Crypto Casinos in Canada: Top Picks + Complete Guide
Unlike its neighboring country, the United States, Canada has relatively straightforward laws when it comes to playing crypto casino games online.
While online casinos based within the country’s borders are regulated at the provincial level, there’s nothing stopping Canadians from accessing offshore crypto casinos offering their services to players in the Great White North.
The good news here: You can access all the new crypto casinos licensed in places like Curaçao and the UK. The relatively straightforward regulatory environment gives you a much broader selection of games and bonuses to choose from.
There are, however, still things you have to know.
In this article, we’ll go over laws, KYC requirements, and some great licensed crypto casinos for Canadian players.
Top Canadian crypto casinos in 2024
First deposit bonus:
100% up to 1.5 BTC + 100 free spins
This bonus will be granted automatically. Free spins can be activated and played in the Elvis Frog in Vegas game by BGaming.
New players only. Welcome Package - 325% up to 5.25 BTC + 250 FS. All bonuses (unless otherwise specified) need to be wagered 35 times before the funds can be withdrawn. The minimum deposit requirement to qualify for any part of welcome bonus is 0.34 mBTC.
Welcome bonus:
100 FreeSpins - WAGER FREE
This bonus will be granted automatically. Free spins can be activated and played in the Book of Dead game by Play'n GO.
New players only. Welcome Bonus - 100 FreeSpins - WAGER FREE. The minimum deposit requirement to qualify for any part of welcome bonus is $50.
Welcome bonus:
200% up to €25,000 + 50 FS
This bonus will be granted automatically. Free spins can be activated and played in the Wanted Dead or a Wild by Hacksaw Gaming.
New players only. Welcome Bonus - 200% up to €25,000 + 50 FS. All bonuses (unless otherwise specified) need to be wagered 35x times before the funds can be withdrawn. The minimum deposit requirement to qualify for any part of welcome bonus is 20 EUR.
First deposit bonus:
200% up to 500 USDT
This bonus will be granted automatically.
New players only. Welcome Package - 400% up to 2,500 USDT. All bonuses (unless otherwise specified) need to be wagered 5x times before the funds can be withdrawn. The minimum deposit requirement to qualify for any part of welcome bonus is 50 USDT.
First deposit bonus:
180% match up to 20,000 BCD
with a minimum deposit of $10
New players only. Welcome Package - 360% up to 200,000 BCD. All bonuses (unless otherwise specified) need to be wagered 40x times before the funds can be withdrawn. The minimum deposit requirement to qualify for any part of welcome bonus is $10, $50, $100, or $200
How do crypto casinos work in Canada?
Fundamentally, crypto casinos work quite similar no matter where you are in the world. For that matter, they operate like traditional online casinos as well. The main difference is you deposit, place bets, and withdraw using a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), or Dogecoin (DOGE) instead of your country’s fiat currency.
Since online gambling with crypto is legal in Canada, you can access all these casinos without any issues.
The process is simple:
- Buy crypto on an exchange like Coinbase or Binance.
- Transfer your crypto to a wallet like Ledger Nano S or Trezor.
- Choose the right crypto casino.
- Set up your account.
- Make your first deposit and claim any bonuses.
- Start placing bets.
- When you win, cash out your earnings!
The games you’ll find on crypto gambling websites are fundamentally the same as the ones you’d find on a standard online casino. There are, however, some benefits to decentralization and blockchain technology, like provably fair gaming and near-instant payouts (more on this in a minute).
The legal landscape of crypto casinos in Canada
Cryptocurrencies are recognized as legal in Canada for trading, holding, and making transactions. And, yes, that includes gambling.
However, like most of the world, there are no specific regulations tailored explicitly to crypto casinos.
Instead, these platforms have to comply with the general gambling laws that apply to traditional online casinos, which vary by province. Operators who wish to run crypto casinos in Canada have to acquire appropriate provincial gambling licenses in each area, just as traditional casinos do.
In practice, most sites won’t do this because it’s tremendously inconvenient for a relatively small ROI. Most Canadian players turn to offshore crypto casinos. Like we’ve already mentioned, offshore operators are perfectly legal to use.
Still, since a different country’s government regulates them, they come with risks (especially in terms of consumer protection and ensuring legitimacy).
Canada’s KYC and anti-money laundering requirements
While Canada has relatively lenient laws regarding online gambling, there are things to consider. Canada’s anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements form a comprehensive framework meant to prevent illicit financial activities like money laundering and terrorist financing.
FINTRAC (the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada) primarily oversees these regulations, enforcing compliance with the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA). This framework applies across financial institutions, casinos, real estate, money services businesses (MSBs), and several other types of businesses.
KYC and customer due diligence (CDD)
The KYC process is what prevents money laundering and involves verifying the identity of clients, understanding their financial activities, and continuously monitoring their transactions.
Canadian regulations require three methods for verifying customer identity:
- Government-issued photo ID — A document issued by a federal, provincial, or foreign government.
- Credit file verification — Matching the customer’s information against a Canadian credit report that has existed for at least three years.
- Dual-process method — Verifying identity using two reliable sources of information, such as utility bills or government-issued documents.
Canadian crypto gamblers will need to submit KYC information during the account creation process on any legal, licensed platform.
Crypto casinos don’t just use it to onboard you, though. They als use it to monitor ongoing transactions, particularly those deemed high-risk, to comply with regulatory obligations.
No-KYC casinos in Canada
There are some online casinos, often unregulated or operating in jurisdictions with loose regulatory oversight, that advertise as “no-KYC” casinos. These platforms don’t require ID verification from their users.
