Mia's Online Casino Journey

I’ve come a long way in my iGaming journey.

I’ve learned a lot since first starting my Ontario online casino journey back in January 2023 (I can’t believe it’s almost been a year 😮).  Some of the things I learned didn’t come as much of a surprise, but other things were not at all what I was expecting.

This post is all about the main assumptions I made before and at the start of my Ontario online casino journey that I got wrong. Maybe what I’ve learned will be of value to you, too.

Five assumptions I made as a new Ontario online casino player that I got wrong

1 – I thought I’d be able to play any game

Assumption: If a game exists in the online casino industry, then I’ll able to play it in Ontario.

Fact: Every jurisdiction has its own regulations. Whether or not you can play a certain casino game in Ontario typically depends on two factors:

• If the game provider chooses to comply with Ontario online gambling regulations and obtains a license.
• If the Ontario online casino where you play has a partnership with the game provider of the casino game you want to play (even then, they might not grant an Ontario player access to that provider or the provider’s full games catalogue if all or some of their games infringe on Ontario iGaming laws).

2 – I thought all games I could play were the same everywhere they’re offered in Canada

Assumption: If a player somewhere else in Canada can play the same online slot I can play in Ontario, the experience is the same.

Fact: We might be able to play the same game, but this doesn’t mean that the game’s features will be the same. There are certain rules in Ontario that don’t apply to other parts of Canada where strict online gambling laws have not been enforced.

For instance, if I play Ninja Master in Ontario, certain features of the game are disabled, which is not the case in other provinces (e.g. Quebec). One of these is “Double Up”, a gamble feature in Ninja Master that occurs after landing a win, giving a player the option to keep what they’ve won or gamble it for the chance of doubling the win in a 50/50 heads-or-tails-style game of chance. If they win, they double the initial amount they won. If they lose, their initial win is lost.

In Ontario, this feature and others that potentially encourage a player to gamble with less control, are prohibited. Another example of a common slot feature not allowed in a legal Ontario online casino is the autoplay/auto spin feature, where you can program the game to spin a consecutive number of times at a set bet amount.

3 – I thought I’d be able to use PayPal at any Ontario online casino

Assumption: I have a PayPal account, and I heard that online casinos accept this as a payment method, so I’m sure I’ll be able to use it in Ontario.

Fact: Not all online casinos in Ontario support PayPal as a deposit method, including the one where I decided to play (PlayOJO). While I could play at a casino that does offer PayPal (BETMGM Ontario, for instance) these sites tend to have wagering requirements attached to their promotions.

I personally find the bonus terms and conditions associated with wagering requirements to be complex. Moreover, while I understand their reason for existing, I’d rather claim a smaller promotion that doesn’t have wagering rules attached to it. I like knowing that what I win from a bonus is mine to keep right away, without having to wager a certain number of times before I can withdraw my winnings as cash.

4 – I thought I’d be able to deposit any amount

Assumption: If I want to deposit as little as $5 or as much as $1,000, I can.

Fact: Online casinos have minimum deposit limits. While they can differ from one casino to the next, it’s not uncommon for the minimum amount to be $10. What’s more, it’s equally not uncommon for certain payment methods to have fees. 

For instance, I use Paysafecard. The minimum amount I can deposit is $9.50 and has a transaction fee of 5.0% ($0.48). This means the lowest deposit I can make with Paysafecard at PlayOJO is $9.98.

5 – I thought I wouldn’t chase my losses  

Assumption: If I hit a losing streak, I’ll call it quits so I don’t deplete my entire bankroll.

Fact: Turns out, that’s sometimes easier said than done, even for someone like me who is pretty careful about keeping her gambling controlled. I can admit that I’ve chased my losses a couple of times, especially when playing slot games I particularly like, such as Sweet Alchemy.

I’ve never deposited more once depleting my bankroll, I do still stick to my gambling budget limit for the month. Still, I’m disappointed in myself for those few times I spun my bankroll dry because I fell into the mindset of thinking that since I scored a big win from a feature I recently triggered, the same thing would happen again in a short period of time. It’s a reminder to me why sticking to my responsible gambling habits is so important.

I suspect I’ll be further enlightened as my Ontario online casino journey continues.

It’s surprising how easy it is to make the mistake of thinking that you’ll know how something will be without question or proof, isn’t it? Worse still, making assumptions is a mistake that continues to happen, even when we think we’ve learned from it.

For now, at least, I feel like when it comes to my experience as an Ontario online casino player, I’m making the effort to investigate the facts first and paying closer attention to my gambling habits.

What about you? Was there something you assumed about playing at online casinos that you found out wasn’t true?

Until next time, good luck and have fun.

Mia 👩‍💻

*All links and images in this post are for informational purposes only. I am not affiliated with PlayOJO or BETMGM.