NorthStar Bets Ontario Casino & Sportsbook Review
User Experience
4.4
Game Selection
4.3
Withdrawal Time
4.5
Customer Support
4.1Ontarian Brand, Diverse Sports Markets, Jackpot Slots
Overview NorthStar Bets
Northstar Bets is the new casino and sports betting brand exclusively for players in Ontario. It features a sportsbook, online casino, and live dealer casino. Between the three verticals, the site is always brimming with betting activity.
This review will take a look at everything that this new betting site has to offer. We will analyze the most important aspects of the platform and weigh in on its strong and weak points.
| 🎁 Player’s Choice | Sports Betting |
| 🎲 Games | 200+ |
| ⚖️ Gambling Authority | Government of Ontario: AGCO and iGO |
| 💻 Casino Software | IGT, Big Time Gaming, Playtech (more coming soon) |
| 📅 Established in | 2022 in Ontario |
This operator is licensed and regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and operates under an agreement with iGaming Ontario (iGO). It is presented to you as it has passed Gambleontario.ca evaluation criteria according to our editorial principles. You must be +19 to participate. T&Cs apply; proceed to the operator site to read before taking any action. Play responsibly.
All you Need to Know About NorthStar Bets
NorthStar Bets is the sports betting and online casino product of Ontario’s own NordStar Capital. Despite the NorthStar Bets name not being as universally known as DraftKings and a few others in the Ontario market, it has proven that it can keep up with the big guns. Many punters prefer NorthStar Bets because it is a local product that caters to Canadian sports bettors and online casino enthusiasts. NorthStar Bets Ontario offers much more than sports betting and online casino games. One of the biggest selling points is the overall experience that many sports bettors have enjoyed since the site launched in Ontario in April.
How to Sign Up for NorthStar Bets
Anyone looking to immerse themselves in an exciting sports betting or online casino experience must first open a new account. Be advised that you must be at least 19 and physically in Ontario to use their services. To register, we recommend downloading the mobile app first, but you can also use a desktop or mobile browser. Once you have opened the NorthStar Bets app or gone to the desktop or mobile site, you can follow these steps.
- Select the green “Register” icon at the top of the home page to open the registration form.
- The first part of the form will ask you to provide your full name, date of birth, citizenship, and occupation. Hit the “Next” button.
- The second part of the form requires you to enter your residential address. Hit the “Next” button when finished.
- On the last page, create a password and then enter your mobile number and email address. You also need to acknowledge that you must accept the T&Cs. Thump the “Create Account” link when finished.
- You will have to enter a PIN which you will receive via SMS. This will activate your account.
After you have activated your new account, you will be asked to provide a couple of documents to verify your place of residence, age, and identity. This is required by law and must be done before you can access all of the site’s features, such as withdrawals. In most cases, a copy of your driver’s licence or passport will verify your age and identity, while something like a mobile bill or bank statement should be sufficient to prove where you live.
- Trusted casino operator
- Diverse sports markets
- Good selection of casino games
- Inexperienced casino and sports betting provider
- No mobile app
Casino Games at Northstar Bets
The next stop on our tour of Northstar Bets brings us to the casino. You’ll notice that the slots section is loaded with popular games from top providers like IGT, Playtech, and Big Time Gaming. That means you will always find the trendiest slots like Buffalo Blitz, 88 Fortunes, and Cash Eruption. You will also find an array of Megaways titles like Monopoly Megaways, Bonanza Megaways, and Gold Megaways. If you aren’t familiar with them, Megaways games give you up to 117,649 ways to win. If you want to win big, then you should try some jackpot slots like Age of the Gods, Red Wizard, and King of Olympus.
Slots
NorthStar Bets doesn’t have the most extensive collection of slots in Ontario, but it has more than enough of them to satisfy any slot jockey. You’ll find slots from a variety of top software providers, including Playtech, Big Time Gaming, IGT, and ELK Studios. Try out a popular classic like 88 Fortunes, Cleopatra, and Siberian Storm or play one of the many new titles like Stinkin’ Rich, Skadi’s Hunt, and Montezuma. NorthStar Bets Casino’s slot collection also boasts loads of Megaways slot games along with plenty of jackpot slots like Age of the Gods and Tundra Wolf.
The slot games come in a wide range of themes, and they have an array of features such as wilds, bonus spins, scatters, and mini-games. You’ll find a nice mix of volatilities and RTP to customize your experience. Some of the most popular slots include:
- Buffalo Blitz
- Walking Dead
- Epic Ape
- Wild Linx
- Cash Eruption
Table Games
Admittedly, NorthStar Bets Casino’s library of table games and specialty games is a little lacking. They offer a few variants of blackjack and roulette and a couple of casino poker games. However, that’s about it. They don’t provide baccarat yet, a standard offering at most other online casinos. With that said, it would be safe to assume that such a young site will add many more table games in time.
