Online Slots Canada: How Regulation Shapes Every Spin

Canadian players logging into an online slots site in 2026 see a lobby that looks nothing like its offshore counterpart. Spin buttons sit lower on mobile screens, session timers blink in the top corner, and deposit limits appear before the cashier ever loads. None of that happened by accident. Tight provincial regulation in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia has quietly rewritten how slot products are designed, laid out and paid for across the country.

This guide walks through that design logic from the player's chair: why the lobby looks the way it does, how payment flows got shorter or slower depending on the province, and which operators currently deliver the strongest real-money slots experience for Canadian users. Concrete numbers, real brand comparisons, and the regulatory mechanics behind each screen you touch.

What Tight Regulation Actually Changes on Screen

Why does an Ontario lobby look calmer than a Curacao one?

An Ontario-licensed lobby is built under AGCO and iGaming Ontario rules that mandate visible responsible gambling tools, game category limits, and no autoplay loops longer than a single spin sequence. Offshore lobbies optimized for session length instead push bonus banners, countdown timers and cascading popups. The visual difference is immediate: licensed Canadian sites breathe, offshore sites shout.

Practical consequence for players: on a licensed Ontario site like BetMGM Casino Ontario or the.ca-facing Royal Vegas, you'll find a persistent "Limits" button in the header. Offshore equivalents bury it three menus deep. The regulation didn't change the games; it changed how much the interface is allowed to pressure you.

What does the AGCO game-certification process require?

Every slot title entering an Ontario lobby must pass independent testing through a lab approved by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario, typically GLI or BMM TestLabs. Testing covers RNG integrity, published RTP within stated tolerance (usually ±0.5%), and paytable accuracy. A Pragmatic Play title certified for Ontario carries a different build ID than the same title shipped to a Curacao-licensed operator.

That means a Canadian player spinning "Sweet Bonanza" on bet365 Casino Ontario and the same game on an offshore brand may be running two technically distinct products, even though the artwork matches. The certified build also freezes certain features: bonus buy options, for example, are disabled in Ontario under AGCO rules that treat them as a distinct wager category.

How does session-limit design show up during play?

Ontario-licensed operators must display a running session timer and a one-click access to deposit, loss and wager limits from any game screen. In practice this means a fixed bar at the top or bottom of the viewport, sized so it never disappears on a 360px-wide phone. Designers at operators like PlayOJO and Casumo have moved the spin button down by roughly 40px to keep the timer visible without overlap.

Offshore lobbies have no such constraint, which is why their spin buttons float freely and often sit exactly where a thumb rests. The trade-off is real: licensed Canadian sites sacrifice a few pixels of game canvas for regulatory visibility. Players who value control over immersion generally prefer the Canadian layout.

What happens to bonus mechanics under Canadian rules?

Welcome bonuses on Ontario-licensed sites are capped in wagering requirements and must display full terms before opt-in. A typical offer reads: 100% up to C$500, 30x wagering on bonus funds, 7-day expiry. Offshore brands can advertise 200% up to C$3,000 with 50x wagering and no visible expiry, which looks larger on paper and plays out worse in practice.

Calculate it: C$100 deposit at 30x on an Ontario site means C$3,000 of slot wagering before withdrawal. The same C$100 at 50x offshore means C$5,000. At an average 96% RTP slot, expected loss on C$3,000 of play is roughly C$120; on C$5,000 it's C$200. The "bigger" bonus costs more to clear.

Payment Flows: Shorter Where Regulated, Slower Where Not

Why do Canadian e-transfers feel slower than crypto deposits?

Interac e-Transfer is the default funding method on most licensed Canadian sites, and it typically clears in 5 to 30 minutes for deposits. Crypto deposits on offshore brands like Stake Casino or BC.Game Casino confirm in seconds to a few minutes depending on network load. Speed differences come from banking rails, not casino policy: Interac routes through Canadian financial institutions with fraud checks; crypto routes through a public mempool.

Withdrawals invert the picture. Licensed Ontario operators processing Interac withdrawals typically complete in 24 to 72 hours after KYC approval. Offshore crypto withdrawals can be instant, but only after the site's internal review queue, which on busy brands can stretch to 48 hours or more. Neither system is categorically faster end-to-end.

