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The best online poker sites in Canada are those that tick as many poker boxes as possible. They offer a mix of games and variants, plus high poker traffic, a mix of blinds and tourney fees, plus a satisfactory user experience in all regards.
Selecting the leading online poker sites in Canada is a tough task, but we reviewed as many sites as we could find, and we present our findings to you now.
Best Canadian Online Poker Sites
Best Online Poker Sites in Canada Compared
The great news for online poker players in Canada is that there are plenty of venues to play at. In a moment, we’ll introduce you to the three Canadian poker sites that we feel are the best. First, though, we’ll summarise what stands out about each of our top ten selections.
| Poker Site | Welcome Offer | Best For … |
|---|---|---|
| #1 CoinPoker | 150% on your first deposit, up to $2,000 | Top Online Poker Site Overall |
| #2 ACR Poker | Has the Friendliest Play Interaction | Widest Range of Poker Variants |
| #3 Stake Poker | 200% up to $3,000 | Best Poker Site for Crypto Players |
| #4 GG Poker | 100% matched deposit up to $600 or $100 rewards package | Leader for All-in or Fold Tournaments |
| #5 WPT Global | 100% match on your first deposit, up to $3,000 + $16.20 instant cash bonus | Number 1 for Satellite Tournaments |
| #6 Bodog | 100% match welcome bonus up to $1,000 | Top Site for No-Limit Hold’em |
| #7 Black Chip Poker | 100% of your 1st deposit, up to $2,000 | Best for Desktop and Mobile Poker Apps |
| #8 888poker | 100% Bonus up to $1000 + $8 no deposit bonus | Leader for Extra Rakeback from Your Poker Play |
| #9 Ya Poker | 100% match on your first deposit, up to $2,000 | Widest Range of Buy-Ins and Blinds |
| #10 Jack Poker | 20% up to $400 (instant) + 300% up to $2,000 (rake-release) + Welcome Quests | Has the Friendliest Player Interaction |
Top Three Online Poker Sites in Canada
#1 Coin Poker – Top Online Poker Site Overall
CoinPoker makes it to the top spot in our list of the best poker sites in Canada, and quite effortlessly, too. It has the widest selection of Hold’em and Omaha games, a fantastic range of tournaments and SnGs, plus it accepts a large number of currencies, including most cryptocurrencies. Safe and secure, and with a proven track record for fairness, Coin Poker is our top online poker site overall, and we’re confident it soon will be yours, too.
- The Flop: 150% on your first deposit, up to $2,000, 33% rakeback, weekly freerolls.
- Top Variants Available: NL Texas Hold’em, PL Omaha, 5 Card PL Omaha.
- Formats Available: Cash Games, MTTs, SnGs, Satellites, Freerolls.
- Cashier: Cryptocurrencies, Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, Apple Pay. PIX.
- The Nuts: Offers complete anonymity, including a private registration process and the use of cryptocurrencies.
- Bad Beat: Might be too crypto-heavy for some.
| Welcome Bonus | 150% on your first deposit |
| Promo Code | No Code Required |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 |
| How to Redeem | For every 10% of your rake target you get paid 10% of your bonus |
CoinPoker: What Stands Out
- Instant withdrawals to your crypto wallet
- Customer funds secure and visible on-chain
- Lifetime rakeback of 33% available
#2 ACR Poker – Widest Range of Poker Variants
When non-poker players think about poker, they probably think about the kind of poker seen in old cowboy movies – draw poker, where at least one player has a full house and someone invariably gets shot. There’s a lot more to poker than that, of course – Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, Draw, Razz, HORSE … everyone has their favourite. If there’s a particular poker variant you want to play, then you’re more likely to find it at ACR Poker than anywhere else.
- The Flop: 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000. $50 for every friend you refer. Freerolls.
- Top Variants Available: NL/PL Texas Hold’em, Omaha Hi, Omaha Hi/Lo, 5-Card Omaha, 7-Card Stud, 7-Card Stud 8s or Better.
- Formats Available: Cash Games, MTTs, SnGs, Satellites, Freerolls.
- Cashier: Bitcoin, Visa, MasterCard.
- The Nuts: Learn how to play any poker variant at the site. ACR also offers a complete course in poker strategy.
