Karsten Wenzlaff, Advisor
August 26th, 2025
June 5, 2025

Casino games are designed with built-in mathematical advantages, but understanding odds can shift the balance slightly in your favour. Whether you're spinning reels on online pokies for free or placing bets on Canadian slots for real money, knowing the probabilities helps you make smarter choices. Players looking for extra value should check out the Winspirit promo code for exclusive bonuses.
Casino odds vary widely between games, and even small differences impact long-term outcomes. Some games offer better player returns than others, while others are purely luck-based. Here’s what the data reveals:
Not all casino games are created equal. Slots may be easy to play, but table games like blackjack and baccarat give skilled players a fighting chance. Online pokies for real money often feature higher RTPs than their physical counterparts, making them a better choice for budget-conscious players.
Poker stands out because skill directly influences outcomes. Unlike slots, where randomness dictates results, poker rewards strategy and psychological insight. Even in luck-based games, selecting variants with lower house edges improves long-term results.
The way a game is played and the prizes it offers are what determine its odds. The RTP is shown on slots, but it is not as easy to get this info for table games. In craps, there are many bets and the house edge for each one is between 1.4% and 16.67%.
Online pokies that have no deposit requirements allow players to test different games and spot the highest RTP ones. Progressive jackpots are often part of Canadian slots for real money, yet they lower the base-game wins. Make sure to look at the game rules and paytable details before you start playing.
Being disciplined plays a greater role in understanding odds than just having a good grasp of maths. Choosing which games to play and setting boundaries makes gaming more enjoyable. Knowledge is useful for you, no matter if you like fast action or planning your moves.
The experience of playing at a casino should always be fun and not cause stress. Playing games that give you an edge allows you to stay at the tables for longer and have more fun. The main point is? Always play with strategy, not only on luck.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Taxes and Investing | June 4, 2025

Image: Freepik/gstudioimagen1
U.S. President Donald Trump has progressed the "Big, Beautiful Bill", which recently passed the House and is now in front of the Senate, spanning over 1,000 pages about economic deregulation, tax restructuring, and retaliatory trade measures for certain countries including Canada. Among its most controversial elements is Section 899.
If enacted, the U.S. withholding tax rate on dividends paid to Canadian investors could increase from the current 15% to as high as 50%, which would affect retail as well as institutional investors like the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
Tensions are rising over Canada's digital service taxes, and retaliatory U.S. trade policies including tariffs, and bill if implemented could inadvertently boost investment back into Canadian companies and markets.
Under the Canada-U.S. Tax Treaty, Canadians currently pay a 15% withholding tax on dividends from U.S. stocks. Section 899 proposes a 5% annual increase up to 50%, starting in 2026. While investors can claim foreign tax credits in Canada, the higher upfront U.S. withholding tax would significantly reduce net income from U.S. dividend paying investments.
Although exact rates vary by province and income level, the combined tax on eligible Canadian dividends for higher income earners is generally lower than the proposed 50% U.S. withholding (consult your accountant). This tax gap would force investors to rethink the risks and adjusted value of investing in U.S. dividend exposure.
The tax drag from a 50% U.S. withholding rate would leave just 50 cents on the dollar before any Canadian tax credits or additional taxation is applied. Compare and contrast this potential reality with a Canadian dividend that would be taxed at an effective rate of around 39% or less would generate more net income for the investor. The result may be a growing appeal to invest capital back into Canadian equities after many years of continual decline.
Canadian pension funds manage more than $3 trillion in assets. CPP Investments alone had $632.3 billion in assets as of March 2024, with only 11.7% invested in Canada (See: CPP Annual Report 2024). The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), managing over $266 billion, had 33% allocated to U.S. markets (See: OTPP Annual Report). So, if U.S. withholding rates rise, institutional portfolios will likely need to be rebalanced and optimized given that higher taxes would reduce net yields.
There's also a policy push for pensions to invest more domestically. In December 2024, the federal government appointed former Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz to lead a review on increasing pension investment in Canada. The Fall Economic Statement mentioned the need to align institutional capital with domestic productivity and infrastructure priorities.
