Fair or Fraudulent—Can a Casino Refuse To Pay Out, and How To Tackle the Situation?

The rush of winning big at an online casino can quickly fade away if the operator refuses to pay. In most cases, the casinos cite their terms and conditions to justify their decision—but winners have been refused withdrawals for something as absurd as “a technical error.”

So, can a casino refuse to pay out winnings? Yes, but only within reason. As a player, you should know the difference between legit grounds and unacceptable excuses.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the following:

1. When can a casino not pay you?
2. How to find reliable online casinos 
3. What to do if an online casino won’t pay

We’ll also present some of Canada’s most trustworthy online casinos, known for their fast and hassle-free payout policies.

An Online Casino Refusing To Pay—5 Valid Reasons

The global online gambling sector is worth over $63 billion. A large part of the industry’s profits rides on collecting more deposits than payouts. To keep the odds fair and prevent player abuse, casinos must follow the protocols laid down by relevant licensing authorities and auditing bodies.

Licenced casinos draw solid terms and conditions within guidelines set by governing authorities. The document holds the key to when a casino can refuse to allow withdrawals.

Here are five justifiable reasons why an online casino refuses to pay out:

1. Incomplete wagering requirements—Wagering or playthrough conditions are attached to casino campaigns, ensuring players don’t misuse the operator’s services. A player must bet or wager a sum equal to a certain multiple of the deposit or casino money. Say, you want to withdraw $5, and the playthrough rate is 20x—you have to wager $5*20, i.e., $100 on eligible games to qualify
2. Incompatible withdrawal amount—Every casino has limits for minimum and maximum withdrawals. Requests outside the casino’s range are automatically rejected
3. Unacceptable/indeterminable source of funds—Casinos must adhere to strict anti-money laundering laws, so players may be asked to provide a legit source of funds when requested. That’s why deposits made with someone else’s bank account are often invalidated
4. Identity verification issues—Players located in Canada can be denied payments due to issues like minor status or unverifiable home address
5. Fraudulent activities—Casinos may flag user accounts and refuse payments upon discovering unethical activities like creating duplicate accounts or cheating

How To Find Casinos With Reliable Payout Systems

Reading and understanding casino terms isn’t the only thing that prevents payment hassles. Hundreds of online real-money gaming websites pop up every year, and it’s important to know which ones are licenced and reputable. It’s not uncommon for shady casinos to use dishonest tactics to delay or refuse payments.

Before playing at a casino, ensure that it:

• Is licenced to operate under your jurisdiction
• Has transparent and manageable wagering requirements
• Pays out within a reasonable window (1–10 days)
• Has a human-backed customer support

Going through customer reviews is another way to check whether a casino has a history of clean payouts. If most complaints are about payment grievances that make no sense, it’s likely the establishment tries to avoid giving actual money to players.

Keep in mind that the payment method impacts your transaction. While phone-based payments and net banking are popular for casino deposits, certain Canadian banks may freeze your account upon noticing entries they deem inappropriate.

What To Do if an Online Casino Won’t Pay Despite Meeting Terms and Conditions

Casinos blocking payments for reasons beyond terms-and-conditions issues require close attention from the player. If you notice an establishment stalling payments or citing lame excuses, consider the following remedial actions:

1. Contact customer service—A casino’s customer service is the first option if you want to claim your money without things getting messy. If talking to a customer executive doesn’t feel right or welcoming, we recommend writing a formal and carefully worded email query citing proof (you can add screenshots) that you have met the terms and conditions
2. Reach out to a governing body—Licensing and regulatory authorities take casino complaints seriously, as they can bring any underhanded operations to light. You can file an official complaint to authorities like:
   1. iGaming Ontario (iGO)
   2. Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)
   3. Canadian Gaming Association (CGA)
3. File a complaint on a reputable casino forum—You can also share your grievances on a respected online forum. Casino representatives try not to have unresolved complaints on these platforms, as that can lead to the establishment getting blacklisted. You can get a similar response on social media, provided your message can garner enough attention

Many players have gone to court or dispute resolution bodies for payouts refused due to technical errors, although the decision doesn’t usually go in their favour. Keep in mind that losing constantly or not getting a refund on sunk deposits are not valid grounds for filing a complaint as they’re the basic essence of gambling activities.

Top 7 Casinos for Stress-Free Withdrawals

We have vetted seven reputable casinos for you. Our picks tick the boxes in terms of transparent terms and honest payout policies. You’ll find concise reviews of each after the following table:

#1 PlayOJO—The Wager-Free Casino With No Withdrawal Limits

PlayOJO is operated by SkillOnNet, one of the largest casino software providers globally. The website activities are regulated by the Alcohol Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). You can complete transactions with many Canadian-friendly payment methods, including Jeton, AstroPay, ecoPayz, and UPI. The platform accepts all Mastercard and Visa cards, including prepaid ones.

PlayOJO is one of the best payout casinos on the market because of its no-wager policy. Casino money and subsequent winnings are free from playthrough requirements. Withdraw as much or as little as you like! For withdrawals less than $5, the casino reserves the right to send a check instead. Payout takes 1–7 days to process.

PlayOJO maintains a neat log of a player’s deposits and withdrawals. Players typically need to provide the following info to be eligible for payments:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Address (Country+State+Zip code+Street name+City)
• Mobile number
• Email
• Occupation (should be descriptive)

The casino has a huge selection of live games, card games, jackpots, and slots. Check out our detailed review for more info.

