Online Poker Canada: Best Sites to Play Online Poker for Canadian Players
Are you looking for a place to play online poker in Canada?
Welcome to our page dedicated just to Canadian poker players! Here you will find a list of some of the best online poker sites in Canada, as well as the latest news and information to help you find the best rooms and poker bonuses in the industry.
Below you'll discover how to get started on your rise up the Canadian online poker ranks.
Best Online Poker Sites in Canada
What are the best online poker sites in Canada to Play for Real Money?
The best online poker site for you will be a personal choice based you your personal bankroll size, favorite game, skill level, and even aesthetic preferences. It's important to do your own research to find a site that offers the games, tournaments, and features that you are most interested in.
However, there are a few good places to start, these are sites that have a good reputation, generous bonus offers, and high-quality software.
With that in mind, our three of the top choices for Canadian poker sites would be WPT Global, PokerStars and 888Poker.
Top 5 Best Poker Sites in Canada
| Poker Site | Pros | Bonus | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPT Global | Enticingly large prize pools, large player pool, generous welcome bonus. | Up to $1,500 deposit bonus + $287 free tickets | Get Bonus |
| PokerStars | Excellent software, widest range of games, best site, data and fund security. | Up to $400 deposit bonus | Get Bonus |
| 888poker | Rare no-deposit bonus, packed innovative tournament schedule (including mystery bounties, tournament buyins start at $0.01. | $20 no-deposit bonus + $1,000 deposit bonus | Get Bonus |
| PartyPoker | Fantastic mobile poker offering, good rakeback scheme, massive Millions online tournaments. | Up to $600 deposit bonus + $30 free tickets | Get Bonus |
| GGPoker | Built-in GG HUD, generous, weekly rakeback scheme, regular huge tournament series. | Up to $777 deposit bonus + $100 free tickets | Get Bonus |
On PokerNews, we have reviewed all the top poker sites to make things a little easier for you.
Simply click the links below to check out our in-depth online poker site reviews and access exclusive PokerNews bonuses.
WPT Global in Canada
WPT Global brings the internationally recognized World Poker Tour brand poker pedigree online with a platform designed for fun, fair, and secure play.
The WPT Global platform provides a large player pool, generous welcome offers, and great opportunities to win satellites to major WPT live events. It also offers recurring freerolls that reward new players from sign-up to first deposit and beyond.
Plus, there are a series of PokerNews exclusive freerolls to get in on!
PokerStars in Canada
PokerStars has some of the best online poker software of any poker site. It is one of the two largest and busiest online poker rooms in the world. Their desktop software offers an unrivaled game selection, some of the biggest and richest regular online poker tournaments, and is generally considered to be the safest and most financially secure online poker site in the world.
Another highlight of PokerStars is their exclusive tournament series. No online tournament series is bigger than their famous WCOOP Series, which has some of the most illustrious online tournaments around with gigantic player and prizepools.
888Poker Canada
888Poker is a top choice for Canadian poker players because of its easy poker games and great poker bonus offers. You don't even need to deposit any money to get started, thanks to their free no-deposit welcome bonus. There's absolutely no catch! Simply sign up and you get free money to play real money online poker.
Furthermore, if you're new to poker, 888 is an ideal site to start on. Its software is simple and very user-friendly, so it's going to be a seamless introduction to the world of poker.
PartyPoker in Canada
PartyPoker has consistently been one of the largest and most trusted online poker sites available for real money play.
PartyPoker attracts many casual and recreational players to its site, which makes for a softer player pool. This is undoubtedly the biggest plus, but it's definitely not the only highlight.
Others include their extensive freeroll tournament schedule, with a free poker tournament every single hour!
GG Poker in Canada
Fronted by probably the most well-known name in poker (and Canada's own), Daniel Negreanu, GG has come on leaps and bounds since its infancy.
While only founded in 2014, GG has quickly become one of the most popular and best poker sites in the world! With it's unique, cartoon-like style, interactive animations and user-friendly software, their bold exploration into a PokerStars-dominated market paid dividends.
