Table of Contents
- History of Live Casinos in Canada
- Roulette at Live Casinos in Canada
- Live Blackjack at Canada’s Favourite Online Casinos
- Baccarat at the Best CA Online Casinos
- Live Casinos with Poker at Canada‘s Favourite Sites
- Live Money Wheel Games at CA Online Casinos
- Other Games at Live Casinos in Canada
- Our Picks for Live Casino Games to Play
- How do we pick the best CA Live Casinos?
- Benefits of Live Online Casinos
- Drawbacks of Live Online Casinos
- Live Casino Bonuses in the Canada Market
- Gambling Regulations for Live Casinos in Canada
- Live Games with the Highest RTPs in Canada
- What Makes A Great Live Casino Dealer
- Best Mobile Live Casinos for Canada Players
- Live Casino Key Facts
- Live Casino FAQs
History of Live Casinos in Canada
It is fair to say that gambling has been positioned in a legal grey area for much of the last five centuries. However, the recent rise in the popularity of online casinos in many jurisdictions across the planet suggests a slow thawing of negative attitudes towards the iGaming industry. Thousands of casino-loving Canadians have positively embraced this new landscape.
But how have live casinos in Canada got to this point?
Gambling has a long history in Canada.
As long ago as 1497, the intrepid explorer, John Cabot, documented how local native tribes would play several games of chance with simple items as a form of entertainment. It’s fair to say that Cabot was a late-comer to the party, as evidence of gambling within native communities dates back to around 6000 B.C.
However, once Canada was settled by in influx of European migrants the legal status of gambling began to be called into question.
In 1892, the Canadian government passed the Canadian Criminal Code, which made all forms of gambling illegal.
Such was the popularity of gambling within Canada’s fledgling communities that this ban could not be expected to last long. By 1900, rules were updated to allow for Bingo games and local lotteries to take place so long as the proceeds went to charity.
By 1910, laws came almost full circle when betting on horse racing became an approved activity throughout Canada. Further relaxation meant gambling at travelling fairs, and exhibitions were perfectly legal by 1925.
1969 was also a key turning point in the history of gambling in Canada. At this time, the Canadian government began to embrace the revenues that widespread lotteries could generate, with federal and provincial incarnations allowed. Indeed, Canada’s first lottery was explicitly created to generate revenue for the 1974 summer Olympics in Montreal.
As lotteries became accepted across Canada, attention turned to the running of casinos.
In 1985, the Canadian Criminal Code was finally relaxed to make all forms of gambling legal, with this move being the green light for casinos to spring up on various sites.
The very first legal casino in Canada opened in Winnipeg in 1989 to mark nearly a century of deregulation.
As technology advanced, so did the gambling opportunity. This was underlined in 1996 when the very first online casino was launched under licence from the Kahnawake Gambling Commission.
In more modern times, Canadians have become keener than ever to bet on Slots, table games, and live dealer output. This trend has been turbo-charged in recent decades by, first, the building of land-based casinos in all major cities and then the widespread uptake of the internet, which has brought casino action into the living rooms of Canadians.
But such rapid change often poses more questions than answers. This is where we come in. We are casino specialists, so we are well placed to understand when a CA live casino is safe and when exclusive offers are worth taking up.
The development of live casinos enables you to play favourites including roulette, blackjack, and baccarat, from your desktop or mobile, but what do the top operators provide?
Roulette at Live Casinos in Canada
It is difficult to argue that roulette is not among the most popular live dealer games among Canadians. Online casinos that service the Canada market have made great strides in bringing innovative wheel games to market, with HD-quality visuals adding to the authentic feel.
The choice is no longer between European or American Roulette but also between Lightning Roulette, Immersive Roulette, and Mega Fire Roulette, among many others.
Live dealer roulette is often streamed directly from some of the world’s most glorious casino venues, with Monte Carlo, Macau, or Vegas often providing a scintillating backdrop, although studio-based varieties from the likes of Evolution Gaming still deliver the same buzz, with chat from the most glamorous croupiers adding to the entertainment.
Live Blackjack at Canada’s Favourite Online Casinos
If you’re taking a break from the roulette lounge, the blackjack tables are likely to make an attractive alternative.
Blackjack is a fantastic casino game for complete novices and grizzled veterans alike. The easy-to-play nature of the game and simple betting options means that you will quickly pick up the basics.
Live dealer Blackjack is enhanced by interaction with knowledgeable dealers who quickly keep you updated as hands progress.
Evolution Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Ezugi, and Playtech have developed some great Blackjack variants. These include:
- Blackjack Party
- Common Draw Blackjack
- Free Bet Blackjack
- Infinite Blackjack
- Live Blackjack
Many of these games allow braver players to bet on a range of side bets. 21+3, Perfect Pairs, and Insurance bets are commonly available to Canadian live casino fans.