Which payment methods are actually available to Canadian players?

Ontario-licensed sites stick to methods approved by iGaming Ontario: Interac, Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Apple Pay, Play+ prepaid, and bank wire. Offshore brands add a long tail of crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT, LTC), e-wallets like MuchBetter and MiFinity, and vouchers. The regulated list is shorter by design, because each method undergoes separate compliance review for anti-money-laundering reporting.

For a player depositing C$50 weekly, the practical difference is minimal: Interac covers it in minutes. For a player moving C$5,000 monthly, method availability starts to matter, and offshore flexibility becomes the deciding factor for some users. Others prefer the audit trail a licensed Canadian payment rail provides.

What does KYC look like before a first withdrawal?

Ontario-licensed operators must verify identity before the first withdrawal, and often before the first deposit above a low threshold. Standard documents: government photo ID, proof of address dated within 90 days, and sometimes a source-of-funds declaration above C$10,000 in cumulative deposits. Verification typically clears in 12 to 48 hours on brands like Jackpot City Casino and Spin Casino.

Offshore brands often defer full KYC until a large withdrawal request. That feels convenient until the request triggers a document review at an inconvenient moment. Players who want predictable cash-out timing generally front-load verification on licensed Canadian sites rather than gamble the timing on an offshore queue.

Are provincial payment restrictions changing in 2026?

British Columbia's PlayNow and Quebec's EspaceJeux continue to run as government monopolies with Interac and card only, no e-wallets. Alberta's market remains limited to racetrack-affiliated casinos, though the provincial government signalled in late 2025 that a broader iGaming framework was under review. Ontario remains the only fully open private market among Canadian provinces.

Practical effect: a Vancouver player using PlayNow has two or three funding options; a Toronto player choosing from 40+ licensed operators has a dozen. Geography still dictates payment UX more than any single brand's engineering choices.

How fast are withdrawals on the biggest Canadian-facing brands?

Across licensed Ontario operators, median first-withdrawal time including KYC sits around 36 hours; subsequent withdrawals on verified accounts often clear in under 12 hours. Among offshore brands popular with Canadians, median time from request to funds received runs 12 to 60 hours depending on currency and amount. Crypto pulls the average down; manual review queues push it back up.

Brands like LeoVegas and Casumo publish withdrawal timing on their help pages, which is itself a regulated disclosure in Ontario. Offshore operators rarely commit to a number, instead using language like "processed as quickly as possible." Vague promises usually mean variable outcomes.

Top Operators for Canadian Online Slots in 2026

Which licensed Ontario brands lead on slot variety?

The Ontario market opened in April 2022 and by early 2026 hosts more than 80 licensed operators. Among them, BetMGM Casino Ontario, DraftKings Casino Ontario, Golden Nugget Casino and bet365 Casino carry libraries above 1,500 titles each, sourced from Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Evolution (via Red Tiger), Play'n GO, Hacksaw Gaming and Games Global (formerly Microgaming).

Smaller licensed brands like PlayOJO and Casumo compete on curation rather than volume, typically carrying 600 to 1,000 titles with a heavier weighting toward high-volatility releases from Hacksaw and Nolimit City. Neither approach is wrong; it depends whether you browse or hunt.

What do offshore brands offer Canadian players that licensed ones don't?

Crypto funding, higher bonus ceilings, and access to game studios not yet certified for Ontario. Brands like 7Bit Casino, BitKingz Casino and Roobet Casino carry BGaming and proprietary provably-fair titles that never entered the Ontario approval pipeline. For a player who wants those specific games, no licensed Canadian operator can substitute.

Offshore also means a different regulatory posture: dispute resolution runs through the licensing jurisdiction (Curacao, Malta, Kahnawake), not through iGaming Ontario. Players who file a complaint with iGO get a structured process and a published outcome; offshore complaints depend on the operator's goodwill or a regulator with limited enforcement bandwidth. Choose accordingly.

Which brands have the strongest mobile slot experience?

Mobile accounts for the large majority of Canadian online slots play, and licensed operators design accordingly. LeoVegas built its reputation on mobile-first lobbies, and its Ontario offering keeps that structure: single-column game grid, sticky bottom navigation, and a bet slider that works with one thumb. Casumo follows a similar pattern with a lighter visual theme.

