The Best Poker Sites in Canada – Where to Play Poker Online in 2024
Online poker is one of the many forms of legal gambling in Canada. As a result, there is an abundance of quality poker rooms to choose from. However, there are also a few that you should probably avoid, which is why we’ve done all of the research to present you with the best real money poker sites in Canada.
Our guide will not only cover the exciting tournaments, the latest bonuses, and what you can expect from our recommended sites, but also the history of poker, the current gambling laws across Canada, and more.
- All
100% up to $1,000
100% up to $1,000
- Instant heads-up rematch feature
- Play online poker at anonymous tables
- Weekly $200,000 guaranteed tournaments
100% up to $1,000
100% up to $1,000
- Bad-beat jackpots & all-in cash out feature
- Poker app available on iOS, Android, and PC
- Participate in Sunday majors & progressive bounties
100% up to $500
100% up to $500
- Enjoy anonymous tables & zone poker
- Full guides on how to play poker for beginners
- Turbo tournaments & $2M in weekly guarantees
200% up to $1,000
200% up to $1,000
- Market-leading rakeback rate of 36%
- Downloadable app & instant play feature available
- Accumulate 20+ Gold Chips & claim no-deposit bonuses
100% up to $1,000 + Free Tournament Tickets
100% up to $1,000 + Free Tournament Tickets
- Enjoy mystery bounty tournaments
- Game bonuses and tourney money awarded randomly
- Daily $1,000 guaranteed challenges for loyalty club members
The Best Poker Websites in Canada
After doing the research and trying out numerous online poker rooms, we’ve managed to compile a list of the five best poker sites in Canada that offer a premium overall experience.
- Bodog – The best Canadian poker site overall
- Betonline – Complete daily mission to earn rewards
- Bovada – Sit and go tournaments with jackpots of up to 1,000x
- Everygame – Claim a 200% poker welcome bonus
- Sportsbetting.ag – 50+ scheduled tournaments a day
What Makes Our Top 5 Casinos the Best for Online Poker
Now that you’ve seen online casino sites managed to capture our attention, it’s time to take a closer look at exactly what makes our top five Canadian online poker sites a cut above the rest.
1. Bodog – The Best Canadian Poker Site Overall
Topping our list of the best poker sites in Canada is Bodog. It launched in 2004 and runs on the Pai Wang Luo Poker network, which has more than a decent amount of traffic. The site is a big hit with poker fans thanks to the reliable payouts, user-friendly software, range of poker games, and excellent VIP program.
You can take a seat at a sit-and-go table for as little as $0.50 and for high rollers, the buy-ins reach $60, sometimes even higher. There’s also an array of scheduled tournaments on offer suitable for all budgets, with guaranteed tournament prize pools reaching up to $100,000. In addition, there are several cash games, with buy-ins ranging from $2-$2,000.
Online poker is much faster than in-person poker already, but if you want to maximize your time even further, you can use Bodog’s zone poker feature. As soon as you fold a hand, you are moved to a new table where you are dealt a new hand instantly, meaning there’s no waiting around.
What we like:- Play at cash tables for just $2
- Innovative zone poker games
- Operates on the Psi Wang Luo Poker
- Sit and go buy-ins range from $0.50- $60
What we don’t:- Not many bonuses outside of the VIP program
2. Betonline – Complete Daily Missions to Earn Rewards
There’s a wide variety of tournaments at Betonline, and whatever your bankroll, you’ll find one suited for you. One exciting addition to the schedule at Betonline is mystery tournaments which pay out a mystery bounty when you knock someone out. You can also try your luck at a sit-and-go tournament and buy-ins start at just $0.05.
At cash tables, there’s a bad beat jackpot option, and should you have a great hand like a straight flush that gets beaten, you will win a special jackpot. You even win part of the jackpot just for being at the table where this happens, even if you weren’t involved in the hand.
They have so many promotions for poker players here, including a welcome bonus and a rewards program that grants you bonuses every single week. You can improve your bonus amount by playing more and completing special daily missions.
