If you live in the Ontario area and you’re excited to try a new bookie with the recent legislation in Ontario, Betano has come to save the day.

The last six months have been a maelstrom in Ontario right after the legislation to allow online gambling and sports betting has been passed. This new law in Ontario is a huge deal for Canadians because online gambling and sports betting weren’t allowed in Canada before that. Naturally, Ontario received a huge influx of applications from many gambling operators in a short time.

The “gambling legislation” in Ontario is still not a permanent thing, as for now, it will only run temporarily for 12 months, however, more and more operators are receiving their licenses daily.

One of the lesser-known bookies is taking the Canadian market by storm with its mind-blowing offer. Betano’s goal is to replicate what it did in Europe and become one of Ontario’s market leaders. So buckle down, and let’s take a quick look at what Betano has to offer to Ontarians.

The Good and Bad About Online Gambling in Canada

The government of Ontario has recently and officially launched its new online gaming market, including online casinos and esports betting sites.

iGaming Ontario made it possible with the help of a new legislation that has taken Canadian players by surprise as before no other province in Canada was allowed to have any online gambling.

But while online companies and gamblers around Canada celebrate, some individuals are worried what it all might mean for the province’s brick-and-mortar Casinos. Also, gambling addiction experts have said that it is quite concerning that Canadians are given such free access to gambling.

But the good thing is that Ontario now has a new revenue stream, as the online gambling market is meant to protect Ontarians by offering a legal alternative to the existing ‘’gray market’’ of online gaming options. The new law will enable more responsible gaming, prevent underage access, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, including anti-money laundering rules and regulations.

So, on one hand, allowing legal online gambling, Ontarians are risking an increase in gambling addiction, on the other hand, legal online Casinos and bookies will make the province richer and will make the gambling market more secure. In fact, that’s the main reason why the law has been made in the first place.

Before this law, online gambling was present in Canada but it wasn’t completely legal or illegal. That’s why, the Ontario province, preferred to make online gambling legal and at least make it safe and protect their citizens instead of risking their safety by letting them play on semi-legal websites.

Keep in mind that the legislation is still new and may be subject to changes short-term, so take a look at our news feed and we’ll keep you updated on the online gambling market situation in Ontario.

What Is Betano? And Why Is It a Big Deal?

Among the ocean of operators who are trying to get a piece of the cake in Ontario now that online gambling is allowed, we have Betano.

Betano is a European-owned bookie that is extremely popular in the old continent. Founded in 2016 by Kaizen Gaming, it has revolutionized the online gambling scene in Europe with its massive offer of various sports and features. Most bookies focus on just a few sports, however, Betano took a very different approach and offers a vast selection of every sport imaginable.

On top of that, the German bookie also provides a fantastic Casino and live Casino feature, as well as an eSports section if you’re not really into regular sports but you love the thrill of betting.

After taking over the European market, Betano is looking to expand even more, and this time their goal is to take over Canada too.

What Makes Betano Different?

We spoke about this earlier, but we’ll go more in-depth in this section about what makes Betano such a success. What Betano understood was that some bettors want a great variety of sports instead of bookies being too much focussed on a few sports.

This allows players to bet even on pretty unknown sports that are often not even available on betting websites.

And the best thing is that not only you can see live results for all these sports and their most important matches, but you can also bet and win cash on them.

Live Sports is also an option available on Betano, as some players love the thrill of betting live on a team while they’re still in the heat of the match.

As for the Casino and live Casino, there are a lot of games to choose from if that’s what you prefer. There are hundreds of games of almost any type you can think of, although we have to mention that Betano’s Casino is very focused on slots. In fact, there are more than 300+ slot games.

Betano’s live Casino is still a pretty new feature, however, Betano did a great job at making it as immersive as possible. The games on the live Casino are very similar to what you have on the regular one (you’ll find games like Blackjack and Poker) with the only difference that you’ll play with an actual person live on the table. One great feature of the Casino section is that you can see the minimum and maximum bets on the preview image of every game before even clicking on it.

The Casino section, although good, is underwhelming compared to the competition, however, Christos Mavridis ( live Casino Manager at Kaizen Gaming) ensures that a new upgrade is coming that will make their Casino stand above the rest. They plan to surpass everyone else with a technology called “Real Deal” that will deliver unprecedented levels of fun and excitement.

Lastly, we have eSports. Even with something as “new” as eSports, Betano still provides a fantastic selection of games to bet on. If you don’t enjoy regular sports but are more of an eSports fan, Betano sports has you covered. The European bookie eSports section is one of the most critical aspects of the website, but it is not available to all countries and players.

Is Betano Safe to Bet on and Play?