Offshore brands vary wildly. Stake Casino's mobile web app is fast and clean but assumes familiarity with crypto. Wildz Casino uses a recommendation engine that surfaces games based on your recent volatility preference, a feature not yet replicated on most Ontario-licensed lobbies. Testing on a mid-range Android device (roughly 4GB RAM) is the honest benchmark, not a flagship phone.

How do loyalty programs differ between regulated and offshore casinos?

Ontario-licensed operators must disclose loyalty program terms including expiry, conversion rates and tier thresholds. Typical structure: points accrue at C$10 wagered = 1 point, tiers unlock at 500 / 2,500 / 10,000 points, points convert to bonus funds at 100:1. PlayOJO bucks the pattern with a no-wagering cashback model instead of points.

Offshore loyalty schemes often run on opaque multipliers and VIP tiers assigned manually by account managers. That can pay better for high-volume players and worse for everyone else. If you deposit under C$200 monthly, a published Canadian loyalty table is usually worth more than a discretionary offshore VIP offer you'll never reach.

Which operators have the fastest slot game loading times?

Load time depends less on the operator and more on the game engine. HTML5 titles from Pragmatic Play and NetEnt typically initialize in 1.5 to 3 seconds on a 4G connection; older Flash-ported or heavily animated titles from smaller studios can take 5 seconds or more. Licensed Canadian operators generally run CDN edge nodes in Toronto and Montréal, shaving latency for domestic players.

Offshore brands serving Canada from European or Caribbean servers add 80 to 150ms of round-trip latency per request. Across a session with dozens of game switches, that adds up to noticeable friction. Local edge hosting is one area where Ontario licensing produces a measurable player-side improvement.

What's the minimum and maximum bet range across Canadian slot lobbies?

Licensed Ontario lobbies typically floor bets at C$0.10 to C$0.20 per spin, with ceilings ranging from C$50 on standard titles to C$100 on high-volatility releases. Progressive jackpot slots like Mega Moolah (Games Global) carry their own tier: C$0.25 minimum to trigger the jackpot wheel, C$6.25 maximum on some builds.

Offshore brands frequently allow C$0.01 minimums and C$200+ maximums, which matters for two very different players: the micro-staker and the high-roller. Ontario's narrower band reflects a deliberate design choice around responsible play, not a technical limitation. Players at either extreme will notice the boundary quickly.

Game Providers and the Canadian Catalogue

Which studios supply the most titles to Canadian lobbies?

Games Global (holder of the former Microgaming library) still anchors many Canadian-facing catalogues with several hundred titles including the Mega Moolah progressive network. Pragmatic Play follows with a rapid release cadence of roughly 6 to 8 new slots per month, most certified for Ontario within 60 to 90 days of global launch. NetEnt, Play'n GO, Red Tiger and Hacksaw Gaming round out the core group.

Smaller studios like Nolimit City, Push Gaming and ELK Studios appear more often on offshore lobbies than licensed Canadian ones, partly because Ontario certification adds time and cost. A player who follows studio releases closely will see a 1 to 3 month lag between a global launch and its appearance in an Ontario lobby.

How does an Ontario certification timeline actually work?

From studio submission to lobby listing, an Ontario slot certification typically runs 60 to 120 days. The lab tests the RNG, verifies published RTP against the build, checks paytable math, and confirms responsible-gaming features (session timer, limit hooks) integrate correctly with the operator's account system. Any change to the build after certification requires re-testing.

Offshore certification under MGA or Curacao rules runs faster, often 30 to 60 days, because integration requirements are lighter. Speed isn't inherently better; it usually means fewer integration points were tested. For a player, the practical difference shows up in how reliably in-game limit tools behave when you set them mid-session.

What happens to a slot when its RTP is changed?

Regulated markets require operators to publish RTP and to notify players when a title's return changes. In Ontario, an RTP adjustment triggers a lobby notice and, in most cases, re-certification of the build. A slot moving from 96.5% to 95.0% RTP is a meaningful change: over 10,000 spins at C$1 average bet, expected return drops from C$9,650 to C$9,500, a C$150 difference on the same volume of play.