What we like:- Sit-and-go buy-ins start at $0.05
- Free poker odds calculator in games
- Win a jackpot for suffering a “bad beat”
- Earn rewards just for playing and completing daily missions
What we don’t:- High fees on card deposits
3. Bovada – Sit and Go Tournaments With Jackpots up to 1,000x Buy-In
Bovada is a sister site of Bodog and also runs on the Pai Wang Luo Poker network, which means that you will never struggle to find a seat at this Canadian poker site. The user interface is easy to use and looks slick on computers and phones. You can even customize your cards and table.
For poker players who like fast action and big wins, Bovada’s jackpot sit-and-go tournaments are ideal. The tournaments are played in “hyper-turbo” mode and blinds increase every three minutes, making games move at a rapid pace. Buy-ins range from $2-$100, the prize pool is determined by a spin of a wheel before the game starts and you can win up to 1,000x your buy-in.
Bovada has a 100% welcome bonus but doesn’t offer many ongoing bonuses. However, you are automatically entered into their VIP program which grants cash bonuses and other perks the more you play. Best of all, this reward program spreads across the poker room, sportsbook, and casino. And if you wager at any of them you’ll gain points.
What we like:- 100% welcome bonus
- Customize your table and cards
- Win up to 1,000 times your buy-in at sit and goes
- Earn VIP points at their poker room, casino, and sportsbook
What we don’t:- Maximum rake is $4
4. Everygame – Claim a 200% Welcome Bonus
Everygame is one of the most trusted destinations for online poker in Canada and has been operating for around three decades so it’s clearly doing something right. The site runs on the Horizon Poker Network which doesn’t have as much traffic compared to other networks. However, you will always find active cash games and wait times are minimal for sit and gos.
There’s a diverse range of cash games at Everygame with buy-ins for everyone’s bankroll. However, it’s the tournaments that really stand out here. There are daily freerolls, where you can win seats to their guaranteed $10,000 Sunday showdown tournament and a variety of other guaranteed prize tournaments with buy-ins starting from just $1.10 and ranging up to $100+.
One of the major selling points of Everygame is its poker bonuses and promotions. It starts as soon as you sign up with a 200% deposit match. After that, you can claim 100% reload bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, and 36% rakeback, which is one of the best you’ll find anywhere.
What we like:- 36% rakeback available
- Participate in daily freerolls
- Offers one of the best poker welcome bonuses
- $10,000 Sunday showdown weekly tournament
What we don’t:- Traffic can be low at times
5. Sportsbetting.ag – 50+ Tournaments a day
Operating on the Chico poker network, Sportsbetting.ag is one of the best Canada poker sites. It offers a variety of poker games to its users, with the majority of games being Hold’em and Omaha. However, there are a few other variants including 7-card stud and HORSE.
You can find 50+ scheduled tournaments every day and buy-ins for these range from $1.10 to $200+. This poker site also offers unique six plus Hold’em. In this format, any cards below six are removed from the deck, which leads to some truly exciting gameplay and big hands.
Like Betonline, Sportsbetting.ag rewards its members for completing daily missions. There is also a range of other promotions and special features, including reloads, bad beat jackpots, and all-in cash out that allows you to avoid bad beats by cashing out early after going all in.
What we like:- Play six plus Hold’em
- 50+ daily tournaments
- Offers all in early cashout
- Earn rewards for completing daily missions
What we don’t:- Could do with a few more poker variants
Tips on How to Find the Best Poker Sites in Canada
There are multiple factors to consider when trying to identify the best poker sites in Canada. We know that no two players are the same. As a result, what may seem like the perfect poker site to one might not seem as great to another.
However, there are certain characteristics that most desire and can be found at all of the most popular poker sites. The following points are what we pay the most attention to when reviewing a website.
- Tournaments: Sit-and-go’s are ideal as they are quick games and cash games you can play for as long as you want. But large scheduled tournaments are where you can win money way above your original buy-in. The top online poker websites will have dozens of tournaments every day and provide a range of satellite tournaments.
