Lying between Burnaby and Surrey, New Westminster is known as one of the best cities in Canada to live in.
Great local amenities, strong education institutions and a close-knit community all contribute to this sentiment. On the entertainment front, there is also a rich range of theatre productions, live music, comedy clubs and nightlife, including Starlight Casino. While there are enough options to keep tourists and locals alike busy, there is potentially a new line of entertainment coming to New Westminster and the rest of British Columbia that will not be found in tourist guides.
Take a trip to the virtual casino
While the Starlight Casino sign still shines bright, a new form of casino play is currently taking not just Canada, but the rest of the world by storm.
The topic of online casinos has been getting louder ever since Ontario became the first province in Canada to legalize online casino activities. Many new online casino operators launched within weeks of the legislation being passed, transforming the games locals can find in Starlight Casino, such as slots, poker, blackjack, baccarat, craps and roulette, into digital formats, like the slots at Cloudbet casino.
Cloudbet is one example of the many reputable online casinos that are housing these games, altering the landscape of the casino industry and giving rise to the online casino movement.
The rise of online casino play in Ontario can be summarized by the following statistics gathered by CasinoBeats:
- CAD$2.4 billion revenue from 2023-2024 financial year
- 71.4% increase from April 2023
- 2 million+ active accounts on online gambling websites
- 70+ licensed online gambling providers
Online advantages
The rapid rise of the online casino industry in Ontario is due to a couple of factors.
Firstly, playing casino games in a new interactive and animated form is a novelty, one that has only gained more popularity over the past two years. Secondly, there’s the convenience factor as online casino operators can be accessed from the comfort of one’s home.
Furthermore, the players old and new have remarked that there are more bonuses available in online casinos than in land-based casinos, such as Starlight.
Playing along with the digital movement
Another reason so many Canadians are taking to the online version of casino play is the ability to access virtual gaming floors whenever and wherever they are. As well, there are greater capabilities to produce games or representations in smart phone app form, as well as high quality smartphone friendly versions on Safari. With people using smartphones more than ever, online entertainment options are expanding rapidly.
When will virtual casinos open their doors to New Westminster?
Right now, there is no definite decision on whether British Columbia will follow the lead of Ontario in legalizing and regulating online gambling. However, the facts and figures cannot be ignored. And while there are other challenges, namely gambling addiction and irresponsible advertising, the online casino movement across the world has captured millions. Locals in New Westminster might be joining those ranks in the very near future.
DISCLAIMER: The information presented on this page/site is intended for entertainment purposes only. Please be aware that gambling entails inherent risks, and it's crucial to acknowledge this when utilizing online gambling platforms.
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