Safety is another distinctive feature of Betano as it has the iGaming Ontario license and has sponsored many international pro soccer teams in the past such as FC Porto and Olympiacos FC.

How Will Betano Do in Ontario?

It’s hard to give a definitive answer right now, as it’s quite an early entry and the entire gambling Ontario market is also in a newborn stage. However, the fact that Ontario’s market is so new is also a huge advantage for Betano because they have a fighting chance against the big guys in the gambling industry.

At the end of the day, it’ll all come down to how well Betano raises awareness in the right way about a potential niche that they can beat the big guys in. Betano is a leader in smaller markets like Greece and Romania, but becoming #1 in a huge and sought-after market like Canada will be extremely hard.

Final Words

Betano is a fantastic option for both newcomers and seasoned players, especially if you enjoy the European soccer league. With its massive variety of sports, you certainly won’t get bored betting on the same sports. Plus, they also offer a wide selection for live betting and have a superb Casino to gamble on.

Clearly, Betano has its limitations in Canada, and all that glitters is not gold. Betano’s app is only limited to IOS users, and payment options are also insufficient if Betano’s goal is to conquer the top and dethrone the big bookies. But, Betano still has a fantastic offer, and with its amazing welcome bonuses, you might as well give it a try, as the minimum deposit for these bonuses is extremely low ($10.)

For years, decades even, the established iGaming industry predominantly founded in Europe has looked west to new markets and new opportunities. It wasn’t until 2018 that they were finally able to gain passage to the US, and in 2022, part of the coveted Canadian market finally opened its doors. As we reported at EuropeanGaming, the Canadian Gaming Association and Ontario government have been looking to regulate the online gambling space since at least 2019.

Not to undervalue the provinces of Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta – which have 2022 population estimates ranging from 4.5 million to 8.6 million – but Ontario is the big fish in Canada. Home to major metropolitan areas of Toronto and Ottawa, The Loyalist Province boasts some 15 million people. This is a major reason why massive brands from across the Atlantic that are already established in the likes of London, Guernsey, and Malta have leaped at the opportunity to offer iGaming in Ontario.

Now, two quarters into Ontario’s new iGaming market, it’s clear to see that brands have quickly found an audience and have done so by offering the best of what they have to offer. Furthermore, there’s even space to grow and connect more deeply with Canada’s betting population.

Ontario’s strong start and notable growth

IMAGE SOURCE: Unsplash

The regulated space of gambling in Ontario has long proven popular with residents. In 2020, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) reported that its returns grew from $1.7 billion in 2015 to just under $2.5 billion, with expectations of eclipsing $3 billion set for 2022/23. Key to this has been the lottery run by OLG, which saw $4 billion in sales from 2015 to 2020 across some 10,000 points of sale across the province.

On 4 April 2022, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) opened a new space for iGaming, with the transition period to being fully regulated ending on 31 October 2022. During this time, several major brands applied for and were granted licenses to operate within Ontario’s regulatory framework, including last year’s highest percentage owner of the market, Betway.

Leading up to the end of September, Ontario has had two quarters to record data. The first quarter, ending 30 June, saw CA$4.07 billion in wagers, which grew by 48.4 per cent to CA$6.04 billion, according to iGamingBusiness. In that time, revenue grew by 64.8 per cent, from CA$162 million to CA$267 million, aligning with a similar jump in operators from 18 to 21. Simply put, iGaming’s already big business in Ontario.

Instant competition by bringing their best

IMAGE SOURCE: Pixaaby

In decades gone by, we’ve seen some operators decide to tease their way into markets, offering a limited number of games and options to effectively show growth as the removed parts get added. This can also be caused by limiting regulations and licensing agreements, but with the Ontario iGaming market, platforms are bringing their best products, with Ontario and UK platforms being identical in some cases.

In the case of the online casino Betway offers, all of the slots, live casino, and sportsbook options are the same in the current .ca platform as they are in the .com version. The brand has brought all of the aspects that made it popular in the UK and across Europe, immediately helping to set a high standard for the nascent market. Just as you’ll find the hit game Dragon’s Cache, you’ll also be able to play the newer Amazon Kingdom.

These two games, in particular, demonstrate that the newest and most popular games are being offered in Ontario. SpinPlay Games, the creator of Dragon’s Cache, is one of the coveted studios now under the Microgaming umbrella, as is Amazon Kingdom from JustForTheWin. Throw into the mix the latest live casino games from Pragmatic Play, Authentic Gaming, OnAir, and Evolution Gaming, and you can see that Canadian players can enjoy all of the same high-tier content as those in much more established and even more populous markets.