- Bad Beat: Low poker traffic on the more obscure variants.
| Welcome Bonus | 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 |
| Promo Code | No Code Required |
| Minimum Deposit | $25 |
| How to Redeem | $1 of the bonus is credited to your account for every 27.5 award points earned |
ACR Poker: What Stands Out
- Totally secure – personal info not shared with anyone
- Has been around since 2001 and has a ‘no bot’ guarantee
- Available on all devices – Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android or any browser.
#3 Stake Poker – Best Poker Site for Crypto Players
Anonymity is important to all poker players, and especially online poker players in Canada. Stake Poker promises a completely secure experience, but if you want to ensure your poker dealings are kept 100% percent to yourself, then you’ll need to use a cryptocurrency for transactions. Stake Poker is the global leader when it comes to crypto players, accepting 21 cryptocurrencies in total, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, Bitcoin Cash and Tron. The poker available at Stake Poker is pretty good, too!
- The Flop: Welcome Bonus 200% up to $3,000. $500k All-in or Fold Jackpot. £1M Bad Beat Jackpot.
- Top Variants Available: Texas Hold’em, Omaha.
- Formats Available: Cash Games, MTTs, SnGs, Freerolls.
- Cashier: Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay, Apple Pay, SEPA, PIX.
- The Nuts: Choose from 21 different cryptocurrencies to fund your account, including ‘lesser known’ cryptos such as Cronos, ApeCoin, Dai and Uniswap.
- Bad Beat: Only has Texas Hold’em and Omaha as variants.
| Welcome Bonus | 200% deposit bonus up to $3,000 |
| Promo Code | SMPBONUS |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 |
| How to Redeem | Wagering requirements of 40 times the bonus amount |
Stake Poker: What Stands Out
- Accepts more cryptos than any other online poker site in Canada
- Easy registration – all you need is an email address
- Ideal for beginners with friendly, moderated online chat
Is Online Poker Legal in Canada?
The short answer is yes. The long answer is also yes, but it’s slightly complicated. Online poker is legal in Canada, so you’ve no fears there. However, Sections 201 to 206 of the federal Criminal Code mean that the provision of all forms of gambling and betting is illegal throughout almost all of Canada.
Online poker in Ontario is legal and has been regulated in that province since 2022. Players in Ontario can play at state-licensed online poker sites, but there are some restrictions concerning the types of poker available and the players available to play against.
For players in the rest of Canada, or for players in Ontario who wish to play with fewer restrictions, offshore poker sites are available. These sites are based outside of Canada and therefore have no obligation to operate within Canadian law. Most, but not all, of these sites are happy to accept poker players from Canada.
Are Poker Winnings Taxed in Canada?
In most countries, gambling winnings are not taxed, whereas in a few, such as the United States, poker winnings are taxed. The question you are obviously asking is, when playing online poker in Canada, will winnings be subject to taxation?
The answer is probably no. If you are a casual player who just wins or loses a few dollars a day, then your winnings will not be subject to tax. However, if gambling income is your sole source of income, then yes, your winnings will be taxed. However (again), it’s historically been very difficult for the Canada Revenue Agency to gather any tax from gamblers, so it’s nothing you need to really worry about.
If you play at offshore poker sites, i.e. poker sites that are neither located nor licensed in Canada, then taxation is something you definitely do not have to worry about. If you have any doubts about the taxation status of your online poker play, then take a look at this article on TaxLawCanada.
Common Tells of Top Poker Sites
How do we tell which sites are worthy of a place on our best poker sites in Canada list, and which sites are as useful as an unsuited 2 and 7 as hole cards? You’ll find details of how we choose which Canadian poker sites we call for, and which we toss out even if we’ve paid a blind.
Trusted and Secure
We’d never recommend an online poker site in Canada if it wasn’t licensed by a licensing authority that we know and trust. We’d also never recommend an online poker site if it held a legacy of player complaints.
Multiple Poker Variants
Okay, so almost every poker player in Canada loves Texas Hold’em, but we feel any decent poker site should offer Omaha Hi/Lo in addition, at least, and maybe even an up-and-comer such as 6+ Hold’em. Indeed, the more available variants, the better.
