This site was created specifically for people from Canada, for quick acquaintance with the gambling industry online. In today's article, you can know all about Online Poker Canada. Our Canadian visitors have asked us so many times to write the review of "Best Online Poker Canada for 2021, Online Poker Canada" because of high interest in this topic. Well, the thorough investigation by our gambling expert had been already finished and we have collected here all useful information about Online Poker Canada in one review. You may read it now!

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Best Online Poker Canada for 2021, Online Poker Canada

Online Poker Canada

The other thing about Canada, as you’re likely well aware, is that the winters can be pretty cold and long. That’s the perfect environment to play online poker! See our list of the best Canadian poker sites ranked and reviewed below. Click "Play Now" to get started with a new account and bonus! Top Canadian Poker Sites

Best Online Poker Canada for 2021

Online poker in Canada has a long and illustrious history and Canada, to some people’s surprise, played a major role in the poker boom of the early 2000s. Some of the world’s best poker players hail from Canada, including the world-renowned Daniel Negreanu, and it continues to be a premier location for playing online poker.

Top Canadian Poker Sites

Texas Hold’em may not have originated in Canada but it’s actually easier to play the game online in the Great White North these days than it is in other parts of the world - including Texas. Online poker players in Canada can access the best poker sites in the world and their international player pools. Canadians can also play on some exclusive Canadian-only sites and get exclusive offers that aren’t available to other players.

Best Online Poker Sites Canada

Picking the best poker sites you can play on while in Canada depends on what you want from your online poker playing experience. Do you want top software innovations, interesting poker variations and mixed games and a massive lineup of poker tournaments and tournament series? You should probably take a look at PokerStars first and see if it works for you. Want some soft cash games, a growing lineup of weekend tournaments and tournament series and great opportunities to win live poker packages? You should probably give 888poker or partypoker a try.

Want the weakest competition of them all? Tiger Gaming Poker is definitely an option. Want the safety and security of a government-operated poker site, even if it means less traffic and smaller prize pools? That's there for you too. And that's the essence of online poker in Canada. Players are spoiled for choice with an infinite number of games, stakes and variations to choose from on a variety of great and reputable online poker sites. And did we mention the tax-free winnings?

Whatever you decide, before you start playing make sure you know the basics and have a solid grip and understanding of How to Play Poker and basic poker strategy. This cheat sheet with poker hand rankings can help you figure out which hand wins in a poker game if you're literally just beginning at the game.

Playing Online Poker in Canada

As mentioned Canada is one of the few places that offers both government-run online poker sites in addition to private poker sites. It’s a fairly unique system in the online poker world and it’s helped create a burgeoning industry for both province-run sites and offshore operators. The customer is the real winner as they get more poker options than almost any other country. It’s what brought hundreds of professional poker players to Canada after Black Friday narrowed the U.S. online poker market significantly.

In turn those poker pros helped stimulate the poker environment in cities like Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. It was win-win for everyone and Canada remains one of the premier places in the world to be an online poker player. The spin-off of the strong online poker industry in Canada is a booming live poker scene across the country, too. The Playground Poker Club in Montreal might lead the way in major poker events but live casino in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto are always overflowing with poker players.

What Happens to Online Poker Winnings Under Canadian Tax Law?

The short answer here? Nothing. Poker winnings for casual players are entirely tax-free. Canadian tax law is rather unusual when it comes to online poker because most gambling in the country is government-run and 100% tax free. Now, there are a number of online poker sites that aren’t run by the government but most casual poker players still benefit from that tax-free approach to gambling.

It’s somewhat of a different story for professional poker players, however. The Canadian Revenue Agency views poker winnings as subject to tax if they are “income from a business.” This interpretation is rather vague but the general idea is that if you make 100% of your income from online poker and are a consistent winner then you should be paying taxes. The vast majority of poker players are not in that category and
therefore their winnings are tax free. If you’re consistently making money from online poker, there’s a good chance you’ll want to speak to an accountant.

Best Poker Bonuses for Canadian Poker Players

Poker sites around the world offer enticing sign-up bonuses to recruit new costumers. Generally these sign-up bonuses take the form of what’s called a ‘deposit match’ bonus where the poker site will match a percentage of the amount initially deposited. In other words if you put $50 on a poker site with a 100% deposit match then you’ll receive an additional $50 (provided you play enough real-money hands or some other qualifier). Sometimes online poker sites will also offer instant deposit bonuses where you’ll instantly receive $5 or some other amount just for making your first deposit. Most new players receive at the very least a few ticket to freerolls or small tournaments.

Canadian poker players certainly get access to those bonuses and sometimes they’ll even receive special promos that are just for Canadians. For instance you might get to play a freeroll where hockey game tickets are up for grabs or something specifically Canadian. Make sure that you shop around a bit when looking for the best possible sign-up bonus. Sites like PokerListings are able to cut exclusive deals with operators that enable extra perks on top of the sign-up bonus. Read more about the best online poker bonuses here:

Can I Qualify Online for Live Poker Tournaments in Canada?

All online poker sites offer satellites for various online poker tournaments around the world. That gives you a chance to play a potentially enormous live event for a fraction of the price. If you’re looking to qualify for local poker tournaments in Canada you’re likely going to want to check out the government-run sites as they’ll give you plenty of options.

If you’re looking to play in live tournaments abroad you might be better off with one of the off-shore operators. In fact there are some fantastic international poker tournaments that take place in tropical settings like the Bahamas that make for a perfect winter getaway. There are a large number of Canadians who have escaped a bitter winter for a few weeks of fun and sun thanks to playing particularly well in a big online qualifier.

Legal Canadian Online Poker Sites for 2021

Canadian players have made their mark at poker tables across the country, internationally and particularly at online gambling sites. For millions of players poker is the perfect winter cure, and once they face the arctic chill, online poker sites enjoy a spike in player activity.

Despite poker’s mass appeal, there are several unanswered questions when it comes to online poker legality in Canada, especially since its neighboring Americans have serious debates on their side of the border.

Two beliefs separate poker enthusiasts, while some believe it is entirely permissible others are content with the fact that online poker exists in a legal gray area and either way several online poker sites are eager to welcome players residing in Canada.

Some provinces offer sites run by the government as well as global sites based within the Canadian borders.

You are able to play at an online poker site if you live in Canada, however the laws stipulates that any company that is based in Canada must hold a full gambling license to be able to legally offer any type of gambling game or gambling service to citizens and residents of Canada.

List of Poker sites accepts player from Canada:

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Not all online poker sites are run and operated to the same high standards, and with most forms of gambling which are internet based you must ensure above all else that any poker site you choose to sign up to and play at is run and operated to the very highest standards to ensure you never experience any kind of problems.

Legal poker games are provided to residents by provincial gambling agencies in BC, Manitoba, and Quebec, while players in Ontario can play video poker via OLG although community card poker games are not legal. Basically, the gambling laws in Canada vary by venue, game type, legal age, and province. For the past eighteen years, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission of Quebec has regulated, and licensed gambling sites and numerous international sites welcome all players from Canada that are of legal age to their sites, even though the legality of this action is still under debate.

