The online casino sector in Canada is one of the fastest growing in the world with some least 19 million Canadians gambling regularly. In fact, the country of nearly 40 million people is currently ranked #8 world-wide in online gaming in 2020. Many Canadians play abroad in offshore casinos spending $4 billion last year, compared with $17 billion spent locally.
At home, the gaming sector employs nearly 100,000 people and is a major contributor to the economy throughout Canada, growing at an average rate of 1.1% since 2015. The impact of COVID and seen an increasing number of players seeking to play online with many Canadians flocking to sites like https://www.canadacasino.ca/ hoping to win big on digital slot machines and roulette wheels.
What makes Canada such a thriving hub for online casino action and why do Canadians enjoy these games so much? Here are just a few key factors that have contributed to the rapid growth of the online gaming industry in Canada.
In order for any kind of gambling to prosper, anywhere in the world, the rules and regulations around it need to be firm and clear, but also relatively relaxed, allowing casinos to operate and players to play, while also providing the necessary protections for both parties. Canada's legal situation regarding online casinos strikes a good balance; especially for players.
While rules can vary from province to province, Canadians are mostly able to log on and gamble online freely, without any worries of or prosecution or sanctions. What's more, winnings in Canada aren’t taxed, unless you're a professional gambler, so this also encourages Canadians to play games for money on a casual basis and stress-free.
Another big reason why so many Canadians are switching to online casinos is just how convenient they are to use, especially when it comes to making payments and withdrawing winnings. In certain parts of the world, there are strict restrictions in place in terms of how users can make payments, but in Canada, the options are almost limitless. From classic card payments with the likes of MasterCard and Visa to digital payments via PayPal and Neteller and even cryptocurrency payments like Bitcoin too, online Canadian players at the best Internet casinos can choose almost any kind of payment gateway that works for them. This makes it a lot easier and simpler to make deposits with the minimum of fuss and paperwork.
The sheer variety of different games to choose from is perhaps one of the biggest pulls for the online casino industry – and a big part of its appeal across Canada. Because the industry is so successful, there are literally hundreds of different sites to try out and thousands of possible games to play. This means that the average player can try something new every day and never get bored.
From fun video game themed slot machines to live roulette games with real dealers, the options are never-ending. You can sign up to any casino site or app and find so many different games to play, within a few minutes. It's so easy to find games that appeal to your specific tastes and preferences, as well as broadening your horizons whenever you like with totally new experiences.
It's clear to see that the online casino industry shows no signs of slowing down in its growth and expansion, and Canada is at the forefront of this global shift away from bricks and mortar spaces and into the digital world of virtual slots and pixelated poker. These are just some of the main reasons why Canadians have taken such a liking to gambling online.
Along with expanding innovations in technology, the way people prefer to entertain themselves has changed many times over the years. And recently, the gaming industry has been blooming around the world.
Canada has risen to be one of the leaders in the video game industry. Not only that, but the gaming industry has proven to impact the Canadian economy significantly.
After the United States and Japan, Canada is the third-largest video game industry when it comes to economic impact and the employment rate. Most video game developers have established studios in Ontario, Quebec, and Montreal, with 692 video game companies identified in 2019, which is a 16% increase since 2017. The professions in technology fields, including video game programming, have become increasingly popular.
According to the ESAC statistics, in 2019, the video game industry in Canada contributed around $4.5 billion to the economy, challenging the film and television contributions. Canadians enjoy playing a wide range of online games, including multiplayer online battle arenas and online casino and slot games, with JackpotCity online casino filling the gap with a big array of games to meet the demand.
What's more, reports confirm that around 64% of the Canadian population has identified themselves as gamers, with different device and game type preferences.
One of the main reasons why video games became popular in the first place is the incredibly easy access. While years ago, you would have needed to purchase games in stores, many are now free to play online. Advanced technology allows gamers to play them on mobile devices, which gives them the freedom to do it whenever and wherever they like.
An extensive selection of genres and types makes it hard to get bored of gaming. There are single-player and multiplayer options, simple puzzle and adventure games that can be downloaded on the phone, more complex strategy games, online casino games, and much more. And as the industry is getting increasingly bigger, developers are required to come up with new concepts to meet new demands.
With the increasing popularity of eSports leagues, tournaments and the gamers themselves often rising to celebrity status, many commercial brands turned to sponsoring eSports individual players and teams, allowing them to make a good living off it.
Online casino games are also becoming more and more popular in Canada with excellent cash prizes being offered as people would always enjoy taking a chance when the possible outcome is considered to be worth it.
Many gamers enjoy being part of the community that comes with gaming. Making friends with other players gives an opportunity to discuss strategies and experiences, and play games with others. In many games, it's also possible to track results and progress with your friends and play with or against them, which makes it more fun.
