Ontario is the largest and most populated province in Canada. It also has the most number of gaming venues in the country.
There are some many options for gaming, coupled with the beauty of nature in Ontario. It’s close proximity to Minnesota, Michigan Detroit, and New York allows Ontario to attract many US players via crossing the border. Such is it’s success with drawing US players, some Ontario casino operators even provide assistance to US players by providing up to date immigration processing times.
Ontario Online Casinos Statistics
There is a combination of onshore and offshore online casinos available for Ontario residents. However, by far the gambling turnover on offshore by far exceeds that of onshore. Approximately $124m was gambled in 2018 offshore compared to only $30m via onshore. This is truly a remarkable difference, and speaks volume of the quality and integrity of offshore online casino providers.
Ontario Land Casinos Reviewed
There are approximately over 30 land based casinos, plus casino cum hotels, casino plus racetrack and casino cum raceways. There are so many combinations with casinos, that they are extremely difficult to clearly classify into identifiable categories. Accordingly we have reviewed some of the most popular Ontario casinos per below:
Caesars Windsor
377 Riverside Dr E, Windsor, Ontario
The Caesar Windsor is located in the Detroit Windsor area competing against three other casinos locally – MGM Grand, Motor City Casino and Greektown Casino. It’s a beautiful casino operated professionally by Caesars Entertainment and is owned by the Province of Ontario (I.e. government owned).
The location of the casino is simply spectacular, residing on a riverbank. The decor is a classic Roman classic theme.
Thus, in keeping with the theme, you will find: Forum Tower – 23 storey high with 389 rooms, Augustus Tower – 27 storey high with 369 rooms, The Colosseum – a 5,000 seating entertainment centre.
Gaming: The Caesars offers a wide range of table games. There is a game pit and a high rollers area. In addition a fabulous poker room which holds regular top class poker tournaments. And of course, we can forget, there is a vast array of slot machines. The latest in electronic gaming is their four in one play table game machine. You can play blackjack, roulette, baccarat and sic bo, without leaving your seat!
Gaming Revenue: $267m in 2016
Casino Niagara
5705 Falls Ave, Niagara Falls, Ontario
The Casino Niagara is not small! The gaming floor is huge, over 95,000 sq ft with aisles of slot machines with different themes and a wide denomination range. It caters for everyone! There are over 40 tables that offers Blackjack, Spanish 21, Roulette, Baccarat, Casino War and Poker.
Gaming revenue in 2016 was a whopping $638m, which indicates how popular this casino is!
Casino Rama
5899 Rama Rd, Orillia, Ontario
The Casino Rama is the third largest in Canada, so it’s not one to be dismissed as a small little casino in the countryside. It is located in Rama approximately 157km north of Toronto.
Gaming: Ok, let’s list it out! Casino Rama has so many games that features the following:
2,200 slots – if this isn’t enough for you, then you need to consider slowing down!
60 table games including” Baccarat, Blackjack, Poker, Roulette, Pai Gow Poker, Craps 9
Fusion Hybrid – multi play for plays and games. Imagine everyone playing all the games at once! Well now it’s real, multi player online and live playing black jack, baccarat and roulette live through the power of a hybrid terminal.
The gaming revenue in 2016 was $380m in 2016, which is roughly half that of Casino Niagara.
Opening hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week
Golden Eagle Bingo Hall
49 Devils Gap Rd, Kenora, Ontario
A fantastic place to play bingo with funds raised forwarded to Wauzhushk Onigum Foundation which supports the local community.
A very much down to earth, super friendly atmosphere. Family friendly fun but you do need to be at least 18 years old. There is both a smokers and non-smokers area.
Please note: they only accept cash, however there is an ATM on site for you to withdraw money.
Minimum Age: 18
Opening hours: Six days a week
Tuesday to Friday and Sunday: Doors open at 6pm with session starting at 7:30pm.
Saturday: Doors open at 1pm with sessions at 2:30 pm and 7:30pm.
Great Blue Heron Casino
21777 Island Rd, Port Perry, Ontario
Tribal owned by the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, the Great Blue Heron Casino one great casino to play at. It probably has the most table games of any casino in Canada, let alone Ontario.
The casino is based on the island Scugog and as you can imagine, the surroundings is simply stunning.
Offering over 700 slot and video game machines, a whopping 50 table games, poker room and tournaments.
Gaming Revenue: $595m in 2016
Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort
6380 Fallsview Blvd, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Literally thousands of slots, over 3,000 slot and video machines to be more precise!
A wide range of denominations starting from a low 1 cent to the high limits of $100.
Slots
- All-Star Poker II
- Dragon Link Series
- Game Of Thrones Fire & Blood
- Ghostbusters 4D
- Heidi’S Bier Haus
- Kronos – Father Of Zeus
- Lightning Link – High Stakes & Sahara Gold
- Pac-Man Wild Edition
- Rumble Rumble
- Spin Poker
- Sweet Skulls – Sweet Daybreak
- Tarzan
- Tetris Super Jackpots
- Treasures Of Troy
- Wheel Of Fortune 4D
- Willy Wonka – World Of Wonka
- Wonder 4 Tower
- Zeus – Son Of Kronos
Table Games:
- Blackjack
- Baccarat
- Craps
- Roulette
- Sic Bo
- Casino War
- Spanish 21
- Let It Ride
- Pai Gow Tiles
- Caribbean Stud
- Four Card Poker
- High Card Flush
- Blackjack Switch
- EZ Pai Gow Poker
- Mississippi Stud
- Three Card Poker
- Free Bet Blackjack
- Face Up Pai Gow Poker
- Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Poker Room
- 26 Tables to play on!
Americans Crossing the Border
If you reside in the US and are planning to cross the border to have some gaming action, you are not alone. There are approximately 50 million Americans that cross the border according to the 2017 Canadian Census Bureau.
Passport
To cross the border it is important for American and Canadian citizens to hold at lease one of the following:
- US passport card
- Enhanced drivers license
- US/CAN passport
- Nexus card
This will ensure that you are permitted to cross the border.
Ontario Slot Machines
In Ontario it is not illegal to import slot machines. This may seem like great news for those who are slot machines collectors, however, the bad news is that it cannot be operated. Technically the slot machine must remain unplugged and not be used to remain within the law. I do find it hard to believe that this law can be properly enforced and should the machine remain in an operational mode there would be very little risk of facing any penalties.
Interac Payment Methods
Gradually becoming more widely known, is that the commonly used payment method Interac (Interac e-Transfer and Interac Online) can be used as a payment method at the many casinos in Ontario as well as for online casinos. Using Interac will make depositing a lot quicker and reliable as it is the most trusted and efficient payment method created specifically for the Canadian banking system, by Canadians – Gigadat.