Shared Canadian Law Powers

Since the 1867 Canadian Confederation, the provinces and the federal government have shared responsibilities and powers. Several areas remained under the strict domain of the federal government and included banking, foreign affairs, citizenship, and trade.

Provincial responsibilities include public works, education, and the granting of business licenses within their borders. Shared domains include justice, agriculture and immigration and the federal criminal code previously banned all forms of gambling although in 1969 lotteries were legalized.

By 1985 provinces received the authority to regulate all forms of gaming as well as poker.

Canadian Differences At Provincial Level

By traveling across Canada, each of the provinces has its own opinion when it comes to gambling, and most surprisingly that includes the legal age. Travelers won’t find poker rooms or casinos in every part of the country although in some provinces online casinos are now catering for residents. Online sites fully licensed by the provincial government are legal, and most of them offer online poker as part of their entertainment collection. Provincially operated poker rooms are hugely popular in Manitoba, Quebec, British Columbia, and Ontario. The provincial poker rooms are exclusively available to residents based in the specific province, and despite these sites legality, several have been criticized for lack of gaming variety, competing for promotional wise with offshore sites and smaller player
pools.

Online Poker Advertising In Canada

Anyone watching sports via television in Canada has seen advertising for online poker rooms and even while these promise members enticing prizes and an everlasting selection of entertainment, several residents are still unsure of the legal aspects. Most of these online sites currently operate from locations outside of the Canadian borders although they are overly pleased to welcome Canadian players and this is where the legal online poker gray area is entered.

Online gambling falls under the jurisdiction of each province although it is a bit more complicated for players residing in Canada, especially when certain games are hosted from other countries. It’s a hard question to answer if a Canadian player takes a virtual seat at a poker table hosted in the UK and his fellow players are from Scotland and France, where is the actual game taking place? In reality, it is a computer dealing the cards, and just as much as the government could not prevent Canadians from visiting Las Vegas to enjoy a poker tournament, they also could not prevent citizens from logging into international gambling sites. Currently, no records exist of any Canadian players ever being prosecuted for playing online poker so many players are not concerned about the legal aspects and continue to enjoy online poker.

Poker, Game Of Skill, Difference

Poker, classified as a game of skill and unlike roulette, scratch cards, and slots, participants’ success is partially in their own hands. Winning relies on player’s abilities to outwit their opponents. In the eyes of the court, this is a huge distinction, since many regulations at provincial level strictly apply to games of chance like raffles and lotteries. One of the main differences is that poker room interests are more towards the games it provides instead of the outcome of each game. In blackjack, the dealer is the players opponent and only when the player loses the casino wins. The online poker rooms operated on an entirely dissimilar business model in the eyes of the law since they make the magic happen by supplying virtual tables, software, and payment methods, and take a small rake from each player. Even when poker is viewed as gambling, players are not wagering against the house, and this is a significant legal difference.

Canadian Poker

Canada is the runner-up worldwide for the country home to the most WSOP winners and for players dreaming of becoming the next Jonathan Duhamel or Daniel Negreanu, it might be the most suited country to realize this potential. Several legal options are available, making it easier to understand why thousands of Americans flocked to provincial poker rooms in 2011 after the stateside clampdown.

No matter your choice, playing offshore or at provincial legal sites, it is always important to play at poker rooms that are regulated and licensed by reputable jurisdictions. The Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake is Canada’s own jurisdiction, granting gambling licenses to several offshore gambling and poker sites. A Dickinson Wright law expert claims that a player is not committing a criminal offense by engaging in offshore poker play.

Thanks mainly to the lottery’s main selling point, winnings from poker are not considered as income and are tax-free. Should a Canadian citizen make a living from gambling, and it is his/her primary income, it is seen as a business and funds need to be declared according to the tax law. Enjoying poker as a form of entertainment means winnings are yours tax-free and Canadians are indeed fortunate as this isn’t the case in many other countries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Canada based poker players who are thinking of moving some or even all of their land based real money poker playing action online are likely to have lots of questions that they are looking for the answers to and as such below are the most often asked questions by poker players thinking of playing poker online, along with the respective answers to those questions.

Are there any age restrictions in place?

How can I be assured I am accessing fair games?

What methods can I use to deposit?

How quickly do poker sites payout?

Can I play in free poker tournaments online?

When is the best time to log in and play online poker?

However, what you will find is that when an online poker site has a large paying poker tournament up and running there will usually be a huge number of player slogged into those sites as high paying poker tournaments are of course always popular with players.

Will I be playing against professional poker players?

What Poker taxes do I have to pay?

What poker games can I play online?

What type of software do I have to download?

However, if you just what to get stuck into playing poker online without having to spend any amount of time downloading the software many poker sites online have a web browser based gaming platform and as such you can instantly play any type of poker game from within your webs browser and by doing so will never need to use up any of the storage space on your computer by downloading a gaming platform on to it.

Legal Commonwealth Licensing Jurisdictions

UK Gambling Commission – You will be hard pressed to find an online gaming license issuer that is as experienced and regulates all of their license holders as strictly as the UK Gambling Commission.

Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner – Gibraltar is where dozens of different online gambling sites are based and regulated, and if you demand the very best poker sites at which to play at all those licensed in Gibraltar are high recommended and will never let you down.

Alderney Gambling Control Commission – You should find every single online poker site that holds an Alderney gambling license are run to the highest standards and will offer you a safe and enjoyable online poker playing experience.

Isle of Man Casino Control Commission – The Isle of Man is where a lot of casino software and online casino and poker game designers are based, and this small island has a very robust and experienced Gambling Commission who oversee and regulate lots of online casino sites.

Other Gambling Jurisdictions

We have just informed you of four of the very best online gambling licensing commissions, now let us tell you about two online gambling license issuing entities that you should avoid one is the Government of Curacao and the other is the Antigua Directorate of Offshore Gambling, whilst they both offer online poker site licenses you will never be able to seek assistance from either of them should you run into any problems playing at any poker site licensed by them.

Ryan Knuppel Author

Ryan (aka Knup) has been writing sports betting content for over a decade now. He covers anything and everything related to United Stats sports including football, basketball, baseball, golf and more. He has finished first place in several gambling related contests over the years which gives him instant credibility in the betting world. Ryan is a die-hard St. Louis.

Top Canadian Online Poker Sites 2021

If you're looking for the best online poker rooms for Canadians, you're in the right place. We are the premier resource for real money online poker players from Vancouver to Halifax.

It doesn't matter whether you're an Omaha player in Ontario or an MTT player in Montreal, we'll show you where to find the best action on the web.

We'll guide you in making real money deposits and getting the most out of your CA bank account or card. We'll even let you know how online poker sites keep safe and secure.

You don't have to be Daniel Negreanu to benefit from our expert information. We cater for beginners taking their first Hold'em steps and seasoned grinders alike. The hardest job you'll have is picking which amazing site to play at.