Good Range of Formats
Are you a ring game player, or do you prefer MTTs? Do you just log on to enter a few SnGs, or are you on the lookout for heads-up play? The best poker sites in Canada offer as many formats as possible to cover multiple player preferences.
Player-Friendly Offers
You will find that online poker sites are much more generous with offers than even the best online casinos in Canada and sportsbooks, too. That’s because all money at the site is generated from player rakes and fees – poker sites never have to ‘pay out’ themselves. A good site will have plenty of player benefits, from bonuses to freerolls and everything in between.
All Bankrolls Accommodated
Whether you win money or not, playing poker at Canadian poker sites is still an enjoyable experience. However, you do need money to play, but you should not be forced to pay for high stakes if you don’t want to. Conversely, if you’re a high roller, then high-stakes tables should be available, too.
Plenty of Traffic
You’ve got the table, the cards and the chips. What else could you need to play poker online? Oh yes, players! At low traffic sites, you’ll be sitting around waiting for that first deal, twiddling with your chips. The best poker sites in Canada have plenty of traffic, so as soon as you’re finished at one table, you’re ready to go at the next.
Poker Site Bonuses for Canadians
As we have already touched upon, poker sites tend to be more generous than online casinos and sportsbooks when it comes to promotions and bonuses. That’s because players win money from other players as opposed to the site itself. We’re now going to take a peek at the type of Canadian poker bonuses you’re most likely to be offered.
Welcome Bonuses
Welcome bonuses at online poker sites in Canada run in much the same way as casino bonuses, but there’s one key difference. With casino bonuses, you get the bonus and then undertake wagering in order to release winnings. With poker bonuses, it’s the other way around – play with your own money and as soon as you’ve staked enough, a proportion of your bonus will be released. Keep playing until all your bonus cash has been released from bonus prison!
Free Tickets
Sit and Go’s and Multi-Table Tournaments require entry fees, as opposed to a bankroll, like ring games. Everyone pays the same fee and gets the same amount of chips. Last player standing wins. Some sites will offer free tickets to SnGs and MTTs, meaning you can enter them for free.
Rakeback
Poker sites in Canada make their money via something called the rake. A small proportion of each pot is raked off and retained by the site. Many sites will pay you rakeback as a bonus. This is a small proportion of the amount of rake that your play personally generated
Freerolls
Unlike free tickets, freerolls are usually MTTs where nobody pays. Entry is free for all, with either a cash prize, free tickets or entry into more lucrative tournaments being the reward for finishing high up the rankings when the tournament is finished.
| Poker Site | Welcome Offer | Free Tickets | Rakeback | Freerolls? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 CoinPoker | 150% on your first deposit, up to $2,000 | ✓ | 33% | ✓ |
| #2 ACR Poker | 100% deposit bonus up to $2,000 | ✓ | 20% | ✓ |
| #3 Stake Poker | 200% up to $3,000 | ✓ | 5% | ✓ |
| #4 GG Poker | 100% matched deposit up to $600 or $100 rewards package | ✓ | Up to 60% | ✓ |
| #5 WPT Global | 100% match on your first deposit, up to $3,000 + $16.20 instant cash bonus | ✓ | Up to 30% | ✓ |
Best Poker Sites by Variant
Texas Hold’em is by far the most popular poker variant, but not everyone is a Hold’em fan. We’ve included Hold’em as we search for the best online poker sites in Canada by variant, but we’ve included four popular alternatives, too. Check out which of our recommended sites we consider the best for each variant.
Texas Hold’em
The most popular poker variant comes in three varieties – fixed limit, pot limit and no limit. No matter what type of Hold’em you want to play, you can play it at our number one site for playing online poker in Canada, Coin Poker.
Pot Limit Omaha
Omaha is like Texas Hold’em, but because there are more cards from which to create a winning hand, there’s more luck involved. For this reason, new players may prefer to start with PL (Pot Limit) Omaha. We’ve selected Stake Poker as the best place for PL Omaha.
Seven Card Stud
Seven Card Stud is unlike either Hold’em or Omaha as there are no community cards, which means it’s popular with poker purists. With seven rounds of betting, it’s a game where you can win big and lose big! We’ve selected ACR Poker as our top choice for Seven Card Stud.
