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Best online poker sites in Canada for October 2024

Discover the best online poker sites in Canada, hand-picked by experts. Legal and licensed, these sites offer real money poker variants, large player pools, and bonuses. Play poker online at a site below and supercharge your experience with our top tips.

Our top poker sites for real money

#1 TOP RATED CASINO
888 Casino
ca
$100Bonus
286 claimed this offer in the last month
Payout4-5 days
Win Rate98.44%
Deposit options include
visa
mastercard
skrill
neteller
banktransfer
paysafecard
  • No deposit C$88 freeplay
  • Play in poker tournaments
  • 1st deposit bonus of C$400
  • Enjoy playing on your mobile
2
Party Casino
ca
C$700Bonus
198 claimed this offer in the last month
Payout1-2 days
Win Rate95.35%
Deposit options include
visa
mastercard
skrill
neteller
entropay
banktransfer
  • Play poker on mobile
  • C$600 prize in Sit & Go jackpot
  • Win rewards in poker Missions
  • Get C$22 free for bonus play
3
WPT Global
ca
$1,200Bonus
154 claimed this offer in the last month
Payout0-1 days
Win Rate96.22%
Deposit options include
visa
mastercard
banktransfer
skrill
paypal
applepay
4
GG Poker
ca
Deposit $20 Get $50 Free PlBonus
Payout1-2 days
Win Rate98.5%

The latest poker sites on our blacklist

We recommend loads of great Canadian poker sites, but we also have a list of sites we have come across that we think should be avoided. We use a 25-step review process to look at things like games, bonus terms and conditions, banking options, licensing and security. Unfortunately, not everyone passes our tests, and these are sites to avoid.

Expert Rating
1.5/10
Why you should avoid
  • Unprofessional customer support
  • Site operators linked to questionable practices
  • Not paid players their winnings
Expert Rating
1.2/10
Why you should avoid
  • Reports of players not receiving winnings
  • Misleading claims of licensing
  • Unresponsive to customer complaints
Expert Rating
1.5/10
Why you should avoid
  • 18+ months for withdrawal
  • Locked-out accounts
  • Slow response times

Playing poker online

Online casinos offer a varied selection of poker games, from Texas hold 'em and stud poker to the ever-popular five-card draw. With both virtual and live dealer options to choose from, you can take a chance against the computer or compete in real, high stakes tournaments with professional dealers.

888 Casino
ca
$100Bonus
Payout4-5 days
Win Rate98.44%

Real money vs free poker

Playing online poker for real money games and playing for free both have their pros and cons. Below we've provided a quick rundown of some of the positives and negatives of each:

Real money pokerFree poker
Most obviously, it’s possible to win significant sums of cash if you play well and/or get lucky
Offers a risk-free environment in which you can practice your skills
You can make use of a welcome bonus and earn loyalty points while you play
Try out different variations of poker that you may not be familiar with
Many players will only show their true colors, by bluffing for example, in a game where cash is involved
Enjoy a more laidback approach to poker, maybe making a few friends along the way
Get a bad beat or make a careless mistake and you stand to lose real money
Impossible to win any real cash prizes, with the possible exception of freeroll tournaments
Obscure variants might not have as many tables available for play as you would like
Since there’s no cash on the line, players won’t necessarily behave the same way as in a 'real' game
Play poker online for moneyPlay free games

How we choose the best online poker rooms

To determine what makes a great poker room, all sites we review are subject to our strict 25-step reviews process.

  • Trustworthiness

    A poker room that takes an overly high rake or has a poor reputation for fairness immediately raises red flags with us. Poker is no fun if the odds are unfairly stacked against players, so we’ll never recommend a site that we don’t believe is worthy of your trust.

  • Freerolls and bonuses

    Bonuses and other 'added value' promos, such as freerolls, can go a long way towards padding your bankroll and helping you to stay in the action for longer. We look for sites that regularly offer great bonuses and extras, for players both new and old.

  • Range of games and tournaments

    Although Texas Hold'em is the main feature of many online poker sites, we’ll always check to make sure that they have other options available, and that they offer tournaments with a range of buy-ins and blinds that make it possible for everyone to take part.

  • Poker apps and mobile play

    Playing effective poker on your smartphone or tablet (whether that takes the form of a dedicated app or a slick mobile site) is indicative that a poker room keeps up with trends in modern technology. All good poker casino sites will cater for both Apple iOS and Android devices.

  • Payout speed

    Struggling to secure your payout after landing a large cash prize is painful. If you’ve won fair and square you should always be able to cash out quickly and easily. We never recommend sites with a poor reputation for paying out.