Hunt out the best online poker sites for CA players:

Play against the bigger player pools in the world

Compete at a range of stakes for the biggest prizes

Earn the best welcome bonuses and VIP schemes on the net

We only list the best of the best from the online poker world, and you are guaranteed:

Secure Banking

100% Legal

Lots of action

Freerolls

Great Sign Up Bonuses

24/7 Customer Service

Solid Reputation

Choosing a Top Online Poker Site

Online poker is experiencing another boom right now. The sheer spread of games and stakes has never been better. Canadians can play Hold'em on their PC or Mac without downloading software, and mobile online poker rooms allow you to gamble on the move.

And when it comes to stakes, nothing beats the range of online poker games. Many sites offer freerolls to give players without a bankroll the chance to win cash. Micro-stakes tables let you spin up a small budget, while big-money tournaments allow you to take a shot at the big time.

We have ratings of the best online poker sites on the net in 2021. You can also read reports on the latest mobile poker online apps and games, perfect for Android or iOS players.

The best online and mobile sites for Canadians

Top software that works on PC, Mac or no-download

Innovative developments like fast-fold poker and Missions

What Makes A Good Canadian Poker Room?

With so many hundreds of online poker sites to choose from, where do you even start? Our reviewers have spent years playing at and reviewing online poker rooms. They know which sites are worth depositing at and which are worth avoiding.

Being Canadian players, our OnlinePoker.ca team knows which websites are best for Canucks. That huge online poker room might have lots of players, but what if it has a poor record of accepting Canadian bank cards? And it's no good if a site has big-money tournaments but you get charged for converting C$ into US dollars or Euros.

Benefits of Canadian-friendly poker rooms online:

Deposit and withdraw using Canadian dollars

Software and games in French AND English

Satellites into live events in Canada and the USA

Being able to use a Canadian payment option is important. You want to avoid fees and currency conversion charges when you play online poker. The best gaming sites usually waive fees when you deposit or cash out, but your bank might not be so accommodating. Our team flags up any banking options that will cost you.

If you live in Quebec, you might need games and sites in French. While most of the leading online poker rooms have dual language, some don't. Save time and cash by following our Canada-friendly reviews.

Finally, if you want to win buy-ins into the biggest live events in Canada or America, we'll show you how to find the best satellites with lots of guaranteed prize packages.

Games To Suit All Budgets

There's one huge advantage online poker has over its live cousin: picking your stakes. Most gambling websites let you play poker online from as little as $0.01/0.02. Even better, new players can enjoy daily and weekly freerolls that cost nothing to enter. Hone your skills, learn the rules, and win a few bucks totally free.

Texas Hold'em games running 24/7

Cheap buy-ins for recreational players

Big guarantees to make your bankroll go further

As you improve, you can take advantage of small-stakes cash games and Sit 'n Gos. Popular sites have plenty of players so you won't be left waiting for a game.

And if you're a comfortable player looking for some bigger action, our recommended sites will point you in the direction of million-dollar tourneys and special festivals.

Stay Legal and Secure

Even if you've found a fishy Hold'em game to play in, it doesn't matter if the licensing isn't up to scratch. We only feature sites that possess a legit gaming license.

The most secure poker transactions and payouts

rusted licenses from the biggest jurisdictions

Audited software for a fair game

With proper licensing comes a responsibility to protect players' personal details and funds. Gambling online can be risky, so it's vital for players in Canada to trust the poker sites with their money.

Luckily, at OnlinePoker.ca we've seen all kinds of poker rooms come and go. We've been able to compile a blacklist of online poker sites so you know who to avoid.

Earn an Online Poker Bonus, Whatever Your Budget

Even if you're playing at the low stakes, you can earn free cash when you play online poker. The rooms are desperate to attract new customers all the time. As a Canadian real money player you can make a first deposit and have your cash "matched" by the poker website, just for playing.

The more you play, the more player action points you will earn. Points can then be converted for C$ or tournament tokens. Sites vary in the bonuses they can offer, and we'll show you how to make the most out of your bankroll.

Blacklisted Poker Websites

Is online poker legal in Canada?

Yes! It is legal to play online poker in Canada. But, like everywhere else in the world, gambling has not had a totally smooth history in terms of legality in Canada. Laws have been on the books since 1892, when they restricted but did not totally ban gambling. This original law has been amended over the years until 1970, when significant changes allowed each province in Canada to have most of its own authority over the licensing and regulation of gambling. Today, this applies to both online and casino gambling. Some provinces such as Winnipeg and Montreal have embraced the gambling industry and opened up casinos. It is not legal to operate an online casino in Canada, but residents can play online poker at any international casino.

What is the minimum age to play?

In Canada, gambling is regulated at the Province level, not by the Canadian government. This means that each province gets to set its own rules for how old their citizens must be in order to gamble, including online gambling, buying lottery tickets, and playing at casinos and poker rooms. Most commonly, the minimum age is 19 years old. Some provinces such as Ontario have the age limit set at 18.

How is it regulated?

Gambling was first regulated in Canada by the Criminal Code of 1982. The code has gone through many changes over the last century to allow gambling in varying levels of legality. In 1910 the code was amended to allow the occasional game of chance, as long as all profits went to charitable organizations. The Canadian government made massive changes to the code in 1970, allowing the creation of a multi-billion dollar industry in Canadian gambling. Canada's first casino opened in 1989 in Winnipeg, and now most provinces have their own casinos. One type of betting that is not legal is sport event betting. You can bet on a multiple-match tournament such as the National Hockey League tournament in what is called a parlay, but you cannot bet on individual matches.

How do I begin playing?

It is easy to begin playing at any online casino. You can simply search for Canadian online poker rooms, find one that you like and create an account. The first thing you should look for is game selection. Make sure you pick a site to play at that has all of your favorite online poker variations. It is easier to stay at one site for all of your games if you find one that you like, rather than creating a bunch of new accounts all the time. Once you have an account, use your credit card, debit card, e-wallet or another deposit method to add money into your casino bank roll. Then you can start playing, betting and winning right away!

Can I play in Canadian Dollars?

Yes, you can play in Canadian dollars. There are several casinos out there that allow you to easily deposit, play and withdraw your money in CDN. There is also the option of playing at an international casino in whatever currency they automatically go for, and have your CDN deposit automatically switched over to the local currency wherever the casino is operated. For example if you play at an Italian owned casino, you would automatically see your Canadian Dollars turn into Euros after you make a deposit. To do this you should use a site such as Paypal or another online e-wallet site so that you can easily withdraw and exchange your money back into CDN.

Can Canadian players play at any site?

Yes, you can play anywhere. Since it is totally legal for Canadians to play online gambling games, you can easily access any internationally owned casino and start playing. You might want to search for sites that specifically accept Canadian dollars, because this will make it easier when you are depositing and withdrawing money from your online poker account. Otherwise you will have to exchange your currency every time you take money out of your account, and with varying exchange rates this could cost you a significant amount, especially if you play often.

