Ivan Larsen 
Canada’s burgeoning iGaming market continues to boom, particularly in states such as Ontario.
Here, the total market is forecast to generate gross gaming revenue (GGR) of approximately $1.6 billion this year, rising significantly to $2.36 billion in 2023.
As the markets for remote casino and sports betting have continued to grow exponentially, they’ve become increasingly competitive and created a number of different platforms through which punters can wager their hard-earned cash.
But what exactly should you look for in casino and sportsbook reviews? Here are some factors to keep in mind:
Are Reviews Objective or Subjective?
Plenty of casino review resources now exist online, although it’s important to note that not all of these have been created equal.
In fact, you can come across both sponsored and unsponsored casino reviews, only the latter of which are objective and not funded by a particular operator, platform or sportsbook.
For example, time2play is home to a wealth of comprehensive and unsponsored casino study, ensuring that you’re afforded objective insight into the pros and cons of the operator in question and the numerous factors that contribute to your iGaming experience.
In contrast, sponsored reviews will most likely eschew any negative points and experiences and instead focus on the positives, giving readers a potentially misleading impression that causes them to make an ill-informed decision.
So, it’s important to check the source of any review that you read and ensure that it’s independent where possible, while noting that sponsored reviews and posts should be earmarked as such by the publisher.
Remember, universal sites such as Trustpilot will also offer first-hand user reviews of individual casino platforms, which also offers objective insights and relay the corporeal experiences of customers.
Payment Options and Withdrawal Times
Being able to easily deposit and withdraw funds is another key element of the iGaming experience, both in terms of accessing libraries in real-time and being able to access your winning quickly.
This information is therefore central to any detailed casino review, while it should outline the precise payment options available through a particular operator and the estimated withdrawal times associated with each one.
You should note that pretty much all deposit methods now allow you to instantly credit your iGaming account, so this is less of a consideration when betting online.
By reviewing this information in detail, you can ultimately make an informed choice that suits your preferred payment options and the frequency with which you’re likely to deposit and withdraw cash.
Licensing and Regulation
The rise of the iGaming market in Canada and locations like Ontario has also attracted rogue operators to the space.
Such entities are typically fraudulent in nature and look to incentivise sign-ups through overly lucrative promotions and generous T&Cs, before withholding deposits and winnings from customers over time.
But how can casino reviews help you to avoid this pitfall? Well, objective and unsponsored reviews will feature information about licensing and regulation, ensuring that each listed casino or sportsbook has been fully vetted and is legally allowed to operate in the relevant jurisdiction.
In general terms, a reputable iGaming brand in Canada should be regulated by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG), while accreditation from this body should also be available on individual operator websites.
It’s important to look for this information, as playing at a secure, licensed and fully regulated online casino is key if you’re to enjoy an optimal gambling experience.
Bonus Terms and Transparency
Of course, all iGaming brands offer welcome promotions and bonuses to new customers, many of which take the form of either deposit matches (up to a predetermined value) or a finite number of free spins or bets.
Ultimately, it’s important that casinos offer transparency around the T&Cs associated with their bonus offers, and analysing unsponsored reviews can provide much needed clarification to customers.
This is particularly important when it comes to wagering requirements, which are attached to most bonuses and stipulate how much you’ll have to play through to withdraw any winnings garnered through a bonus offer.
For example, let’s say that you wager $10 and receive an extra $10 with which to wager online. At the same time, the offer carries wagering requirements of 30x the total bonus amount, creating a scenario where you’d have to play through $600 before you can make a qualifying withdrawal.
If you engage with sports betting and free bets, you’ll find that while you can wager across a wide range of disciplines, you’ll be limited in terms of the maximum odds that you’re allowed to take on.
Ultimately, the key is to use casino and sportsbook reviews to guarantee clarity and make informed choices, based on the amount of money that you intend to wager and how you like to bet your money.
