such players exercise responsible gambling. When researching and reviewing casinos, we look at their responsible gambling policy to ensure that they care about their players. Various ways casinos can reinforce responsible gambling include:
Self-Exclusion: Casinos offer players the option to self-exclude themselves when they face problems controlling how much money and time they spend playing casino games. Such players need to provide the casino with their username and request either temporary or permanent account freezing. The casino can then prevent such a player from accessing any games for the specified period. Players have the freedom of withdrawing any remaining funds from their accounts or letting leaving them to remain until they start playing again. During the self-exclusion period, the casino doesn’t send any promotional material to the player.
Reality Checks: Some casino games software developers include measures that regularly remind their players how long they have been playing, and how much they have lost or won. The feature displays in-game notifications periodically to make the players aware of their gambling habits. When the notification pops, the game is first suspended and will only resume after the player acknowledges the message. In most jurisdictions, the reality check functionality is enabled by default.
Play Limits: To reinforce responsible gambling, online casinos should have an API function that allows players to set gameplay limits. The functionality should send and display in-game messages to alert the players that they have reached their play limits.
Age Limit: Different countries have set different age limits for online gambling. In Canada, you have to be at least 18 years old to gamble at online casinos. Some provinces only allow players from the age of 19. A responsible casino should have measures in place to ensure that no underage person registers an account with them as a way of reinforcing responsible gambling.
Responsible and Ethical Marketing: Online casinos need to comply with the regulatory advertising laws which ensure that they only do factual advertisements without targeting vulnerable or underage gamblers. This applies mostly to players who have self-excluded themselves from online gambling. The operators also need to get permission from their customers before sending them marketing materials through their personal details such as emails.
Bottom Line
With our comprehensive casino reviews, you can rest assured that all our recommended casinos are worth your time and money. We only recommend casinos that meet all the above features. Therefore, it is always wise to check out our website to see our best-reviewed casinos.
