Online Gambling and PlayNow.com

Since "laying down" the first bet in an online gambling casino in 1995, this enormously popular industry has exploded worldwide. And why would it not? Online gambling sites allow Canadians to play from the comfort of their own home and require no travel, no hotel bills and no waiting for a seat. So what could be more fun? Not much and it is no wonder Playnow.com has sprung up to join the bandwagon.

Best online casinos in Canada

Our thorough review of playnow.com, has made us want to play later - much later. The weak sign up bonus, poor graphics and game selection have left us unimpressed. The casinos below are of a higher standard and not only do they offer over 500 excellent games, you can also play them directly on your smartphone or iPad. In addition, they both offer a huge sign up bonus and all the frills that come from an established online casino.

Playnow.com Review

PlayNow.com, launched in 2004. This is a Canadian, state-licensed gambling site that is operated by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) for British Columbia residents. But how does it measure up? Let's stack up the statistics of PlayNow.com against the international online casinos and let the chips fall where they may.

Sometimes Bigger Really is Better

Let's start at the beginning with the "sign-up" bonus. This is usually the biggest bonanza the online casino has to offer. It's a "welcome home" and a "thank you for choosing us" all rolled into one.

At PlayNow.com, the sign-up bonus is $100, flat. However, most international online casinos match a player's sign-up deposit 100%. This allows depositors to double their initial deposit and get more bang for their buck. International online casinos generally offer $750, $1,000 or even more in bonuses. A simple $100 is not going to carry you very far in comparison.

In addition, the BCLC imposes a pre-set deposit limit on all initial deposits with a 24-hour delay for increase requests. Also, only verified credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are supported banking options at PlayNow.com. International online casinos offer well over a dozen convenient banking options that include credit cards, bank transfers and a variety of ewallets.

Putting the Game into Gaming

When the entertainment is gaming, it's the thrill of the games that brings the heat. The bigger the selection, the bigger the fun you can have. With 200 different games as the generally accepted industry minimum, Playnow.com unfortunately only offers 100 games to choose from. Many international online casinos offer over 400 games add more weekly. Bored? Never. Heart pounding? Always. PlayNow? Maybe later.

It's important to note that the number of games available is only one factor when comparing casinos. Often it's the sights, sounds, bells, whistles, and graphics that ignite the action. MicroGaming Systems, the leading software developer in the industry, is the provider for all the most popular international online casinos, but does not serve PlayNow. A quick peek at their website explains the difference: unsmiling figures, dark colors on darker backgrounds and an all-around lack-luster atmosphere that doesn't exactly beckon the player to come and win the heart of Lady Luck.

Actually, Lady Luck isn't dealing a winning hand to PlayNow.com either. Instead of adding "come hither" features to its lineup, Sports Action, one of the more interesting features on the PlayNow website, has been discontinued. As noted on the BCLC website, "Sports Action will no longer be available on PlayNow.com as of July 2nd, 2023. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Your favorite Sports Action games are still available at your local lotto retailer." Game over.

Bigger is Better, Security is Mandatory

And last, but certainly not least, a word about security. While the PlayNow.com casino writes, "We use state-of-the-art technology and follow numerous security procedures to protect information contained in your PlayNow.com account," it must be noted that eCOGRA, the independent regulating company of the online casino industry, is not cited as awarding PlayNow their prestigious Seal of Approval. This is important as eCOGRA assures players of the highest standards in casino operations and management.

It's inescapable that in the gambling casino industry, on or off-line, glamour and glitz and razzle-dazzle excitement and all the heart-stopping and throbbing possibilities, still reigns supreme. And just like in Las Vegas, there's the spectacular "STRIP"…and then there's everything else. On-line, there are the spectacular international gambling casinos…and then there's PlayNow.com.