More options for online poker in Canada are popping up, so you should know which ones are worth your time. Cash and tournament poker players are spoiled for choice in Canada, online and offline. Provinces like Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia have the largest offline poker rooms in the country. Internationally respected venues like Montreal’s Playground Poker host the World Poker Tour and other tournaments.
Canada’s most notable poker pros are Jonothan Duhamel, Mike Mcdonald, and the legendary Daniel Negreanu. Here’s our list of the best online poker sites for Texas hold ‘em and Omaha, plus other games like spins, short deck, and stud poker.
Legality Of Online Poker In Canada
Canada regulates poker federally and provincially, but it won’t obstruct you from playing online poker for money. Organizations within Canada’s borders are regulated by whichever province they operate in. Companies based outside of the country exist in a gray area, so you won’t face obstacles playing real money online poker.
You’re able to download apps and play real money poker within Canada. Depositing and withdrawing aren’t an issue either. Your winnings in Canada generally aren’t taxable either, as stated by Section 3 of the Canadian Income Tax Act.
Playing Online Cash Games In Canada: Hold ‘Em And Omaha
Our four picks for online cash game poker sites that have great bonuses and high traffic at the tables. In each section, we’ll give a complete overview of the site and what they offer you.
GGPoker
Players anywhere in Canada can get into the action, but GGPoker also has an Ontario-specific app. The interface is clean and has some features that other apps don’t, like peeling the river card for suspenseful reveals and straddling (putting money in preflop before seeing cards).
Cash Game Overview
The lowest stakes at GGPoker are $0.01/$0.02, but they have massive $1000/$2000 tables too. The level of play is comparable to 888poker, so you’ll find mostly recreational players at micro to low stakes. Texas hold 'em and Omaha players can play classic cash games or the fast fold Rush & Cash mode. They’re one of the only sites to offer straddling, and you’ll see it on Omaha cash game tables frequently.
- Play up to four tables at once.
- GGPoker does not allow 3rd party HUD software or hand histories. Instead, they have an included Smart HUD to track player information.
Bonuses
Select one of the two available bonuses from GGPoker with your first deposit of $10 or more.
| Matched Deposit Bonus | 200% up to a maximum of $600 |
| Welcome Bonus | $100 of cash and tournament tickets |
Both options will unlock as you play poker at cash game tables or tournaments. You should check out our GGPoker review to learn more about unlocking the bonuses and the rakeback at this site.
The GGPoker software runs smoothly on Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS devices. Make sure to use the code “vipintern” when you register your account to stay updated on future freerolls and promotions.
888poker
This online poker site is safe, secure, and generous with bonuses. Play on the 888poker platform anywhere inside Canada on Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS devices. They’ve been offering different poker games online since they opened in 2002. They have an app exclusively for players living in Ontario. If you can’t download their software, you can play in internet browsers too.
If you’re interested in learning more, we’ve written a comprehensive guide to 888poker. It’s got cash game guides, tournament info, and rakeback analysis for anyone thinking about downloading the software.
Cash Game Overview
The cash game tables at 888poker are bustling, so you’ll never have trouble getting seated. Stakes for Texas hold ‘em and Omaha poker start at $0.01/$0.02 and max out at $250/$500. As well as regular cash games, there are also fast-fold games called Snap. If you’re looking to play more hands of poker online in a short amount of time, we recommend that format.
- Play up to four tables at once on mobile devices
- HUDs are allowed on 888poker
Bonuses
888poker is one of the only sites currently offering a No Deposit Bonus. You’ll receive $88, split up and dropped into your account as you play. It’s a true no-deposit bonus; you won’t need to enter payment information to be eligible. After you register with 888poker, you'll receive an email with instructions on claiming your bonus.
As part of their Welcome Bonus, 888poker will match your first deposit 100% for amounts less than $1000. Use the code WELCOME 100 with a deposit of $10 or more.
PokerStars
Being one of the biggest poker sites in the world, Pokerstars has high-traffic cash game tables for players in Canada. They’re known for fast cashier processing times and having reliable applications across different devices. They’ve opened PokerStars Ontario for players inside that province. Players outside Ontario can download the PokerStars software here.
Cash Game Overview
As one of the largest places for poker online, they’ve attracted recreational players, though also skilled players and grinders. There’s a tougher standard of competition at the mid-high stakes, but the micro-low stakes feel similar to other poker sites. Texas hold ‘em and Omaha stakes range from $0.01/$0.02 to $200/$400.
Zoom is PokerStar’s name for its fast-folding poker format. Just like 888poker’s Snap, you can instantly muck your hand and move to another table with new cards. Cash Out allows you to avoid variance at cash game tables. During all-in situations, collect chips equal to your equity in the pot (minus a small fee).
- Switch between up to four tables on the mobile app
- PokerStars prohibits some HUD software and allows others, like DriveHUD
Bonuses
New players can use two main bonuses; let’s talk about the $30 Freeplay Bonus first. Deposit $10 and you’ll unlock a $30 mix of tournament tickets and real money over 6 six days.
PokerStars will match your deposit of $10 or more, up to $600. This money will be added to your balance as you build points at the poker tables. Our PokerStars article outlines exactly how this point system works.
We’ve written a guide to PokerStars that sheds some light on the rakeback, bonuses, tournament schedule, and more. If you’re curious about PokerStars, you can read the article right here.
partypoker
With more than 20 years in the industry, partypoker has become a leading online poker site in Canada. They also sponsor live tournaments and recently expanded to offer partypoker Ontario, exclusively for online players in the province. Our in-depth review takes a closer look at the games, rewards, and rakeback of partypoker.
