Interview with Ville Saari about how Canadian casinos can stand out

Canada’s online casino market is booming, but it’s also messy. Canada operates mainly in a grey area. There's no nationwide licensing system outside of Ontario, which has its own regulated market. International casinos can accept Canadian players without being based in the country or following specific Canadian regulations.

So, how can players tell the difference in a market full of choices? More importantly, how can casinos prove they’re worth choosing? To answer these questions, we sat down with Ville Saari, Lead Content Manager at Bojoko, a site dedicated to reviewing and ranking online casinos. 

Saari and his team have tested hundreds of Canadian casinos, helping players distinguish the best from the rest. Today, we’ll explore these factors and how Canadian casinos can improve their offerings to stand out to potential customers.

What does it take for a casino to really stand out in Canada?

It comes down to effort. The best casinos think about their players. They don’t just launch a generic site and expect people to flock to them. They invest in a good user experience, ensuring everything runs smoothly on mobile, that deposits and withdrawals are simple, and that their game selection is appealing.

One of the biggest mistakes we see is casinos entering the Canadian market without understanding it. They don’t localize their content properly, they don’t focus on payment options that Canadians actually use, and sometimes, their customer support isn’t even available in the right time zones. That lack of attention to detail makes a big difference.

Another big mistake is not understanding how players find casinos. Unless you have a huge marketing budget, your players will likely discover you through affiliates such as us. They will land on Bojoko, go over our Canadian online casinos list, and check out the most exciting brands. How will they do this? Often, this is done by checking those with the biggest bonuses or highest ratings first and then confirming the additional details later. Be sure to stand out here.

You’ve reviewed a huge number of casinos at Bojoko. What do you look for when rating them?

We test everything from the sign-up process to how quickly a casino pays out winnings. A casino might look great at first glance, but once you dig in, you start noticing where they cut corners.

First, we check licensing. While Canada is mostly a grey market, we only list casinos with valid licenses. Non-licensed casinos can be a big risk, and we never want to expose our users to them. 

Then, we look at the offers, as these are the first things that pop up. Are the terms and conditions clear? Are there hidden key terms that can ruin the experience?

Then, we start reviewing deposits and withdrawals and determining the most popular payment options. For instance, Canadians love to use Interac, but many casinos don’t know this and fail to cater to them. We also check withdrawal times, whether there are fees, etc.

We also start testing the games and getting a sense of the lobby and overall user experience. Is everything easy to find? Do you get recommendations? How’s the size and variety of the game library? Is customer support available 24/7, and do they seem knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful? 

All of this adds up.

Are there any common red flags that put players off?

Yes, there are plenty. The biggest one is the casino's making it difficult to find basic information—like licensing details, withdrawal times, or bonus terms. Transparency is a big deal, and players can get scared off quickly. Canadians outside of Ontario are generally aware there are risks and scams out there and don’t want to be taken for a ride. 

More and more Canadians are also aware that there are bonus traps. Some casinos offer massive bonuses that look great at first glance but have ridiculous wagering requirements. If you have to wager your bonus 50 times before you can withdraw anything, it’s not a good deal, and players generally know this and check.

Finally, if you don’t have their preferred payment method, they may just walk away, even if there are no red flags per se.

What about Ontario’s regulated market? How does it compare to the rest of Canada?

Ontario is a very different story. It has proper regulation, so players have more protection, and casinos must meet strict standards. But that also means fewer choices. Not every international brand has joined Ontario’s system, meaning players there have a smaller selection than the rest of Canada. 

It’s a trade-off—more security versus more variety. For players who prioritize safety and fair play, Ontario’s model is fantastic. But those looking for the biggest selection of games and bonuses might prefer the broader grey market.

With so many international casinos operating in Canada, are they all big, well-established brands?

Not at all. That’s a common misconception. Many of these so-called “international” casinos are actually quite small. Some have only been around for a couple of years and don’t have the resources to properly cater to Canadian players. They enter the market hoping to grab some quick sign-ups but don’t invest in customer experience.

Overall, I would say there is a very mixed bag of options. Some casinos are genuinely fantastic—offering great games, fast withdrawals, and top-notch support. Others? Not so much. Plenty of low-effort sites simply slap a “Canada-friendly” label on their homepage but do very little to cater to Canadian players. That’s why we always tell players to do their research.

How does Bojoko help players find the best Canadian online casinos?

We do the hard work so players don’t have to. We test casinos, review them in detail, and rank them based on real data. Our goal is to ensure players have all the information they need to choose the best site.

We also have comparison tools, so players can filter casinos based on what matters to them—whether that’s payment options, mobile experience, or game selection. And because we only list licensed and trustworthy casinos, players can feel confident that they’re signing up somewhere safe.

What should Canadian casinos be doing to improve?

It’s simple: put more effort into the player experience and know your market. A well-designed site, fast payouts, and responsive customer support can make all the difference. Players have too many choices now to settle for anything less than a great experience.

Casinos that invest in their product—rather than just trying to attract quick sign-ups—will succeed in the long run. Focus on fair and attractive bonuses, no fuzz withdrawals, and a large selection of payment methods, and you already have many aces up your sleeve. You can also reach out to our affiliate team to hear about specific tweaks you can make to increase your conversions based on our internal data.