While Canadians are warned about fraudulent offshore online casinos, we want to clear up that not all are untrustworthy platforms. (Image from chatGPT)
Canadian regulators and operators say online casino scams are on the rise in Canada. That’s true, but there’s more to the story.
A report from Canadian Gaming Business has outlined a wave of fake ads using real casino branding from established platforms in Canada. BCLC and Casino Rama are just two sites that have been imitated and used to fool unsuspecting players.
The scam involves making players believe they’re signing up for the real deal and handing over their personal information to what they believe to be the legitimate and licensed online casinos.
Most would agree that this is a real problem that needs to be addressed. Scammers have hijacked the logos of trusted Canadian operators, paid for Facebook ads, and even doctored old news footage to sell lies. As a result, players have lost money and established online casinos have had their reputations tarnished through no wrongdoing of their own.
In the post by Canadian Gaming Business, Canadian casino players were warned to be careful amid what is claimed to be an increase in fraudulent ads from offshore casinos. However, while the article rightly warns players to be cautious about which links they click and which online casinos they visit, the language used suggests that all offshore sites that are unlicensed within Canada are unscrupulous platforms – something we disagree with.
Fortunately, regulators like the BC Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB) are stepping in, and brands like Great Canadian Entertainment are spending serious time and money trying to track the fakes down.
But as legitimate as these concerns are, the narrative being pushed that any casino operating outside Canada’s borders is untrustworthy needs a reality check.
Not All Offshore Casinos Are Scams or Untrustworthy
While there are many dodgy casinos that need to be removed from existence, not all offshore casinos are shady. There are many online platforms not licensed in Canada that are still fully regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority, the Curacao Gaming Board of Control or even the Anjouan Gaming Authority, which hold long-standing reputations and operate under strict regulatory guidelines.
These are not rogue outfits. They’re just not Canadian. The suggestion that all casinos not under Canadian licensing are unsafe is misleading. That message is given to help local operators protect their market share and for Canadian provinces to collect more tax money. What it doesn’t do is help players make smarter choices.
Yes, There Are Scams, But Here’s How You Avoid Them
There are certainly scam sites out there. And yes, you need to be cautious.
But falling for one of these fake ads isn’t inevitable. Experienced players know how to spot red flags and to perform due diligence before trusting any platform, let alone an offshore casino.
Here’s what actually matters when choosing a safe online casino:
- Perform a License Check: By this, I mean more than just checking the website’s footer for a logo from the MGA or Curacao. Click the logo to see if it takes you to the official site of the regulator and a page that declares the license valid. If the logo is not clickable, manually check the regulator’s website to see if the license is valid.
- Read Casino Reviews: We’re biased, of course, but always start with ours. To gauge further opinion, also read the casino reviews of other trusted platforms. Eventually, you should get a feeling as to whether you can place your initial trust in the casino.
- Determine its Reputation: There’s a very good chance that online casinos that have been in operation for a long time and have a good reputation are not scam sites. Casino reviews or player reviews on sites like Trustpilot can give you a good idea of what other players think of a platform.
- Transparency: A reputable casino ensures its terms and conditions and privacy policy are transparent. It will also have no problem listing its company information in the footer of the page.
So, What’s the Real Message Here?
The growing push from Canadian operators and regulators seems aimed at encouraging players to stick to domestically licensed platforms. That’s understandable, but we ask that you do not confuse marketing with reality. Governments around the world, and not just Canada, want to protect their gambling industries and the operators and the tax within them. There’s nothing wrong with that. All we ask is that you do not buy into the notion that all offshore casinos are to be avoided.
It’s quite simple. If provinces in Canada with legalised online gambling want to ensure players are sticking to locally licensed platforms, they should perhaps address the following:
- Offshore sites aren’t being geo-blocked in Canada effectively enough.
- Players are not being penalised for playing at overseas casinos.
- Offshore access remains legal and open.
- All meaning that players still have the freedom to choose. We just ask them to choose wisely.
So yes, be cautious. But don’t fall for the idea that every offshore casino is a threat. That’s just not true.
In fact, as Casinoplusbonus highlighted in their breakdown of the evolving regulatory landscape (read the full 2025 guide here), many international operators continue to serve Canadian players safely and transparently, especially in provinces without a fully regulated iGaming market.
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