Canadian Poker Sites

Canadian law doesn’t explicitly allow or disallow online gambling. Although this means that many consider it a gray market, when it comes to poker, the reality is that Canadians have access to all the major international sites.

Online poker has thrived in Canada over the years, and it came as no surprise to see many US poker players move to the country to pursue their poker careers after Black Friday in 2011. More recently, Canadian sportsbooks might be on the way, as the government looks to repeal the prohibition on single-game wagering, one of the few forms of gambling that’s expressly forbidden under current law.

That said, you won’t find many sites based out of Canada. Domestically, most forms of gambling can only be conducted by the provincial lotteries. Thus, while companies like PokerStars and Partypoker serve Canadian customers, they do so from servers located abroad. The only officially authorized, locally-run poker product in the country is OK Poker, available to residents of Quebec through its lottery site, Espace Jeux.

Whatever site they choose, Canadian players themselves are in no way committing a crime by playing online poker.

Best poker sites for Canadians 2021

Rank	Poker Site	Traffic	Software	Bonus	Bonus Offer
1.	888 Poker	B	B+	A+	100% up to $800
2.	GG Poker	A	B+	B+	$100 in Bonus Tickets with $20 Deposit
3.	PokerStars	A	A-	B	100% up to $600
4.	Party Poker	B	B	B-	100% up to $500

In terms of sign-up benefits, 888Poker is arguably the best poker site for Canadians. New registrants can receive a 100% bonus on deposits up to $400, as well as an additional $88 bonus. 888.com was once the second largest poker site in the world behind PokerStars, but has seen traffic decline in recent years. However, because its strategy is to focus on recreational players, it may be the best launching point for online poker newcomers.

Of course, PokerStars is the biggest online poker room in the world, and because of this, it offers the biggest fields, the biggest prize pools, and the broadest selection of game types. New registrations can receive a 100% deposit bonus of up to $600, plus entry into an exclusive $2,500 guaranteed free roll reserved strictly for first-time depositors.

And finally, the third of the big three poker operators, PartyPoker. Currently expanding its live poker operations (and therefore offering satellites for these events online, including those held in Canada), PartyPoker also offers a 100% deposit bonus up to $500, plus $10 for free and a tournament ticket worth $10.

Playing Online Poker in Canada

What is the best deposit method for Canadians at online poker sites?

While the simplest option would seem to be using your Canadian credit card, there are some complications that can arise from this. It really all comes down to which credit card company you are with; some are reluctant to process online poker deposits due to the risks involved in funds being charged back to them. As this is seen as an online gambling deposit, there is obviously a risk of this happening.

It’s for this reason that online payment systems are the best route for depositing. Alas, Canadians are unable to use the more commonplace systems (PayPal and Neteller) for online gambling deposits, but Skrill has emerged as a reliable and safe method that also benefits users with low transaction fees.

Alternatively, Canadians can transfer money directly to and from their bank accounts. Most poker sites will also allow you to process cashouts in both Canadian dollars and US dollars.

Are online poker winnings taxable in Canada?

One of the main draws for Canadian online poker is that winnings from it (and other forms of gambling) are not considered to be income. Therefore, poker and gambling winnings are tax-free. This is partly thanks to the Canadian lottery, which does not tax its winners.

However, if you are a professional poker player or gambler, your winnings would then become a business income, so you would have to declare this to abide by the tax laws.

Essentially though, for newcomers and recreational players, you’ll be able to keep the entirety of your winnings.

Live poker in Canada

The Playground Poker Club in Kahnawake (just outside Montreal) has arguably become the most popular poker room in the country, with different online poker sites choosing this location as the venue for their live events.

PokerStars has held its Canada Cup ($3,300 Main Event, $2 million guaranteed) at Playground, while Partypoker is holding its Canadian Poker Championships throughout August and September 2017. This means that online players in Canada can satellite into live events online for a fraction of the buy-in.

The nearby Casino Montreal might be the best choice for newcomers and amateur players, due to the lower overall skill level of the common player. However, because of this the rake fees are slightly higher than those in dedicated poker rooms.

In Ontario, players can visit the OLG Casino Brantford which offers 14 Texas Hold’em tables. Cash games always run, but they also offer a varied tournament schedule including ladies events, bounty events, and deep stack tournaments.

The River Rock Casino in Richmond, British Columbia, is open 24 hours a day, offering around-the-clock cash games. Other recommendations include Casino Nova Scotia, Caesars Windsor, Northlands Park in Alberta, Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, Medicine Hat Lodge Resort in Alberta, Casino de Mont-Tremblant, and Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino (also in Alberta).

Best Online Poker Sites for 2021

Top Online Poker Sites For Canadian Players

Online Poker Resources

To increase your chances of winning online poker, either as a beginner or intermediate player, we’ve provided you with two downloadable PDF documents.

One is a poker cheat sheet to help you know when best to call and raise. The other shows you all the poker hands, ranging from the highest (Royal Flush) to the lowest (High Card).

You can either click on the images to enlarge the PDFs, or download them to then print off and have them beside you while playing poker online for real money.

Poker Cheat Sheet

Free Poker Cheat Sheet - Download and print this free overview of when to raise and when to call in poker so you can win the next game.

Poker Hands Order From High To Low

Poker Hand Rankings List - Download and print this free overview of top poker hands. Get to know the strength of your poker hand and win the next game.

Different Types of Online Poker

One of the advantages of playing poker online is that you are blessed with a number of variations of the game to choose from, that you won’t necessarily find at a land casino.

Below are some of the most popular types of online poker:

Texas Hold’em is the most popular poker type. Each player uses two Hole cards together with five Community cards to make the best poker hand.

Hugely popular at online casinos, all video poker games are played against the house. Also, similar to slots, you can access progressive jackpots.

The most common variety of Texas Hold’em, No-Limit refers to being able to bet and raise anything up to your entire stack at any time.

Based on the Chinese dominoes games with the same name, Pai Gow Poker is played with a regular 52-card deck and one Joker card.

Similar to Hold’em, except each player receives four Hole cards and must use exactly two along with the Community cards to make the best hand.

Most commonly used in Omaha, Pot Limit refers to games where you can only bet and raise up to the amount that’s already in the pot.

In fixed limit games, you can only bet and raise in increments decided before the game begins. Many non-Hold’em games are played with fixed limits.

Played in five and seven-card versions, Stud doesn’t have any Community cards. Each player receives all their cards, some face up and some face down.

You can play live poker games, such as live Texas Hold’em, in front of a real life dealer, as well as take part in cash games and tournaments.

Cash v Poker Tournaments

When playing online poker for real money against other players, you have two options. You can either play a one-off game, or take part in a poker tournament.

Our table below will go through theese online poker differences:

Play takes place around one table

You exchange cash for chips at a value you feel comfortable with

You can walk away from a cash game at any point

Blind values stay the same for each consecutive hand

If you lose all your chips, you can buy in again and re-join the action

Played across multiple tables simultaneously

There is a set buy-in amount that all tournament players must meet

A tournament ends only when one player is crowned the overall winner

Blind values increase incrementally over a set time period

If you lose all your chips in a tournament then you're eliminated

How We Review Our Poker Sites

In order to find the best poker sites in Canada for you, our expert team plays at, tests and rates every online casino to make sure they provide a top-level poker experience. Our review method includes scoring each of the following:

View our below page guides, for more information on playing online poker.

