Best Manitoba Online Casinos in 2024

Enjoy hundreds of casino games and claim massive bonuses when you gamble at Manitoba online casinos. This guide contains all the right information on how to get started with casino gambling in Manitoba, the Keystone Province. You’ll also learn about the history and legality of online gambling in Manitoba. There’s also a long list of recommended casino sites to join as a Manitoban. Keep reading to learn more.

Just like other provinces in Canada, Manitoba’s gambling sector takes a liberal approach. This means casinos are thriving in this province. Today, Manitobans can enjoy gambling on thousands of casino sites with exciting game types and promotions. There are also several land-based casinos in Manitoba. 

But before we get into all that, let’s briefly look at the history of gambling in this province. Manitobans have been gambling since 1969, when Canada legalized this activity. The Winnipeg Convention Centre became the first permanent casino venue to open in the province. Manitoba hasn’t looked back since then, despite a few setbacks.

Gambling laws in Manitoba have been changing over time. The landmark amendment to the Criminal Code of Canada in 1969 laid the ground for gambling to launch across the provinces. This game-changing move started the growth of government-regulated lotteries, VLT machines, and land-based casinos in Manitoba. This province also started licensing charitable and religious organizations to operate lotteries. 

However, the first breakthrough came in 1970 when the government introduced the Manitoba Centennial Lottery Act. This law meant Manitoba was one of the first regions to conduct legal lotteries to support the centennial. A year later, the Lottery Act was established to legalize lottery games permanently and create the Manitoba Lotteries Commission. This body would oversee all legal lottery activities. 

Fast forward to 1989, Manitoba licensed its first casino site, Crystal Casino. This continental-style casino was the first year-round government-operated casino in Canada. Like the current real money casinos, profits from Crystal Casino’s operations would support healthcare and other charitable activities. This venue later closed its operations in 1991. 

Manitoba has also made steps to regulate its online gambling sector. In 2013, the government launched PlayNow.com to combat the widespread offshore gambling. This website offered casino games, live poker, sports betting, and lotteries. The Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba regulates online gambling activities on this website.  

So, as it stands, online gambling in Manitoba is legal if you’re 18+ years old and a member of PlayNow.com. However, you can register on offshore casinos and enjoy a greater variety of games and bonuses. Ensure the website is legal and secure before signing up to avoid risking your vital information. 

The table below shows the gambling status in Manitoba.

History of Gambling in Manitoba

As stated earlier, the history of gambling in Manitoba started when the federal government lifted the nationwide ban. Here is a list of events that transpired in Manitoba since 1969:

• 1969: The government amends the Criminal Code to allow regional governments to regulate gambling and lotteries.
• 1970: Manitoba introduces lotteries under the Manitoba Centennial Lottery Act.
• 1971: Permanent lottery games are introduced by the Lotteries Act. This law also creates the Manitoba Lotteries Commission.
• 1974: Manitoba champions for the creation of the Western Canada Lottery Foundation.
• 1984: The establishment of the Manitoba Lotteries Foundation to operate all casinos and lotteries.
• 1989: Crystal Casino becomes the first permanent province-run casino to launch in the province.
• 1991: Manitoba introduces Video Lottery Terminals.
• 1999: The government launches the Problem Gambling Assistance Program.
• 2013: PlayNow.com launches to provide legal gambling and betting services in the province.
• 2014: The government implements the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act and the Manitoba Liquor and Gaming Control Act on April 1.
• 2003: PlayNow.com celebrates a decade of successful operation in Manitoba. 

Free Playing in Manitoba

You can play casino games for free or real money on PlayNow.com or international casinos. Free games use bonuses offered by offshore casinos or virtual coins. Remember that you cannot redeem the virtual coins as real cash when playing demo games.

But why should you play free games instead of staking and winning real money? Below are some pros of playing for free:

• Practice new game strategies before staking real money.
• Learn and understand the game rules.
• Play your favourite games without any pressure to win.
• You can play without a casino account.
• Win real money payouts with casino bonuses and free spins. 

Choosing the ideal casino site from the dozens of options in Manitoba can be challenging. So, how exactly do we go about it? There are several key factors that a casino must score before we give it a nod. You can count on our vast experience to help you identify the best casino for your needs and preferences. 