Live Casino
Fortunately for table game fans, the Northstar live casino comes along to save the day. Well, not the entire day. The live casino features loads of roulette, blackjack, and baccarat variants with a wide range of stake limits. They also feature a nice selection of game-show games like Deal or No Deal Live, Monopoly Live, and Adventures in Wonderland. However, you still won’t find any casino poker games, craps, Sic Bo, or Keno.
Northstar Bets Sportsbook
Every top bookmaker offers a wide range of betting options on a vast selection of sports. Northstar Bets certainly ticks that box as the site offers odds on dozens of sports and events ranging from mainstream sports like soccer and Basketball to niche sports like darts, billiards, and volleyball. Ontarians who open a new account can also cash in on a sweet risk-free bet offer. We’ll be covering that a little further below.
Featured Sports
One indicator that NorthStar Bets caters to Canadians is the bookmaker’s sports coverage. They offer odds on Canadian favourites like baseball, basketball, NASCAR, and soccer. In addition to offering NFL betting, the bookie also has NCAA football and CFL on the menu. They even cover lacrosse, winter sports, cycling, and other smaller-market sports like volleyball, surfing, and Gaelic games. To sum it up, NorthStar Bets offers competitive odds on almost any competition.
If you want to wager on mainstream sports, you’ll find that you can choose from a huge variety of leagues. For instance, soccer bettors can wager on over 100 leagues and events from all over the world. In addition to EPL, MLS, Bundesliga, and other major soccer leagues, you can bet on some of the more obscure leagues operating in Ecuador, Japan, and Kenya. Finally, of course, you can bet on your favourite Canadian Premier League team too.
Betting Options
Northstar Bets is trying to capture the hearts of sports fans. This is illustrated by the sheer number of betting options you can expect to find on a typical Northstar Bet Sportsbook NHL betting menu. Whereas many of the best online bookmakers might give you 50 or so betting opportunities on an NHL game, Northstar Bets Sportsbook normally gives you around 150. This includes same-game parlays, double chance bets, and alternative totals. Of course, this is just the pre-match and futures betting options. We must also consider the many live wagering opportunities that each game presents.
We should point out that this bookmaker offers odds on a variety of eSports such as Call of Duty, CS: GO, and League of Legends. Be it league play or a major event like The International, Northstar Bets online sportsbook puts you in the middle of the action.
Odds
Did we already mention how Northstar Bets is trying to capture the hearts of Ontarians? Well, the site once again tugs at our heartstrings by offering some pretty sweet odds. Generally speaking, you’re looking at an odds margin of between 4.5% and 5%. Sides and totals are pretty much set at -110. To make the odds even more favourable, you can take advantage of bet boosters every day. This adds much more value to those already fantastic odds.
NorthStar Bets User Experience
Those talented developers that created Northstar Bets’ interface deserve a pat on the back. It doesn’t matter if you are in front of a large desktop monitor or a small mobile screen. You’ll have no problem navigating the site. You can trigger the menu to bring up all sports and find the league and event you’re looking for. Make your selection, enter the stake amount, and then wait for the results. In the meantime, you can always head over to Northstar Bets Casino and play a few of your favourite games.
On top of the ultra-simplistic and user-friendly interface, Northstar Bets has some nice features too. The bookmaker made sure to offer same-game parlays and cash out when they launched. Of course, these are standard offerings at most top online bookies. One relatively unique feature at Northstar Bets Sportsbook is their Sports Insight section. You can catch up on the latest news and scores or sift through a wide range of stats and betting tutorials.
Perhaps the most significant absence is a live streaming feature. Instead, you can go to the betting menu and follow the live-action in a window. We’re not knocking the bookmaker’s credibility, but live streaming is one of those features that separates the most outstanding online sportsbooks from the above-average ones. Fortunately, there are plenty of free sports streaming services that can fill the void.
Mobile Experience
NorthStar Bets is only a few months in operation, so there is no mobile app developed yet. However, you can visit the website and play on your mobile device. The platform is optimized for smaller screens, but searching for a game or placing a bet can still be tedious.
Deposits and Withdrawals
Saying that the number of payment options is lacking might be a bit of an understatement. As of this writing, the Northstar Bets platform accepts the following payment methods:
- Visa Credit/Debit Card
- Mastercard Credit/Debit Card
- iDebit
- Interac
Deposit Methods
Adding a few more Canadian-friendly options would boost our opinion of the site. When you consider how many payment solutions the top dogs offer, Northstar Bets’ selection is very limited indeed. Nevertheless, most Ontarians already use some of these options, making it easy for them to conduct casino deposits and withdrawals.
| Deposit Method | Min. Deposit | Max. Deposit | Deposit Time |
| VISA/MasterCard | C$10 | N/A | Up to 10 Minutes |
| Interac e-Transfer | C$10 | N/A | Up to 10 Minutes |
| iDebit | C$10 | N/A | Up to 10 Minutes |
Withdrawal Methods
| Withdrawal Method | Min. Withdrawal | Max. Withdrawal | Withdrawal Time |
| Visa/Mastercard | C$10 | N/A | 3 – 5 Business Days |
| Interac e-Transfer | C$10 | N/A | 3 – 5 Business Days |
| iDebit | C$10 | N/A | 3 – 5 Business Days |
We should warn you that you have to complete the verification process if you plan on cashing out your winnings. This process is required by law, and all reputable gambling sites require it. So do most payment providers, for that matter. All you need to do is upload digital copies of a couple of documents. You only have to do it once, and then you can withdraw as many times as you like.