  • Popularity

    Without a steady flow of players on an online poker room, you’ll end up playing at half-empty tables or potentially struggling to find any games at all. We don’t want that to happen, so we always like to check if a site has plenty of players for you to challenge.

  • Drawing a conclusion

    Our highest-ranking sites have scored well in all the sections above - they’re safe, have plenty of well-frequented tables available across multiple formats, payout efficiently and also offer strong customer support. We believe they are the best poker rooms for players to hit the tables online.

    View our recommended casinos

What is a freeroll in poker?

Freerolls are poker tournaments that are free to enter but offer real money prizes. If you’re new to poker, it may be a pleasant surprise to hear you can compete for free to win real money!

Casino.org Poker Freerolls

Find out more about poker freeroll tournaments and get exclusive entry passwords from Casino.org on our poker freerolls page.

What types of poker can I play online?

Some of the most popular online poker games for mobile and desktop include:

  • Texas Hold’em
  • Five-Card Draw
  • Omaha High/Low
  • Seven-Card Stud
  • Razz
  • HORSE
  • Pai Gow
  • Caribbean Stud

Texas Hold'em is the most common in both online and offline poker rooms. You never know, one of the others could be your new favorite… No matter the type, always keep an eye out for a healthy bonus.

Texas Hold'em

Arguably the most popular form of poker in the world, it sees players using two hole cards and five community cards to construct the best hand they can with several rounds of betting. If you’re not familiar with this popular game’s rules, check out our how to play poker page.

Poker Texas Holdem

How to win at poker

To start winning at real money online poker, take some time to improve your knowledge. All aspiring winners first need to be comfortable with the following angles of the game.

  1. 1
    Knowing poker hand rankings from memory
  2. 2
    Understanding the function and importance of table position
  3. 3
    Managing and maintaining an excellent bankroll

Fortunately, we’ve got everything covered before you face the dealer. Download our poker rankings chart, learn the advantages of late or early position, and get the lowdown on good bankroll management.

Top poker tips

  • Study your opponents - online poker is about playing people, not cards

    Although physical tells are eliminated in poker games online, carefully watching your opponents’ betting habits will tell you a lot.

  • Multi-table to increase your play volume, and your winnings

    Poker fans know that folding is something you’ll do a LOT. Playing at multiple tables keeps boredom from setting in, just don’t take on too many at once!

  • Play at micro-stakes for just a few cents - you can't do that in live casinos

    Enjoy all of the thrills of real money poker and hone your skills without the pressure of a high stakes game.

  • Use our exclusive Casino.org freerolls to boost your bankroll at no risk

    You rarely get something for nothing, but if you get lucky in one of our freeroll tournaments, you can win a cash prize!

Free poker hand ranking chart

Check the strength of your hand with our downloadable poker hands chart. Get an understanding of ranking, and whether you should raise or fold.

While this is perfect for mobile poker apps and online games, land-based casinos frown upon cheat sheets on the table. If you're new to the game, you can first learn how to play poker. You might not see a royal flush often, but keep your eyes peeled for more common high-ranking hands like the flush and full house.

Get your FREE CHART

of poker hand rankings!

DOWNLOAD PDF

Best poker sites for beginners

Poker sites that are suitable for beginners tend to offer plenty of Texas Hold’em games, and other more simple variations of poker along with many low stakes tournaments. Here are a few things to look for if you’re a beginner hoping to get into playing online poker:

  • Poker sites offering a wide range of low stakes tournaments
  • A good range of beginner-friendly bonuses and promotions
  • Clear policies

Best Poker Sites for Advanced Players

Players who have a good understanding of how to play poker and aren’t put off by tournaments with higher buy-ins are usually on the lookout for different features than total beginners. Here are some of our top tips on what players with this level of experience should be keeping an eye out for.

  • Poker sites offering an extensive range of poker variants
  • Poker games with high volumes of traffic and good competition
  • Games and tournaments with high stakes and considerable prizes

Playing Poker with Friends

Many online casinos offer poker games that you can play with friends where you can choose between cash games and tournaments. All players need to register for an account at the chosen casino before you can start to play. The games can usually be played on desktops as well as mobiles, but this does depend on the casino in question.

Live Poker Site Traffic

Those playing poker at live casinos should bear live traffic in mind. You might be tempted to head straight to the most famous online casinos in Canada, but if you opt for smaller, lesser-known sites instead you might find that the competition isn’t quite so fierce.

Importance of table position

Think the strength of your starting hand is all that stands between you and a juicy pot? Think again. Poker games online are all about where you're sitting in relation to the action, and Texas Hold'em is no different.