Short Deck (6+) Hold’em
This version of Texas Hold’em is fast-growing in popularity, especially at online poker sites in Canada. For the uninitiated, it’s poker played with a short deck, which means that all 2s, 3s, 4s and 5s have been removed. It leads to stronger hands and more thrilling play. To give Short Deck Hold’em a blast, we suggest you head to WPT Global.
Omaha Hi Lo
The version of poker is popular with poker strategists, as bad hands are just as important as good ones! At the end of each round, the pot is split 50/50, with half going to the player with the best cards and the other half to the player with the worst hand! If this style of poker appeals to you, then 888poker could be your ideal destination.
Poker Format for Online Players
The best poker sites in Canada host a variety of tournaments. We’ve given a list below of all the most popular ones, along with what you can expect if you sit down and play any of them.
Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs)
MTTs can have dozens of players. Players are spread over several tables, usually nine per table. As players are knocked out, the numbers per table reduce. Tables are then consolidated so that player numbers remain stable. This continues until only one table remains, and then only one player remains. Prizes are awarded to those who finish in any of the pre-designated prize-winning positions.
Sit and Go Tournaments (SnGs)
SnGs are similar to MTTs except that they are only played on a single table. They get their name in that you sit at a table, wait for the table to fill, and then go (play). Once you are knocked out, you can go and sit at a different table. Scaled prizes are usually awarded to players who finish in the top three positions.
Heads Up Tournaments (HUTs)
As most players know, the most exciting part of a poker tournament is when only two players remain. If you enjoy the adrenaline thrill of heads-up play, then you can play a form of poker where only heads-up play occurs. If you win your heads-up battle, then you are paired with another heads-up winner. This continues until only a single heads-up battle remains.
Satellite Tournaments
Many online poker players dream of playing real-world tournaments; however, entry fees and minimum chip limits are usually high. You can, though, qualify for real-world tournaments (and premier online tournaments) by playing in satellite tournaments. There is usually a small fee for entering satellites, but many are freerolls. If you finish high up the leaderboard, you earn qualification to further satellites and eventually the IRL or premier tournament itself.
Cash Games
This is how it all started – cash, or ring games as they are also known. You take your cash, you convert it to chips, you find a seat at a vacant table, and you play. You win some, you lose some, and you can get up and leave at any time. On a losing streak? Too tough a shark opposite you? Then just up and leave and find another table at which to play.
Making Deposits at Online Poker Sites
Aside from the infrequent freeroll or free tickets offer, if you want to play online poker in Canada, you’ll need to get some money into your account. The best sites offer plenty of options, plus instant withdrawals and no fees. Let’s take a look at the most common payment methods open to players at the best online poker sites in Canada.
Credit/Debit Cards
Most, if not all, offshore poker sites that accept Canadian players will happily accept deposits via cards. It’s better to use a debit card, though, as gambling on credit can cause problems. Nearly all sites that accept cards accept Visa and Mastercard. Other card providers are less common.
Apple Pay/Google Pay
These two payment providers are gaining increasing acceptance across the Canadian online poker scene and are ideal for mobile deposits. Once you’ve set them up on your device(s), payments are super swift and super easy. We recommend linking a debit card to your Apple Pay/Google Pay account, as using a credit card when gambling is not recommended.
eWallets
We don’t need to tell you that Interac is the biggest eWallet in Canada, and indeed, it’s the biggest payment provider in Canada overall. It’s not popular at Canadian online poker sites, though, and neither is the leading alternative, PayPal. If you want to use an eWallet at an online poker site in Canada, then you may be disappointed.
Cryptocurrencies
Privacy, online poker in Canada and cryptocurrency are a kind of holy trinity. If you want to keep your poker dealings purely to yourself (something we overwhelmingly recommend), then you need to use a cryptocurrency. Most offshore poker sites will happily accept Bitcoin at a minimum, and most will accept several other cryptos in addition. Sites also take steps to make sure depositing and withdrawing via crypto is as easy as possible.
How Fast are Withdrawals?
