There are numerous online casino sites catering to the Canadian market. With so much choice, it can be hard to select the one that is right for you. In the article below, we discuss the elements all the best online poker sites have.
Decide What Kind of Player You Are
When looking for the best poker sites in Canada, the first step is to know what kind of player you are. People will have different needs when playing poker, and some sites can cater to certain needs much better. Think about the following factors:
- How frequently will you be playing? Do you want to play regularly or once in a while?
- What will your bankroll be? Are you looking for small buy-in games or aiming for the VIP, high-roller tournaments?
- Do you have a preferred rule set, such as playing Texas Hold’Em or Omagh? Will you want to switch between them?
- Are you looking to play any specialist type of games such as live casino? Or would you be happy with digital games alone?
Once you have thought about this, you can begin to narrow down the casinos to a list of possibilities. However, the best online casinos go further than game selection and bonuses. To get the best, you need to check the factors below.
Checking the Site’s Reputation
The top poker sites very rarely appear out of nowhere. They will have built up a reputation over a long period. While a new site can appear out of the blue and be great, most of the best sites have taken time to build quality service and offerings.
Start by checking their reputation online. There are plenty of websites that will rank and rate sites based on numerous factors, such as their selection of games and offers. These reviewers do have a vested interest as they will take a cut for any sign-ups made, but they also have to be brutally honest to retain people’s loyalty. Therefore, you can get a good list of the positives and negatives from them.
After this, go to third-party and independent reviews. Check online forums to see what others are saying about the site, or ask other poker players you know about the best places to play.
What Is Their Customer Support Like?
Customer support is an often overlooked factor, mainly because it is not as exciting as the range of games and bonuses. Yet even with the best poker sites, things can go wrong. You may have trouble with payments, or you may have been expecting a bonus that never arrived. In these instances, how the website responds is crucial.
The best online poker sites will have various ways to resolve your issues. These may include an FAQ section, email, chatbots and even telephone support. Top companies will also deal with your inquiry or issue and resolve it quickly.
Does It Comply With Regulations?
Regulations are there to protect the consumer. They provide a framework for fair play and a level of transparency and service. If you play at unregulated casinos, you are risking a lot. They may be unfair and they may have loose security protocols.
Gambling in Canada is regulated at the provincial and territorial levels. Therefore, depending on where you are situated, your online casino may be regulated by a different authority. For example, in British Columbia, it is the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Finance. In Nunavut, it is the Department of Health. Each of these will have their own regulations that you must check.
If you are using offshore casinos, then check if they comply with one of the major gaming authorities. They could be the Curacao Gaming Authority, the Malta Gaming Authority or the UK Gambling Commission.
What Payment Options Do They Have?
Most people will be happy to credit an account using a debit or credit card. However, the best poker sites offer a wider selection of payment methods. You may wish to pay through an eWallet, cryptocurrency or just a classic bank transfer. Make sure the casino has your preferred method and that it is a secure checkout method.
You should also check the pay out times of the casino, and the ways in which they pay out. When you want to remove your winnings and get the money in your account, you don’t want to wait weeks. All of the best casinos will pay out in a timely fashion.
The best online poker sites will have all of these options and be able to provide documentation on them. They are more important than the selection of games and bonuses because in many cases the best poker sites will all have these in abundance. It is the smaller details that make a poker site one of the top providers. Do your research, manage your bankroll and enjoy some classic games of poker.