However, since Canadian law forbids this, these casinos operate outside Canadian law. While they’re attractive if you’re looking for 100% anonymity, they pose significant risks. There’s the potential for fraud, lack of consumer protection, and legal repercussions if you’re caught.
Plus, you probably won’t be able to withdraw your winnings.
So, if you see a no-KYC crypto casino, just know that, because of local laws, it doesn’t apply to you.
AML requirements
The Canadian AML regime is structured around three pillars:
- Policy and coordination — Developing AML policies and collaborating both domestically and internationally to mitigate risks.
- Prevention and detection — Supervising and enforcing AML compliance through measures such as suspicious transaction reporting, record-keeping, and the submission of financial intelligence to FINTRAC.
- Investigation and disruption — Supporting law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting money laundering offenses.
Businesses involved in transactions that meet certain thresholds — in the case of crypto casinos, transactions over CAD $3,000 — are subject to stringent record-keeping rules. And they have to report electronic funds transfers exceeding an aggregate value of CAD $10,000 within a 24-hour period.
Enhanced measures for ‘high-risk’ clients
For clients like politically exposed persons (PEPs) and heads of international organizations (HIOs), there will be additional scruitiny.
Reporting entities (REs), including financial institutions and casinos, perform enhanced due diligence that includes collecting more detailed information about their source of funds and monitoring transactions more closely and regularly.
Why gamble with crypto in Canada?
If you’re going to gamble online, cryptocurrency is really the ideal method. Some prefer fiat currency because it’s less complicated and doesn’t have the volatility of crypto markets, but gambling with cryptocurrency has several major advantages.
Anonymity
While there are KYC requirements mandated by the Canadian government, using a reputable, regulated crypto casino can still offer you some level of anonymity.
With traditional online casinos, all your personal banking information, like your name and address, are tied to your gambling activity. When you transact with cryptocurrency, your privacy is better protected.
After making a withdrawal, all your future non-casino transactions with crypto are also more private. If you simply added funds to your bank account and spent it, you’d leave a clear trail. With crypto, that’s less certain.
Faster transactions
Cryptocurrency transactions are almost instantaneous, making it the perfect option for online gambling. BTC transactions, for instance, take 30-60 minutes (and they’re considered some of the slowest!).
This means that, when you win, you can cash out your winnings as quickly as you could playing at a real, in-person casino.
Provably fair gaming
This is something that’s unique to crypto casino games. Slots, table games, and live dealer rooms all use cryptographic algorithms that prove the fairness of every outcome.
This means that nobody can influence the outcome of a hand, dice roll, or slot spin. Technically, that makes it even more fair than a traditional casino, where dealers are generally trained to play in a certain way (that favors the casino).
Lower transaction fees
Since crypto is decentralized, there’s no bank or financial institution that’s charging fees for transactions. This means that, when you gamble with crypto in Canada, the costs of withdrawing your money are going to be a lot lower.
The only fees you’ll need to pay are the miner’s fee (which is usually very low) and possibly gambling platform withdrawal fees that cover their overhead.
Competitive bonuses and promotions
Canadian crypto casinos have to compete with traditional online casinos, so the bonuses and promotions on offer are usually pretty enticing.
- Free spins
- No-deposit bonuses
- Match bonuses
- VIP rewards programs
- Cashback offers
Since crypto casinos have lower overhead costs, they can often afford more lucrative deals than traditional casinos.
Factors to consider when evaluating crypto casinos in Canada
Of course, finding the ideal crypto casino takes a bit of research. Some of the factors you’ll want to take into account include:
- Safety and security — Make sure the casino has proper licensing and encryption protocols in place to protect your personal info.
- Game selection — Look for a diverse catalog of games, and of course, the titles you’re most interested in. The best crypto casinos will offer their own games unique to the platform as well (like BC.Game, which hosts 24 “BC Originals”).
- Payment options — You want to make sure they support the digital currency you plan to use. Every casino will support BTC, and most will support ETH, LTC, and USDT. Some sites, like Gxmble, only support these options. Others, like JackBit, support dozens. Some casinos (like Lucky Block) have their own token as well.
- Bonuses and promotions — Pay attention to wagering requirements. Some casinos will offer bonuses that are extremely enticing but come with a catch. A wagering requirement higher than 30x means you probably won’t be able to cash out your bonus winnings.
- Customer support — A responsive customer support team is crucial for any online casino experience. Look for multiple ways to reach them (live chat, email, phone), and check reviews or forums to see how well they actually resolve issues.
Final thoughts
If you’re going to gamble with crypto online in Canada, there are plenty of options to choose from. Relatively straightforward regulation allows offshore companies to serve Canadian players as long as they comply with basic KYC and AML requirements.
A few parting tips:
- Always do your due diligence before signing up for a crypto casino. Look for reviews, ratings, and licensing information.
- Remember that cryptocurrency is volatile — its value is subject to dramatic change overnight.
- Never gamble with money you can’t afford to lose.
- Avoid strategies like martingale betting — they’re more likely to result in losses than profits.
If you can follow these rules of thumb and game responsibly, online gambling with cryptocurrency will be a fun, rewarding experience.
Alex is a versatile content writer with a talent for crafting clear, engaging content across various industries. With expertise in SEO and digital marketing, Alex produces articles, blog posts, and copy that resonate with readers and perform well online. While he writes on a range of topics, he has a particular interest in the gambling industry, where he enjoys exploring gaming trends and business strategies. His approachable style and attention to detail ensure his content is both informative and compelling.