- Buy-ins: Player’s budgets can vary significantly and we rate sites that offer a diverse range of buy-ins so even the most casual of players and high rollers can find a suitable cash table or tournament.
- Game Variety: Texas Hold’em and Omaha are available at pretty much any online poker room. The best sites offer a few other varieties like 7-card stud, Omaha Hi/Lo, and more. Plus they provide a variety of no-limit, pot-limit, and fixed-limit games.
- Poker Bonuses: Everyone loves freebies and one of the biggest perks of joining gambling sites is being able to enjoy online casino bonuses. We want to say a generous welcome bonus plus other promotions like reloads, rakeback, no-deposit bonuses, freeroll tournaments, and VIP programs.
- Rake: All poker sites take a rake (a percentage of a buy-in) and we don’t expect sites to provide their service for free. However, the rake isn’t the same everywhere, and a rake of around 5% with a maximum of $ 3-4 or below is fairly good. We also prefer sites that don’t charge a rake if there’s no flop.
The History of Poker in Canada
Canada has a storied history of gambling that goes back centuries. After gaining independence from the British in the 19th century, gambling was not technically illegal for around 30 years. Then, in 1892, all forms of gambling were criminalized.
Throughout the 20th century, Canada started to loosen its laws on gambling and in 1969, the Omnibus Bill was passed. This saw sweeping social reform, including giving local governments more autonomy over their gambling laws. Lotteries were the first form of gambling to get mass legalization across the country.
It wasn’t until 1985 when the Canadian government passed Bill C-46 that casinos and other forms of gambling, including poker, started to become available. This bill amended the criminal code to fully decriminalize gambling and gave provinces almost complete control over their gambling laws. Soon after this, casinos and poker rooms started to open across the nation.
Canada has also played a major role in the online poker industry. Canadian Randy Burmer started the first-ever online poker site, Poker Planet, in 1998. In 2001 the Israeli-Candian Isai Sheninberg started one of the world’s top online poker sites, PokerStars.
Presently, gambling laws vary from province to province. However, playing online poker is legal in every province, some even have government-run poker sites.
How Old do You Have to be to Play Poker in Canada?
When it comes to legal online gambling in Canada, local provincial governments have control over gambling laws. This means that the legal gambling age differs from province to province. The table below shows the current legal gambling age in each Canadian province and territory.
Province/Territory Legal Gambling Age Alberta 18 British Columbia 19 Manitoba 18 New Brunswick 19 Newfoundland and Labrador 19 Northwest Territories 19 Nova Scotia 19 Nunavut 19 Ontario 19 Prince Edward Island 19 Quebec 18 Saskatchewan 19 Yukon 19 Are Online Poker Winnings Taxed in Canada?
If you’ve been wondering if you have to pay tax on gambling winnings in Canada, then you’ll be pleased to learn that any money made from gambling, including winnings from poker sites, is tax-free. According to the Income Tax Act, winnings from gambling are not a source of income and are therefore not subject to tax.
The Best Poker Bonuses in Canada
Playing poker online in Canada has many advantages compared to playing in person. Convenience is perhaps the biggest benefit but bonuses are a close second. The best online poker rooms in Canada reward their members with various rewards and promotions. Below, we run through some of the best bonuses to claim online.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses are often the biggest bonuses offered by online poker sites in Canada. Typically welcome bonuses are deposit matches. A casino will match a certain percentage of your first deposit.
For example, Bodog provides a 100% deposit match up to $1,000. If you deposit $500 when you first sign up, Bodog will match that and grant you an additional $500 cash bonus.
Reload Bonuses
Lots of real money poker sites also offer further deposit matches to existing customers known as reload bonuses. Just like welcome bonuses the poker room will match a certain percentage of your deposit amount.
These may be available on every deposit you make or a site may put a limit of one or two reload bonuses per week. The percentage match isn’t usually as high as the welcome bonus and is generally around 10-25%.
Freerolls
Freerolls are slightly different from most other bonuses as you are not guaranteed any cash. However, they are one of the finest promotions available at the best real money poker sites in Canada.
