About Chloe Martin, Your Canadian Online Casino Review Specialist

About the author - Chloe Martin, Canadian online casino review specialist

Yup, I finally sat down and made a proper About Me page. Honestly, I'd been putting this off for ages.

My name's Chloe Martin, and I'm the one behind the casino reviews on betplays-play.ca. I've been at it for several years now. In plain terms, I try to help Canadians sort out which sites feel safer, how the licences really work, and what you're getting into before you even think about hitting that first deposit. Most of my days are spent buried in terms and conditions, test accounts, and long email threads with support teams so you don't have to do all of that yourself.

If you've ever read a casino's promo page and thought, "Okay... but what does this mean for me in Canada, in my province, with my bank?" - that's exactly the gap I try to fill. I'm not here to hype anything up. Honestly, I've rolled my eyes at more casino ads than I can count. My goal is to make this stuff make sense in straightforward Canadian English, like you'd explain it to a buddy over coffee after a weird experience with a site, or while you're complaining about a withdrawal delay on the SkyTrain.

One quick thing I'm always upfront about: casino games aren't a way to earn money. I used to half-believe you could grind out a profit if you were "smart enough", then I watched enough players (and my own balance) to realise that's just not how the math works. They're paid entertainment with real risk and a built-in house edge. If you play, it should be with a budget you can afford to lose, not with rent money, grocery money, or anything you're counting on for bills or savings.

First things first: what I do around here

I work as a Casino Review Specialist with a focus on the Canadian online gambling market, especially offshore casinos that sit in a grey zone for most provinces and territories. Here on betplays-play.ca, my main job is to research, test, and explain online casinos in a way regular players can actually follow, not just in the stiff "legalese fine print" way you usually see on terms pages.

That includes brands licensed in Curaçao like Bet Plays, and deeper dives such as my in-depth Bet Plays review for Canadian players, where I break down licensing details, withdrawal patterns, and the specific risks if you sign up from here. I pay extra attention to anyone reading from Ontario, where the rules and enforcement expectations are different enough that one casual signup can carry more legal risk than people realise.

What sets my work apart is that I don't stop at game lobbies and bonuses. I focus heavily on licensing details and safer-withdrawal practices, which means I spend a lot of time digging into the things that actually matter when money is on the line: whether a site pays smoothly, what documents they ask for during verification, how they handle CAD in real life, and how they react when something goes wrong. That usually includes research into:

• Curacao licence details (like 365/JAZ and how sub-licence structures affect accountability)
• Complaint histories on independent platforms that don't sugar-coat bad behaviour
• Withdrawal dispute patterns reported by Canadian players in forums and support logs
• How casinos actually treat CAD deposits and payouts in day-to-day use, not just on marketing pages

How I learned this stuff (and what I don't know yet)

Before I ever recommend a casino on this site, I look at it from a risk-first angle: Who's behind it? Where is it licensed? What's the withdrawal process like with Canadian banking methods? Are there patterns of slow pay or excuses? Then I turn that research into a full review, and I keep the same core checklist across every article so the standards don't quietly shift from one brand to the next just because a bonus looks shiny.

My background is in online gambling analysis and reviews, with several years dedicated specifically to:

• Reviewing offshore casinos that accept people from Canada (including Curaçao-licensed operators like Creative Alliance N.V.)
• Comparing bonus terms, wagering requirements, and hidden restrictions that actually hit Canadian residents
• Tracking payment experiences with Interac, e-wallets, and CAD-friendly banking methods across multiple casinos
• Reviewing dispute reports and chargeback stories from Canadian players who speak up when something feels off

I'm not a lawyer, not a financial planner, and I don't hold any official gambling-industry certificates - just to be clear. Most of what I know comes from the day-to-day, detail-heavy work. I don't pretend to know everything, especially when laws change faster than reviews. That work means reading terms and conditions line by line (including the parts most people skim right past), testing real user flows from registration to withdrawal (when it's legally allowed for me), and cross-checking what casinos claim against public regulatory information and actual community feedback.

I try to keep my work aligned with pushes for a safer, more transparent gambling environment in Canada. Day-to-day, that looks like tracking how the Criminal Code, the provinces, and offshore licences actually interact when players run into trouble. It also means watching how those legal pieces translate into the experience you have when you click "withdraw" or file a complaint.

And this comes up a lot in my inbox, especially from Ontarians: the bar for what counts as "regulated" in Ontario is very specific. If a casino isn't in the iGaming Ontario directory, that matters, and I don't gloss over it or pretend it's just a minor technicality.

What I focus on when I look at casinos

Over time, my niche has become Canadians using offshore casinos, and all the little complications that come with that: currency handling, ID checks, withdrawal timelines, and all the "is this even allowed where I live?" questions. That's where most of my attention goes.

