US vs Canadian Online Casino

Crystal Park Casino

Crystal Park Casino understands that not all online casinos are not created equal. Each of them has its own unique feature to cater its dedicated audience. The difference in the gaming sites are much evident when the online casinos are serving different countries. US online casinos differs from the online casinos meant for Canadian players. Since these two countries have different set of laws governing the virtual gaming industry, their online casinos are expected to have differences.

US Online Casinos

The question whether online gambling is legal or not in the USA is often asked by the players. Prior to the release of Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 or popularly known as UIGEA, the online gambling has no restrictions in the US. The law banned payments on all forms of gambling, making it harder for the US players to find a gaming site where they can easily manage their funds.

In 2011, the Justice Department clarified that the law is only applicable to sports betting. The statement brings back the question of legality of casino games and the government allows the state to decide whether to provide license or regulate the online casinos in their jurisdiction.

There are particular states in the US that allow online gambling. Known states that legalize the said activity are Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey. Although online gambling is legalized in these areas, the rules are strictly implemented. For example, both states of New Jersey and Nevada prohibit non-state regulated gambling. It would be better to double-check first the laws of the states where players are trying to play.

US online casinos usually struggle with the withdrawal and payment methods. Because of the UIGEA, most of the credit card companies put restrictions in gambling payment. Thus, the payment methods for such casinos in the US are limited. Players may transact with Neteller, Visa, Skrill, American Express, and MasterCard, which are the top choices wherein US players can send and withdraw their gambling money.

Most of the online casinos available for the players are off shore due to the restrictions in some states. This is why players are always advised to do a background checking on the online casino that they want to play on.

Some of the top US online casinos are Slots.lv with more than 200 slot machines, BoVegas that offers $8000 welcome bonus, Golden Lion that offers live table dealers, and Bovada for its compatibility with most of the mobile devices.

Canadian Online Casinos

For Canadian players, there are plenty of Canadian online casinos for them to choose from. This is because there is no defined law that prohibits the locals from playing casino games online. Each province of the country has its own power to control and regulate the online gambling industry within their jurisdiction.

Some of the gaming sites in this country are licensed in Canada, but are not actually allowed to operate there. Players should always be keen in checking their chosen gaming site. Being licensed does not automatically guarantee an online casino to be legal. The Kahnawake Gaming Commission, which is located in Canada, grants license to many gaming sites even outside the country.

A great gaming site enables players to try the game for free. This is common for Canadian online casinos. There are opportunities to create a free account and play the games for free. It could be a nice way to practice the game before even placing money for betting.

Canadian players may enjoy an online casino that accepts Canadian dollars. Although most casinos are using US dollars, Euros, and British pounds, there are Canadian gaming sites that prioritize the currency of their country. If the gaming site does not accept Canadian dollars, any deposit made are automatically converted anyway.

Betway Casino is one of the most famous choices among all the Canadian online casinos. Other gaming sites for Canadian players are Magic Red, 888 Casino, BetOnline, and Lucky Red.

Online Casinos - Grizzly's Best Canadian Online Casino Site List It features a long list of the best Canadian online casinos that can be enjoyed by the players.

The Major Differences

US and Canadian players may enjoy lots of online casinos. It is just a matter of checking which among these casinos are the best and recommended. Both US and Canadian gaming sites have their own pros and cons. Below are some of the major differences between these two kinds of online casinos.

  • Gambling Laws
  • Payment Methods
  • Currencies

In terms of gambling laws, both online casinos have their own rules and regulations. Most of the states in the US are not in favour of online gambling. Thus, many of the US online casinos are off shore. Meanwhile, Canada is more favourable towards online gambling. Both have laws, but the laws in Canada are more of regulating and not restricting the said industry. In fact, online gambling in Canada has much more revenue compared to its land-based counterpart.

Next is the payment method available for both gaming sites. In relation to UIGEA of the US, players are left with fewer banking options. On the other hand, Canadian online casinos are more flexible in offering different payment and withdrawal methods for its players.

For the currency used in the gaming sites, US has an advantage. Since US dollars are widely used, most of the gaming sites can easily accept their currency. Unfortunately for the Canadian players, the Canadian dollar is sometimes not accepted even in Canadian gaming sites. Still, players may deposit on these gaming sites, but their money will be converted.

These gaming sites may have differences, but they also have their similarities. For example, both US and Canadian online casinos can offer a huge collection of games. They can even offer the same games from a single software provider. In fact, some online casinos can accept both US and Canadian players without any restrictions.