How to spot a safe online casino

Start with the regulator, not the bonus

If you are in Ontario, the only legal commercial operators are on the iGaming Ontario list. A Curaçao seal in the footer is not a substitute. If you are outside Ontario, you are in a different legal regime — that does not make every offshore brand equal.

Look up the licence number on the regulator’s own site. If the number 404s, walk away. TrustFacts publishes the number we used; we still want you to click through.

Complete KYC on day one

The most common ‘they won’t pay’ story is actually ‘they asked for ID at cashout and I was not ready.’ Upload documents before you deposit a meaningful amount.

Do a test withdrawal

Deposit a small amount, play a round, withdraw. Time it. Screenshot the cashier. That single ritual is worth more than any Trust Gauge we can print.

Read the bonus like a contract

Max bet while wagering, game weighting, expiry, country restrictions, and whether Interac deposits even qualify. No-wagering rewards are structurally safer than 40x packages.

Demand a dispute path

Named ADR, or at least a regulator that answers. ‘Email support@’ is not a court.