Withdrawal Speed
Most available withdrawal banking options require up to 5 business days to appear on your bank account. This is normal at most online casinos in Ontario. However, if NorthStar Bets adds e-wallet options to its available payment methods, the waiting time could be reduced to 24 hours.
Customer Support
The friendly customer service team is available seven days a week from 8:00 to 1:00. We usually recommend to our readers to take a look at the ‘Help Centre’ page, where you can find general information about your account, responsible gaming, deposits, and withdrawals.
You can see all the communication channels through the ‘Contact Us’ page and speak to a NorthStar Bets customer representative. The platform even offers a ‘Customer Complaints Process’ in case a dispute arises, which is something that we don’t see at many online casinos.
| support@northstarbets.ca | |
| ☎️ Toll-Free Number | +1 (855) 218-7827 |
| 📞 Helpline | +1 (855) 218-7827 |
| 💬 Live Chat | Available from 8:00 – 1:00 |
| ⭕ FAQs/Contact form | Available |
Trustworthiness of NorthStar Bets
Although launched recently, NorthStar Bets is backed by a well-established Canadian media company and news outlet, NorthStar Gaming which has been active for 128 years. NorthStar Bets is committed to providing a responsible gaming experience for all individuals who are 19 years of age and older and residing in Ontario. This website is authorized, licensed, and regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
NorthStar Bets History
Northstar Bets is one of the few purely Canadian-born online casinos and sportsbooks.
It is owned by a Canadian media business, NorthStar Gaming. While it has to compete with big names of the iGaming industry that are now licensed and legally operating in Ontario, it does not fall short of player experience, games, or safety standards. In such a short time, it has managed to build a highly competitive sportsbook and casino. The primary goal of NorthStar Bets is to offer Ontario players the most entertaining and secure casino and sports betting experience.
NorthStar Bets Licence
With legal and regulated online gambling up and running in Ontario, residents have become familiar with several well-known international brands. However, they have also been introduced to a few home-grown operators quickly making names for themselves in one of the most competitive markets in the world. One such site is Northstar Bets. Owned and operated by a good ol’ Canadian company called Northstar Gaming, Northstar Bets is licensed and regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.
NorthStar Bets Safety
NorthStar Bets offers a secure casino and sportsbook choice for Ontarians. Besides being granted the iGaming Ontario licence, it also protects players by applying time-out and self-exclusion measures for individuals on the verge of gambling addiction. It also encourages people with gambling issues to contact Connex Ontario at 1-866-531-2600.
Summary
Northstar Bets’ future looks bright. It is a legit operator getting a chance to shine in a new legal online gambling market. It’s abundantly clear that Northstar Bets focuses on its sportsbook. The product is simply fantastic. You’ve got a full spectrum of sports and betting markets to choose from, and the odds are beyond competitive.
A warm welcome awaits you with a free bet valued at up to $250. On the flip side, the online casino will be fine for some, but its lack of diversity will be problematic for others. That said, it would be reasonable to assume that the casino will build its library in due time.
We have no issues with Northstar Bets’ credibility. It is a solid company that has all of the relevant credentials. We also think very highly of the sportsbook. The biggest downside is the lack of variety. In the end, Northstar Bets is a great option for sports bettors who may want to try some casino games for a change of pace.
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FAQs
While you can use the site’s responsible gambling tools to set your own limits, the default minimum deposit amount is set at C$10.
The maximum wager amount varies depending on the sport and any restrictions you have placed on your account. However, the maximum amount you can win in a day is C$500,000.
On the casino side, the average RTP is about 96.4%. Sports bettors can expect an average odds margin of around 5%. Of course, it gets a little higher if you wager on smaller-market sports.
NorthStar Bets is a Canadian brand licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The platform is obliged to put in place player identity checks (KYC) and anti-money laundering policies. Players can rest assured that they will have a pleasant experience at NorthStar Bets.
At the moment, you can only use the website version when playing on mobile. However, it is estimated that a native mobile app will soon be introduced for NorthStar Bets players in Ontario.
Most payment methods, such as bank transfers and credit cards, will require up to 5 business days. On the other hand, e-wallets need up to 48 hours the most.
Dominic is an experienced gambling industry professional of well over a decade across a variety of operational and product roles. He has launched retail sportsbooks and online wagering sites for gaming giants across Africa and Southeast Asia. Much of his content focuses on the North American iGaming scene, specifically the newly licensed Ontarian market, including casino & sportsbook reviews and local gambling laws.
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