Late position

If you're in late position (as in the last or near last to make a betting decision) you will get a good chance to see what everyone else does before you. Half the table may have folded their cards, or a couple of players may have just called a bet. If you're last to act you may want to punish such passiveness with a raise.

Play strong hands in late position, but mix it up with marginal hands like Q-10, J-9, A-9 and so on in an unraised pot. Plus, your aggressive play before the flop can add credibility to any strong play you might want to use on the next round if a garbage flop falls and you want to try a steal. Be ready to fold your high pair if you get a lot of action with a threatening flop.

Late Position Poker

Early position

Conversely, if you're in early position, such as after the big blind or next to them (Under the Gun, or UTG+1), you should stick to playing with strong hands that will hold up to raises. It's all well and good raising A-10 UTG but what if a player re-raises you from late position - what are you going to do now? And if you call, you'll be first to act after the flop has been dealt. You will have no idea what the player in late position is going to do after you.

Some players advocate not even playing ANY hands in early position, but if you do, make sure they're decent.

Early Position Poker

Good poker bankroll management

As much a vital tip with online poker as it is with live betting for cash, make sure you have your bankroll sorted before you start playing for real money.

It's easy to have dollar signs appear in front of your eyes and want to dive into that $50 tournament or $5/10 cash game. But if you don't have the funds behind you if things go bad, you'll quickly go bust.

The best advice is to set aside a certain amount of money you're prepared to bet with. If you take a hit, drop down the levels, build your bankroll back up, then make a jump up the stakes if you're comfortable.

As a rule of thumb, when playing cash games you should have 20-30 buy-ins set aside (especially if you're playing more than one table). For tournaments, a bankroll of 50 buy-ins is sensible. This way you can handle the swings and reload without any worries.

Bankroll Management

Advanced poker tips

You could spend a lifetime mastering poker, but many experienced players will be able to read other players' moves - especially online - and call out bluffs just with well-timed aggression.

Online poker lends itself perfectly to the improving player as there are so many resources out there for Internet gamers. You also get to play more games and see more hands than live players do, which really accelerates your learning. We'll take you through some more advanced tips for improving your game in the following areas:

  1. 1
    Playing at multiple tables (multi-tabling)
  2. 2
    How to count cards in poker
  3. 3
    Using tracking software

What is multi-tabling in poker?

If you're looking to play seriously, learning to multi-table poker online is a key element of your online poker career.

Multi-tabling simply means loading up your screen with as many real money poker tables as you can possibly manage at once. Many pros will play between 16 and 24 online poker games simultaneously - whether they're cash games, Sit 'n' Gos, or tournaments - as this allows for faster play, more volume and a higher ROI (return on investment). Also, if you've signed up to one of our recommended poker rooms with a deposit bonus, multi-tabling will ensure a faster play-through of any real money bonus you want to activate.

Poker Multi-tab

How to count cards in poker

The concept of counting cards is fairly simple – keeping track of which cards are still left in the deck, to help you decide on your next move. Although this is a popular tactic in blackjack, things are a little more complicated with poker. You won’t be able to count cards when you’re playing poker online for money. That’s because the deck is randomly shuffled after each round, but you can still give it a go in a land-based casino.

1. Consider which cards you would need to complete your desired hand.

2. Based on how many of that number or suit are already visible on the table, you can count how many are left in the unseen cards (cards left in the deck plus cards of your opponents).

3. By dividing this number by the total number of unseen cards, you can get an indication of your chances of getting a desired card.

4. You won’t be able to count cards when you’re playing poker online for money. That’s because the deck is randomly shuffled after each round, but you can still give it a go in a land-based casino.

Poker tracking software

Finally, and this is particularly for you cash game fans, consider buying some tracking software. Heads-Up Displays (HUDs), such as PokerTracker 4, sit on your poker room's software and allows you to track other players at your table. It's invaluable if you're planning on taking detailed notes on regular opponents.

Poker terms glossary

Take a bad beat without looking like a fish with our poker glossary. Learn the most common terms and phrases for your next game, and if you’re interested in learning more check out our extended gambling and casino glossary.