That depends on which site you are using and which payment method you are using. Many sites will honour withdrawals within minutes, while others will drag their feet like a poker bluffer with a pair of threes. The table below shows the availability of payment methods, along with the probable withdrawal speed.
| Payment Method | Availability | Withdrawal Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Visa, Mastercard | Universal | 1 – 3 days |
| Apple/Google Pay | Good | 1 – 5 days |
| eWallets | Poor | 3 – 7 days |
| Bank transfers | Good | 5 – 10 days |
| Cryptocurrencies | Very Good (Offshore Sites) | Instant – 1 day |
We’ve checked out our recommended sites and have discovered that Coin Poker is the best for instant withdrawals, as long as you use an accepted cryptocurrency.
Online Poker vs Land-Based Games
The expansion of online poker over the past two decades has also seen a rise in the popularity of land-based games. So why play online if you can play with real people? What are the advantages and disadvantages of online poker when compared to land-based games?
First and foremost, there’s the convenience. Finding real-world games or enough friends to play poker with you when you want can be a chore. Compare that to online poker, which is there whenever you want to play. Add on the variants available, the different types of competitions, the blinds or fees and the convenience of online poker is really hammered home.
With online poker, you can also play at more than one table at the same time. This is ideal if you’re the type of player who, when playing online poker in Canada, gets a little frustrated waiting for other players to come to a decision. In addition, if you’re an expert poker player, the more tables you are sat at, the more poker fish you are going to gobble up.
Are there any disadvantages? Well, we can think of one! Poker is one of those rare games where you can win with a bad hand via bluffing. It’s easier to bluff online as everyone is simply represented by an avatar. There are no faces to read or tells to spot. That means it’s easier to be bluffed by someone online who, in real life, has more tells than a fidget sitting on an ant-hill.
Online Poker Tips From Our Experts
We’re going to be honest here – when you’re playing online poker in Canada for the first time, you might struggle a little. You could be coming up against players who’ve been busting the blinds and netting the nuts for decades. The trick is to stick with it and to help you do that, our own poker sharks have come up with the following expert tips for newbs. These tips should also help regular poker players who are playing online poker for the first time.
- Be Aggressive: New players tend to be over-cautious, folding when they should check, checking when they should bet and calling when they should raise. If you play decent hands aggressively and average hands more often than is recommended, you’ll win more hands than you’ll lose.
- Don’t Let Bad Beats Discourage You: Despite the skills needed to play poker, luck plays a huge factor. One day, you’ll go all-in with a pair of Aces only to be beaten by someone who called you with an unsuited eight and nine who then completes a full house on the river. This happens to everybody, so just brush it off and keep going.
- Don’t Expect to be an Instant Expert: You can read all the poker strategy books you want to, but putting all that mastery into play is a different matter. It’ll take time to ‘git gud’ and you’re likely to lose money while doing so. Get as many free games as you can, and stick to tables with tiny blinds or low entry fees where you can hone your skills.
- Never Play with Play Money: You may think that playing online poker in Canada with play money is the best way of getting better at poker, but you couldn’t be more wrong. Play money tables are full of casual players who call every hand, as there’s no risk, and stay in the hand no matter what community cards flop out. Don’t play for play money if you intend to learn how to play for real money.
- Learn About Position: One aspect of online poker that newbs often neglect to learn about is position. On a nine-seat table, there are nine different positions, and you need to tailor your play depending on how far away you are from the dealer button. Playing the same tactics no matter where you are seated will only lead to disaster.
Best Online Poker Sites – Our Verdict
That about wraps it up for online poker in Canada. We’ve hopefully given you the nuts about how to get started with poker online, and which sites are best for any particular variant or style of play.
Overall, we’ve selected Coin Poker as number one among the best online poker sites in Canada, but if you are looking for the leading online poker site for poker variants, then ACR Poker is more likely to fit the bill.
FAQs
Is online poker legal in Canada?
Yes, online poker is legal in Canada, but with restrictions. To free yourself of any restrictions, play at offshore poker sites that accept Canadian players instead.
Do online poker sites offer bonuses?
Yes! You will find that the top Canada poker sites offer promotions such as cash bonuses, free MTT and SnG tickets and free satellite entries.
What are the best online poker sites for Canadians?
We’ve listed ten sites above that we feel are the best Canadian poker sites. They offer multiple variants and formats, decent bonuses and convenient payment options.
Can I play poker on my phone?
You can indeed play poker on your phone. The leading online poker sites in Canada have apps that you can download, install and play on. At others you can play using a mobile browser such as Chrome or Safari.
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