Best online poker sites in Canada for September 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
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.
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.
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 poker | Most obviously, it’s possible to win significant sums of cash if you play well and/or get lucky | You can make use of a welcome bonus and earn loyalty points while you play | Many players will only show their true colors, by bluffing for example, in a game where cash is involved | Get a bad beat or make a careless mistake and you stand to lose real money | Obscure variants might not have as many tables available for play as you would like |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free poker | Offers a risk-free environment in which you can practice your skills | Try out different variations of poker that you may not be familiar with | Enjoy a more laidback approach to poker, maybe making a few friends along the way | Impossible to win any real cash prizes, with the possible exception of freeroll tournaments | Since there’s no cash on the line, players won’t necessarily behave the same way as in a 'real' game |
| Real money poker | Free 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 |
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.
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
- Five-Card Draw
- Omaha High/Low
- Seven-Card Stud
- Razz
- HORSE
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.
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.
- 1Knowing poker hand rankings from memory
- 2Understanding the function and importance of table position
- 3Managing 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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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.
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.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Action | Player's turn to bet, raise, or fold |
All-in | Committing all your chips in a poker hand |
Backdoor | A draw requiring two connectors or same suited cards to complete |
Bad Beat | An unlucky loss against the odds |
Bankroll | Amount of money a player sets aside for poker |
Big blind | Mandatory bet before cards are dealt (by player after two seats after button) |
Boat | Full house |
Blind | Mandatory bet placed before cards are dealt |
Bluff | Bet or raise without the best hand in order to induce an opponent's fold |
Board | Shared or community cards |
Bubble | Player eliminated before the money in a tournament |
Burn | The card the dealer discards before dealing community cards |
Button | Seat where the dealer is sitting |
Call | Bet the amount of another player's bet |
Check | Choosing not to bet but stay in the hand |
Chip | A token used in poker to represent cash, with different colored chips representing different cash values. |
Continuation bet | A bet made post-flop by player who bet first pre-flop |
Drawing dead | When a player cannot win the hand, regardless of community cards to come |
Fish | An inexperienced or bad player |
Fifth street | The final community card, or river, dealt out |
Flop | The first three community cards dealt |
Flush | A hand consisting of five cards all the same suit |
Fold | Throwing away your hand |
Fourth Street | The turn card |
Full house | A hand consisting of three-of-a-kind plus a pair |
Freeroll | A free tournament with no buy-in and a pre-determined prizepool to be won |
Freezeout | A game without a re-buy option |
Gutshot | Uncompleted straight requiring one card |
Heads-up | A poker game between two players only |
Kicker | A highest unpaired card in a hand used to break ties |
Limp | To call the big blind pre-flop |
Loose | A reckless or aggressive player |
Monster | A very strong hand |
MTT | A multi-table tournament |
Muck | To fold a hand without revealing hole cards |
Nuts | The best possible hand |
Offsuit | Hole cards of different suits |
Outs | The cards remaining in the pack that can complete a winning hand |
Overpair | Holding a pocket pair higher than any possible using community cards |
Play the board | Using all community cards to create hand |
Pocket pair | A pair in your starting hand |
Position | A player's turn in betting order |
Quads | Four of a kind |
Rags | Terrible opening hand, like 7-2 offsuit |
Rainbow | A flop consisting of cards of different suits |
Raise | To bet more than the previous bet |
Rake | A percentage of pot taken by cardroom |
River | The fifth and final community card |
Satellite | A tournament awarding entry into a larger tournament |
Set | Three of a kind including a pair in the hole |
Showdown | Two or more players revealing cards to decide a winning hand |
Side pot | Extra pots contested after a multiple all-in |
Sit and Go | A tournament that starts once all seats are filled (normally a single-table tournament) |
Small blind | Mandatory small bet before cards are dealt (made by player seated after button) |
Straight | A hand consisting of connecting cards |
Split pot | An equally divided pot for tied hands |
Tilt | A loss control of your emotions in a poker game, meaning you become aggressive and angry (due to a bad beat). |
Top pair | A pair including a hole card and the highest community card |
Trips | Three of a kind including only one hole card |
Turn | The fourth community card |
Under the gun | The 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.
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1998
The first online poker site, Planet Poker, is launched, with real money Texas Hold'em games available.
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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.