But don't be fooled by their slightly wacky style, it's a really good site to play real money poker. With a generous rakeback scheme, plenty of games and a large player pool, not to mention their regular tournament series, GG Poker is understandably rivalling the more established players in the online poker space.
Tiger Gaming in Canada
There are three really attractive features of the Tiger Gaming online poker site that make it stand out among the crowd. These are the well-organized lobby, soft player pool, and simple cashout systems.
As with all of our recommended online poker sites from Canadian players, you also have access to offers and promotions when you join.
How to find the Best Canada Online Poker Site
If you are searching for the best Canada online poker sites, there are several factors that you should consider. Here are a few tips on how to find the best online poker sites in Canada:
- Make sure the site is licensed and regulated
- Look for a wide range of games and tournaments
- Check for bonuses and promotions
- Read PokerNews Reviews
- Consider Customer Support
- Test the site out
Top Canada Online Poker Sites for Beginners
888poker is the best Canadian poker site for beginners.
This is due to a few things, but mostly down to its user-friendly interface and its range low-buyin tournaments.
When you are just starting out, as a beginner it's worth looking out for a site that offers a variety of low-stakes games and make it easy for you to start playing online poker at less risk.
As well as offering a wide range of games, including low stakes and freerolls PokerStars also offers a variety of resources and tools to help new players improve their skills.
You can also check out our PokerNews strategy resources to learn more.
Best Online Poker Sites in Canada for Freerolls
The best Canadian poker site for freerolls is PartyPoker.
While nearly all online poker sites in Canada offer freerolls, with PokerStars and 888Poker particularly offering plenty of free poker tournaments, PartypPoker is leading the way.
They have their 'Round the Clock' freerolls which occur on the hours, every hours, every day of the week. Prizepools range from $50-$200, so you can boost your bankroll anytime of the day.
You can check out upcoming freerolls by using our Online Tournament Calendar:
Best Online Poker Sign Up Offers for Players in Canada
The Canadian poker site with the best sign up/welcome offer is WPT Global.
Most online poker sites in Canada offer perks and rewards to new players as an incentive to join and start playing, but WPT Global's welcome offer takes the proverbial biscuit.
You get a first-deposit %100 match bonus up to $1500, then $287 in tournament tickets completely free! It's a truly remarkable offer and one not to be sniffed at. To claim it, scroll back up to the table above and click 'Get Bonus.'
Sign up bonuses can come in a variety of forms, but most often no-deposit bonuses, matched deposit bonuses, and ongoing reward schemes.
Welcome bonuses are usually the most generous bonuses offered by online poker sites. A typical welcome bonus would require you to make a deposit then site will then match a certain percentage of that deposit up to a specified maximum amount.
When choosing an online poker site in Canada based on bonuses, it's important to read the terms and conditions carefully.
Some bonuses may have restrictions or wagering requirements that can make them less attractive than they appear at first glance.
Check out some of the best online poker bonuses on offer for Canadian players right now to get a send of what is available.
Online Poker Canada - Tournament Calendar
With so many online Poker tournaments running every day, we decided to make life easier for players. Our Online Tournament Calendar gives you a view of the tournaments taking place at the top poker sites of PokerStars, 888Poker and partypoker.
Is Online Poker Legal in Canada
Online gambling is often called a "legal grey area" in Canada, but that doesn't mean it is illegal to play online poker.
You're certainly not committing a crime when you log into an online poker room and place a real-money bet. However, regulations in some areas of Canada are relaxed, so you do need to be cautious when choosing a site to play on. We consider all our partnering online poker sites safe, so any of them would be a reliable place to start.
If you already have an account with some of the sites listed above, you might also want to check out PokerNews's in-depth reviews of Bet365 Poker and GGPoker both of which are available to Canadian poker players (outside of Ontario).
If you are located in Ontario, the online poker market is now regulated. Online poker became legal in Ontario on April 4, 2022.
Fortunately for Ontarians, several major online poker sites have already successfully applied for and obtained the relevant gaming license from the Ontario authorities. This means you can head to the Canada-specific sites at 888poker Ontario, PartyPoker Ontario, and PokerStars Ontario to continue enjoying your favorite game.
