Almost every online casino in existence accepts Visa debit cards, and by extension, Virtual Visa prepaid cards. So, unlike so many alternative payment methods, it’s not about finding casinos that accept Virtual Visa deposits, but rather finding the best online casinos for your needs. That means looking for the right qualities and features. They should include:
Canadian Player Acceptance
First and foremost, the operator needs to accept players from your country. If you’re reading this, that most likely means Canada. At the moment, Canadian players are supported by approximately 23% of the overall iGaming market, or about 1,000 out of 4,300 online casinos, poker, bingo, sports, and lottery sites. While the percentage may seem low, there’s still a lot to choose from.
Regulatory Responsibility
It’s so hard to trust an operator that is not responsibly licensed and regulated. Of all the jurisdictions that offer iGaming regulation throughout the world, only a few are known for enforcing the strictest regulatory guidance. The highest standards mean the greatest level of player protection; a big plus in terms of safety, security and anti-fraud measure. The trade-off for that is KYC/AML verification, which means you’ll need to verify your identity, and possibly source of funds, as well.
ID verification is not a bad thing. It has no adverse effects. Any website under these high-standard regulations has the best security technologies in place to protect your data. However, if you’re the type of gambler who likes to keep your expenditures under wraps, you may prefer a bit less in the way of hands-on regulation. If that’s the case, mid-standard regulators may be more your style.
High-Standard Regulatory Bodies – The Industry’s Best
These are the regulatory bodies whose licensees you can trust by default. If a licensed operator fails to comply with regulations, their license may be suspended or revoked. Just having this kind of license emanates trust.
United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC)Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC)Gibraltar Licensing Authority (GLA)Canada’s Provincial Regulators (AGLC, ALC, BCLC, Loto-Quebec, MLGCA, OLG)
Standard Regulatory Bodies – Do Your Homework
These are licensing bodies that don’t enforce a lot in the way of regulation or compliance. They collect a fee, supply a license, and might implement a few basic moral codes at best. We must judge the licensees of these jurisdictions by longevity and reputation. Without an extensive track record for customer satisfaction, we do not recommend you trust them.
Belize Gaming Control Board (BGCB)Costa Rica (no gaming division, just a “data processing” license)Curacao Gaming Control Board (CGCB; eGaming Curacao)Panama Gaming Control Board (PGCB)
What’s Better, Domestic or International Casinos?
It’s really a matter of preference, but there’s a lot to consider. Canada’s provincially regulated gambling websites aren’t a bad option. They are home-grown and 100% trustworthy. They offer valuable promotions for new players. Game variety has gotten a lot better over the last few years, too. And with local-to-local banking, your deposits and withdrawals are ultra fast
On the other side of that spectrum, international casinos have a lot to offer. For one thing, not all Canadians have a provincially regulated gambling site at their disposal. Thus, they have no domestic option. But international preference goes well beyond necessity.
Operating in a more competitive landscape, some offshore casinos have extraordinary promotions that Canada’s gambling operators simply can’t match. Their game variety often climbs into the thousands, and the payout percentages on games like blackjack, slots and video poker tend to be far higher. Plus, there’s the potential to gamble with innominate discretion, beyond the watchful eye of the government. Anonymity and higher RTPs are, in fact, the top two reasons Canadians choose not to gamble online locally.