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2010
British Columbia starts to offer government sanctioned poker online, becoming the first province in Canada to do so.
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2010
Jonathan Duhamel becomes the first Canadian to win the World Series of Poker Main Event, winning $8.9 million in the process.
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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.
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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.
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2012
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp announces a modernization plan for its gambling business, including a new online poker site.
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2013
The world's largest poker website, PokerStars, deals its 100 billionth hand.
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2013
Manitoba launches its own provincial online poker site, PlayNow.com.
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2015
Anthony Spinella wins the first ever online World Series of Poker bracelet.
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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
| Rank | Casino | Number of games | Payout speed | More about the casino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
#1
| 888 | 2,500+ | 4-5 days | |
#2
| Party Casino | 1000 | 1-2 days | |
#3
| PokerStars | 1000 | 1-3 days |
FAQ
How can I find reputable poker sites online?
The best way to find safe poker sites on the web is to follow the links on this page. We recommend only the most highly regarded rooms on the net so you won't be left cheated out of your valuable funds.
What do I need in order to play poker online?
As long as you've got a decent PC, Mac or smartphone you can easily enjoy poker online. You will also need a good internet connection in order to avoid any issues while playing.
Where do I get poker software for my computer?
Every poker site will provide a software client for you to download from their website. Download the software, create an account and log in to start playing. Some poker rooms also offer a 'no download' version so you can play on their site via your web browser, without downloading big programs that clog up your hard drive.
Can I play poker online for free?
Yes. Most good poker sites offer 'free to play' games where you can try out the various games for free before making a real money deposit. Most big sites also offer daily poker freerolls where you can win cash without paying to enter the tournaments. Casino.org also hosts a number of exclusive weekly freerolls for its visitors.
Can I play online poker on my mobile or tablet?
Yes. Poker rooms and casinos on mobile have exploded in 2024, and you can now play poker via your smartphone or tablet on many major poker sites. The graphics may not be quite as good as your desktop, but you can't beat it for convenience and poker on the go.
Which other poker variations can I play online?
If a poker variant has been invented, chances are you can play it online. While Texas Hold'em is the most popular poker variation out there, Omaha and Stud are catching up in terms of popularity. A lot of online rooms will also offer games like Razz (a type of Stud where the lowest hand is the winning hand), 4-max, 6-max and Heads-Up Hold'em.
What's the difference between poker tournaments and cash games?
In tournaments you'll receive chips to play with. In a freezeout tournament, when you've run out of chips, you are out. Rebuy and re-entry tournaments are becoming more popular. They allow you to re-enter or rebuy your place (with real money) back in if you run out of chips.
Cash games allow you to sit down with a minimum or maximum amount, and you can leave the game whenever you like . The blinds remain constant throughout.
What's the difference between Limit and No Limit poker games?
In No Limit games, there's no maximum bet that has to be placed - as long as you have chips in front of you, you can raise as much as you want. Limit games prohibit betting above a set limit at any time. Pot Limit games, most notably Pot Limit Omaha, allow you to raise only the amount of the total pot at any time.
Are online poker games rigged?
While there have been many cases of cheating and collusion in online poker, major sites in 2022 are above-board and totally legit. The biggest rooms are independently audited and regulated to safeguard players' funds and provide a risk-free playing environment.
Is poker online purely luck, or can you use strategy to improve the odds of winning?
It's often said that for beginners, poker is 70% luck and 30% skill, with those figures reversing for skilled pros. While luck plays a big part in online poker, there's an incredible amount of skill in making money at the game, in betting strategy as well as psychology, bluffing, and aggression.
How do you play poker?
Poker is a game played against other players, with the aim being to get the strongest hand at the table. Community cards are placed in the middle for all players to use, then players are dealt their own hand of cards. Bets on whether they think their hand will be better than those of the other players are placed in rounds, with players receiving additional cards as the rounds progress. You can learn more about how to play poker with our poker guide.
How many decks of cards are used for poker?
Poker is usually played with one standard deck of 52 cards and the deck is often reshuffled between rounds.
What poker apps can you win real money on?
Real money poker on apps is extremely popular with players in 2022. Any online casino or online poker site with a mobile app version will allow you to play for real money. This includes well-known sites like 888 and PokerStars. Read up on our expert advice about the best app casinos.