Can You Use a Credit Card at a Canadian Casino?
Here's What We Found.
We deposited real money with Visa and Mastercard from 9 Canadian banks at 34 online casinos. This page covers what worked, what didn't, what it costs, and which banks will block you — so you can make an informed decision before you deposit.
We tested credit card deposits at every iGaming Ontario registered casino from 9 Canadian banks. This research covers acceptance rates, bank policies, cash advance costs, and the legal framework — specific to Ontario players.
Should You Use a Credit Card to Gamble Online?
Before we get to rankings, here's the question most casino review sites skip entirely: is a credit card even the right deposit method for you? For many Canadian players, the answer is no.
Using a credit line to gamble means you're betting money you don't yet have. If your deposit is coded as a cash advance — and most Canadian banks do this — you'll pay immediate fees and interest from day one. There is no grace period. You are paying to lose money before you've placed a single bet. We publish this guide because credit cards are what many players already use, and informed use is better than uninformed use. But if you have the choice, a debit method is almost always better.
Deposit method comparison for Canadian players
| Method | Speed | Fees | Bank blocks? | Fraud protection | Withdrawal? | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interac e-Transfer | Instant | None | No blocks | Limited | Yes — fast | Best for most Canadians |
| Debit Visa/MC | Instant | None | Varies | Some | Rarely | Good if CC blocked |
| Visa (credit) | Instant | 2-5% + APR | Some banks | Full | Rarely | Ok if you repay immediately |
| Mastercard (credit) | Instant | 2-5% + APR | Some banks | Full | Rarely | Same as Visa |
| e-Wallets (Skrill, etc.) | Instant | Varies | No blocks | Limited | Yes | Extra account required |
| Bank wire | 1-3 days | $15-30 | Varies | Limited | Yes — slow | Large amounts only |
Fees based on our February 2025 testing. Cash advance rates sourced from published cardholder agreements for each of the Big 5 banks. [Sources 1–5]
Our honest recommendation
Use Interac e-Transfer if you can. It's accepted everywhere, has no fees, and bypasses every bank block. Credit cards make sense only if you specifically need the fraud/chargeback protection, you repay the balance before interest accrues, or Interac isn't available to you. If you do use a credit card, check your bank's policy first (our bank checker below) and understand the cash advance costs before depositing.
Will Your Bank's Credit Card Work?
Canadian banks have very different policies on casino transactions. This data comes from real test deposits we made from actual Canadian accounts in the last 30 days.
Bank policies verified against current cardholder agreements as of February 2025. Links to source documents in Sources section.
| Bank | Visa | Mastercard | Policy source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Unions | ✓ High | ✓ High | No system-wide gambling MCC block |
| BMO | ✓ High | ✓ High | Classified as "cash-like transaction" per cardholder agreement [1] |
| CIBC | ✓ High | ✓ High | No gambling restriction in current T&Cs [2] |
| National Bank | ~ Medium | ~ Medium | No explicit restriction; less documented than Big 5 |
| Desjardins | ~ Medium | ~ Medium | Varies by card product; generally more permissive |
| RBC | ✗ Low | ✗ Low | T&Cs restrict gambling transactions [3] |
| TD Bank | ✗ Low | ✗ Low | Actively blocks since 2013 [4] |
| Scotiabank | ✗ Low | ✗ Low | Explicitly blocks non-provincial casinos [5] |
Quick Bank Check
Select your bank for a detailed summary based on our deposit testing and their published terms.
What Actually Happens When You Deposit With a Credit Card
Most casino guides skip this. Understanding the transaction flow helps you understand why banks block deposits and why you get charged cash advance fees.
You enter card details
Casino sends your card info to their payment processor (e.g. Worldpay, Nuvei, Paysafe).
MCC code assigned
The processor tags the transaction with MCC 7995 — the merchant category code for "gambling transactions." This is what triggers bank blocks.
Your bank decides
Bank sees MCC 7995. TD/Scotia auto-decline. BMO/CIBC usually approve. RBC is inconsistent. Bank also decides: purchase or cash advance?
Cash advance coding
Most banks code MCC 7995 as a cash advance — not a purchase. This triggers higher APR, a flat fee, and zero grace period.