Offshore operators can adjust RTP silently, offering multiple RTP variants (96%, 94%, 92%) to different markets without player-facing disclosure. Some brands default to the lowest variant. Reading the paytable's small print before playing is the only defense outside a regulated market.

Which providers dominate the live and hybrid slot categories?

Evolution's live studio output (Crazy Time, Lightning Roulette-adjacent game shows) has spilled into slot-adjacent formats that appear in Canadian lobbies under "Game Shows" rather than "Slots." Pragmatic Play's live division runs a parallel catalogue. Traditional RNG slots remain the volume leader, but game-show formats now account for a growing share of session time on licensed sites.

For a player choosing between pure slots and hybrid formats, the practical distinction is pacing: a typical slot spin resolves in 2 to 4 seconds; a live game show round runs 20 to 60 seconds. Session length behaves differently across the two, which matters if you track your own play patterns.

Do Canadian players get access to jackpot networks?

Yes, through licensed operators. The Mega Moolah network (Games Global) and WowPot series both appear in Ontario lobbies, with seed values starting at C$1 million and C$2 million respectively. Jackpot contributions typically add 0.5% to 1.5% to the base game's house edge, which is why jackpot slots often carry slightly lower base RTP than non-jackpot siblings.

Offshore brands sometimes carry exclusive jackpot pools not shared with Canadian licensed sites. Whether that matters depends on your preference for larger pooled prizes versus a regulated payout process. Both routes pay out; the paperwork differs.

How often do new slots land in Canadian lobbies?

Ontario-licensed lobbies typically add 15 to 30 new titles per month across their combined catalogues, with the largest operators leading. Offshore brands serving Canadians can push new releases faster, sometimes within a week of global launch, because they skip the Ontario certification queue. Neither cadence guarantees quality; release volume and game quality are separate axes.

Practical tip: bookmark the "New" tab on your chosen licensed operator rather than chasing studio announcements globally. You'll see what's actually playable in your jurisdiction, which is the only list that matters for a real-money session.

Depositing, Withdrawing and Managing Money

What's the realistic deposit minimum across Canadian sites?

Licensed Ontario operators generally set minimum deposits at C$10 to C$20, matching Interac's practical floor for small transfers. Offshore brands accepting crypto can go as low as C$1 equivalent in BTC or USDT, sometimes C$5. Maximum single deposits on licensed sites typically run C$5,000 to C$10,000 before additional verification triggers.

For a player budgeting C$100 monthly, the minimum matters less than the fee structure. Interac deposits are free on most licensed sites; some offshore brands add a 1 to 3% processing fee on card deposits or a network fee on crypto withdrawals. Fees compound quietly across dozens of transactions.

How do withdrawal limits compare between licensed and offshore casinos?

Ontario-licensed operators commonly cap withdrawals at C$5,000 to C$10,000 per week, with progressive increases for verified long-term accounts. Offshore brands vary more widely: some set C$7,500 weekly, others C$15,000 monthly, and crypto-friendly brands like Roobet Casino sometimes advertise no fixed cap but apply manual review above certain thresholds.

For a player hitting a C$20,000 jackpot, the difference matters. At C$10,000 weekly, full payout takes 2 weeks on a licensed site; at C$15,000 monthly it takes 2 months. Reading the withdrawal table before depositing saves disappointment later.

What happens when a withdrawal gets held for review?

Both licensed and offshore operators hold withdrawals for review when patterns trigger internal controls: rapid deposit-withdrawal cycles, unusually large single wins relative to play history, or shared payment details across accounts. On licensed Ontario sites, review timelines are published and typically complete within 72 hours. Offshore review windows are less standardized.

The player-side action is the same in both cases: respond to document requests quickly, keep ID and proof of address current, and avoid depositing again while a withdrawal is pending. Chasing a held payout with new deposits is the most common way players extend their own wait.

Can Canadian players set deposit limits that actually stick?

Yes, and on licensed sites the limits are enforced at the account level, not the session level. Setting a C$200 weekly deposit limit on BetMGM Casino Ontario or DraftKings Casino Ontario blocks further deposits until the window resets, regardless of how many times you try. Limits can be lowered instantly; raising them triggers a 24-hour to 7-day cooling period depending on the operator.