Baccarat at the Best CA Online Casinos
At first glance, Baccarat appears to be a complicated card game. Like Blackjack, the aim of the game is to receive a hand that is closest to a pre-defined outcome, in this case, nine. But the route to seeing a winning hand called can look confusing.
In essence, Baccarat pits the luck of the Player against that of the Dealer, with card values added together and the first digit is dropped. The problems come when neither the dealer nor the banker scores seven or more, as additional cards are dealt when this situation arises.
But if you can see past this, you are effectively betting on a fifty/fifty outcome (although hands can also end in a tie).
One thing you need to remember when you are playing live dealer baccarat is that the table limits can be high, but RTP rates mean that you should hold on to your bankroll during lengthy sessions.
Top live baccarat options include:
- Lightning Baccarat
- Dragon Tiger
- Sic Bo
- Baccarat Control Squeeze
- Speed Baccarat.
Although the make-up of Baccarat means that side bets are limited, you can still boost your winnings by betting on suited pairs or gain insurance on a “tied” outcome.
Live Casinos with Poker at Canada‘s Favourite Sites
Live Online Poker gives Canadians several benefits over traditional games.
First, there is no need to maintain a poker face for hours on end, as your rivals can’t see you. Also, the technology involved in the delivery of live dealer online poker means that you are instantly aware of the hands of others and the chance of their hand being a winner. Complex maths that is nigh on impossible to compute in real-world situations.
Top live online casino poker titles include:
- Caribbean Stud
- Casino Hold’em
- Texas Hold’em
- Three Card Poker
All these poker options come with slightly different rules, so as they say, you pay your money and you take your choice!
Live Money Wheel Games at CA Online Casinos
One area of the iGaming market that has boomed in recent years, is the live money wheel games sector.
This should not be a surprise, quality CA casinos are all about delivering entertainment and safety, so, naturally, many providers offer a wide range of presenter-led wheel games.
If you’re yet to play one of these titles, live money wheel game shows offer the features of great slot games and the unpredictability of classic roulette.
Popular examples of this modern phenomenon include:
- Adventures in Wonderland
- Crazy Time
- Dream Catcher
- Monopoly Live
- Spin a Win
Other Games at Live Casinos in Canada
Live Casino fans in Canada are not restricted to the usual fayre when they log on to their favourite site. In recent times, many casino operators have expanded the range of content that they support exponentially.
Some games that you really must try, if you haven’t already, include::
- Craps
- Football Studio
- Side Bet City
Although these games are a little niche, they are picking up Canada fans all the time as they offer a refreshing alternative to more traditional table games and prize shows, with top-paying casinos offering healthy payouts on these products.
Our Picks for Live Casino Games to Play
When we mention live casino games, we think of classic ones that can be played in land-based casinos.
1. One Blackjack – Pragmatic Play
Launched in 2021, One Blackjack comes with a 2000x your stake jackpot. If Blackjack is your game, but you yearn for unpredictability, One Blackjack is an option for you.
2. Adventures Beyond Wonderland – Playtech.
Launched in 2020, Adventures in Wonderland offers a top prize of $500,000. This cross between roulette and feature slots games is a visual delight that offers an RTP of 96.82%
3. Monopoly Live – Evolution Live Gaming
Launched in 2019, Monopoly Live brings big-brand entertainment to the palm of your hand. A 500x your stake jackpot prize is available to all players whenever the bonus game is triggered. With an RTP of 93.60%, Monopoly Live is the perfect blend of entertainment and big prize potential.
4. Crazy Time – Evolution Live Gaming
Launched in 2020, Crazy Time is a vibrant wheel-based game that offers bonuses of up to 20000x your stake. The glorious “Crazy Time” reel is a sight to behold and well worth investing in just to see an appearance.
How do we pick the best CA Live Casinos?
The Canada market is flooded with hundreds of live casinos of varying standards, so how do we sort the good from the not-so-good?
Our team of experts base their CA live casino ratings on the metrics that matter most to you:
- Safety
- Game Content
- Payout Speed
Analysis of the internet suggests that Canadians prioritize these three factors above all else, so we do too.
Our top ratings only ever go to casinos that have been awarded a gambling licence from the AGCO or the WCLC and that have content created by the most innovative software providers, including Evolution Gaming and NetEnt, and where popular slots like MegaWays are supported, and that completes payouts within 24 hours.
That is not to say that other important features evade us.
Canadians understand the importance of a decent Welcome Bonus, a lucrative VIP scheme, and a flexible banking department, so we give you all the ins and outs of these features every time we review real money CA site.
Licenses
You might be forgiven for thinking that licences aren’t too important.