Below is a list of features we look for when comparing and reviewing casinos in Manitoba:

• Licensing and security: Your safety is our number one concern. We only review and rate casinos with valid licenses in Canada, the UK, Curacao, Gibraltar, and other countries. Our security tests also involve confirming if the casino has up-to-date SSL encryption standards.
• Reputation: We understand that gamers often overlook this critical feature. As such, we collect all the background information about the casino’s reputation. For example, we only rate casinos operated by reputable companies with several well-known brands. Our review also checks if the website has a history of non-payment. 
• Game variety: Only casino sites with a ton of gaming options make it to the respectable Casino.com list. You can play poker, blackjack, slots, live dealer games, crash games, and more.
• Game testing: This is another critical gaming feature you shouldn’t overlook. When ranking casinos, we confirm if independent firms frequently audit the RNG systems. Top online casinos in Manitoba are certified by bodies like Gaming Associates, iTech Labs, and eCOGRA.
• Bonuses and promotions: Claiming bonus offers makes online gambling in Manitoba fun and rewarding. We only consider websites with frequent and generous bonus offers. In addition, we read the bonus fine print to recommend the best bonus offers.
• Banking: A casino can score highly in all the points listed above. However, we won’t rate it if the banking services don’t meet the industry standards. Top Canadian casinos provide safe and secure payments via options like PayPal, Skrill, Interac, and Visa. Withdrawals must also be swift and free.
• Customer support: The best Manitoba casino sites provide a range of customer support options. These casinos offer live chat, email, phone, and even social media support. We only rank casinos with fast response times and multi-language support.
• Mobile compatibility: Do you prefer playing remotely on your smartphone or tablet? All the casinos on this page offer smooth and convenient experiences on mobile. We thoroughly test the capability of each mobile website and casino app. 

Sites to Avoid in Manitoba

Unfortunately, some casinos cannot be trusted with your money and vital information. Such casinos fail to meet our strict selection criterion based on industry-scoring standards. We have adopted a multi-step review process to ensure you join only the best casinos in Manitoba. Casinos that don’t meet our requirements fall under the “casinos to avoid” list.

We advise staying away from casinos with the following characteristics:

• Big bonuses with unfavourable terms and conditions.
• Unclear licensing and encryption information.
• Unspecified withdrawal times and limits.
• Bad reputation among online reviewers and players.
• Unfair clauses in the general website T&Cs.
• History about withholding winnings or rigging game results.
• Unavailable or rude customer support.
• Payments and games from unknown providers.

Licensing is the first and most important feature of a reliable casino. PlayNow.com is currently the only regulated site in the province. However, the games and promotions can be few on this platform. 

The game library is another feature that we don’t overlook. Top Canadian casinos provide dynamic game portfolios with thousands of games from respectable software developers. For example, a good casino must provide slots from top names like Play’n GO, NetEnt, and Microgaming. Evidence of game testing is also a must when choosing the best Manitoba casino sites.

We also insist on reading and understanding the T&Cs. This page hides all the good and not-so-good rules that guide your agreement with the casino. But don’t worry if reading the casino’s T&Cs is time-consuming and tiresome. Our team of reviewers will read through all the clauses to ensure they are transparent and fair. Just choose a brand from our list and sign up. 

Manitoba casinos entice players by providing great bonus incentives. Top real money casinos have friendly welcome bonuses and regular offers for loyal gamers. Rest assured that we have read the bonus policies of all the promotions listed here on Casino.com. 

Below are some of the standard casino bonuses on Manitoba casino sites:

• Welcome Match Bonus: These are bonuses designed to attract new players. The Manitoba casino will reward you with a specific percentage of your deposit on your first or several deposits. In some casinos, this could be up to your tenth deposit.
• Free Spins: Sometimes, your match deposit offer could come with several free spins. You can get free rounds on a slot machine the casino wishes to promote or your preferred game title.
• Reload Bonuses: Look for these deposit bonuses after claiming your welcome offer. You can receive a match bonus or free spins after depositing a specific amount on a particular day. For example, a Manitoba casino can reward your deposit every Monday and Friday.
• Cashback: Interestingly, some Manitoba casino sites can reward you for losing money on a specific day. This is a percentage of your actual money losses. Keep in mind that cashback bonuses have wagering requirements to fulfil before converting the reward to real money.
• High Roller Bonus: Top casino sites provide VIP experiences to all qualifying players. This begins with a big welcome match bonus for high-roller players. This casino reward can have lower wagering requirements than standard welcome offers.
• Refer-a-Friend: Some Manitoba casinos can provide a link that you’ll use to attract new members. Then, you’ll receive a reward for every friend who signs up using the link. This reward can be a match bonus of their deposit, free spins, or cash prize.

Modern gamers prefer playing real money games during those spare moments. The good news is that the best casinos are accessible, whether sitting in a bank queue or waiting for a train. Even better, there is no specific law in Manitoba that prevents you from gambling on mobile. These casinos offer exclusive games designed for your small mobile screen.

