$1, $5 and $10 deposit casinos in Canada

A C$1 deposit is usually tied to one specific offer, often a set of bonus spins on a named slot. Each spin has a fixed value, and anything you win from the spins is bonus money with its own wagering, a time limit and a cap on what you can cash out.

Before you pay C$1, check:

• Whether C$1 is the casino's normal minimum or applies only to this offer.
• Which payment methods accept C$1. Many methods have a higher floor.
• The wagering on spin winnings, the maximum cashout and how long you have.
• Whether the C$1 offer is the first step of a package that asks for bigger deposits later.

C$5 sits between the token offers and the standard welcome bonus. At some casinos it's the normal minimum for every deposit. At others it unlocks a bonus spins offer like the C$1 deals, usually with more spins. Check that your payment method accepts C$5: card and bank transfer minimums are often set higher than the casino's lowest advertised amount.

At many casinos, C$10 is where the standard welcome offer starts. That's usually a deposit bonus that matches part or all of what you pay in, sometimes with bonus spins on top. Some casinos also set C$10 as the minimum for e-Transfer or card deposits. A larger deposit puts more of your own money at risk, so move up a tier only if the terms are better and the amount fits your budget.

The tiers differ in what they unlock and what you should watch for. This is a general guide; each casino's own terms are in the table above.

You can also deposit a small amount without taking any offer. That keeps your money as cash you can withdraw once you reach the minimum withdrawal, with no wagering attached.

Wagering is how much you must bet before bonus money becomes cash you can withdraw. Here is a C$10 deposit bonus worked through. The figures are an example, not any casino's offer.

On average, betting C$350 on a game that returns 96% costs about C$14, which is more than the C$10 bonus. That's an average over a very large number of bets, and any one session can go better or worse. If the 35x applies to the deposit plus bonus, you'd need C$700 in bets and the average cost doubles to about C$28.

Three more terms change the sum: game contribution (table games often count for less than slots), the maximum bet allowed while wagering, and the time limit. For bonus spins, apply the same maths to the spin winnings. C$3 of winnings with 50x wagering means C$150 in bets, which costs about C$6 on average at 96% RTP.

The smallest amount you can deposit and the smallest you can withdraw are separate rules. A casino might take C$5 but not pay out less than C$20, so a small balance stays in your account until it reaches that level or is spent. Check these before you deposit:

• The minimum withdrawal for the method you'll use.
• The maximum cashout on bonus winnings. If it's lower than the minimum withdrawal, that bonus win can't be cashed out on its own.
• Any withdrawal fee, which takes a bigger share of a small payout.
• ID checks, which apply to a C$20 withdrawal just as they do to a C$2,000 one.

For how long payouts take and what slows them, see casino payout times.

The casino's lowest deposit and your payment method's lowest deposit aren't always the same. When they differ, the higher one applies.

• Interac e-Transfer. The casino sets the minimum, not Interac, and it can be higher than the headline amount. It also pays out, so you can use one method both ways. See Interac casinos.
• Bank transfer services. Services such as iDebit connect to your online banking. Minimums vary by casino.
• Debit and credit cards. The casino sets the minimum, and your card issuer may decline gambling payments.
• E-wallets. Check whether the casino excludes e-wallet deposits from its bonus offers. Some do.
• Prepaid vouchers. You can deposit only what the voucher holds, and vouchers can't be used to withdraw.

Some offers exclude certain methods, so a deposit made the wrong way may not trigger the bonus. The offer terms list any excluded methods.

Low minimums make it easy to deposit again and again. Decide your total for the week before you start, and set it as a deposit limit in your account so the casino enforces it for you. If you notice you're topping up to win back a loss, stop for the day. Our gambling help page lists free, confidential helplines.