Cash Game Overview
Texas hold ‘em and Omaha stakes start slightly higher than other poker sites at $0.05/$0.10, and peak at $10/$25. Partypoker doesn’t have the traffic of 888poker or PokerStars, but you’ll find cash game tables without any issues. Tables hold two (heads-up), six, nine, or ten players.
fastforward is partypoker’s way to save time and show you more hands. Throw away your seven-deuce and instantly begin a new hand at another table.
- Play four tables at once on the mobile app
- No HUD software is allowed on partypoker
Bonuses
Let’s break down the partypoker Welcome Bonus, which is available to first-time depositors only.
| Deposit $10 | Get $10 in SPINS tickets |
| Deposit $20+ | Get $30 in SPINS tickets |
On top of this offer, they’ll match your minimum deposit of $10, up to a maximum of $600. Take advantage of both bonuses by following this link to download the partypoker software.
Play Online Poker Tournaments In Canada: Real Money + Freerolls
888poker
This poker site is one of the best for real money tournaments and freerolls in Canada. Not many sites offer as many free tournaments as 888poker. There are hourly freerolls, with larger prizes as you build your level on the site. When you register for the first time and make a deposit, you’ll get tickets to exclusive new-player tournaments.
Enter real money sit & go, knockout (PKO), Mystery Bounty, and Multi Table Tournaments (MTT) at 888poker.
- 888poker has Texas hold ‘em, pot-limit Omaha, and Omaha hi/lo tournaments
PokerStars
While they aren’t throwing as many freerolls as they did in the past, PokerStars does have a few. There are satellites for larger tournaments, like the Pacific Rim Series and Bounty Builder Series, that players can enter for free.
Weekends are the best time to log on to PokerStars and play tournament poker games online. There’s a life-changing $1,000,000 prize for a $215 buy-in during the Sunday Million tournament. Download their app right here to get in on some weekend action.
- You’ll find Texas hold ‘em, pot-limit Omaha, and Omaha hi/lo tournaments at PokerStars
Massive real-money tournaments like the Marathon Series go on every day. PokerStars usually runs one or two versions of their most popular tournaments.
| Tournament | Buy-in | Guarantee | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Marathon | $55 | $8000 to $20,000 | Once Daily |
| The Mini Marathon | $5.50 | $4000 to $8,000 | Once Daily |
| Sunday High Roller Marathon | $530 | $6000 | Sundays |
GGPoker
There are freerolls exclusively for first depositors, running alongside other GGPoker freerolls. If you’re looking for a site with free tournaments, GGPoker isn’t the best. We recommend 888poker for freerolls.
There are lots of choices for tournament types at GGPoker. There are classic standard and turbo MTTs, plus brand-new styles like Shootout and N-Stack tournaments. Whether rebuys are allowed or if it’s a Freezeout format is indicated in the lobby. We’ve covered all the tournament types in our GGPoker review.
Play the kind of poker tournament you enjoy. Whether it’s Texas hold ‘em or Omaha, you’ll find varieties of either format at GGPoker. They have an impressive range of daily tournaments, like the Daily Special, Daily Marathon, and Fifty Stack.
Daily Special tournaments run daily, except on Sunday. The buy-ins vary greatly, though there’s always a great prize pool. Here are three of the Daily Special events.
| Tournament | Buy In | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Special $3 | $3 | $2500 |
| Daily Special $40 | $40 | $5000 |
| Daily Special $200 | $200 | $10,000 |
Places For Other Fun Poker Variants
Spin & Go’s
Spins are a popular three-player turbo sit & go format with random prize funds. PokerStars, GGPoker, and 888poker have great traffic at the spin & go tables. Take a quick look at the range of buy-ins and multipliers for each poker site.
Spin & Go Flash PokerStars | $0.25 to $250 | 2x to 10,000x the buy-in |
Spin & Gold GGPoker | $0.25 to $200 | 2x to 100,000x the buy-in |
Blast 888poker | $0.10 to $100 | 2x to 10,000x the buy-in |
Short Deck
With 36 cards in a deck and nothing below a 6, this game is typically fast-paced and exciting. We’ve picked out three places to play short deck poker, sometimes called 6+ poker. Check the stakes and minimum buy-ins for these sites below.
| Poker Site | Stakes | Minimum Buy In |
|---|---|---|
| PokerStars | $0.01/$0.02 to $250.$500 | $2 to $20,000 |
| GGPoker | $0.01/$0.02 to $250.$500 | $1 to $25,000 |
| partypoker | $0.01/$0.02 to $5/$10 | $1 to $1000 |
Three Unique Online Poker Games
Classic online poker hasn’t lost any excitement, but sites are creating exciting new formats that you should try. Here are just three brand-new poker variants. Check out our reviews of each site to get the full list.
Neymar Jr’s Kick-Off At PokerStars
Make your way through your opponents to reach Neymar Jr’s Kick-Off, where you’ll take your shot at some huge prizes. Battle your way through 4-way turbo sit & go’s, with buy-ins starting at $1 and maxing out at $25. Players you encounter will have bounties on their heads, plus multipliers if you’re lucky. There are also instant prizes for anybody in the right seat at the right time.
All In Or Fold SNGs At GGPoker
The name says it all. The AoF Sit & Go’s make your decisions simple, but you’ll need to apply some strategy. Players receive three stacks of chips. You can play with one of them to protect yourself from elimination, or wager more to pressure opponents. You can play either Texas hold ‘em or Omaha All In Or Fold SNGs.
Mystery Bounty At 888poker
In a standard bounty tournament, you receive a player’s bounty when you eliminate them. The bounty is a portion of the tournament buy-in, which grows with each player you knock out. In 888poker’s Mystery Bounty tournaments, you won’t be able to see players’ bounties. It’s suspenseful not knowing how much is at stake, especially if you’ve got a big decision to make. Golden envelopes hover above everyone’s icons and reveal the bounty amount when players are eliminated.
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