Gambling categories & game types I actually test

• Online slots - I look at the RTP ranges and volatility on paper, then see how that feels once you actually spin, plus what the bonus rounds really do in real sessions.
• Table games - especially blackjack and roulette, with a focus on rule variations that quietly change the house edge.
• Live dealer products - table limits, how stable the stream is on normal home internet, and whether the providers running the tables have a solid track record.

How I think about the Canadian market and regulations

My work is grounded in how online gambling actually works for people living in Canada, not just how it looks on a regulator's website. I pay particular attention to:

• Grey-market casinos for people outside Ontario - how offshore licences like Curaçao's 365/JAZ behave in real life once you're depositing CAD.
• Ontario's regulated market - explaining why casinos like Bet Plays, which don't show up in the iGaming Ontario list of approved sites, are considered unregulated/illegal for Ontario residents.
• Regional attitudes - from more relaxed views in some provinces to stricter expectations around consumer protection in others.

Players across Canada don't all come in with the same expectations. Some people are used to the consumer-protection feel of provincial platforms and expect the same level of oversight everywhere. Others have played offshore for years and mostly just want to know, "Will I actually get paid, and how long will it take?" I write with both types of readers in mind, and I call out where those expectations can clash with what offshore casinos actually do in practice.

Bonuses, payments, and the software behind the scenes

I spend a lot of time unpacking the stuff that looks simple in a banner ad but gets messy fast once you open the terms:

• Bonus analysis - wagering requirements, maximum win caps, restricted games, and how realistic it is to actually clear a promotion without turning play into a grind.
• Payment methods - especially Interac, e-wallets, and CAD-friendly cards or banking options that people in Canada actually use at offshore sites.
• Withdrawal frictions - KYC demands, patterns of delays, common "reasons" for declined or frozen cashouts, and how often those reasons seem fair.
• Software providers - who powers the games, whether RTP information is easy to find, and how stable the platforms are on mobile when you're on regular home wifi or data.

Across all of this, I'm always looking for patterns: how often a brand slows down or questions withdrawals, how bonuses are structured to nudge people into overspending, and whether the licence and complaint history back up - or completely contradict - the marketing claims.

Also worth saying plainly: even a "good" bonus can be a bad deal if it nudges you into playing longer than you planned, or betting bigger than you're comfortable with. If you want more practical guardrails, the responsible gaming tools on this site cover setting limits and doing a quick self-check before things get out of hand.

Work I'm proud of on betplays-play.ca

On betplays-play.ca, I'm the primary voice behind our casino reviews and how-to guides for people in Canada. Rather than promise some magic number of articles, I stick to a standard that matters more: every new piece should have verified licensing details, clear risk warnings where they're needed, and practical info about deposits and withdrawals that matches what Canadians actually run into when they play.

Some of the work I'm most proud of includes:

• My deep-dive into Bet Plays for Canadian readers, where I walk through the Curaçao licence under the 365/JAZ umbrella (with a specific sub-licence I've checked against public records), real withdrawal stories, and why people in Ontario should steer clear.
• Our overview of bonus offers and promotions aimed at Canadian users, which focuses less on flashy numbers and more on what the fine print means in real terms.
• Our guide to safer casino payment methods for people banking in CAD, where I explain how Interac, e-wallets, and other deposit options typically behave at grey-market casinos.
• The resources in our responsible gaming tools section, which I helped shape around practical limits and self-assessment for anyone who feels their gambling might be getting risky.

I regularly update reviews and guides as licensing situations shift, payment behaviour changes, or new information comes out. That's especially important for offshore casinos like Bet Plays, where regulation is lighter and conditions can change quickly, sometimes without the kind of notice you'd expect from a provincially regulated operator. When I see something change - like new withdrawal rules or a run of complaints - I go back to the review and adjust it rather than quietly ignore it.

How I try to keep things fair for you

When I'm writing a review, I keep one thing in my head: would I be okay with a friend making decisions based on this?

Here's what that looks like in my day-to-day work:

• Unbiased, honest reviews - If a casino is operating in a legal grey area for most people in Canada, or is considered unregulated/illegal for Ontario residents, I say that clearly and early in the review so you're not surprised later.
• Responsible gambling advocacy - I do not promote gambling as a way to make money. I consistently remind readers that gambling online is entertainment you pay for, and the odds are tilted against you from the start.
• Transparency about affiliates - When a review could result in a commission for betplays-play.ca, my goal is to make that obvious through the tone and content: I highlight risks, call out unfair terms, and never label a casino as "safe" just because it's featured.
• Fact-checking and updates - I try not to let things go stale. I check the licence details, test the links, and go over the important facts again before publishing. If regs or terms shift, I go back to major pages - Bet Plays included - and tweak them.
• CA player protection and legal compliance - I always distinguish between what is merely possible (you can technically sign up and play from many provinces) and what is legal or regulated under Canadian and provincial rules.

