The Safest Canadian Casinos aren’t in Canada

Safest Canadian casinos and where to find them (Hint: They’re not in Canada!)


Safest Canadian CasinosIf I were to ask you, ‘Where is the safest casino in Canada?‘, you would probably pick one of the smaller, community gaming venues within your own province. It’s quiet, the staff is friendly, the games are fair. But what if I asked the question a bit differently – Where is the safest Canadian casino?

Your answer might vary depending on how well informed you are about today’s land-based operators and whether or not you’ve recently partaken in online gaming opportunities. A tech-savvy, educated gambler would know that the safest options are not even located in Canada.

The sad truth is, today’s land-based casinos are actually becoming less safe than the digital variety of desktop and mobile gambling operations. A few years ago, such a statement would be appalling. But not today.

Trouble with Land-Based Casinos in Canada

Every year the news headlines become more and more disturbing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read about a parent locking their small children in the car, lodged in the parking lot of a local casino, while they spin the slots reels or toss chips at the blackjack tables.

Does this make casinos unsafe? No, not really. But that’s the least of it. Gamblers love to take advantage of free drinks, consuming much more alcohol than they should just because it costs nothing more than a small tip to the cocktail waitress who’s job it is to keep the patrons tipsy.

As we all know, insobriety can lead to elevated distress, and often violence. Even more so where money matters—and the loss thereof—are concerned. It’s not always drug or alcohol related, either. The number of violent situations occurring at casinos is on the rise.

Back in 2012, there was a 5-hour standoff between police and an armed gunman outside the Starlight Casino in New Westminster, BC. The casino was locked down, customers forced to remain safely inside. No hostages were taken, thankfully, but in the end, the gunman was shot by police. He later died at the hospital.

Oops, Casino Loses Millions of Customers’ Data To Hackers

Canada Casinos HackedThe safety of one’s physical life isn’t the only concern brewing in recent years. Casino goers are actually at risk of their identity and financial information being stolen.

Casino Rama, a popular Toronto-area gambling resort that attracts 3 million visitors per year, was hacked. The cyber-criminals gained access to sensitive customer and employee information, including credit card details. This wasn’t a one-time occurrence, either. It was discovered earlier this year that the “financially motivated” attack had been ongoing for at least thee years, from 2013 to 2016, constantly collecting data on everyone at the casino. To make matters worse, Casino Rama failed to report prior knowledge of the incident.

Eventually, the hackers demanded a ransom for the files. If the casino failed to pay it, they threatened to release the personal and financial details collected onto public identity-stealing websites. The demands were not met, and the data was published, effecting millions of people. There are ongoing lawsuits regarding the matter.

Patrons of Casino Rama weren’t the only victims. Similar cyber attacks were uncovered at River Cree Resort and Casino.

Safest Canadian Casinos are Online

The evidence is mounting. Online and mobile casinos that were once believed to me more dangerous are now considered much safer than their land-based cousins.

The security measures invoked by today’s most reputable gambling websites are often superior to those protecting the computer systems of land-based casinos. They are monitored much more efficiently. All sensitive data is encrypted before transmission. Their security systems match that of government websites.

Players are able to use even more secure means of transferring money to these websites, as well. There’s no need to input credit card data or bank account details when you can just as easily use Neteller, Paypal or Bitcoin.

There’s no fear of the games being unfair, either. In the early 2000’s, that issued was addressed by independent auditing firms. They regularly test and verify the fairness of every game. They match the unpredictability and odds of live games, with slot machines exceeding the payback percentages of their land-based counterparts.

When you put it all together, the answer is clear. The safest Canadian casinos aren’t in Canada at all. They are the eminent operations of international operators like Royal Vegas, and software providers like Microgaming, that work diligently to deliver secure gaming content.

While they are not located or regulated within Canada, they are regulated by reputable offshore jurisdictions that enforce equal (if not more stringent) standards and consumer protections.

Author

  • Trevor Hallsey

    Passionate webmaster, devoted card game enthusiast, and proud son of the Great White North. With over a decade of iGaming experience, Trevor has launched numerous web portals to share his passion for game theory and all things Canadian gaming. With this site, he acts as a fact checker and mostly writes at the intersection of gaming and finance. He aims to offer statistical insights and unique information that you might see lacking in similar sites.

    🎓 Computer Science Enthusiast
    🏒 Maple Leafs Fanatic
    💜 Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt

    View all posts