The online gaming world in Canada is in constant development. With so many accessible budget-friendly options, it is easy to see why the Canadian gaming market has been growing and will continue to do so.
Diablo 3 has gone down in history as one of the most popular video games of all time. It set new records by selling more than 3.5 million copies in the first 24 hours of release, and total sales now number in the tens of millions. It is all the more perplexing, then, that such a legendary game has never had an official mobile version.
Diablo Immortal was announced back in 2018 but remains in the development stage and we can only guess whether it will finally make an appearance this year. In the meantime, we have been trawling the app store, Google Play and even the iGaming platforms to find some alternative mobile games with that Diablo vibe that you can play on your iOS or Android device right now.
This classic hack 'n' slash first saw light of day on the Nintendo Switch, and as far as the basic gameplay and combat style goes, the similarities with Diablo are plain to see. It's non-stop action, and while the story arc is neither as immersive nor as sophisticated as Diablo, it's a great game for short periods of play, and the entire story will keep you busy for a good 15 hours. It's a worthy alternative if arcade-style action is what really draws you to the game.
RPG-style slot games have become something of a craze in iGaming over the past year or so, and if you scroll through the options at sites like Comeon casino, you will find several to choose from. One that is definitely worth a look is this 2020 release from Evoplay Entertainment. For one thing, it is truly designed for mobile play and for another, it does more than simply place themed symbols on the reels. This game allows you to follow your Avatar through multiple 3D levels, battling various adversaries. But here, victories can add real money to your bankroll.
The set-up of adopting your choice of character, magi, warrior or bounty hunter, and taking up your weapon of choice will certainly have a ring of familiarity to Diablo players. The gameplay and production values are also top-notch, and some of the situations you find yourself in give a feeling of genuine suspense. Best of all, Eternium is free to install, although you need to be ready to make some in-app purchases to fully explore all aspects of the game.
Looking for something a little less intense? This fun and completely free mobile game lets you choose between stand alone challenges or an endless quest mode. Yes, the graphics look more Disney than terrifying, but that is all part of the game's charm. It's worth noting that this one can also be played offline, and seems to still work effectively if you have a patchy internet connection.
Any of these four games will provide a rich source of entertainment for Diablo players. If and when Diablo Immortal finally arrives, it will be interesting to see how it compares.
Blizzard launched Diablo III's Season 22 (Shades of the Nephalem) at the end of November. Here we review the features in this update, particularly the Haedrig's Gift updates, and give some tips on how to best utilize the additional features available in Season 22.
Nephalem, can you sense it? Everywhere you look, the remnants of a forgotten past are in wait. Waiting for the chance to focus their strength one more time to help you defeat the demons from hell. Are you brave enough to accept the help of these souls? The Shades of the Nephalem await....
We think the biggest feature in Season 22 is that triggering a Shrine or Pylon will generate a shadow clone of your class. The clone's power will last for a minute or until it is killed and will scale with your character.
You can see an example of the spawning process in the animated GIF below.
Also, in Season 22, Kanai's Cube there's a 4th slot. You have the choice of any power for this additional slot, but it won't stack with powers from your other slots.
Since the start of Season 17, Blizzard started making rewards from previous Seasons available to players who might not have utilized them the first time they were introduced. In Season 22, some cosmetic rewards from Season 10 are available once again. This means you can earn Season 10 favorites such as Head and Shoulder slots (see the left hand side of the image below) of the exclusive Conqueror Set. Also, you can earn the Black Soulstone-themed portraits and the scholarly Loremaster pennant (right hand side in the image below) first seen in Season 10, and now available in Season 22.
Blizzard are also rewarding players with End of Journey Rewards, which were first introduced in Season 17 - the Season of Nightmares. . In this season, new End of Journey rewards are available, with two new cosmetic prizes for those who complete the Season journey from start to finish. If you complete the Season 22 Guardian Journey (let us know if you do) you will win the Book of Cain pet and the Lost Civilization Portrait Frame (see the image below).
If you've been working hard killing demons in the past and have reached the level of Conqueror in each previous season journey, you will have acquired a few additional stash tabs, which are helpful for storing bounty. In Shades of the Nephalem, you can earn and extra tab for each Season by completing the Conqueror level, but up to a maximum of five tabs:
As you probably know, Seasonal Conquests are additional goals you can complete as part of your Season Journey. To earn all the cosmetic rewards in Season 22, you'll need to complete at least three of the Conquests below. The challenges available in Season 22 include:
Finally, the Class Sets rewarded for completing certain chapters in the Season Journey courtesy of Haedrig's Gift have rotated once more. We've listed the available Sets below. For those new to Seasons, here's how it works:
Completing Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of the Season Journey will reward you with three of Haedrig's Gifts. These contain a few pieces from one of your Class Sets. Players can only unlock one Class Set in this manner per Season across Hardcore and Non-Hardcore, so choose wisely!