Some free tournaments may be available to any member but others may be limited to players who have deposited a certain amount in a given period or are part of a site’s loyalty program.
The prizes for winning or finishing “in the money” could be cash, loyalty points, entry into other tournaments with big prize pools, or occasionally in live events.
Rakeback
Whenever you play at real money poker sites, a portion of your tournament entry fee or the pot in cash games is raked (taken) by the site. A rakeback bonus is where the casino returns a percentage of the rake you have paid during a period back to you. The amount returned to you varies from site to site but is usually between 20% and 35%, and the best poker websites may go even higher.
How to Start Playing Poker Online in Canada Today
All you need to start playing at one of the best poker sites in Canada is an email address, phone, computer, and a deposit method. Signing up to a site is a piece of cake and takes just a few minutes.
Here’s an example of how to sign up to our top site, Bodog. However, you’ll find the procedure to be almost identical at all top poker sites in Canada.
Step 1: Visit the Website & Click on “Join”
Visit the Bodog homepage and click on the “Join” button that can be found at the top right-hand corner of the screen.
Step 2: Create Your Account
A pop-up box will appear, and you will need to enter your personal information. This includes your email address, name, and mobile number.
Step 3: Make Your First Deposit
Once your account is created you wou will need some money in it to start playing. After creating your account, you’ll automatically be taken to the Cashier section. Select the method you wish to use, provide the financial information, enter the amount, and confirm.
Step 4: Take a Seat
Now you are all ready to play online poker for real money in Canada. Click on either tournaments, sit and go, or cash games. Take a seat at a table with a suitable buy-in and start playing.
How to Qualify for Live Poker Tournaments Online
The best poker sites in Canada sometimes hold special “satellite” tournaments, which are where the prize is to win a seat in another larger tournament. In most instances, satellite tournament prizes will be entry to another online tournament, with a higher buy-in and bigger prize pool.
However, occasionally the prize will be free entry into a live poker tournament. On top of winning entry to the live tournament, you’ll often find that accommodation and travel costs are included. What makes this even better is that a lot of the time, these live tournaments take place in exciting and or exotic locations like the Caribbean.
So, to qualify for a live tournament, visit the tournament section of your poker site and see if there are any satellite tournaments offering entry as the top prize. Then simply register for it. After that, it gets harder as you will have to win to qualify for the live tournament.
Types of Poker Games Available in Canada
Poker is one of the most diverse card games with many different variants to try out. Some games are similar but some can be unalike and require a whole different set of skills. Let’s look at some of the most popular games available at the best Canada poker sites.
Texas Hold’em
Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker game with over 100 million players worldwide and can be found at all Canadian poker sites. Players are dealt two hole cards that are seen only by them. There is a round of betting before three face-up community cards (known as the flop) are dealt. Another round of betting takes place before the fourth community card (the turn) is dealt.
There’s one more betting round before the final face-up card (the river) is dealt and a final betting round takes place. The winner is determined by who has the best hand consisting of five cards made from any combination of hole cards and community cards.
Omaha
Omaha is the second most common game at the best poker rooms online. In this variant, players are dealt four private hole cards. Like Texas Hold’em there are five community cards dealt in three stages the flop, turn, and river. The rounds of betting also work the same as Texas Hold’em where players can bet pre-flop and after each time community cards are dealt.
The winner is who has the best five-card hand made up of exactly two of their hole cards and three of the community cards.
Omaha Hi/Lo
Omaha Hi/Lo works the same as Omaha in almost every aspect but with one big difference. The pot is split between the player with the best hand and the worst qualifying hand. A Qualifying hand means a low hand of five unpaired cards of eight or lower, with Ace counting as a one in a low hand.
Seven Card Stud
There are no community cards in Seven-card Poker and a player’s hand is made up entirely of cards they are dealt. The round starts with each player receiving three cards. Two are face-down and one is face-up so that all other players can see. As the round progresses players are dealt three more face-up cards and one more face-down.
