Many Canadians choose to play at real cash online casinos because they love the thrill of adventure and the anticipation of taking a risk. If you want to earn real cash playing your favourite types of gambling games as well, don't sit back and do nothing, jump into action! You do not even have to travel anywhere since you can access slots, table games and more right from the comfort of your own home when you create an account at a real cash online casino that accepts players from Canada.
Which is the Best Online Casino Bonus?
While there are millions of people not just in Canada but also all over the world who choose to play at real cash online casinos there are a ton of gambling operators competing for those players. With that in mind, it comes as no surprise when you learn that online casinos will readily provide players with real cash promotions when they first sign up and beyond. The main objective here is to get players to see what they have been missing and keep them playing as long as possible.
You may have heard that casinos only want your money, and it is true that they are for-profit businesses that know how to make money. That being said, they can be generous with player bonuses too since they want their customers to have fun so that they keep coming back. Here is a list of the best real cash online casino bonuses.
- Free Play: When you receive a free play bonus from an online casino, that usually means one of two things. Either you get to play one game for free, like a round of blackjack, or you get a certain amount of free play time, say an hour of playing what you like. Both of these options are great, as they are a gift to you, but the best is when you can play whatever you like and even get to win real cash with a certain amount of luck. Free play bonuses will also allow you to get to know the site and try out games that you might not have played before for real cash.
- Free Spins: Free spins are, of course, to be used with slots and that makes them the perfect type of online casino bonus for people who love nothing more than to spin away at these brilliant games. When you get a free spin bonus, you can make those reels purr all while keeping your real cash in your pockets. At times you will be rewarded with a certain amount of spins on one specific slots title, but other times you will be free to use your spins wherever you like.
- Free Cash: Online casino bonuses do not focus solely on slots, so if you happen to prefer table games a free cash bonus would be right for you. Free cash is usually given in the form of casino credit that is to be used with table games; although some games may not be included. You can use that house credit to make yourself some real cash by wagering it on the games you like to play such as roulette, blackjack, and more.
While you absolutely can use online casino bonuses to make real cash, be aware of each online casino's rules and regulations. If a promotion that you accept comes with wagering requirement like most do, you will have to bet whatever money you won with the bonus a certain number of times before cashing out. For example, if you win $5 from your free spin on a slot machine, you might have to wager it 10 times (i.e. $50) before you can request to withdraw your winnings. Also, know that not all games count the same towards fulfilment. For example, 100% of your bet in slots might go towards the wagering requirements you must comply with but other games, like roulette, might only count for 10% or even less at certain online casinos.
When it comes time to cash out the real money you won with your bonus, there may be stipulations as well. Some online casinos don't allow you to cash out the bonus cash at all so that it would be added to your deposit amount for instance, or there may be a withdrawal limit. There may also be time restrictions, like having to wait 48 hours before making a withdrawal. The best thing to do is to read the fine print and fully understand what you are getting into before redeeming a real cash promotion.
Recommended Game Software Platforms
What is an online casino without gaming software? Having great games that players are going to love and want to play as much and as often as possible for real money means choosing the top software developers in the industry to work with and that is exactly what the best online casinos do. The software engineers make the magic happen, and you will find that there are a few main platforms that make the rounds across the spectrum of sites, so if you get to know a game that you like, chances are you will find it on other websites as well. Here is a closer look at some of the best software companies:
- Microgaming: - Microgaming is the original online casino software platform and claims to have created the first true online casino software back in the early 90s. That is a bold claim and they back it up with amazing casino games that players cannot get enough of. Always innovating, they are constantly on the top of everyone's list. If it's progressive jackpots that you're after, Microgaming boasts an impressive network, including the incredibly popular Mega Moolah which has turned various lucky players into millionaires throughout its years at real cash online casinos.
- Playtech: - Playtech is another of the giants in the industry, but that doesn't mean they have decided to sit back and coast. With major licensing contracts for such recognizable franchises as Marvel, they are out to give you, the player, a good time and that is why you will find their games at the very best gambling sites around. Other great Playtech games that you will certainly want to try include the Age of Gods series, Frankie Detorri's Magic Seven, Buffalo Blits, and much more.
- Betsoft: Although Betsoft may be new(ish) when you consider that certain software developers have been around since before the turn of the century, they can hold their own playing with the big boys. Specializing in 3D slots, this software company entices players with their flashy graphics and neat storylines. Betsoft titles that you will totally want to check out at real cash online casinos include Greedy Goblins, Good Girl Bad Girl, WhospunIt, and many others as well.
Of course, there are countless other software providers as well that make fantastic games and design beautiful and reliable platforms for gambling sites and you are certain to get to know most or even all of them the more that you play at real cash gambling sites.
The House Edge - Slots vs. Table Games
It should go without saying that we all should have a lot of fun when playing casino games, but a lot of us also want to make as much money as possible while having all that fun and more! If you are going to bet real cash, you may as well be informed about what your best options are. This is true nowhere more than the topic of house edge. You know that gambling sites make money (how else could they stay afloat), but do you know where they really rake it in? This is where knowing the house advantage for each game comes in handy. Just so you know, the higher the percentage, the better for the casino.
- Slots: While it might be difficult for some players to figure out the house edge when it comes to slots, especially since some operators don't like to share stats on individual games, you should know that these games have a standard percentage range of 2-15%. The variance comes from the paylines. When you only play on half the paylines, for example, you've cut your chances of winning in half. You will usually get the RTP (return to player) stipulated which often hovers around 95% but not all slots are equal; some have a higher RTP and those are the ones you will want to play.
- Table Games: There is some deviation in house edge for table games as well, but the general rule of thumb for games like craps, blackjack, roulette, and Caribbean stud poker is 1-5%. Craps and Caribbean stud poker are generally on the higher end (5%), while games like roulette (the European, single zero version) and blackjack have a lower house edge (1%). If winning real cash is what you're after, then your best bet is to stick to the blackjack table and keep away from the online casino slots. You might also want to learn basic blackjack strategy to have an even better chance of winning.
Unfortunately, as mentioned, when it comes to using your bonus you may only be able to use it for some games, or have wagering requirements which stipulate that slots count 100% but table games like blackjack only 10% or even less so keep that in mind when playing with free money. When you play with your own money, then all bets are off so to speak - or limits rather.
Recommended Canadian Online Casino Banking Methods
Now that you have an idea of what to play, where to play, and which bonuses to take advantage of, you can start thinking about depositing those real cash winnings into your bank account. Gambling operators offer various different banking methods and these are some of the most common ones:
- Credit and Debit Cards: If you don't mind reaching into your wallet and getting out a physical card, entering all the digits, and filling out a billing address, then you will be fine with using your plastic, as most online casinos accept cards as methods of payment. You might want to make sure that the site you are playing at offers both deposits and withdrawals for your particular credit or debit card.
- Bank Wire Transfers: If you want to use the most reliable banking method at gambling sites, you are going to have to go with bank wire transfers. Just be aware that this banking method is usually the slowest option so getting winnings will require patience.
- Electronic Wallet Services: Lastly, you can choose to use popular electronic wallet services such as PayPal, Skrill, or Neteller. These are quick and easy to use, especially if you are gambling from your personal computer or phone because your password and login details are probably already saved.
You can win real cash enjoyably and responsibly at online casinos while having a great time. Just find the ones that float your boat, be smart with how and what you play, and don't be afraid of a little adventure!
