Established in January 2019, PointsBet is already one of the most established sports betting brands in the US. Not content to stop there, the group is now preparing to launch an online gaming hub in Canada via PointsBet Casino.
In this PointsBet review, Gambling.com will take a closer look at what the new casino platform has to offer to players. We'll consider everything from available payment methods to the game selection that's currently provided to Canadian customers.
Generally speaking, Canadian law dictates that any platform wishing to offer its services to online casino players must be based within the country. However, Canadian customers have been circumventing these restrictions for some time by playing at licensed offshore casinos. Indeed, some of the best Canadian online casinos currently have no physical presence there.
This will soon change in Ontario, however, as the province looks to introduce the first locally-licensed online casinos to players who are aged 19 and over. With this expected to happen in the coming weeks, many big-name US brands are planning to offer online casino gambling in Ontario to customers located within the province's borders, with PointsBet being one of them.
Although PointsBet is just getting started in terms of offering legal casino play to Canadians, the good news is that the site is growing fast. PointsBet's online casino already offers a strong selection of slots and video poker titles, with progressive jackpot slots expected to arrive soon.
The PointsBet online casino platform offers a wide range of fast and reliable payment options, while its legal status in Ontario means that responsible gambling is also taken very seriously. PointsBet users who are concerned they may have a gambling problem will find a number of resources at their disposal, including FAQs and links to external problem gambling charities.
While full details of the PointsBet online casino welcome bonus are yet to be revealed, it's fair to assume something will be offered to new players. Typically, welcome bonuses in Canada are provided in the form of a deposit match or free spins offer, with these usually requiring promo codes before they can be claimed. Before committing to a deposit bonus at a new site, however, we'd strongly recommend that players familiarise themselves with any terms and conditions.
As we explained at the top of our PointsBet review, the brand's casino platform is a relatively new addition and is not yet as developed as some of the other online casinos out there. At the time of writing, players can enjoy a small but varied selection of 45 slots online from providers such as IGT and NetEnt, with top titles including Wheel of Fortune Megaways and Royal Spins. Unfortunately, no progressive jackpots are available, but these are expected to be added soon.
If table games are more their thing, on the PointsBet website players will also find a range of casino titles including multi-hand blackjack, roulette, baccarat and 3 card stud. This list is further boosted by the presence of seven video poker options, including popular variants such as Deuces Wild Poker and multi-hand games like Ultimate X Poker Five Play and Ten Play.
With the range of games available at PointsBet currently being quite small, it follows that the brand would only work with a handful of leading software providers. In terms of slots, NetEnt, IGT and Bally are the biggest names available, with an Evolution-powered live casino offering some of the most popular casino games in real time via 24/7 live streaming service in full HD.
RTP (or "Return To Player") percentages are a theoretical model used to estimate how much a game will pay out for every real money bet invested. Typically, the games at PointsBet offer RTPs of between 75% and 98%, with slots providing far greater returns than casino games.
PointsBet caters for players on all budgets by providing a wide range of betting limits across all of its games. Slot bets typically start from just $0.20, while table games have higher maximum bets of up to $200. Generally speaking, the higher a game's RTP%, the lower its maximum bet will be to balance out the long-term returns players can expect to make from it.
While the selection of live casino games at PointsBet is certainly small, players won't have to worry about finding an open seat. Thanks to the addition of Infinite Blackjack, an unlimited number of players can bet simultaneously, while both European and Auto Roulette have no seating restrictions either. All games can be played at a variety of stakes to suit all bankrolls, with minimum bets starting at $0.20 and ranging all the way up to $200 for some options.
The PointsBet Casino site can be accessed via any regular desktop browser or on your preferred mobile device by using a standalone app. In terms of functionality, both options provide a fairly comparable experience, with mobile perhaps holding an edge due to its user-friendly navigation.
Given PointsBet is a fairly small casino platform, Canadian players shouldn't have any problems finding their way around. All games are divided into separate sections on the casino homepage, with a search bar providing quick access to their favourite titles. Live chat and the cashier can be reached using the right-hand menu, making the site incredibly simple to navigate.
Just like PointsBet Sportsbook, Pointsbet Casino can also be accessed via smartphone or tablet using a dedicated app. While iOS users will be able to find PointsBet in the App Store, those on Android devices should note that legal restrictions mean it cannot be hosted in the Google Play Store. Instead, they will have to download the PointsBet Casino app directly from the website.
In terms of performance, the casino app is steady and reliable and provides the same selection of games as the desktop site. Again, players should have no problem finding their way around the various lobbies, with touch-screen navigation allowing them to swipe to their favourite titles. Once launched, most games can be viewed in portrait and landscape mode as preferred.
*Please note that not all deposit methods are currently available for withdrawal.
When PointsBet goes live in Ontario, both the sportsbook and the casino can be freely accessed by players within the province providing they are at least 19 years of age. This differs slightly from other online casinos in offshore jurisdictions, as these do not have location requirements.
Originally founded in Australia, PointsBet has established itself as one of the top sports betting brands in the US. Famed for its unique Points Betting and Diamond Club loyalty program, the site has recently ventured into the online casino industry and should offer Canadian players a range of free spins offers and deposit bonus options with industry-low wagering requirements.
As an officially licensed Ontario online casino brand, PointsBet includes the very latest in site security and player protection. All sensitive data is encoded using 128-bit SSL encryption and transactions are safeguarded by a major checking partner. Although problems on the site are rare, should players encounter an issue, they can contact customer support 24 hours a day.
Mobile Slot Providers | |
Overall Slot Jackpots | 11 |
Slot Wagering | |
Slots | 51 |
Top Slot Game | Cleopatra |
Mobile Slot Games |
PointsBet offers a number of safeguards via its Responsible Gaming and Player Protection pages. Accessible via the homepage footer, these dedicated mini-sites provide guidance and detailed FAQs on identifying problem gambling behaviour and also allow players to impose a number of restrictions on their accounts such as loss limits and voluntary self-exclusion.
Deposit Limits | |
Time Out | |
Stake Limits | |
Profit/Loss Totaliser | |
Self Exclusion |
All things considered, we're excited about the launch of PointsBet in Ontario. While the casino is very much a work in progress when it comes to games, PointsBet has already proved itself to be one of America's best-loved sports betting brands and should make a big impact in Canada once it gets up and running. With a clean, easy-to-use site, good support options and a wide range of payment options available, we're expecting big things from PointsBet later this year.
Yes. PointsBet was one of the first online casino brands to obtain a license to operate in Canada. The site is regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and is available to players in the province aged 19 and up.
PointsBet support a good range of payment options including credit/debit cards, ewallets and direct bank transfer. Players should note, however, that not all methods are available for both deposits and withdrawals.
The minimum withdrawal amount at PointsBet is C$10. Withdrawals can be made via the popular ewallet, PayPal, direct bank transfer or e-check. As the site continues to grow in Ontario, Canada-friendly withdrawal methods may also be made available.
The current game offering at PointsBet is rather small at just 62 titles, but the site is one of the fastest-growing casino brands in the industry. As such, we'd expect this line-up to be significantly expanded as more providers are added.
Yes. Not only can the PointsBet website be accessed from all major mobile devices, but the brand also includes a standalone app. Available on both iOS and Android, the app includes all of the games that are available on the desktop site.
Yes. As a site that's licensed and regulated in Ontario, PointsBet is required to adhere to strict standards when it comes to site security and player safety. These include protecting data with 128-bit SSL encryption and safeguarding all casino transactions.
Withdrawals at PointsBet Casino are always subject to a 24 hour clearing period. After this, cashout times vary depending on the method being used, but most withdrawals are issued within 2-3 business days.