Partnerships and ambassadorships for growth

IMAGE SOURCE: Pixabay

Since the US opened up to sports betting – as well as the total iGaming industry to a lesser degree – major brands have been making partnerships with sports leagues. Most pertinent to Canada, the new partnerships the NHL signed will have been noticed for US games, such as Betway becoming the official sports betting partner of the NHL. At the time, Ontario wasn’t up and running, but now, there may be space for a similar partnership. They’re also a key partner of the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils.

So, there looks to be potential room for partnerships with teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators in the future, or even as the NHL’s official betting partner in Ontario. Also on the table is athlete ambassadorships. A tried-and-trusted tradition for many iGaming brands in Europe, the likes of cricketer Kevin Pietersen, footballer Roy Keane, jump jockey Katie Walsh, and actress Nargis Fakhri are all ambassadors in iGaming. Perhaps a Buds or Sens legend would be interested in an iGaming ambassadorship to raise brand prestige.

Ontario has proven to be a strong market for iGaming from the get-go, with there being plenty of opportunities for further integration in the future.

The new project casinozeus.net, created by gambling expert Olexiy Ivanov, is directed at users from Canada. All articles with reviews of various Internet sites on Casino Zeus are written in English. Gamblers can find a lot of useful information about playing at online casinos in Canada, find out about the main payment methods, review the ratings of the best sites and choose the best platform to play for real money. The author talks about the specifics of registration, shares a list of current bonuses and constantly updates information about new clubs.

How Can I Tell if a Canadian Casino Is Licensed?

Canada is known for its tolerant attitude in dealing with many matters, including gambling. The market was legalized in 1999, at which time a bill came into force, and the Kahnawake Gaming Commission was founded to oversee compliance with the established rules. As of today, there are 114 online casinos registered in Canada, one official betting house and eight slot machine rooms. 

There are four types of licences that can be obtained through the Gambling Commission:

• IGC — the first type of licence that allows you to register for hosting in Kahnawake; no action on another hosting system is permitted;
• Key Persons Licence — a licence for a key entity to carry out the management activities of the CPA licence holder;
• Inter-Jurisdictional Authorization — a type of secondary licence that allows you to organize gambling activities in Kahnawake territory;
• Client Provider Authorization — the licence proving the identity of the club owner who plans to provide services on the gambling market.

Olexiy Ivanov shared with our correspondent information about his new site, casinozeus.net, and shared his vision about the regulation of the gambling industry: “In the Canadian legislation, articles 201-206 prohibit gambling activities in the country, but smart entertainment organizers have carefully studied what is written and saw in article 204 that lotteries, horse races and betting are allowed as legal activities. Each province establishes its own regulations that allow the gambling industry to change and open new clubs without problems.”

What Are the Best Online Casinos in Canada?

Olexiy Ivanov has researched all the online casino sites in Canada and has highlighted the best ones that offer generous bonuses and quality software. Each operator pays out winnings in a timely manner and does not cheat users out of their money. Some of the best sites to play at are:

Criteria for Choosing Trusted Casino Sites in Canada

The Casino Zeus site offers a large number of reviews on Canadian online casinos. Olexiy Ivanov tells readers what criteria he looks for when writing his reviews:

• valid licence;
• reviews from real players and a positive reputation on sites such as Reddit and Trustpilot;
• quality software from trusted developers;
• wide range of games, including live dealer games and roulette;
• work of the support team and the promptness with which they deal with gamblers’ questions.

What Are the Most Popular Payment Methods at Casinos in Canada?

The currency in Canadian casinos is the Canadian dollar, so all payment transactions will be made in CAD. Players are advised to deposit via payment systems that support this currency. This will allow them to avoid additional conversion fees. The main payment methods of web casinos in Canada include:

• Visa and MasterCard bank cards;
• PayPal, Payeer, Instadebit, and Paysafecard e-wallets;
• Skrill, Neteller, and Bitcoin cryptocurrency wallets.

Rules for Playing Responsibly at Canadian Online Casinos

The situation in the gambling industry is quite complex, with many users being unable to control their own gambling habits. Because of this, more and more players are facing problems with gambling addiction. Olexiy Ivanov wrote in his article about how casinos fight gambling addiction. The basic rules of responsible gambling require operators to:

• control the registration procedure for new players in the casino, no one under the age of 18 is allowed to play;
• notify users of possible risks in the games;
• working with organizations such as GamStop, and GamblersAnonymous to help treat affected players;
• setting gambling limits.

What Are the Alternatives to Online Clubs?

Online users can also visit land-based venues in Canada and try their luck offline. The advantages of playing in land-based clubs are:

• total immersion in the world of gambling;
• option of betting in cash;
• opportunities to find new friends based on a shared interest.