The set you receive depends on the class of the character you're playing when you open each Haedrig's Gift. To collect a full Class Set, you'll need to open all three on the same character. For the first time in Season 22, Haedrig's Gift will grant the all-new class sets introduced in the three previous Seasons:
Here are the sets granted by Haedrig's Gift:
Below you will find the patch notes for the upcoming update for Diablo III, Patch 2.6.10.
Note: All changes apply to all versions of Diablo III, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC unless otherwise indicated.
We love Blizzards accompanying text; "The shadows, they are moving, and they seem... animated. It is as though they have a will of their own. Whatever this trickery is, perhaps you can use it to your advantage. Let's see what the demons say when you fight side by side with your own shadow!"
Shadows of the Past: Activating a Shrine/Pylon will spawn in a shadow clone of your class. This clone will randomly have 1 out of 3 predetermined builds. This clone's power will scale with your character and will last for 1 minute or if your character dies. See below for the shadow clone variations that can spawn when activating.
Witch Doctor
Build Variation 1 | Build Variation 2 | Build Variation 3 |
Grasp of the Dead - Rain of Corpses | Wall of Death - Fire Wall | Haunt - Poisoned Spirit |
Piranhas - Zombie Piranhas | Firebomb - Flash Fire | Spirit Barrage - The Spirit is Willing |
Zombie Charger - Zombie Bears | Acid Cloud - Acid Rain | Wall of Death - Communing with Spirits |
Corpse Spiders - Medusa Spiders | Piranhas - Zombie Piranhas | Piranhas - Zombie Piranhas |
Locust Swarm - Diseased Swarm | Zombie Charger - Explosive Beast | Acid Cloud - Slow Burn |
Acid Cloud - Kiss of Death | Spirit Barrage - Well of Souls | Grasp of the dead - Unbreakable Grasp |
Wizard
Build Variation 1 | Build Variation 2 | Build Variation 3 |
Arcane Orb - Frozen Orb | Meteor - Molten Impact | Arcane Orb - Obliteration |
Frost Nova - Frozen Mist | Arcane Orb - Scorch | Disintegrate - Volatility |
Blizzard - Unrelenting Storm | Explosive Blast - Short Fuse | Wave of Force - Debilitating Force |
Energy Twister - Raging Storm | Blizzard - Apocalypse | Slow Time - Exhaustion |
Explosive Blast - Obliterate | Wave of Force - Heat Wave | Energy Twister - Raging Storm |
Ray of Frost - Black Ice | Disintegrate - Convergence | Meteor - Star Pact |
Barbarian
Build Variation 1 | Build Variation 2 | Build Variation 3 |
Seismic Slam - Rumble | Battle Rage - Marauder's Rage | Battle Rage - Ferocity |
Threatening Shout - Falter | Threatening Shout - Falter | Threatening Shout - Falter |
Avalanche - Volcano | Wrath of The Berserker - Insanity | Leap - Launch |
Earthquake - Molten Fury | Sprint - Run Like the Wind | Wrath of The Berserker - Insanity |
Wrath of The Berserker - Insanity | Whirlwind - Dust Devils | Bash - Pulverize |
Ancient Spear - Boulder Toss | Rend - Lacerate | Hammer of The Ancients - Rolling Thunder |
Monk
Build Variation 1 | Build Variation 2 | Build Variation 3 |
Lashing Tail Kick - Sweeping Armada | Fists of Thunder - Static Charge | Exploding Palm - Essence Burn |
Seven-Sided Strike - Fulminating Onslaught | Way of the Hundred Fists - Hands of Lightning | Seven-Sided Strike - Sudden Assault |
Inner Sanctuary - Intervene | Crippling Wave - Concussion | Lashing Tail Kick - Spinning Flame Kick |
Epiphany - Soothing Mist | Seven-Sided Strike - Incinerate | Sweeping Wind - Fire Storm |
Breath of Heaven - Circle of Scorn | Wave of Light - Pillar of the Ancients | Wave of Light - Explosive Light |
Wave of Light - Empowered Wave | Sweeping Wind - Cyclone | Epiphany - Inner Fire |
Necromancer
Build Variation 1 | Build Variation 2 | Build Variation 3 |
Land of the Dead - Plaguelands | Land of the Dead - Plaguelands | Land of the Dead - Plaguelands |
Frailty - Early Grave | Frailty - Early Grave | Frailty - Early Grave |
Army of the Dead - Dead Storm | Army of the Dead - Blighted Grasp | Corpse Lance - Blood Lance |
Corpse Explosion - Final Embrace | Corpse Lance - Ricochet | Bone Spear - Shatter |
Bone Spear - Blood Spear | Bone Spear - Blighted Marrow | Death Nova - Bone Nova |
Death Nova - Blood Nova | Death Nova - Blight |
Demon Hunter
Build Variation 1 | Build Variation 2 | Build Variation 3 |
Marked for Death - Valley of Death | Marked for Death - Valley of Death | Marked for Death - Valley of Death |
Caltrops - Jagged Spikes | Rain Of Vengeance - Dark Cloud | Rain Of Vengeance - Shade |
Fan of Knives - Assassin's Knives | Cluster Arrow - Shooting Stars | Cluster Arrow - Maelstrom |
Chakram - Twin Chakrams | Multishot - Arsenal | Impale - Overpenetration |