Our #1 Recommended Poker Site

Online Poker FAQs

Yes. As long as you play at a certified offshore-based online casino, you can bet on poker and other casino games for real money in Canada.

Just make sure you are of legal gambling age to bet, according to which province you are in.

Yes, as long as you’re playing at a legitimate and fully certified poker site.

There are a wide range of online casinos available to play at in Canada. Choose from our list of approved poker sites to make sure you’re not putting yourself at risk.

Our team of reviewers has found that the following are the best poker sites to play at in Canada:

888 Poker

Bodog Poker

Full Tilt Poker

Poker Stars

Unibet Poker

Yes. If you play at a legitimate poker site, then you can gamble for real money on poker.

You can do this by playing one of the online casino’s poker cash games, live poker or even by entering a tournament.

There is no exact answer to this as it really depends on your opponent(s).

There is more predictability when playing video poker games, as you are just battling your wits against the casino site. After playing a few times, you’ll get more of a feel how to win poker more frequently.

With online cash games and poker tournaments, you may come up against both beginner and expert players. For online poker tournaments in particular, the overall prizes can be much higher.

In specific terms we recommend No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha as being the most profitable.

Texas Hold’em. This game is most popular both socially and at all kinds of casinos worldwide.

Here is a list of all the popular online poker variants:

Texas Hold’em

Video poker

Pai Gow

Stud

Omaha

No limit

Limit

Pot limit

Yes, all of the top online poker sites offer 'play for free' options on various games. Some even host free tournaments that award real money prizes or buy-ins to cash games.

You can also play online poker for free, and still win real money. This is by taking advantage of poker site welcome bonuses and other promotions.

Our free casino games page also offers various poker options, without the need to download any programmes or depositing cash.

It depends. Arranging to meet friends at a certain table on a poker site is frowned upon because it encourages collusion.

Lots of sites offer what are called ‘home games’. These are private tables you can play with your friends at and schedule games or tournaments, effectively creating your own private poker club.

PokerStars Canada Download & Canadian Review
April 2021

PokerStars in Canada.

Yes players from Canada can play at PokerStars. PokerStars accepts Canadian players for real money or for play money games and have done so since they started in 2006.

If you are a new player you will benefit the most by playing at PokerStars for 3 reasons. First is the Poker School where you can learn how to play - its the best online. Second it has the lowest rake on micro stakes cash games and high numbers of freerolls, great for starting your poker bankroll. Third is the vast numbers of tournaments that have great turnouts - they are #1 online for the most poker tournaments.

PokerStars Downloads for PC & Mac + Android & iPhone Apps

How to download PokerStars and play for real money in Canada?

Getting started is super easy, just scroll down and select the download for your device, download the software from PokerStars, create your account and finally make your first deposit to claim your bonus.

PC Download

The Canadian PokerStars real money poker download for Windows PC's is super stable and virus free, making it safe for your computer.

The PC download is compatible with the latest Windows operating systems (Windows XP - Windows 10 +) on all laptops and desktops. If you have a chromebook or a Linux system you should try the no-download software at 888 poker or a different device.

Claim your Canadian PokerStars bonus by following the download link below.

If the download is not working? Test that your internet connection is working and that the software is not blocked by your firewall. If that does not work try rebooting your computer.

Mac Download

Download PokerStars Mac software to play real money poker in Canada on your iMac or MacBook. Apple OSX systems can operate the software if they were made in the last 10 years or so and can still update to the latest Apple operating System.

All Canadian iMac desktops and laptops: MacBook, MacBook Air & Macbook Pro will all work. If you have an iPad or iPad pro you need to download the iPhone / iOS software below.

Get the current version of the Mac download for Canada and get up to a $600 when you click the direct link to PokerStars below.

Android App Download

You can get the PokerStars Android App download by following the link below to their website. The Android app is full featured and can be used on a wider variety of Android phones and tablets from manufactures like: Samsung, LG, Sony, Google, Motorola, Blackberry and Nokia.

You can play cash games including Zoom poker and tournaments from the Sunday Millions to Sit N Gos all from your Android phone and you can do it for real money of for free.

If the Android app download not working? Make sure that you have third party apps allowed in your settings and that you have your device updated to the latest version of Android software.

iPhone App Download

Get the iPhone App for PokerStars in Canada at the Apple App Store or directly from PokerStars by clicking the link below.

The iPhone app works on all Apple iOS devices including iPhones, iPads, iPad - Pros, and iPod touch.

Get your real money bonus for a real money 100% deposit bonus up to $600 (Bonus Code: STARS600) or $30 free with a $20 (Bonus Code: THIRTY) just click to go directly to the PokerStars iPhone App Download.

No Download

If you want to play on a computer or device without downloading or to use Linux, you would want the PokerStars no-download software that currently does not exist. However you can play Americas Cardroom or 888 Poker's no download poker client for real money there.

PokerStars Review - Hits and Misses

Info	Hits	Misses
Website: www.pokerstars.com	Worlds Biggest Poker Site	Tough Higher Level Competition
Established 2006	Very Good Software	Only Email Support
Email: support@pokerstars.c om	Most Online Poker Tournaments	Your a Small Fish in a Big Pond
Country: Isle of Man	Best for Beginners

PokerStars (Canada) Review

Benefits for Canadians playing PokerStars vs other online poker sites that I have uncovered in this review are numerous, but be careful it might not be what you are looking for there are certain people that would benefit more from other sites.

PokerStars is #1 in traffic worldwide and you can always find a game at the stakes that you are looking to play or get action in a sit n go or other tournament, the fast fold Zoom poker tables have a lot of traffic as well. For beginners, play money players and micro stakes PokerStars is best, their Poker School makes it easy to learn, tons of free games and freerolls, lower rake on micro stakes than at other poker sites.

Its not all good times here, the competition is super tough especially at middle and high stakes when compared to other online sites - for most players this will make it less profitable. They also do not accept crypto (Bitcoin) which makes for much easier transactions and lower fees. The software does not have a no download version which is better for some people who desire a no-download version.

PokerStars Real Money Review

Can Canadians Play at PokerStars for Real Money?

Yes Canadians can play at PokerStars for real money - PokerStars.com is the real money poker site and PokerStars.net is the play money poker site.

PokerStars Bonus for Canadians

PokerStars Canada offers a sign up bonus for real money players of 100% up to $600 on your first three deposits. You have 60 days in which to make your deposits and 4 months in which to clear your bonus.

The $30 Free bonus requires a minimum deposit of $28 CAD, and you will get paid $5 per day for 6 days. Days 1-4 will be paid out in tournament tickets with a total value of $5 per day. On days 5&6 you will get paid in cash bonuses to your account.

Minimum deposit to claim the bonus is $20 USD which is about $28 in Canadian Dollars.

