Canadian vs. European Online Casinos: A Player’s Guide
Many players who are new to the iGaming world probably don’t know the difference between Canadian and European gambling sites. Although, at first glance, they look almost identical in terms of design, there are a few things you should take into account before you click on the registration button.
Namely, Canadian and European casinos have different regulatory bodies, age restrictions, and payment methods. You’ll also notice that some game providers are not available in Canada and France.
With that in mind, to help you clear the fog, our team of CasinoOnlineCA experts have created a guide in which we’ll indicate the main advantages and disadvantages of playing at the best Canadian online casino compared to playing at the best European online gambling platform. Here are the main differences between European and Canadian online casinos you should know about.
Online Casinos in Canada vs. Online Casinos in Europe – Quick Overview
Before we go into details, here’s a short overview of the main differences between Canadian and European online casino sites.
| Regulatory Body | Age Restrictions | Language | Payment Methods | Accepted Currencies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Casinos | Set by each country | 18-23 | Multiple languages | VISA, Mastercard, e-wallets, mobile wallets, MuchBetter, Paysafecard, Neosurf, Zimpler, Trustly, Klarna | Euro, GBP, USD, DKK, CHF, NOK, SEK, cryptocurrency |
| Canadian Casinos | Set by each province | 18-19 | English and French | VISA, Mastercard, American Express, Interac, ecoPayz, PayNearMe, iChecks, InstaDebit, e-wallets | CAD, NZD, AUD, Euro, cryptocurrency |
Now that you know the main differences between EU and CA casinos, let’s get into more details.
Round 1: Gambling Regulations and Legal Age
When it comes to gambling regulations in Europe, all casinos must comply with the Gambling Act of 2014. They must also follow directives set by the country where they operate. This means that each country has its own regulatory body.
We should also note that certain EU countries impose additional gambling restrictions. For example, in Italy, gambling operators must be physically located within the country or in one of the EU countries. Furthermore, they are not allowed to advertise their services.
Meanwhile, French players will be allowed to use only specific banking methods, like credit cards, prepaid cards, and bank transfers, while cryptocurrencies are prohibited.
The situation is similar in Canada. In general, online gambling is controlled by the Canadian Gaming Commission. However, each province has its own regulatory body. Nevertheless, unlike Europeans, Canadians won’t be able to play on platforms that operate within Canada. Instead, they’ll have to gamble on offshore platforms.
That said, the leading regulatory bodies in Europe are:
- UK Gambling Commission
- Alderney Gambling Control Commission
- Malta Gaming Authority
- Gibraltar Regulatory Authority
- Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission
- Danish Gambling Authority
- Swedish Gambling Authority
- Belgian Gaming Commission
- Italian Agency of Customs and Monopolies
- Spanish Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling
On the other hand, the main regulatory bodies in Canada are:
- Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission
- British Columbia Lottery Corporation
- Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation
- New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation
- The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation
- Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
- Prince Edward Island Lotteries Commission
- Quebec Alcohol, Racing and Gaming Commission
In terms of the legal gambling age, in Canada, all individuals between the ages of 18 and 19 can gamble legally, depending on the province, while in Europe, the situation is a little different. Namely, in most EU countries, the legal age for gambling is 18. However, you’ll notice that certain countries raise this limit to 21 and 23, such as Estonia and Greece.
The winner: European casinos have a slight advantage over Canadian platforms since they allow gambling on both local and offshore sites.
Round 2: Games and Game Providers
Online casino games are the main characters of every gambling platform, both in Europe and Canada. That said, there are no restrictions when it comes to casino game types. I.e., both Canadian and European sites provide slots, table, and live dealer games, in addition to keno, scratch cards, and Slingo.
Yet, when it comes to live dealer games on European platforms, they’ll be available in different languages, such as German, Spanish, and Swedish. On CA casinos, players will usually be limited to English and French tables.
Another thing that distinguishes European and Canadian casinos is the availability of game providers. Namely, certain software developers won’t be available to players from Canada. For example, NetEnt, one of the most popular European software developers, exited the Canadian market in 2016. Although it became available again in 2019, not all CA sites offer NetEnt games. This is something you should keep in mind when selecting CA gambling sites.
As for Europe, iGaming providers like Microgaming and Playtech are usually restricted in France, while Betsoft, Pragmatic Play and RTG don’t impose any country restrictions.
The winner: Draw.
Round 3: Linguistic Diversity
European casinos are available in multiple languages, while CA-friendly platforms are usually available only in English and French. This linguistic diversity gives EU casinos a small advantage. The same applies to customer support, which is available in English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish on most European platforms.
The winner: European casinos since they are available in many languages.
Round 4: Payment Methods and Currencies
Most European casinos accept debit cards, such as VISA and Mastercard, e-wallets, like Skrill, MuchBetter, Paysafecard, Neosurf, and Zimpler, as well as Trustly and Klarna. Mobile wallets, like GooglePay and ApplePay, are also very popular in EU casinos.
However, when it comes to credit cards, some countries, like the UK, Belgium, Ireland, and Germany, prohibit them.
In comparison, Canadian casinos give preference to payment methods that are more common in North America, such as American Express, Interac, ecoPayz, PayNearMe, iChecks, and InstaDebit, although they also accept e-wallets, like Skrill, Neteller, and Paypal.
That said, not all Canadian banks support payouts obtained through online gambling. In fact, only two banks in the Great White North will accept gambling deposits and withdrawals – Bank of Montreal (BMO) and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC).
As for accepted currencies, since the Euro is the main currency in most EU countries, the same applies to online casinos. In other words, all online gambling platforms available to European players accept the Euro, in addition to the British Pound (GBP), US dollar (USD), Danish Krone (DKK), Swiss Franc (CHF), Norwegian Krone (NOK), and Swedish Krona (SEK).
On the other hand, Canadian-friendly gambling platforms, besides the Canadian Dollar (CAD), typically accept the US dollar, New Zealand Dollar (NZD), Australian Dollar (AUD), and Euro.
What about crypto payments? The situation with cryptocurrencies is somewhat complicated. Namely, crypto gambling is legal in Canada and in most European Union countries, with the exception of Albania, Iceland, and Turkey. This means that the majority of CA and EU online casinos will accept Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Ripple, and Dogecoin.
The winner: Canadian casinos, since they legalized crypto betting.
And The Winner Is…
There is no winner in this clash of the titans, as both sides have advantages in certain segments. For example, EU casinos are more suitable for NetEnt fans, while Canadian platforms are a better option for Microgaming and Playtech buffs.
The same can be said for other segments, such as payment methods. Namely, Canadian casinos are a better option for crypto enthusiasts since all provinces have legalized crypto gambling, which is not the case with all EU countries.
On the other hand, Europe leads in terms of bank transfers, given that almost all prominent EU banks accept funds obtained through online gambling, while in Canada, only the Bank of Montreal and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce allow it.