Offshore brands offer limit tools too, but enforcement varies. Some apply limits only to the current session, others require an email confirmation to change them. If limit reliability is a deciding factor, a licensed Canadian operator is the safer structural choice.

Do currency conversion fees affect Canadian players?

Playing in CAD avoids conversion entirely, and all licensed Ontario operators settle in CAD. Offshore brands may offer CAD as a display currency while settling in USD or EUR internally, which introduces a 1 to 3% conversion spread depending on the payment rail. Crypto sidesteps casino-side conversion but exposes the player to market volatility between deposit and play.

A C$500 deposit converted through a 2% spread costs C$10 before a single spin. Across a year of monthly deposits that's C$120 in silent leakage, enough to change which brand is genuinely cheaper to use.

Which Canadian banks block gambling transactions?

Several major Canadian banks decline card transactions coded as gambling, including some configurations at TD and RBC. Interac sidesteps the issue entirely because it's a push transfer initiated by the customer rather than a merchant-initiated charge. PayPal and Apple Pay on licensed sites also avoid most decline codes.

Practical workaround used by most Canadian players: fund through Interac and keep a small Play+ prepaid balance for card-rail transactions. Two rails, one account, and no declined deposits at 11pm on a Friday.

Responsible Play Tools Built Into Canadian Lobbies

What responsible gambling features are mandatory in Ontario?

iGaming Ontario requires every licensed operator to provide deposit limits, loss limits, wager limits, session time reminders, reality checks, cool-off periods of 24 hours to 30 days, and self-exclusion through the provincial register. These tools must be reachable from the account menu in no more than 2 taps from any screen, including inside an active game.

Offshore operators offer some subset voluntarily. The difference is structural: on a licensed site, missing a required tool is a compliance failure with financial penalties; on an offshore site, it's a product decision that can be reversed without notice.

How does self-exclusion work across Canadian provinces?

Ontario runs a centralized self-exclusion register covering all licensed operators; enrolling blocks access across every iGO-licensed brand simultaneously, for a period you choose from 6 months to permanently. Quebec's program covers Loto-Québec properties. Other provinces run similar schemes through their provincial gaming corporations, though cross-provincial recognition remains limited.

Offshore self-exclusion is per-brand only. Blocking yourself on one Curacao-licensed casino does nothing at the next. For a player who wants a genuine break, the Ontario register is the only mechanism that covers an entire market at once.

What are the legal age requirements for online slots in Canada?

The legal minimum age to play online slots is 19 in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon; it is 18 in Quebec, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Licensed operators verify age during registration and again during KYC; offshore brands rely on self-declaration with weaker verification.

Age verification failures are one of the most common compliance penalties issued by AGCO. In 2024 and 2025 the regulator issued multiple fines in the tens of thousands of dollars to operators for inadequate age checks, which is why licensed Canadian sites ask for ID early rather than late.

Where can Canadian players get help with gambling problems?

The national helpline is 1-866-531-2600, operated 24/7 with confidential support in English and French. ConnexOntario provides additional provincial support at 1-866-531-2600 and via live chat. Problem Gambling Ontario maintains the provincial self-exclusion register and treatment referrals.

For players who want to step away entirely, the responsible action is registering with the provincial self-exclusion program and setting account-level deposit limits to zero across every brand you use. Both steps are free, both take under 15 minutes, and both are available around the clock.

Do reality checks actually change player behaviour?

Ontario-licensed operators must display reality check popups at intervals the player can configure, typically every 30, 60 or 120 minutes, showing session duration, net win or loss, and total wagered. The popup blocks further play until dismissed. It's a deliberate friction point: research on session interruption consistently shows that forced pauses reduce session length and increase the likelihood of a player reassessing their limits.

Offshore sites rarely interrupt play at all. If you find yourself playing for hours without noticing, the absence of reality checks is likely the reason, not personal discipline.

What should a Canadian player check before signing up anywhere?

Five things, in order: the licensing jurisdiction (iGO for Ontario, MGA, Kahnawake, or a named offshore regulator); the published RTP for your favourite titles; the withdrawal table including weekly caps and timelines; the responsible-gambling tool set and where it sits in the menu; and the payment methods available to Canadian residents specifically, not just globally.

Skip any one of those and you're making an uninformed choice. Five minutes of reading beats five hours of waiting on a held withdrawal or hunting for a limit tool that doesn't exist on that particular site.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to play online slots in Canada?

Yes. Provincial regulation governs legality: Ontario's private market operates under AGCO and iGaming Ontario licensing, while other provinces run government-operated sites or restrict play to land-based casino websites. Playing on an offshore site exists in a legal grey area for individual players, though no Canadian province has prosecuted a player for doing so.

What is the minimum age to play online slots in Canada?

19 in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and most of Atlantic Canada; 18 in Quebec, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Licensed operators verify age at registration and again during identity checks before any withdrawal. Misstating your age during signup is grounds for account closure and forfeiture of balances.

Which Canadian province has the best online slots market?

Ontario, by a wide margin. Since April 2022 it has licensed more than 80 private operators, giving players competitive bonuses, varied lobbies and multiple payment rails. Other provinces offer one government-run site with a smaller catalogue, fewer providers and less promotional competition.

Can I play online slots for real money with CAD?

Yes, and you should. All licensed Ontario operators settle in CAD end to end. Offshore brands may display CAD but settle in USD or EUR internally, introducing a 1 to 3% conversion spread per deposit. Playing in CAD on a licensed site removes that cost entirely.

Are online slots rigged in Canada?

Licensed Canadian slots are tested by GLI or BMM against published RTP with a tolerance of roughly ±0.5%, and results come from certified RNGs audited annually. Offshore slots vary: reputable MGA-licensed brands run similar testing, while operators under lighter jurisdictions may publish RTP without independent verification. Choose the licence first, the game second.

How long do withdrawals take at Canadian online casinos?

On licensed Ontario sites, first withdrawals including identity verification typically complete within 36 hours; subsequent verified withdrawals often clear in under 12 hours. Offshore timings range from near-instant crypto payouts to 60-hour manual review queues. Interac withdrawals on licensed sites run 24 to 72 hours consistently.

Do I have to pay taxes on online slot winnings in Canada?

No, for recreational players. The Canada Revenue Agency treats gambling winnings as non-taxable windfalls unless gambling is your declared source of income, which requires business-like volume, frequency and record-keeping. Professional or semi-professional players should consult a CRA-registered accountant about reporting obligations.

What's the difference between Ontario-licensed and offshore casinos?

Licensing determines everything downstream: game certification, RTP disclosure, payment method approval, responsible-gambling tool enforcement, withdrawal timelines, and complaint resolution through iGaming Ontario. Offshore brands offer wider crypto support, larger bonuses and faster new-game access, but disputes resolve through a foreign regulator with limited leverage over your account.

Which game providers have the most slots in Canadian lobbies?

Games Global (former Microgaming library), Pragmatic Play, NetEnt, Play'n GO, Red Tiger and Evolution lead licensed Canadian catalogues. Hacksaw Gaming, Nolimit City and Push Gaming appear more often on offshore lobbies, since Ontario certification adds 60 to 120 days to each title's arrival.

Can I set deposit limits on Canadian online casinos?

Yes, and on licensed sites they're enforced account-wide, not per-session. Limits can be lowered instantly; raising them triggers a 24-hour to 7-day cooling period. The same account menu also carries loss limits, wager limits, session reminders, cool-off periods and self-exclusion, all reachable within two taps from any screen.

Is Interac the best way to deposit at Canadian online casinos?

For most players, yes. Deposits clear in 5 to 30 minutes, withdrawals run 24 to 72 hours, fees are usually zero, and Interac avoids the card-decline codes that several major Canadian banks apply to gambling transactions. Crypto remains faster for deposits but adds volatility and conversion considerations on the withdrawal side.

Do Canadian online casinos offer free demo versions of slots?

Licensed Ontario operators must restrict demo play to verified, logged-in accounts under AGCO rules, so free play requires registration but not a deposit. Offshore brands often allow anonymous demos without an account. Demo mode uses the same RNG as real-money play, so it's a fair way to learn a title's volatility before committing funds.

Regulation in Canada did not make online slots smaller or slower; it made the interface accountable. Every visible timer, every published RTP, every enforced deposit limit traces back to a rule written after 2022 and tested before your first spin. Play where the rules are printed on the screen, set your limits before you fund the account, and treat the lobby design as the feature it was built to be.