5 Card Draw
Five-card draw used to be the game of choice for most poker players for a long time. In this game players are dealt five face-down cards and a round of betting occurs. After this round of betting, you can exchange as many of your original cards as you want (although some games may stipulate you can only exchange a max of 3 or 4). There is another round of betting and then the winner is the player with the best hand.
Razz
Razz is essentially seven-card stud poker but the winning player is whoever has the lowest instead of the highest. Another important aspect is that there is no 8 or better rule to win the pot. The game is typically played in fixed limit but can be played in pot limit or no limit.
Stud Hi/Lo
This is another variation of seven-card stud and is a combination of razz and stud poker. In this game, the pot is split with one half being won by the player with the highest and and the other half going to the player with the lowest hand.
Lowball Draw
Lowball draw rules and gameplay is the same as five-card draw. However, there is one big difference and that is that like Razz the person with the lowest hand wins the pot.
Horse
Horse is a mixed poker game and includes five different poker variants. Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Stud, and Stud Hi/Lo are played. Typically one hand of each poker type is played before starting the cycle again.
Limit and No Limit
Limit and no limit are not separate poker games refer to the amount that can be bet in certain games of poker like Texas Hold’em and Omaha and you’ll find cash and tournament games at the best poker sites in Canada in all three of these formats.
A fixed limit means there’s a fixed maximum limit any player can bet. A pot limit means that no rise higher than the current pot can be made. No limit means just that there is no limit to how much can be bet.
Best Mobile Casinos for Poker
A large percentage of gambling is done on mobile phones nowadays so it’s essential that whatever site you use has an excellent online casino app or mobile site. It’s even more important with poker as you could enter a tournament that can go on for hours and you may not be able to stay by your computer the whole time.
The best poker app in Canada is the same as the top site, which is Bodog. All of the same tournaments, cash games, and functions can be found on their mobile site. The graphics also look fantastic and it may look slightly better on phones than on computers.
All our other top sites also provide a fabulous mobile poker experience. They don’t all offer a downloadable app but you can access their mobile site from the browser on your phone.
Can I Play Poker for Free in Canada?
Some people love poker but either don’t have the extra cash to play for real money or just prefer not to risk any while playing. Also, people may be interested in gambling on poker but have no experience and would like to build up their skills before staking their hard-earned cash against more experienced players.
Luckily, there are a plethora of options to play poker for free in Canada. Many sites and apps provide strictly free poker games with no gambling for money at all.
In addition, many of the cCanada for real money also offer free play mode and you can play games without risking any cash. In some cases, you can play free poker tournaments and if you win you get free entry into real money tournaments, where you can win cash prizes without spending a penny.
Live Poker Rooms in Canada
There are more than 60 live poker rooms spread across Canada. In our table below, we highlight five of the top destinations for those looking for a live game.
Poker Room Address Deerfoot Inn and Casino 11500 35 St SE #1000, Calgary, AB T2Z 3W4, Canada Playground Poker Club 1500 QC-138 Unit C, Kahnawake, QC J0L 1B0, Canada Casino de Montreal 1 Ave du Casino, Montreal, Quebec H3C 4W7, Canada Casino Niagra 5705 Falls Ave, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6T3, Canada River Rock Casino Resort 8811 River Rd, Richmond, BC V6X 3P8, Canada Conclusion
Playing online poker in Canada for real money is completely legal and is much more convenient than taking a trip to your local casino poker room. There’s a multitude of sites to play at, improve your skill, and potentially make a lot of profit. If you want to enjoy the best online poker games in Canada, then any one of the five sites we’ve reviewed will serve you well. Each offers a range of tournaments, rewarding bonuses, and special features guaranteed to enhance your overall experience.
FAQs
What are the best online poker sites in Canada for real money?
Can you legally play poker online with real money in Canada?
What is the most popular poker site? .
Is poker tax-free in Canada?
Which poker sites are legal in Canada?
SafeBettingSites is a new UK initiative launched in 2020 to protect customers against fraudulent sites.
Our goal is to protect customers against unlicensed operations with user reviews and an online complaints system.