TermDefinition
ActionPlayer's turn to bet, raise, or fold
All-inCommitting all your chips in a poker hand
BackdoorA draw requiring two connectors or same suited cards to complete
Bad BeatAn unlucky loss against the odds
BankrollAmount of money a player sets aside for poker
Big blindMandatory bet before cards are dealt (by player after two seats after button)
BoatFull house
BlindMandatory bet placed before cards are dealt
BluffBet or raise without the best hand in order to induce an opponent's fold
BoardShared or community cards
BubblePlayer eliminated before the money in a tournament
BurnThe card the dealer discards before dealing community cards
ButtonSeat where the dealer is sitting
CallBet the amount of another player's bet
CheckChoosing not to bet but stay in the hand
ChipA token used in poker to represent cash, with different colored chips representing different cash values.
Continuation betA bet made post-flop by player who bet first pre-flop
Drawing deadWhen a player cannot win the hand, regardless of community cards to come
FishAn inexperienced or bad player
Fifth streetThe final community card, or river, dealt out
FlopThe first three community cards dealt
FlushA hand consisting of five cards all the same suit
FoldThrowing away your hand
Fourth StreetThe turn card
Full houseA hand consisting of three-of-a-kind plus a pair
FreerollA free tournament with no buy-in and a pre-determined prizepool to be won
FreezeoutA game without a re-buy option
GutshotUncompleted straight requiring one card
Heads-upA poker game between two players only
KickerA highest unpaired card in a hand used to break ties
LimpTo call the big blind pre-flop
LooseA reckless or aggressive player
MonsterA very strong hand
MTTA multi-table tournament
MuckTo fold a hand without revealing hole cards
NutsThe best possible hand
OffsuitHole cards of different suits
OutsThe cards remaining in the pack that can complete a winning hand
OverpairHolding a pocket pair higher than any possible using community cards
Play the boardUsing all community cards to create hand
Pocket pairA pair in your starting hand
PositionA player's turn in betting order
QuadsFour of a kind
RagsTerrible opening hand, like 7-2 offsuit
RainbowA flop consisting of cards of different suits
RaiseTo bet more than the previous bet
RakeA percentage of pot taken by cardroom
RiverThe fifth and final community card
SatelliteA tournament awarding entry into a larger tournament
SetThree of a kind including a pair in the hole
ShowdownTwo or more players revealing cards to decide a winning hand
Side potExtra pots contested after a multiple all-in
Sit and GoA tournament that starts once all seats are filled (normally a single-table tournament)
Small blindMandatory small bet before cards are dealt (made by player seated after button)
StraightA hand consisting of connecting cards
Split potAn equally divided pot for tied hands
TiltA loss control of your emotions in a poker game, meaning you become aggressive and angry (due to a bad beat).
Top pairA pair including a hole card and the highest community card
TripsThree of a kind including only one hole card
TurnThe fourth community card
Under the gunThe first player to act before the flop

The history of online poker

Within its short life so far, online poker has already had some momentous highs and shocking lows. Let's take a look at some of the key moments in the early life of poker on the Internet.

  • 1998

    The first online poker site, Planet Poker, is launched, with real money Texas Hold'em games available.
  • 2003

    Chris Moneymaker becomes the first online qualifier to win the World Series of Poker Main Event. He had qualified for $80 on PokerStars.com, winning his entry into the $10,000 showpiece.
  • 2010

    British Columbia starts to offer government sanctioned poker online, becoming the first province in Canada to do so.
  • 2010

    Jonathan Duhamel becomes the first Canadian to win the World Series of Poker Main Event, winning $8.9 million in the process.
  • 2011

    Black Friday - The US Department of Justice shuts down the websites of five of the biggest Internet poker providers for money laundering, including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, and UltimateBet/Absolute Poker. PokerStars continued to operate in Canada so customers aren't affected, but Canadians who played at Full Tilt Poker and UltimateBet/Absolute Poker struggle to get their money.
  • 2012

    There is a huge boom in mobile gaming, which many online poker sites take advantage of. This means players can now play on-the-go for real money on their smartphone and tablet devices.
  • 2012

    The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp announces a modernization plan for its gambling business, including a new online poker site.
  • 2013

    The world's largest poker website, PokerStars, deals its 100 billionth hand.
  • 2013

    Manitoba launches its own provincial online poker site, PlayNow.com.
  • 2015

    Anthony Spinella wins the first ever online World Series of Poker bracelet.
  • 2016

    A platform migration takes place where Full Tilt Poker is merged into PokerStars, making it even bigger.

Casino.org expert verdict

Poker is one of those games that might take just a few minutes to learn (well, some basic rules anyway) but, with so many different variants to pick up and quirky tactics being employed by other players, it can take much longer than that to master. It’s our hope that the tips and information above will stand you in the best stead possible when you play.

When you’re ready to jump in, maybe after a little practice in free play first, the sites we list on this page all represent great options for established and brand new players alike.

Top poker sites in 2024

RankMobile casinoNumber of gamesWelcome bonusPlay online
#18882,500+$100Play Now
#2Party Casino1000C$700Play Now
#3WPT GlobalWPT Global$1,200Play Now
#4GG Poker-Deposit $20 Get $50 Free PlPlay Now

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