New Ontario Online Poker Rules
If you're based in Ontario, things work a little differently after online poker became legal in the province on April 4, 2022. Fortunately for Ontarians, several major online poker sites have successfully applied for and obtained the relevant gaming license from the Ontario authorities. This means those of you who used to play at one of the major online poker sites can head to their Canada-specific sites at 888poker Ontario, PartyPoker Ontario, PokerStars Ontario, and WSOP @ GGPoker Ontario, and continue enjoying your favorite games.
Rules and regulations out by the AGCO and iGO state any Ontarian wishing to play legal online poker must do so in a ring-fenced player pool. This means Ontario residents can only play poker online against other players physically located in Canada's largest province.
As a result, online poker giants such as PokerStars Ontario, partypoker Ontario, 888poker Ontario, and GGPoker Ontario, have created specific online poker clients where Ontarian grinders are segregated from the global dot-com player pool.
Two other key rules stand out for Ontarians. First, all cash games and tournaments will be played using Canadian Dollars instead of United States Dollars which are the industry standard. Second, the legal gambling age in Ontario is 19 years old, a year older than in most of the dot-com countries.
Online Poker Games in Canada
Most sites in Canada have an abundance of poker games.
If you're a no-limit Texas hold 'em specialist you can find cash games and tournaments on most sites. 888poker, PartyPoker, and PokerStars all offer a wide range of options and stakes.
For players who enjoy limit hold 'em, Omaha, stud, draw, or mixed games, then PokerStars remains your best option as they have by far the widest selection and the largest player pool.
There's always a game running. Even for razz players!
Best Canada Poker Apps
Most Canadian online poker sites offer both desktop software and mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
There are several excellent poker apps available to players in Canada, each with its own unique features and advantages. You can download and play the best Poker apps in Canada using the links below.
| Poker Site | Details | Android App | iPhone App |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888poker | 888poker boomed after a complete revamp of their platform and game offer. Today, this is one of the best poker sites in the world. | Download | Download |
| PokerStars | The world's largest poker site is an obvious choice for everyone who likes poker. The top-class mobile apps replicate the same experience you get on desktop. | Download | Download |
| partypoker | A modern poker app to play on iOS and Android and experience all the best the partypoker client has to offer. | Download | Download |
Free Online Poker in Canada
There are a number of good reasons why you might want to play free online poker in Canada rather than playing for real money.
Whatever your reason, PokerNews has you covered with a number of free online games which are available to Canadian players.
Two of our favorite free online games are PokerStars Play and the WSOP Social Poker App, both offering 1,000,000 Free Chips to get you started.
Learn how to play poker and other useful links….
- How to Play Texas Holdem Poker
- Poker Hands Rankings
- Poker Odds Calculator
- Play Poker Online with Friends
- Poker Bonuses
Canada Online Poker FAQs
Are Canada poker sites legal and regulated?
In Canada, gambling is governed at a provincial level. In most provinces, there are no laws making real money online poker illegal. This means that playing on these sites is legal, but because they are not regulated in these provinces, you should always play at an online poker site that holds licenses elsewhere and has a good record for player safety.
Ontario regulated online poker in April 2022. If you are in Ontario, you can only play legal and regulated poker on Ontario-facing sites.
Is PokerStars legal in Canada?
The regulation of online poker is a provincial issue, but there are no widespread regulations prohibiting Canadians from enjoying poker action, including on PokerStars.
Ontario regulated online poker in April 2022. So in this province, you should use the Ontario-based versions of your favorite site.
How can I find the best Canada poker sites?
You can find the best Canada poker sites by reading reviews, checking out rankings, and trying out different sites for yourself.
What payment methods are available on Canada poker sites?
The most common payment methods on Canada poker sites include debit and credit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and prepaid cards.
Can I play on Canada poker sites from my mobile device?
Yes, most Canada poker sites offer mobile apps or web-based versions of their software that can be accessed from a mobile device.
What types of poker games can I play on Canada poker sites?
Canada poker sites offer a variety of poker games, including Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and more.
Do Canada poker sites offer bonuses and promotions?
Yes, Canada poker sites often offer bonuses and promotions to attract new players and reward loyal ones.