To claim your bonus enter PokerStars Marketing code "PSP10732" and PokerStars Bonus Code "STARS600" at every deposit. The bonus is good and the fact that you can make up to 3 deposits makes it a better deal than many other poker sites.

PokerStars Canadian Marketing Code

The PokerStars Marketing code lets PokerStars know who is sending them traffic. By using my marketing code you are helping support a fellow Canadian to be on the lookout for unsafe rigged poker sites that may help protect you in the future.

PokerStars Marketing Code: PSP10732

PokerStars Bonus Codes

There are two PokerStars bonus codes - The deposit bonus code for $30 free, and the 100% deposit match bonus code for your first deposit.

100% Bonus - PokerStars Bonus Code: STARS600

Free $30 Bonus - PokerStars Bonus Code: THIRTY

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

PokerStars Deposit Methods for Canadians Include:

Visa, Pre-paid VISA, MasterCard, pre-paid MasterCard, Instadebit, Instant e-Checks, MuchBetter, Neosurf, Paysafecard, ecoPayz, INTERAC, but NOT PayPal.

PokerStars Withdrawal Methods for Canadians Include:

Visa, Instadebit, Instant e-Checks, MuchBetter, ecoPayz, but NOT PayPal.

Recommended: VISA or Instadebit.

Poker Game Variety

Game Variety

PokerStars has the largest game variety of any online poker site - including multiple variations of Hold em, Omaha, Stud, Badugi, as well as mixed games like HORSE, 8 game mix and HOSE. With the highest player traffic volumes of any online site you can find your favorite game going on anytime.

Cash Games

PokerStars does not have games in Canadian Dollars, but does have games in US dollars, Euros and British Pounds.

Cash game rakes are 3.5% on micro stakes ($0.01 - $0.02) and 4.5% on low stakes ($0.10-$0.25) these rake levels are lower than at all other online poker sites. All other games are raked at 5% which is the same as other poker sites for medium and high stakes. The cash game rake cap varies by stakes and ranges from $2.00 - $5.00.

The number of players at the games is the standard heads up, 6 max or 9 max tables. Formats are regular speed and fast fold Zoom poker.

Tournaments

PokerStars has a staggering amount of tournaments running around the clock with buy ins running from as low as $.01 to $10 000 and prize pools that in the main Sunday Tournament exceed $1.5 million. You will find a huge diversity of tournaments in different games like 7 card Stud as well as sit n gos, heads up, turbo tournaments, 2X turbos, rebuys, multi table tournaments, deep stack tournaments, 6-max, 4-max, freeroll and satellite tournaments -including the most satellite tournaments to the WSOP of any online poker site. PokerStars also runs online tournaments just for Canada.

WSOP Satellites

PokerStars WSOP Satellites are what Chris Moneymaker won to get his seat at the WSOP Main Event. Canadians can play satellite tournaments to win the money to play at the main event and it does not have to be a specific package. The 2021 WSOP Satellites for Canadians are in the spring and allow you to win your seat for as low as $1.

PokerStars Live Events

Qualify online to play at Live PokerStars events in Live Card Rooms or Major Tournaments. Live card rooms include: Macau, Manila or the Hippodrome Casino in London. Major tournaments are the Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP), The Asia Pacific Poker Tour, The European Poker-tour or The PokerStars No Limit Holdem Championship. Watch Canadian poker pro Daniel Negreanu's greatest moments playing PokerStars live poker events.

Party Casino & Sportsbetting

PokerStars Casino

PokerStars Casino it turned off by default in the poker software, you can enable it in your settings to show the casino. The casino offers casino poker games, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and online slot games for real money.

BetStars

PokerStars sports book has real money betting on popular sporting events like hockey, football, baseball, gold, tennis, basketball, soccer and more. You can enable BetStars in your settings as a separate tab in your PokerStars software.

A Closer Look:

Traffic and Growth

PokerStars is the largest poker room in the world with more players than any other site. PokerStars is an independent poker network featuring its players exclusively. There is often over 140 000 tournament players and 40 000 cash game players at peak hours. Growth is constant with new players signing up on a regular basis.

Software and Graphics

The PokerStars software is very reliable and smooth running. It is straight forward and easy to use and features a number of themes that you can download and install. Filters are available to screen though the games and tournaments to find open games that meet your selection criteria.

Players can also upload their own avatars which can be easily changed. on the downside, sometimes when trying to get into a low limit sit n go or cash game it can be a bit difficult because of the high volume of players.

Promotions and Loyalty Programs

PokerStars has a random VIP program and frequent players will receive more chances to get very good rewards including cash based on your luck. At the higher levels the rewards become very lucrative. PokerStars reload bonuses do occur but they are not as big as the initial sign up bonus most of the time. Many of the promotions and rewards are in the form of special tournaments tickets including freerolls and satellites to larger events.

Support Quality

PokerStars Canada customer support is offered 24/7 via email. Support times are fast with most questions answered within a few minutes. Response quality is excellent with competent expert answers from their support staff. Dispute managers are also on hand to handle any problems that may arise at the table.

Weak or Tough Competition?

PokerStars has weak competition at the lower limits but it gets tough, very tough as you move up the levels. It is not as tough as Full Tilt and there are many ATM's that just hang out spewing out cash. Although there is a lot of weak players there are some sharks present at the tables at higher limits. At the micros stakes PokerStars offers several games and tournaments that are rake free - so if you are just starting out and learning how to play, PokerStars will let you play for free.

Do Not Play at PokerStars if.

There may be better online poker sites for you to play at:

Bitcoin or crypto is not accepted here and you would be better off at Americas Cardroom or at Bodog who are very fast with deposits and withdrawals in cryptocurrencies.

You want to be profitable at middle stakes. At low stakes the games here are pretty weak but both tournaments and cash games are easier to beat at other poker sites for $2-$4 to $10-$20 games. The average tournament win percentage for the best players here is only 10% but 15%-20% on 888 Poker.

No download is not available at PokerStars so if you want to play poker games on somebody else's computer and not download the software, you are out of luck here. Your best options are either 888 poker or Americas Cardroom, both have excellent no-download software.

Review and Rating - 8.25 / 10

PokerStars is the worlds biggest online poker site. You can play poker for free at micro stakes and take PokerSchool to learn how to play which makes it great for beginners. The software, Low stakes rake, support, tournaments and sign up bonus are very good. The site is Canadian friendly with many deposit / withdrawal options and offers special tournaments just for Canadians. PokerStars is overall a very good site and every poker player should have an account there. Visit PokerStars Canada at www.pokerstars.com to create a new account of for further information.

Is Party Poker Better Than PokerStars?

When online poker in Canada started in the early 2000's Party Poker was by far the more popular poker site. since 2007, PokerStars has become more popular, and although both have been declining - PokerStars is now about 3X more popular than Party Poker in Canada.

PokerStars - Canadian FAQ's

Is PokerStars legal in Canada?

PokerStars is legal to play online poker at in Canada for real money and for free. There are no laws against online poker in Canada and it is 100% legal in all provinces and territories.