When choosing a mobile casino, look at the device compatibility. You should be able to enjoy a smooth experience on Android, iOS, or Windows systems. Also, confirm optimization features like screen controls and spacing. Software developers like NetEnt and Microgaming provide mobile-optimized experiences. Good casinos should have these features.

Another common question asked by Canadian gamers is whether gambling wins are taxable. Luckily, Canadian law exempts you from paying tax if you win at a land-based or online casino. This also applies to sports betting and any jackpot or lottery win. According to the Income Tax Act, gambling isn’t a regular source of income or a physical property. 

However, it’s essential to stay updated with the ever-changing gambling laws in Canada. Individual provinces can regulate this activity and include taxes on your winnings. Note also that you can be taxed 15% to 33% if you invest money won at Manitoba casinos. So, complete the T3 and T5 forms to comply with the law.

We don’t stop at recommending top casinos in Canada. We also encourage responsible gambling practices. The first rule of thumb is to play with money you can willingly lose. Divide this money into smaller bankroll units for daily or weekly use. Another trick is having a loss limit. Know when to call it quits and try your luck the following day. 

Manitoba casinos know that responsible gambling isn’t a burden left to players alone. These gaming sites have several safety features to ensure you can gamble within your limits. We highly encourage you to know how to use these safe gambling tools and improve your gaming experience. 

Here are some safe gaming tools you’ll find at Manitoba casinos:

• Timeout: Consider taking a break from gambling using this feature. You cannot deposit or wager during the timeout period, although you can withdraw funds.
• Time limit: Use this feature to play for a specific time daily. The casino will log you out automatically after playing for the set duration.
• Deposit limit: Top real money casinos allow gamers to set the maximum amount they wish to deposit. You can create custom daily, weekly, or monthly casino deposit limits.
• Loss limit: This feature lets you set the amount you’re comfortable losing per day, week, or month. You won’t be able to play after reaching this limit.
• Self-exclusion: As the name hints, this safe gambling tool lets you take an extended break from the casino. During this period, you won’t be able to deposit, play, or receive promotional messages.

If you need further assistance or need to make an enquiry, reach out to the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries gambling body. You can contact them by visiting this link or by sending an email to shop.Online@mbll.ca.

Good luck, and stay safe!

Whether you are a Manitoba resident or visitor, there are many places to spend the night and play casino games. This region is home to some of Canada’s most popular casinos, where you can play slot machines, table games, and lotteries. Visit one of these Vegas-style venues to meet other prolific gamblers and learn new strategies.  

Below are our top five picks in Manitoba:

Club Regent Casino

Location: 1425 Regent Ave W, Winnipeg, MB R2C 3B2

Opened in 1993, the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries owns and operates this casino venue. Club Regent Casino is located in Winnipeg and has 900+ slot machines. The extensive gaming area also contains VLTs and 30+ tables to play poker, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. This venue also has a 4-star hotel with 146 rooms and a fitness center. 

McPhillips Station Casino

Location: 484 McPhillips St, Winnipeg, MB R2X 2H2

McPhillips Station Casino, initially McPhillips Street Station Casino, is another government-run gambling venue. Like Club Regent, this casino was established in 1993 in Winnipeg. There are at least 800 slot machines at McPhillips Station Casino and 29+ table games. 

South Beach Casino & Resort

Location: 1 Ocean Dr, Scanterbury, MB R0E 1W0

Opened in May 2005, South Beach is owned by seven Manitoba First Nations. It has an impressive 40,000-square-foot gaming space and a smoke-free area. You can play on 600+ slot machines and several tables at this casino. South Beach also has a resort with a hotel, restaurant, and live entertainment area. It’s a pleasant and relaxing venue to play. 

Assiniboia Downs

Location: 3975 Portage Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3K 2E9

Assiniboia Downs is a gaming center in Winnipeg. This venue has a 150-ha horse track with off-track betting via telephone. You can bet on local races held weekly as well as live races across North America. Visitors can also try their gambling luck on the vast gambling floor with 110+ VLTs and two slot machines. Sadly, there are no table games here.  

Sand Hills Casino

Location: 777 Sand Hills Drive, Carberry, MB R0K 0H0

Sand Hills Casino sits in western Manitoba on Swan Lake First Nation. You’ll play in a ranch-themed gaming area with a restaurant and a sports lounge. Other amenities at Sand Hills Casino include a swimming pool, hotel, and live performance. The casino floor has 300+ slot machines and multiple card game and roulette tables.