iGamers in Ontario: What’s On & Off The Cards For You In Terms of Licensed Games & Sportsbooks?

If you live in Ontario and you enjoy playing online casino games then you will not be short of options when it comes to the variety of games that you can participate in.

Since Ontario became the first province in Canada to launch a competitive iGaming market, the options for games have been increasing at a rapid rate.

With 49 licensed iGaming operators and over 80 gaming websites to choose from, whether you enjoy playing Ontario slot games or you like to spend the evening playing poker with a live dealer, there really isn’t much that is off the cards.

Ontario’s iGaming industry has been generating huge revenues and operators continue to invest in their gaming offerings to attract new players and keep existing players returning to their platforms.

With new games launching all the time, Ontario is a good place to be if you want to try out the latest games and the newest iGaming tech innovations.

What iGaming Options Are There in Ontario?

Table Games

Ontario players can play all kinds of table games such as poker, baccarat, roulette, blackjack and many variations of each are available. If you prefer fast-paced table games, there are variations that speed game play up with simplified game formats.

In terms of what is off the cards, some side bet options may be restricted in Ontario. For example, if certain side bets are deemed as high-risk by regulators, they may disallow them when the operator submits their game rules and payout mechanics. 

The restrictions are in place to help ensure responsible and fair gaming, and with Ontario having strict gambling regulations, you might not see the same options for side bets as you do in less stringent regulatory frameworks.

As Ontario’s iGaming operators have embraced emerging technology, you will see that there is a great choice of live dealer games across most casinos.

You can play blackjack, roulette, baccarat and even game shows that are live. To find these types of live dealer casino games, you can check online reviews pages for casinos and a list of all the top rated casinos offering live dealer games will be displayed.

Slots

The licensed casino operators in Ontario have large slot game libraries, offering every type of genre you could imagine. From fun themed slots with great soundtracks, to recreations of arcade game classics, whatever type of slot theme you prefer, you will probably find it on many of the licensed casinos in Ontario.

You can choose between 3 or 5-reel slots and there are even some 7-reel slots. There are slots that offer progressive jackpots if you are looking for a game with a higher chance of big winnings.

In regard to what is off the cards, regulators might not allow certain high-volatility slots that are available in other regions with more relaxed rules. You will also not be able to play games that have copyright protection.

For example, in the past, Marvel themed slot games were very popular and were available on many online casinos. After Disney bought Marvel Entertainment, they decided that they did not want to associate gambling with their brand.

This meant that no further Marvel themed casino games were created but it also led to the withdrawal of these games on online casino platforms.

So, you won’t find your favorite superhero games anywhere on a licensed casino any more but there are variations of superhero games that do not require copyright permissions.

Sports Betting

Prior to the regulatory changes, single-event sports betting was illegal in Canada. In Ontario, all forms of sports betting are legalized, so you will be able to find betting options for all the popular sports, plus some niche ones.

The market is abundant with choices – players can go with whatever one of Ontario’s sportsbook options catches their eye and meets their specific requirements, balancing reputability, trustworthiness, reliability, and other personal factors.

Esports then further blur the space between traditional sports betting and the iGames on offer on a lot of the same sites, which combine online casinos and sportsbooks under one branded roof.

VR Games

Virtual reality casino games are growing in popularity, with some major tech advancements driving a more immersive casino experience.

Ontario is progressing faster than many other iGaming markets in the world with VR tech, but VR games are still at the very early stages and there are only a select number of casinos that offer VR casino games.

While there isn’t wide availability for VR casino games at this point, it is expected that this area of game design will be heavily invested in over the coming years. Players will simply need a VR headset and they will be able to play VR blackjack, where they can walk into a casino and interact with the dealer.

VR slots are also being developed, where players can virtually pull a slot lever to provide a more immersive experience compared to simply pressing a mouse button to spin.

As you can see, the only real restrictions in the iGaming options for Ontario players are there to protect players or because developments of technology are still in progress. Aside from these limitations, you have access to a huge choice of games and variations.