Can you play PokerStars for real money in Canada?

Yes you can play PokerStars for real money in Canada, PokerStars have been accepting Canadians since 2006 for real money Texas Holdem and other poker games.

Canadian real money player get a first deposit bonus of 100% up to $600. Real money downloads are available for Computers (PC & Mac) and mobile apps (Android and iPhone).

Is PokerStars download safe?

The software download for PokerStars is safe for you computer being virus and malware free. They have a reputation to uphold and run a successful company running online poker games for real money, if the download was unsafe they would go bankrupt.

How legit is PokerStars?

Being the most popular poker site in the world, PokerStars is 100% legit to play real money poker. Licensed in 22 jurisdictions PokerStars is one of the most licensed and regulated gambling companies in the world.

Can you play for real money on the PokerStars app?

Yes you can play the same real money games on the PokerStars app for Android and iPhone as on the software downloads for PC and Mac computers. The software interface is different to make the mobile poker app more intuitive and user friendly.

Real Money Online Poker Canada

Playing online poker for real money is the ultimate test of a Canadian card player's skill. So it is important to make sure you try out your game by playing at the best real cash online poker sites in Canada. Here we've reviewed all the major cardrooms and highlighted which ones are worth your time and money, so you can be sure of finding a trustworthy site offering quality poker tournaments.

If you are looking to get your start in online poker, then 888 Poker is one of the best places to get the ball rolling. All of the shortlisted sites here will run internet Hold'em games at a range of skill levels and real money betting ranges, as well as providing good bonuses and promotions to Canadian players.

Our real money sites offer:

Safe and secure banking options

Mobile and tablet support

Highly lucrative bonuses for Canadian players

Playing Online for Free: Learn Before You Earn

Playing poker online for real cash requires concentration, nerves of steel and a mind that is able to make good decisions quickly.

Before we get into the nuances of how we found the best real money online poker sites Canada has to offer and how you can join the action, it's important to give you some tips on how you can improve your own skills for free.

As we said, becoming a profitable poker player is a two-step process that requires you to learn how to play and then learn how to find the best sites to play at. Although we can't go into detail on how you can become a better poker player, we will tell you that it's possible to hone your skills at the play money tables.

Designed to replicate the full workings of real money poker game, these tables don't cost anything to sit down at and that means you can practice your moves without blowing your bankroll. Basically, before you ante-up at any real cash poker game online, you should first take a trip to the play money tables and work on your skills for free.

Once you've done this you can then move onto step two and follow our tips for finding the best real money poker rooms Canada has to offer.

Play Online For Real Money: How We Find the Best Sites

Playing poker online for real cash requires concentration, nerves of steel and a mind that is able to make good decisions quickly. Your aim is to make the right choices in each hand and to win as much money during your playing time as possible. Obviously, if you play real money poker against weaker opponents, then your profit margin is going to be better.

While finding these weaker players, or 'fish' as the poker world prefers to call them, is important you should also look for a site that has good, reliable software that allows you to easily play many games simultaneously. Remember, the more Hold'em you play, the more money you are going to make and the faster you are going to gain experience.

So what important factors did we take into account when producing our list of Canada's top real cash online poker sites?

Fish: Well we first went on a fishing expedition to find the most productive bankroll building sites. We looked for websites that had more fish than Canada has salmon, and also had a good mix of player traffic throughout the different stake levels. Therefore, whether you enjoy playing a few hundred dollars a hand, or just a few cents, you know that you are playing in a productive real money online poker site that will bring you in some profit from weak opponents.

Bonuses: Next we looked at all important welcome bonuses. Nothing boosts a bankroll like free money and we hunted down some of the best bonuses available. Each of the real money poker rooms on our list offers new players a true red carpet treatment and the opportunity to get your hands on some great bonus cash.

Tournaments: When you are playing online card games for real money you want the chance to win seats at big live events, or get entry into some huge online Hold'em tournaments. As a result, each of our top rated online poker real cash sites let you get involved in some hot tournament action.

Traffic: Player traffic is also vital for a Canadian online poker site. There is no point in looking for a game to play and being unable to find good opposition. So we made sure that each site offering online Hold'em for real cash on our top list has good player traffic to make it easy to find a game.

Software: Finally, we looked at software to ensure that the online real money poker sites we recommend all have intuitive interfaces that make finding and playing a poker game simple and easy. We have also ensured that each Canadian real cash online poker site offers superior customer support and plenty of deposit options to let you get to the virtual felt quickly.

Security: The final thing we look at when judging a real money C$ poker room online is an operator's security credentials. We make sure that every site we recommend is certified by a recognised licensing authority so that you know your money and personal details are safe at all times.

If you're willing to put in some practice at the play money poker tables and then follow our recommendations, we're 100% confident that you're online gaming experience will be the best it can be.

As you can see from our comprehensive checklist, we make sure that every Canadian online poker site contained in our list of leading platforms is the highest quality possible. We want you to make more money when you ante-up for real cash in Canada and we believe you'll have the best opportunities possible when you follow our advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to play with real money?

It's perfectly legal to play with real money online in Canada as long as you're from a location that allows online gambling. Canadian residents and visitors are both free to gamble online.

How do I start?

To start gambling online simply make an account and deposit money into a top-rated poker site online and begin playing at some of the tables.

How do I choose a good site?

Choosing a good site is a difficult process. Look at some of our top-rated sites to get you started. A good site should offer a high deposit bonus and have a solid player base with easy players or fish and remain safe and secure to use.

Should I use bonuses if available?

You should always use bonuses if they are available. The new bonuses can be a good source of early income for new players at poker sites, and many skilled players rely on them to increase their bankroll.

Can I play for money on my mobile or tablet?

It's possible to play for money on both a mobile device and tablet. Many of our top poker sites have an app or a mobile-compatible website that makes this possible on a range of devices.

What poker games offer the best winning opportunities?

Texas Hold'em commonly offers the best winning opportunities of any poker game because it is the most popular. This popular game draws in new players all the time, and these are the players that are easy to beat to expand your bankroll.

Canadian Poker Sites

The laws of Canada as they apply to online gambling and playing online poker aren’t particularly well understood for those living outside of Canada. This has led to quite a few people to consider Canada to be in a “grey area” so to speak when it comes to the legality of playing online poker there. This page hopes to clarify all of that and which are the best Canadian poker sites out there today.

Now to start, Canadians have long enjoyed playing online poker since its inception. In fact, they have a long-standing history of playing at most of the popular sites, including PokerStars and bodog.ca. There are still tiny caveats here and there, along with laws that have sometimes interfered with Canadians getting online to enjoy online poker, but the times have evolved and we will attempt to educate those who wish to know about the legalities surrounding iGaming in this country.

The selection of online poker sites for Canadians remains pretty solid these days, with a only a handful no longer accepting players in the region. Unfortunately, the aforementioned grey area that was mentioned earlier has influenced the decision-making process of those companies, even though the laws explicitly state such online poker states don’t interfere with the state-run entities that Quebec and British Columbia offer its citizens.