You’d be wrong.
For Canada punters, it is even more important to play at a licensed venue as licensing bodies are the only guarantors of fair play.
It is vital then that Canadians play at an online casino that is licensed in Ontario or by the West Coast Lottery Corporation and that you only have a play at an online casino that is legal in your province.
Banking
Banking is always a consideration whenever you complete a transaction online.
You need to have convenient and safe banking options, or you won’t part with your cash.
Fortunately, at the safe CA casinos that we recommend, you will find universally popular banking methods such as PayPal, Visa, and MasterCard and more locally popular types such as Paysafe and Interac.
These methods allow fee-free, quick, and safe currency transfers to your casino of choice.
Bonuses
Live casinos regularly advertise a steady stream of bespoke bonuses on roulette, baccarat, or blackjack, as well as the carrot of an invitation to a VIP scheme that can provide lucrative ongoing deals and superior levels of service.
Whether you choose to play at a $1 deposit, $5 deposit, or $10 deposit casino, finding a bonus to suit you is ever important as it helps to fund your live dealer play.
Service & Support
We all hope that nothing goes wrong when dealing with big business. But, from time to time, problems are to be expected.
What sets the best live casinos in Canada apart from the rest is how player issues are dealt with.
A responsive email service, a 24/7 live chat capability and a dedicated phone support line all help to get Canadians the answers that they need.
Benefits of Live Online Casinos
A slots venue is great fun, and a sports betting site fills a need, but if you want to be entertained while you are battling the house, live online casinos are the place to be, but what is it that sets these venues apart from others?
Unique Experiences: One of the biggest selling points of the best CA live casinos is that they give you the chance to bet on games that you can get nowhere else. You can definitely play baccarat, blackjack, poker, and roulette at a land-based venue, but can you play Crazy Time? Of course, you can’t! So, settle down on your sofa and immerse yourself in a mix of content that cannot be found anywhere else.
Dealer Interaction: If you ever get the chance to visit a casino venue in your local town or city, you will most likely be amazed by the skill and professionalism of the dealer and croupier team. These skilled operators are programmed to ensure that you have a great time even if results don’t always go your way. This feeling can now be brought into your living room by live casino technology optimised on desktop and mobile. So, sit back and bask in the ambience that top teams generate.
High Table Limits: If you consider yourself to be a high-roller, live tables might well be ideal. There is very little chance that you will be able even to gain a small edge against the house whenever you play a live game so table limits can be significantly enhanced.
Live Chat Function: Banter between punters often turns a losing day into a memorable one. The community feeling that is created by the live chat function that live casinos offer allows casino-goers to commiserate with each other when results take a downturn or celebrate when the betting gods are smiling. Sharing these experiences is a top feature of any casino visit.
Drawbacks of Live Online Casinos
Even though live casinos are a great option for Canadians, there are, of course, some downsides that we must tell you about for the sake of balance.
Requires Broadband: No matter how fantastic a live casino site is, you won’t be able to play unless you have some form of fixed or mobile broadband connectivity. If you are in an internet blackspot then you will be unable to join the party.
Limited Bonuses: Live Casinos tend to focus on table games like roulette and baccarat that offer the house its lowest profit edge. This means that casino owners tend to be reluctant to offer too many bonuses. However, games such as Lightning Baccarat or Lightning Roulette may be worth considering. Enhanced payouts are awarded whenever certain in-game conditions are met, ensuring that standard bets payout many more times over than you would expect.
Small Games Catalogue: When compared to the number of Slots that casinos offer, live casino lobbies are not overly well stocked. Even the best live casinos in Canada may be limited to offering around 100 games for you to bet on. Not bad, but potentially limiting.
Live Casino Bonuses in the Canada Market
There are very few casinos that have bonuses that are overtly aimed at live casino games. However, at a few venues, you can use your live casino play to clear steep wagering requirements that are often attached to new player welcome bonuses.
If you scour the market, you can find outlets where 15% of your stakes at the Baccarat and Roulette tables count towards your wagering commitments.
Gambling Regulations for Live Casinos in Canada
Gambling in Canada is currently guided by the rules set out by the individual provincial governments. This means that Canadian casino fans can only access online casino play that has been approved by legislators in the province that they live. Check out province specific laws before you sign up for any online entity.
Licensing authorities such as the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) ensure that player rights are upheld at all times.
Live Games with the Highest RTPs in Canada
Customers of Canada‘s live casinos will often come across the acronym RTP, but what does this mean and how should it affect your betting strategies?
RTP (or the return to player rate) indicates how much customers should expect to see in returns when a casino game is played for an extended period.
A 100% RTP rate would mean that it is expected that every Dollar bet on a slot, table game, or live dealer event would be returned in winnings.