Funds appear
If approved, funds reach your casino account in seconds. But you're now accruing interest from the moment the transaction posted.
MCC 7995 classification per Visa Merchant Data Standards Manual and Mastercard Transaction Processing Rules. Cash advance coding based on our review of Big 5 cardholder agreements. [Sources 1–6]
Rankings Changelog
- Added LeoVegas Canada at #5 — new entrant following full deposit and withdrawal test
- Changed 888 Casino payout rating adjusted down — withdrawal time increased from 5 to 7 days in testing
- Changed Bank table updated — CIBC no longer carries gambling restrictions in current cardholder agreement
- Refreshed All CC acceptance rates updated from February deposit tests across 9 banks
- Removed Casumo Canada — CC acceptance rate dropped to 71%, below our 90% threshold
- Removed PlayAmo — suspended pending investigation of withdrawal delay complaints
- Changed Royal Vegas moved from #2 to #3 — Spin Casino overtook on game library score
- Refreshed All licence numbers verified against MGA and Kahnawake live registers
- Added Cash advance calculator — new tool to calculate real deposit cost
- Changed Bank checker updated with sourced T&C data for all 8 banks
- Changed RBC reclassified from Medium to Low — T&C analysis confirms active restriction
- Refreshed Methodology section expanded with full 6-step process
- Removed Betway Canada — withdrawal took 11 days, significantly beyond stated timeframe
- Added 888 Casino Canada at #4 — passed all 6 review steps
- Refreshed Full re-test of all 4 ranked casinos with new deposit tests
Casinos With the Highest Credit Card Acceptance Rates
Ranked by real CC acceptance rate, withdrawal speed, licence quality, and responsible gambling tools. 34 casinos tested — only 5 met our criteria. See who didn't make it and why.
iGaming Ontario registered sites, ranked by credit card acceptance, game quality, and player protection. Bonus info not shown per AGCO Rule 2.03.
Minimum threshold to rank: 90%+ CC acceptance rate, verified licence, withdrawal within stated timeframe, RG tools accessible within 2 clicks.
Sites We Tested But Didn't List — And Why
We tested 34 casinos. Only 5 met our criteria. Here's why some well-known names didn't make it — because we think you should know what we rejected, not just what we recommend.
Have a casino you'd like us to test? Email [email protected] — we read every submission.
Credit Card Cash Advance Calculator
Most players don't realise their casino deposit is processed as a cash advance — not a purchase. That means a higher interest rate, an instant fee, and no grace period. This calculator shows you the actual cost.
What Will Your Deposit Actually Cost?
Why This Costs More Than You Think
Online gambling transactions are coded under MCC 7995, which most banks classify as a cash advance. The practical impact: a separate, higher APR (commonly 22.99% in Canada), a flat fee of 2–5% the moment the transaction processes, and interest from day one with no grace period. [1–5]
A $300 deposit held for 30 days on a card with a 3% CA fee and 22.99% APR costs approximately $14.70 in fees and interest — before you've placed a single bet.
Not all deposits trigger cash advance coding — it depends on the casino's payment processor and your bank. But you should assume the worst case and use the calculator to understand the cost. If you want to avoid this entirely, Interac e-Transfer or debit cards are never coded as cash advances.
The Legal Landscape for Online Gambling in Canada
Canadian gambling law is provincial, not federal. This creates a patchwork where the rules depend entirely on where you live. Here's the current status as of February 2026.
Based on Criminal Code of Canada §207, provincial gaming acts, and iGaming Ontario public records. [Sources 9–12]
Ontario
Canada's only province with a regulated private iGaming market. Private operators must register with iGaming Ontario (a subsidiary of AGCO). Players have regulatory recourse through AGCO's complaints process. Advertising is restricted under AGCO Registrar's Standards. All sites in our Ontario view hold current iGO registration.
Rest of Canada (BC, AB, QC, MB, SK, NS, NB, PE, NL, Territories)
No regulated private market. Each province operates its own lottery corporation site (PlayNow BC, Loto-Québec, PlayAlberta, etc.). Canadians are not prohibited from playing at offshore-licensed sites, but these operate without Canadian regulatory oversight. If something goes wrong, your recourse is with the offshore regulator (MGA, UKGC, Kahnawake), not a Canadian authority.
