Casino FAQ's

Online gambling is a very new industry, especially in Canada. As such, many people are left curious about the specific aspects of the market, including concerns about banking, legal issues and the overall operation of online casinos. Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions about online gambling:

1. Is online gambling legal in Canada?
Many Canadian residents have been led to believe that online gambling in the country is illegal. However, the public definition has been skewed somewhat to prevent players from placing bets at online gambling institutions. If the activity is occurring in a legal jurisdiction, such as the Isle of Man or Gibraltar, then Canadian residents are permitted to gamble online. That is why it’s important for players to research an online casino before registering, in order to find out if it is location in a regulated jurisdiction.

2. What is the age requirement for playing at online casinos?
Most online casinos require that players be over the age of 18. However, this may vary between jurisdictions, so it is always best to find out from the individual casino.

3. Is it safe to transfer money to online casinos?
Online casinos take great care in securing the information of their players. Using SSLs (Secure Socket Layers) online casinos encrypt all information transferred to their banking department, restricting access from anyone who is not an employee of the casino operator.

4. Do I need a credit card to sign up to an online casino?
With all of the new banking methods available, it is not mandatory for a player to have a credit card in order to gamble online. Players can fund their account using wire transfers or e-wallets that take money directly from your bank account. There are also prepaid vouchers available that players can buy at land-based retail outlets.

5. How can I be sure that the games’ outcomes are actually randomized?
Online casinos go through a great deal of trouble to ensure that their players are getting fair and realistic results every time they play a game. They use a Random Number Generator (RNG), which is a mathematic algorithm that replicates actual random outcomes using complex calculations. On a regular basis, online casinos have their RNGs examined by third-party auditors lie Price Waterhouse Coopers, to ensure that their RNGs are fair.

6. What is a payout percentage?
A payout percentage refers to the amount of money that a player gets to take home from their win. For example, if an online casino offers 97%, then players will be able to take home 97% of their winnings while 3% goes to the operator. The legal minimum is currently 96%, but it is rare to find an online casino offering less than 97%.

7. What should I know about downloading casino software?
The size of casino game suites ranges anywhere from 100MB to several Gigs, depending on the quality of the software. Players must ensure that their computer meets the minimum requirement before downloading the software, otherwise their computer could crash. However, players need not worry about contracting viruses, as operators equip their software with anti-virus applications to protect their players.

8. Are online casinos Mac-compatible?
Unfortunately, most downloadable online casino suites are only functional on Windows computers. However, all operators offer their software in Flash versions, as well, so clients can play browser-based games without having to download anything.

9. How do I know an online casino is reputable?
There are many tell-tale signs of a reputable online casino. Firstly, players should read the casinos “About Us” page and look for any one of the following software designer names:

  • Microgaming
  • Cryptologic
  • Party Gaming
  • 888 Holdings
  • Rival
  • Orbis Open Bet
  • Vegas Technology
  • Real Time Gaming
  • Boss Media

These are the most renowned names in online gambling, verified by several authorities that their software provides players with fair outcomes.

10. What is proprietary software?
The term “proprietary software” refers to the fact that the software has been designed in-house. Instead of buying software from any one of the above designers, the operator will commission its own software department to create games and banking systems. There are many casino operators that are trustworthy, like 888 and Party Gaming. However, it is advised that players stick to those two brands when it comes to proprietary software, as they are regulated and approved by gaming authorities.