If more institutional capital is newly diverted into Canadian assets, it will benefit not just large scale infrastructure projects but fintech, innovation, AI, blockchain, and green finance sectors, to name a few.
Trump’s 'Big, Beautiful Bill' could have significant unintended consequences for Canada that encourages investors to prioritize Canadian opportunities for tax efficiency and building national economic resilience. There's no need to panic but you should speak with your investment and tax advisors now to evaluate the potential impact and prepare to rebalance your U.S. cross-border investments.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Capital Raising | May 19, 2025
Image: Freepik/rawpixel.com
On May 14, 2025, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) announced that listed companies (public issuers) can now up to a maximum of $50 million over 12 months, directly from the public without a prospectus or dealer involved. This allows listed companies to bypass both the exempt and traditional public markets by opening up a new direct-to-retail financing path that will impact how early stage public companies raise funds in Canada.
So as of today, listed companies on Canadian exchanges can use the LIFE exemption (amended within National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions) to raise the greater of $25 million or 20% of their market capitalization, up to a maximum of $50 million within a 12-month period. This is an increase of 5 times the previous $10 million cap.
LIFE allows any investor including accredited, institutional and retail now too, to participate in these direct to public offerings, and is the first capital raising exemption in Canada that allows deals that are exempt from prosectus requirements to be made available to the general public by listed companies.
Stan Magidson, CSA Chair and Chair and CEO of the Alberta Securities Commission:
“This change reflects our ongoing work to support the Canadian capital markets to make it more efficient and cost-effective for companies to raise capital and grow in Canada. We are committed to a Canadian regulatory environment that is responsive to the changing needs of market participants, while upholding strong investor protections.”
Although the LIFE exemption launched in 2022, the $10 million funding cap restricted its uptake which left most small-cap issuers to continue to rely on private placements or brokered prospectus offerings. The May 2025 expansion now gives public companies in sectors like tech, mining or cleantech, the option to use LIFE as a faster, cheaper alternative to dealer-broker facilitated capital raises.
These public companies will no longer be required to go through investment dealer syndicates or use the public exchange order book to issue securities. Instead, LIFE now allows them to offer subscriptions directly to investors with shares becoming freely tradable shortly after issuance.
These LIFE exemption changes could trigger the emergence of new service models. Equity crowdfunding platforms like FrontFundr and Equivesto, which traditionally serve private companies, could evolve to support LIFE offerings by listed issuers through digital subscription tools, onboarding workflows, and marketing campaigns.
Legaltech startups are automating regulatory filings, while investor relations and compliance firms are helping issuers engage retail audiences across digital channels. For both investment crowdfunding firms and traditional dealers, the challenge is the same, which is to adapt to a decentralizing capital raising environment or risk losing relevance. Companies that offer retail services, pre-during-post engagement will be well positioned to nurture and capture this emerging deal flow.
Public issuers will potentially benefit from faster and cheaper access to capital. Retail investors will now have access to public placements, which were once reserved for investment syndicate insiders. Dealers will face growing pressure to redefine their role. Exchanges will likely see reduced transparency during capital formation cycles. Regulators will need to incorporate more regulatory tech (RegTech) tools to improve oversight as direct to retail exposure grows.
When the original LIFE exemption launched, some investor protection advocates were concerned about unsophisticated investors (aka retail investors) would be at greater risk without dealer due diligence or a prospectus, such as an increase in pump and dump schemes, and price inefficiencies.
The expanded LIFE exemption democratizes early stage investment for public issuer but it also removes traditional safeguards (ie., gatekeepers). Whether or not this reform improves market participation or weakens investor confidence will depend on how well stakeholders adapt to their new reality. With numerous of modernized fintech, legaltech, and wealthtech platforms existing today, the future of digital-first public financing (dealer optional) could very well be led by an army of retail investors who have been locked out of high growth placement opportunities for too long.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |