Take a look at some of the best online poker sites around! They’re available to Canadian poker players and offer great games like Texas Hold ‘em. Compare these poker sites in Canada to find the right option for playing poker online.
Game selection: Some online poker sites offer every poker game under the sun, while others only provide a few basic Video Poker options. We evaluated the online poker games that different Canadian online poker websites offer and named the ones with the most options the best poker sites around.
Interface: Even if a site offering online poker in Canada has a million and one game options, a bad interface can ruin them all. We analyzed online poker sites’ interfaces to see which ones were easiest to use. We ruled out any that don’t maintain strong connections or that make it difficult for poker players to take action when the time comes.
Payment methods: The good news for Canadian online poker players is that most poker sites provide a long list of payment methods that you can use. However, some online poker sites have more online casino payment methods than others. We give priority to any Canadian poker sites that clearly go above and beyond when it comes to helping you deposit and withdraw money in a variety of ways.
Customer service: When you encounter issues while playing poker online, we want you to be able to get the assistance you need to clear up problems. It’s why we focus only on poker sites that extend world-class customer service. The top online poker sites in Canada are often the ones with the best customer service departments supporting players.
Special features: Certain poker sites go the extra mile for you by providing special features within their online poker interfaces. Bodog, for example, has its Zone Poker feature that allows you to hop from poker table to poker table as you fold hands to eliminate downtime. It’s a fun feature that sets it apart from other poker sites.
History: We don’t automatically give one poker site an edge over all the other poker sites simply because it has been around for 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 years. We do, however, respect the fact that many poker sites that have been around for a long time are probably doing something right, and we aim to find out what it is. They’re often some of the best online poker sites for Canadian players and have been for years.
Security: When you deposit your hard-earned money into your account at one of the poker sites we recommend, we want you to be able to trust it 100%. You’ll have more fun playing online poker in Canada when you have a poker site like this on your side. It’s one more factor we always consider when evaluating poker sites and online casinos in general.
Poker Sites to Avoid
Most poker sites in Canada make every effort to provide players with amazing experiences. But unfortunately, some poker sites don’t take players into account as much as they should like the best poker sites do. Here are things that will let you know to avoid certain Canadian poker sites.
Few poker games: If a Canadian poker site only has a couple of poker games, it’s not much of a poker site, is it? Look elsewhere for better poker sites.
Confusing interfaces: If you struggle to work your way around poker sites, you might not be able to find the best online poker games to play.
Poor customer service: You deserve to be treated with respect and to get answers to your pressing questions from the customer service departments at poker sites.
Lack of payment methods: Canadian poker sites that don’t provide many payment methods can make depositing money into your account and withdrawing it later a huge hassle.
Sketchy security measures: Your money might not be in good hands if you select poker sites in Canada that don’t take safety and security seriously enough.
Alberta: It doesn’t have any laws against playing online poker at poker sites like the ones we’ve discussed here. It also offers almost 20 live poker rooms for in-person poker play.
British Columbia: It allows people to play online poker at their preferred offshore poker sites. It also has several live poker venues where people can play against others in person.
Manitoba: It has a slightly lower legal gambling age than many other Canadian provinces and territories (18 years old rather than 19). It also enables people to play online poker through offshore poker sites.
New Brunswick: It has two brick-and-mortar real money casinos that provide in-person poker cash games and tournaments. It also permits people to patronize online poker sites.
Newfoundland and Labrador: It imposes a $500 limit on poker games played in person at local bingo halls and other establishments. However, it also lets people play online at poker sites without this same restriction.
Northwest Territories: It doesn’t offer many in-person poker games outside of home games. But it more than makes up for this by providing people with the chance to play online poker for real money.
Nova Scotia: It has a healthy in-person poker scene thanks to the land-based casino that offers poker rooms. It also gives people the opportunity to sign up for poker sites online if they would like.
Nunavut: It has a low population, which helps explain why there aren’t any land-based casinos in this huge territory. You’ll need to sign up for one of our recommended poker sites to sit down at a live poker table.
Ontario: It has quickly become a great place to play poker because of its regulated iGaming market and all the poker sites that are now a part of it. It also has several brick-and-mortar casinos with thriving poker rooms.
Prince Edward Island: It has lots of in-person poker cash games and tournaments at its land-based casinos. It also isn’t opposed to letting residents play online poker at Canadian poker sites.
Quebec: It has plenty of live poker rooms in Montreal, Ottawa, and Quebec City. You can also sign up for accounts with offshore poker sites in Canada and play poker at them here.
Saskatchewan: It has ten poker rooms scattered throughout it that offer a wide range of different poker tournaments. You can also enter tournaments and play poker online when you’re here through the best online poker sites offered by offshore companies.
Yukon: It doesn’t have any land-based casinos that provide poker rooms to people, but it does have low-stakes poker games happening at bars and nightclubs all the time. For higher-stakes games, you’ll need to play poker online at one of the top poker sites.
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Poker Mobile Site
Poker App
Often but not always optimized for mobile devices- Sometimes on the slower side during poker games
- Slightly more challenging to navigate on mobile devices
Created specifically for mobile devices to ensure optimum compatibility- Faster and more effective than poker mobile sites in many cases
- Simpler navigation with large buttons to avoid accidental folds and raises
Texas Hold ‘em: This has turned into the most popular poker game over the last 25 years or so. During a Texas Hold ‘em game, you’ll receive two hole cards that you can pair with any three cards from the five community cards provided to create the strongest hand possible.
Five-Card Draw: During a game of five-card draw, you’ll have five cards dealt to you, and you’ll get the option to exchange as many of these cards as you want during a draw phase. The goal is to put together a strong hand by choosing the right cards to replace.
Omaha High/Low: Known to be one of the more confusing poker variations, it sees you getting four hole cards and five community cards. You’ll need to use two hole cards and three community cards to create a five-card high hand and two hole cards and three community cards to create a five-card low hand.
Seven-Card Stud: Once upon a time, this poker variation was more popular than Texas Hold ‘em. When playing seven-card stud, you’ll have two cards dealt face down, four cards dealt face up, and one more card dealt face down. From there, you’ll work to create the best five-card hand you can.
Razz: Razz is pretty much identical to seven-card stud except that your mission will be to create the lowest five-card hand you can as opposed to the highest five-card hand.
HORSE: This isn’t a poker variation. Instead, it’s a game that involves playing different poker variations from one hand to the next. It keeps poker players on the edges of their seats when playing on poker sites.
Poker Tournaments and Events
You’ll likely play cash games on poker sites for the most part. But there will also be poker tournaments and events you can get involved in. They’ll call for you to put up a certain amount of money at the beginning and then see how long you can last before going broke at the table. The longer you’re able to stick around, the more money you might be able to win.
All of the best online poker sites that we’ve discussed here have their own poker tournaments and events. 888poker, for example, has special tournaments like “The Classic,” “The Mayhem,” and “The Big Shot,” while PokerStars has special Sunday tournaments like the “Sunday Warm-Up” and the “Sunday High Roller.”
Entering these tournaments is a good way to fine-tune your poker skills against fresh sets of opponents while also giving yourself a chance to win bigger jackpots than usual.
Real Money Poker
Free Poker
- Allows you to win money when you win poker hands
- Motivates you to put your best poker face on
- Enables you to give bluffing a try during a poker game
- Gives you a chance to learn how to play poker in a risk-free environment
- Lets you test out different poker strategies without losing any money
- Creates a much friendlier atmosphere for poker players
Credit card: Depositing money into poker sites will be just about as simple as it gets with a credit card. Just be sure your credit card company allows you to use your card on poker sites before trying this method.
Bank transfer: If you’d prefer to deposit money into your account on a Canada online poker site versus using credit, a bank transfer will give you the chance to do it. It can take a little extra time to make withdrawals with this method, but it’ll offer the extra security you need.
Interac: Prefer not to provide poker sites with your banking information? Using Interac will enable you to make deposits at Canadian poker sites without having to disclose this information.
PayPal: Similar to Interac, using PayPal is a great way to deposit money on poker sites without exposing your banking information unnecessarily. Not all online poker sites accept PayPal, but at least a few of the options recommended here do.
MuchBetter: If you want to have the option to convert cash into funds that you can deposit into an account on an online poker site, MuchBetter will let you do it. Pick up a prepaid code voucher from one of the thousands of retailers in Canada that sells them to take this approach to make a deposit.
Focus on playing your favourite type of poker
Just because there are so many poker variations doesn’t mean you need to play them all every time you visit poker sites! Instead, find the poker game you like most and work on perfecting your skills while playing it.
Learn how to read your poker opponents
While poker is technically a form of gambling, it’s also a game that involves more skills than your average online casino games. You need to figure out how to accurately read your poker opponents and use what you learn to make the right decisions at the poker table.
Play at free tables and use bonuses to your advantage
When you’re first beginning to play poker online, avoid taking too many risks until you feel comfortable. Playing poker at free tables or using bonuses from poker sites can minimize your risk and allow you to hone your craft.
How to Win at Online Poker Sites
It doesn’t take long to learn how to play most of the different types of poker games. However, it takes a lifetime to master these games and win real money while playing them. These tips should help put you in a position to win while playing online poker on the best poker sites:
- Make sure you understand the rules of a particular type of poker game before you begin playing it.
- Commit the different poker hand rankings to memory.
- Work on perfecting your “poker face.”
- Practice patience and steer clear of getting involved in every hand.
- Learn from your mistakes and watch other poker players closely to learn from theirs, too.
You won’t win every time you play online poker in Canada. But you’ll give yourself a better chance to win on poker sites when you keep these tips in mind.
Early position
In some cases, sitting in an early position near the dealer will be beneficial to you when you’re playing poker. If, for example, you’re playing Texas Hold ‘em, sitting in one of the first two chairs next to the dealer will make you the small or big blind. It might give you more freedom to get involved in a poker hand since you’ll already have some money at risk. But you shouldn’t get too carried away and call a previous player’s raise just because you put up a small or big blind. You should still consider folding to avoid getting too committed to a hand if it isn’t strong enough.
Players sitting in an early position who aren’t the small or big blind should also be careful about calling or raising if they don’t feel confident in a hand. If they call or raise, the betting will continue to go around the poker table, and the stakes could go up even more than they already have. It could force a player in an early position to have to fold after committing money to a pot, and it will essentially result in wasted time and money for them.
Middle position
Those sitting somewhere in the middle of a poker table have interesting decisions to make. They’ll already know how many players sitting in early positions are still in, and they can use that to determine if it would be worth calling or raising. But they won’t know what those in later positions will do, so it could cause them to struggle to decide what to do if they only have a so-so poker hand.
Try to get a good sense of how other poker players approach the game and use what you learn as the game goes on. If those in later positions tend to fold more often than not, you might want to take more calculated risks from the middle position.
Late position
You could argue that those in late positions at a poker table have a huge advantage over those in early and middle positions. They get to watch whatever everyone else at a poker table does before calling or raising a bet. You can mix things up from this position by staying in with weak hands when other players choose not to wager much during the initial round of betting.
The beauty of being in a late position at the poker table is that you’ll enjoy this same advantage during each subsequent round of betting. You’ll have more control over the poker table you’re playing at than you will when you’re in other positions.
Your position at the poker table will change with every passing hand. Know how you should bet and when you should stay in a hand based on where you’re sitting in relation to the dealer.