I want you to be able to read a review, understand the real risks and limitations, and then make your own informed decision - without feeling pushed, rushed, or talked into anything by clever wording.

And just to keep expectations grounded: even when a casino is accessible from Canada, that doesn't automatically mean it has the same consumer protections you'd get through a provincial platform. That's why I'm picky about withdrawals, verification rules, and how a brand handles disputes when something goes sideways.

Writing from a Canadian point of view

I'm based in Canada, and I write specifically for a Canadian audience. That means my reviews and guides are built around how things actually work here, not how they work in Europe or the U.S. That includes:

• Canadian gambling laws - the difference between provincially regulated platforms and offshore casinos, and the unique position of Ontario with its iGaming framework.
• Local banking and payment habits - Interac, e-wallets, CAD credit/debit cards, and how these methods behave at Curaçao-licensed sites versus domestically regulated ones.
• Cultural attitudes to gambling - from casual lottery and sports betting fans to serious casino players, and the expectations Canadians have around fairness, withdrawals, and consumer protection.

Over the years, I've built up a network of industry contacts and experienced players who help validate what I see in my own testing. If I notice withdrawal delays, bonus disputes, or account closures at a casino like Bet Plays, I look for patterns across multiple stories, not just one frustrating anecdote from one bad day.

If you're ever unsure where you fit - offshore versus provincial sites versus Ontario's regulated market - check the context in the review, and don't be shy about reaching out through the contact us page. I'd honestly rather you ask a simple question than make a complicated mistake with your money.

How I personally gamble (and when I stop)

When I do gamble for myself, it's usually low-stakes blackjack on my phone, maybe a 20-minute session while I'm waiting for dinner. If I catch myself chasing one bad hand, I log out. A good example - last month I set aside fifty bucks, lost most of it in under half an hour, and that was my cue to call it a night and go watch Netflix instead. My personal rule is straightforward: if I wouldn't be comfortable losing the entire amount in one sitting, I don't deposit it.

I also try to be realistic about how gambling fits into normal Canadian life. For most Canadians, it's an every-now-and-then thing - maybe a Lotto 6/49 ticket on payday, a few dollars on a hockey game, or a short slots session on your phone before bed or on the SkyTrain. If it ever turns into chasing losses or trying to get even, that's a big warning sign. I've seen that spiral end badly more than once, and it's exactly when you need to step away and, if needed, talk to someone. The responsible gaming section here goes deeper on warning signs and practical ways to set limits before it gets to that point.

Where you'll see my work on the site

You'll see my approach reflected across the site. On the homepage, I help set the tone for what betplays-play.ca is about: clear, Canada-focused information on casinos that accept players from here. In detailed brand reviews - like that longer Bet Plays breakdown for Canadians over on the main review page and similar coverage of other Curaçao-licensed operators - I walk through:

• Who owns and operates the casino (in Bet Plays' case, Creative Alliance N.V. at Abraham de Veerstraat 9, Willemstad, Curaçao).
• Which licence they hold, and what that really means for you in terms of protection and complaint options.
• Roughly how long it takes to get your money out and which methods seem to work best for CAD in the real world.
• Where Ontario residents stand legally, and why they should treat unregulated brands with particular caution.

Beyond brand reviews, I also contribute to explanatory content like our guides to sports betting options for Canadian users, our breakdown of common player questions, and our discussion of how your data is protected and what's hiding in the terms & conditions you're agreeing to when you use the site.

Whether it's a review of Bet Plays or a broader guide to payment methods, the goal is the same: give you enough specific, checkable information that you can decide if a site fits your risk tolerance, your budget, and your province's legal situation.

And if you're comparing options, I strongly suggest you pay at least as much attention to withdrawals and verification as you do to bonuses. A big headline offer doesn't mean much if cashouts are slow, the KYC process is unclear, or the rules are written in a way that can be used against you later.

How to contact me

If you have a question about something I've written, spot an error, or want to suggest a topic you'd like me to cover, you can reach me through the site's editorial channels. Just use the form on our contact us page and address it to "Chloe Martin". Those get forwarded to me, and I try to respond once I've worked through my current batch of reviews for the day.

I believe that accessibility and transparency are part of trust, especially in a space as sensitive as online gambling. If I update a review, change a rating, or revise my opinion on a brand like Bet Plays because new information comes to light, I do my best to explain why in the content itself so you're not left guessing what changed and whether it affects you.

Nothing on betplays-play.ca is legal, financial, or investment advice. Think of what I write as a friend's detailed notes on which casinos behaved and which ones didn't, so you can make your own call about what feels right for you.

Last updated on November 6, 2025 (I'll tweak this if anything big changes).

This page is an independent editorial profile and review-style introduction for betplays-play.ca. It is not an official casino page, and it isn't published or endorsed by any casino operator mentioned.