It's not illegal, but it's not protected
Outside Ontario, playing at offshore casinos occupies a legal grey area. The Criminal Code (§207) gives provinces authority over gambling within their borders, but does not criminalise individual players for using offshore sites. The practical implication: you won't face legal consequences, but you also won't have Canadian regulatory protection if a site mistreats you.
Unlicensed sites
Sites with no licence from any recognised regulator should be avoided entirely. They have zero legal obligation to honour withdrawals, protect your data, or provide fair games. No amount of bonus money compensates for this risk. Every site on our list holds a current licence verified directly against the issuing regulator's public database.
How We Test Every Casino
Our review process is built specifically around the Canadian credit card deposit experience. We publish this so you can evaluate our methodology and hold us accountable.
Licence Verification
Every licence number checked against the regulator's live public database (MGA, UKGC, Kahnawake, iGO). Expired or unverifiable licences disqualify a site immediately — regardless of how much commission they'd pay us.
Real Deposit Testing
Visa and Mastercard deposits from real Canadian bank accounts at TD, RBC, BMO, CIBC, Scotiabank, National Bank, Desjardins, and 2 credit unions. We record success/failure, processing time, and any fees charged.
Withdrawal Tracking
We request a withdrawal and track every step to funds received. Sites missing their stated timeframe are penalised. Sites exceeding it by more than double are removed (this is why Betway was delisted).
RG Tools Audit
Deposit limits, session reminders, cooling-off, and self-exclusion must be present, functional, and accessible within 2 clicks from the main account page. Buried tools = failed audit (this is why Rizk was rejected).
Terms & Conditions Analysis
Full T&Cs read for withdrawal limits, CC bonus restrictions, wagering requirements, and any clauses that disadvantage Canadian players. Our regulatory analyst (Karen Webb) handles this step.
Monthly Re-Test
Every ranked site re-tested monthly. Policies change, processors change, licences lapse. You'll always see the exact last-tested date on every listing. Our next round begins March 7, 2025.
Scoring Weights
| Criteria | Weight | What we actually measure |
|---|---|---|
| CC Acceptance Rate | 30% | Success rate across Visa, MC, Amex from 9 Canadian banks |
| Payout Reliability | 25% | Actual vs. stated withdrawal timing (penalised for every day over) |
| Licensing Quality | 20% | Regulator strength, licence currency, iGO registration for Ontario |
| RG Tools | 15% | Deposit limits, self-exclusion, reality checks — accessibility test |
| Player Support | 10% | Response time and quality via live chat and email |
Bonuses are deliberately excluded from scoring. Most welcome bonuses are negative expected value once wagering requirements are applied — we don't think they should influence where you play.
Our Editorial Team
We are not anonymous. Every person who writes, tests, and reviews content on this site is identified below with their real name, role, and relevant background.
Credit Card Casino FAQ
Where Our Data Comes From
Every factual claim on this page is backed by a primary source. If you find an error, email [email protected].
Our Editorial Standards
Commission Independence
We earn referral commission when users sign up via our links. Commission rates do not influence rankings, scores, or recommendations. Our scoring criteria are fixed and published above. A casino paying us more does not move it up the list.
Corrections Policy
If we publish an error, we correct it within 48 hours and note the correction in our changelog. Email corrections to [email protected]. We have issued 3 corrections since 2019.
Removal Criteria
Any ranked site is removed immediately if: their licence lapses, a withdrawal exceeds double the stated timeframe, CC acceptance drops below 90%, or credible player complaints indicate systematic issues. We have removed 4 sites since launch.
What We Won't Do
We will not list a site with an unverifiable licence regardless of commission. We will not suppress negative test results. We will not rank a site higher because they asked us to. We will not hide our affiliate relationship.
Responsible Gambling
Gambling should be entertainment, not a financial strategy. If you're using a credit card to gamble, you're already borrowing money to do it — which makes it especially important to set firm limits. Every casino we list is required to offer deposit limits, session time reminders, and self-exclusion.
If gambling is causing you stress or financial difficulty, free and confidential support is available 24/7. Ontario players can self-exclude from all iGO registered operators simultaneously. The national Problem Gambling Helpline is available at 1-888-230-3505.