Vengeance - Side Cannons | Vengeance - Personal Mortar | Chakram - Serpentine |
Impale - Ricochet | Elemental Arrow - Immolation arrow | Elemental Arrow - Frost Arrow |
Crusader
Build Variation 1 | Build Variation 2 | Build Variation 3 |
Akarat's Champion - Fire Starter | Akarat's Champion - Hasteful | Akarat's Champion - Rally |
Falling Sword - Superheated | Iron Skin - Flash | Falling Sword - Rapid Descent |
Sweep Attack - Blazing Sweep | Blessed Shield - Shattering Throw | Heaven's Fury - Split Fury |
Consecration - Shattered Ground | Consecration - Bathed in Light | Fist of the Heavens - Retribution |
Bombardment - Annihilate | Blessed Hammer - Limitless | Iron Skin - Explosive Skin |
Condemn - Reciprocate | Condemn - Unleashed | Condemn - Shattering Explosion |
Kanai's Cube: As mentioned, Kanai's Cube has a fourth slot this season. This fourth slot offers the choices of the first 3 slots but will not stack with any of them. Blizzard say that the idea is to provide players with creative flexibility to their character builds.
General
Item Changes
Video games have a very huge influence on popular culture. Meanwhile, this influence has become so huge that it is not difficult to see why a ton of slot games have now become a part of the huge video game franchise.
A lot of new casino sites UK are known for their massive portfolio of slots and casino games. So, you shouldn’t be surprised if some of these casinos take more inspiration from video games in the near future.
In this article, we are presenting some of the online slot machines that were adapted from famous video games to video game and online casino enthusiasts.
The pioneer of this legendary video game was released in the 90s, and whenever you think about the zombie horror video games genre, this readily comes to mind as a pacesetter. This later got a lot of sequels and some movies, because it was a very inspirational piece.
Of course, with the fame and the number of fans that this garnered over the years, it was no surprise that a slot machine sprang up later. In the slot game, the theme is the same with the original horror theme of the video game, and they also tried to bring in some symbols and logos from the video game. It incorporated the essentials of the video game in a way that the fans of Resident Evil will cherish.
This stands as one puzzle game that people may describe as relatively simple. But its popularity is very huge and that is why it could be played on any platform at all, including the iPod, mobile phones, Xbox, PlayStation and the PCs. The slot game that followed comes with 5 reels and 20 pay-lines, coupled with the major symbols in the puzzle game. However, a few things were also added to make it even more exciting, and they include some of the conventional poker symbols and they sit nicely on the slot game.
This is another iconic video game that has a lot of sequels. It is such a huge franchise that other things are involved apart from video games. Here, you also have movies and many other forms of media. So, it means that the slot game has a very huge foundation to rest on even before it was conceived.
In the beginning of the game, a video of Lara Croft was shown. Later, it went into the full slot machine mode. Here, just like in all slot adaptations of video games, some familiar symbols from the video games are found, and Lara is also seen in different positions. The fact is that the Lara Croft slot game delivers a very enjoyable experience to the players.
In Street Fighter, we have one of the most iconic of all video games of the arcade type. Many people see it as a simple and ordinary fighting game, but it also has a very large fan base, among who are people that adore the series, especially Street Fighter II.
In the slot game, all the essential characters of the video game are incorporated, and in the bonus round, the players have the chance to select any of these characters and fight with Bison. This is one of the most interesting parts of the game. If you love the Guile, Zangief, Chun Li, Rhu or Ken characters, then you will enjoy them in this game.
When first person shooter games are involved, Call of Duty has a very significant place in history. This very popular game has a lot of sequels, and these sequels are designed to have happened in different eras like the modern times, Cold War, and the Second World War.
In the slot game, a very familiar scenography is witnessed. You’ll be faced with destroyed buildings and tanks, and a whole lot of symbols that all refer to warfare. Some in-game features like the landmines are also available, and they deliver a playing experience that could be described as amazing.