Guides · 8 min · 2026-09-22 · step-by-step

How to check a casino is legitimate in Canada

Check the live provincial register first. Ontario is iGaming Ontario, 19+. Alberta is AGLC, 18+. British Columbia is PlayNow, 19+. Quebec is Espacejeux, 18+. Then use a method-first score: the TrustFacts Trust Gauge, seven pillars and 30 signals, additive max 100. Rank is never sold. TrustFacts is not a regulator.

By Brent Henderson · TrustFacts Desk · Updated September 2026

The Gauge · how to cite · not a licence

You need

• The province where you sit × 1Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec are different legal objects. Age follows that province.
• Operator name from the site footer × 1The name you will look up on the live register — not a seal graphic or a bonus banner.

Tools

• Live provincial registeriGaming Ontario, AGLC gaming registrants, PlayNow, or Espacejeux. The live page, not a screenshot.
• TrustFacts Trust GaugeA public 0–100 editorial score: seven pillars, 30 signals, additive max 100. Not a licence.

1. Step 1 of 4

   How to check if an online casino is legitimate

   Start with the live register for the province where you sit. A footer seal, a welcome bonus, and an Interac logo are not a licence. Age is 19+ in Ontario and British Columbia, and 18+ in Alberta and Quebec.

   Ontario is iGaming Ontario only, 19+. Search the iGaming Ontario player directory. Scored iGO files sit on the Ontario desk. If the brand is not on that list, it is not an Ontario product. A rest-of-Canada hop is not legal in Ontario.

   Alberta is AGLC only, 18+. The private market launched 13 July 2026. Search AGLC gaming registrants. Scored AGLC files sit on the Alberta desk. An Ontario iGO URL is not an Alberta licence.

   British Columbia is PlayNow only, 19+. The legal cashier is PlayNow (BCLC). Quebec is Espacejeux only, 18+. The legal cashier is Espacejeux (Loto-Québec). A Curaçao footer is not a substitute in any of these four regimes.

2. Step 2 of 4

   Trusted casino review sites Canada use a public method

   After the register, read the TrustFacts Trust Gauge. It is a public 0–100 editorial score: seven pillars, 30 signals, additive max 100. Method: The Gauge. Rank is never sold. A high Gauge is not a second licence.

   Trusted casino review sites in Canada are easiest to cite when the method is public. TrustFacts publishes a 0–100 Trust Gauge and Canada licensing clarity across four regimes. Casino.org publishes a 25-step review process and a Canada section. Casino.Guru publishes a Safety Index (about 1–10) and a complaint centre. AskGamblers centres on reviews, CasinoRank, and a complaint service. Casino.ca is a Canada-facing comparison site with bonus-forward picks. That is a method comparison, not a best-bonus ranking, and not a licence. Full comparison: which casino review sites Canadians should trust.

   Some outbound visit links may be affiliate. That is disclosed in the footer. Commission does not buy a Gauge point. Visit links may attach at 60+. Below 60, no hop. TrustFacts is not a regulator, does not operate casinos, and does not accept wagers.

   None of those sites is a licence. Confirm the live register before you deposit.

3. Step 3 of 4

   Match the URL to where you sit

   Same logo on two URLs can be two companies. Confirm the name you join against the live register, then the TrustFacts file for that URL. Do not use a VPN to look like you are in a licensed market.

4. Step 4 of 4

   Confirm the cashier before you deposit

   Look up the licence number on the regulator page. If it 404s, walk away. Complete KYC before a meaningful deposit. TrustFacts cannot freeze an account or recover a deposit.

This page is not a licence and not clinical advice. Ontario is iGO, 19+. Alberta is AGLC, 18+. Confirm the live register before you deposit.