Of course, all casinos need to make a profit, so RTP rates are not normally this high, but they are not far off for several of the best live casino games.
Top paying live games include:
- Evolution Gaming Blackjack – 99.50%
- NetEnt Common Draw Blackjack – 99.50%
- Playtech Blackjack – 99.50%
- Evolution Gaming Casino Hold’em – 99.18%
- Evolution Gaming Baccarat – 98.96%
With rates of this size, there is no wonder that live casino action is increasing in popularity, as Canadians can maintain their bankroll for long spells while playing some of the best titles that the iGaming industry has to offer.
What Makes A Great Live Casino Dealer
There are a couple of factors that go into making a great live casino, namely the live dealers that deliver the content and the software providers that develop these.
Finding the right combination is the holy grail and something that we are continually searching for.
Casinos with the Best Live Dealers
Canadians are fortunate that whichever live casino they choose to play at, they will find a team of dealers and croupiers that are professional and who enhance the entertainment value of the table games and game shows on offer.
About the Software Developers
Live casinos do not generally create their products. This responsibility lies with the world’s top software providers. It is the job of Evolution Gaming, Playtech, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play to bring concepts to life by developing attractive in-game features and embedding these within HD-quality graphics.
Evolution Gaming
Evolution Gaming is the leading name in the world of live dealer casino content. Founded in 2006, Evolution has received numerous awards in recent years for the products that it has designed.
Evolution’s suite of live dealer games carries a hallmark of crisp graphics, knowledgeable croupiers, and informative graphics that makes gameplay fun at all times. Top titles from Evolution include Lightning Roulette, Speed Baccarat, and Craps Live!
Playtech
Playtech is another household name in the live casino sector. Founded in 1999, Playtech has been bringing slots, RNG table games and live dealer content to the masses ever since. Although Playtech may not be as renowned as Evolution for innovation, it does always deliver a solid product that casino fans in Canada and beyond have come to love over the past two decades.
NetEnt
NetEnt has been a major player in the iGaming world since 1996. As a Swedish entity, NetEnt has to take a fresh view of the live casino product and has decided that quality products are in high demand.
As well as incorporating top graphics and unique side bets, NetEnt’s live dealer games are often underpinned by the appearance of well-groomed croupiers who wouldn’t look out of place in high-end venues in Monte Carlo or Macau.
Best Mobile Live Casinos for Canada Players
You can now play live casino games wherever you are in Canada. No longer do you need to dig out a suit and travel to your nearest City to be able to take on the house at the Baccarat, Blackjack, and Roulette tables. You can do this anywhere that you can find an internet connection.
Mobile sites and apps mean that you can play your favourite live dealer content over 4G or 5G coverage on any Android or Apple device.
Many mobile sites are now so comprehensive that you struggle to differentiate them from desktop configurations.
Live Casino Key Facts
| Live Casinos: | Key Facts CA |
|---|---|
| 😍 Number of Live Casinos | 100+ |
| ❤️ Top-Rated CA Live Casino | Betway |
| 👍 Minimum Deposit | $1 |
| ✨ Maximum Deposit | $5000 |
| ⚖️ Live Casino Licenses | Province Specific Licence |
| 🔥 Live Casino Software | Evolution Gaming |
Live Casino FAQs
Why Play Live Casino?
Live Casino is a fun and immersive way to play casino games either from the comfort of your home or while you travel without having to go to an actual casino. You can sit and relax and play along with your mobile, tablet or laptop and enjoy the conversation between yourself, the live dealers and fellow players.
What Are Live Casino Games?
Live Casino games are online games that you would likely find in a casino. These can include table and card games such as Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Poker.
Are Live Casino Games Rigged?
Live Casino games aren’t rigged, though they are tipped in the favour of the house otherwise, they wouldn’t be the profitable businesses that they are.
Can You Count Cards In Online Live Blackjack?
You can try, and it might work, but the profits you can make will be fairly minimal. Live Casinos tend to shuffle their cards more frequently than normal casinos, so the practice of counting cards can be difficult with no real profit margin.
How Do You Win Playing Live Roulette?
You win by placing chips in the successful place on the board before the spin. For example, if the number lands on 7, you would win if you placed chips on the number 7 or the surrounding borders of number 7, red, odd, 1 to 18, 1st 12 or the bottom row of the board.
Who Owns Evolution Gaming?
Jens von Bahr is the current Chairman of the Board. Evolution Gaming is part of a wider group known as the Evolution Group, which also owns well-known providers such as NetEnt and Red Tiger.
What Is The Max Bet On Evolution Live Blackjack?
The max bet for non-VIP players varies between $2,500 and $5,000. However, Evolution Live Blackjack has Salon Prive tables where the maximum bet is $10,000.