#2 Ruby Fortune—The Safest Casino With 24/7 Customer Support

Launched in 2003, Ruby Fortune is one of the longest-operating global casinos. The platform is eCOGRA-certified and ensures fair play and transaction safety. Ruby Fortune allows deposits via all locally popular options, although withdrawals are limited to a few methods only. Here’s what to expect:

You need a minimum balance of $50 to place a withdrawal request. If there are no issues, withdrawals are processed within two days, which is relatively fast for the casino industry. The platform offers a 24/7 live chat service to handle user queries or payment complications.

The website software can detect irregular play and block unfair withdrawal claims. Read our full review here.

Ruby Fortune is an in-demand casino in the Microgaming network but hosts live dealer, video poker, table, and slot games from other providers. The gameplay is glitch-free across desktop and PC browsers thanks to HTML5 tech.

#3 Casumo—An Award-Winning Casino With the Fastest Payouts

Casumo has been in business since 2012 and boasts one of the fastest withdrawal timelines on our list. The platform is highly reputable as it typically reviews and processes payments within a few hours, although the initial player verification can be slow. The process requires the submission of the following documents:

• Government-issued photo ID
• Proof of address
• Additional supporting documents (related to funding source and account ownership)

Casumo has received numerous awards for excellent conduct as an online casino, so you can trust it to handle gaming activities and payments fairly. The casino supports all local payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and web wallets. Some Visa cards may not be supported in specific jurisdictions.

At Casumo, you get dedicated portals for slot, live casino, and sports betting activities. The gameplay is smooth, and professional dealers enhance the experience for live options. Check out our comprehensive review for more insight.

#4 Lucky Days—For Easy-To-Track Playthrough Requirements 

Lucky Days is a relatively new casino on the Canadian scene and is operated by Raging Rhino NV, a Curacao-based company. The website facilitates all CA-friendly payment methods, including iDebit, Instadebit, Paysafecard, and bank transfers. While Lucky Days supports all digital wallets, it excludes Skrill deposits—which some users see as a drawback.

Lucky Days has 2,500+ games distributed across categories like slots, jackpots, and live games. Some titles may be unavailable in certain jurisdictions due to provider policies. The visually pleasing, fully-functional interface is designed with mobile users in mind. Click here to go through our full-length review.

An excellent feature of Lucky Days is the option to track your playthrough progression. All you have to do is go to the Cashier tab to get more info about your active wagering conditions. The withdrawal process takes up to five days.

Lucky Days has 24/7 live chat support, although the response time isn’t instant during peak business hours.

#5 Spin Casino—Enjoy Super High Daily Withdrawal Limit!

Spin Casino was launched in 2019 but has a solid reputation as it is operated by the same company as the veteran Ruby Fortune. The casino enables withdrawals with multiple methods, such as Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, Neteller, Trustly, Skrill, ecoPayz, GiroPay, and Rapid Transfer. Users love the website’s generous daily withdrawal limit of $10,000, which is rare for casinos operating in Canada.

Spin Casino has over 550 casino games—whether you like relaxed slots or the thrill of live roulette and baccarat, the platform delivers something for every taste. You can enjoy a selection of Microgaming progressive slots with over $35 million on the line! Learn more about the overall experience from our Spin Casino review.

Spin Casino usually handles payments within 48 hours and uses digital encryption technology to keep transactions safe.

#6 PokerStars Casino—Play on the Go With Dedicated Mobile Apps

PokerStars Casino is a part of the PokerStars.com network. The brand is one of the biggest real-money poker providers, and its establishments enjoy a top-dog reputation in North American circles.

PokerStars Casino games can be accessed on desktops and mobile browsers. Mobile users can also download optimized apps that offer scaled graphics and transitions. Refer to our extended review here.

The website caters to casino players and sports bettors. Poker enthusiasts can go for live poker or tournaments—the sheer variety is incredible! Some of the hot slot options include Jack Hammer 2, Medusa, and Big Bad Wolf. The sports betting category is limited, but you get local favourites like football and ice hockey.

As part of its anti-fraud policy, PokerStars Casino automatically credits withdrawals to the last deposit method used, but you may have to specify an alternate method if you used Mastercard, Apple Pay, Visa, or Paysafecard.

#7 Knightslots—Offers Structured Data Safety and Confidentiality 

Established in 2020, Knightslots is one of the newer casinos on our list. Like PlayOJO, the platform is operated by SkillOnNet. The establishment has developed a stellar reputation thanks to its watertight on-site safety and data protection standards. Knightslots also gives fairness a priority by auditing games at regular intervals. The available payment methods for deposits and withdrawals include:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• ecoPayz
• AstroPay
• Jeton
• Paysafecard
• MuchBetter
• Interac

Knightslots processes payments under $5,000 within two days, but larger payouts can take a couple more days due to extra regulatory guidelines. You can get the complete picture of the payment logistics from our Knightslots review.

The platform currently has 2,900 games (slots, live dealer, table games, etc.), although about 400 titles are not accessible on the mobile version. Knightslots has a simple, medieval-themed design and a straightforward interface. Many titles have a FREE PLAY option, so you can test the waters or verify RTPs before signing up!