Best Online Poker Sites for Canadians

What The Gaming Law In Canada Really Says

What consists of illegal gambling in Canada is defined and governed by the Criminal Code of Canada, which uniformly applies to all areas of the country. The law here addresses specific instances of gambling, namely, keeping a common betting or gaming house, being present at one without a lawful excuse, and running bookmaking or lottery operations.

Gambling itself has never been illegal here, although gambling at a common gambling house, one set up to profit from gambling, is. Inherent in this definition though is that the “gaming house” or “betting house” fit the definition as set out in the law, and this clearly addresses an establishment that is set up at a location in Canada to facilitate gambling or betting.

So the restrictions here are on operators essentially, to disallow the operating of facilities hosting gambling for a profit in Canada, without explicit permission of course. So Canada does have licensed casinos, as well as lotteries, who do have such permission, otherwise running these establishments would not be legal.

We also are seeing some online gambling being offered in Canada, by the B.C. Lottery for instance, this would be akin to regulated online gambling that we see elsewhere, but the regulations are only domestically inclusive, meaning that one needs a license to run such an enterprise in Canada. This is why you don’t see Canadian-run online gambling sites, generally speaking.

The gambling being run out of the Kannawake Reserve is an exception, however, they consider themselves a separate nation and therefore not being subject to the laws of Canada. The Canadian authorities leave them alone, so it remains an open question as to whether or not they are running a common gaming or betting house or not, but it doesn’t matter.

Some people were concerned when Amaya Gaming, a Canadian company, bought PokerStars, and feared that they would withdraw from the Canadian market out of an abundance of caution. Amaya had been in the gambling business for some time prior to that though and have never offered gambling outside of Canada, mainly because they have operations in so many different countries with different licenses needing to be obtained in each jurisdiction.

But, since PokerStars itself does not consist of a common gaming or betting house located in Canada, the law does not apply, even if its Amaya is headquartered here. This is another reason why so many players from the United States moved to Canada after Black Friday, so they were able to play on bigger sites like PokerStars and avoid any legal troubles by state lawmakers.

Is Gambling Itself Legal In Canada?

Gambling in of itself is not illegal in Canada though, and that’s the most important point. “Not illegal” means legal by the way, the absence of a law against it. One could always gamble legally provided it was not done at a common gaming or betting house, in the privacy of one’s on home for instance.

In essence, playing online poker consists of just that, gambling done in private. The focus of Canadian gambling law is on prohibiting gambling establishments, and the crime of being present at one also serves to look to limit such activities by dissuading both the operators and the clientele.

Where some people get confused here is what the law actually prohibits. Let’s say you wanted to run a gambling establishment in Canada. You would have to get permission from the regulatory authorities, otherwise you’d be breaking the law, and committing a criminal offense actually.

This would be the case if you wanted to run an online poker site in Canada as well. Now how does this work from a player’s perspective? If they want to play at a regulated Canadian site, they could choose to do so, and the operator would not have to worry because they would have a license.

Does this mean that Canadians can only play at Canadian regulated sites? Well, not at all actually. Given that gambling itself isn’t illegal, only certain types, gambling at a site located and regulated in another jurisdiction is beyond the purview of Canadian law, as it does not involve gambling at a common gaming or betting house located in Canada.

This is just like taking a trip to Monte Carlo or Las Vegas actually, even though there is betting going on in Canada in this case, but once again, the betting itself isn’t illegal at all.

In some jurisdictions, where the betting took place, whether it took place in Canada or at the location of the servers, is a hotly-debated legal topic in some areas. However, this is of no consequence here actually, because regardless of whether the betting is understood to take place in Canada or not, there are no prohibitions either way.

Canada Painted A Little Grey

As mentioned earlier, there are some online poker sites and online gambling sites these days who have recently exited the Canadian market, but this has nothing to do with changes or even potential changes to Canadian gaming laws regarding any of this.

Rather, it had to do with the new regulatory requirements of the U.K. gambling commission, which has restrictions on sites that are to be granted a license as far as the allowable extent of their business residing in grey area jurisdictions.

So some sites either believed or worried that Canada would be seen as such a grey country, and out of caution, withdrew from the Canadian market during the licensing procedures. As it turned out, these concerns were unwarranted, and many online poker sites, including PokerStars and 888, the two biggest, successfully received their U.K. license in spite of still accepting Canadians.

We may wonder whether or not sites like Titan Poker will ever rethink their decision to exclude Canadians, but no matter really, the access to online poker sites for Canadians remains broad and those companies have strived to make the player experience better and safer over the years. The impact to the market has been quite minimal and generally only involve choosing a different skin to access a certain poker network.

Are Gambling Winnings Taxable in Canada?

Generally, winnings from poker and gambling are not considered to be income, and all gambling winnings are tax-free. Canadians have the lottery to thank for this not changing, because being tax-free is one of the big selling points of Canadian lotteries.

If a Canadian gambles for a living though – meaning that the main source of a person’s income is from gambling – that would be seen as business income and would need to be declared in order to abide with tax law.

Provided that playing online poker isn’t your main source of income, then what you win is what you keep, which isn’t the case in many countries, so Canadians are quite fortunate actually on this count.

Depositing and Withdrawing For Canadian Poker Players

Depositing with Canadian credit cards at online poker sites can be a hit or miss affair, but only because certain banks are more reluctant to take on the additional risks of the funds being charged back, and gambling deposits have a much higher rate of this.

Internet wallets are very popular here. It’s been a number of years since Canadians could use PayPal or Neteller to deposit at poker rooms, but several other good options exist, including Instadebit, a Canadian-based eWallet which is very popular here. Skrill is also a popular choice due to their history of safety, security and low fees.

Players can also have money transferred to and from their Canadian bank accounts very easily as well. Overall, there are no issues with moving money in and out of online poker sites for Canadians. Also, sites routinely accept deposits and process cashouts in either CAD or USD.

Playing Online Poker In Canada

In the grand scheme of things, Canadians enjoy a quite a wide selection of the best internet poker rooms anywhere. And residents may not be able to play at popular sites like Titan Poker and a handful of others right now, they still have major access to even more reputable companies like 888, Full Tilt and PartyPoker.

PokerStars is of course very popular here, as it is just about everywhere. The bonus options, along with the fact that Stars provides the best software on the planet makes it a very attractive option for players. Its partner site, Full Tilt, has also made quite the comeback since its Black Friday downfall in 2011 and is now one of the biggest Canadian-friendly poker sites in the area.

Players who are looking for some even looser action may choose from among some of the smaller poker sites in terms of traffic, they are free to try out pretty much anything they want and settle on what they prefer. The rooms on the iPoker Network are definitely ones to watch out for, as most of their sites are filled with fish and not as reg-heavy as Stars.

Of course, with this wide of a selection, Canadians play what they want, whenever they want, at what stakes they want. Things have been great for years as far as playing online poker in Canada, they are great now, and there’s no reason to expect that it won’t continue to be great.

So, let's define, what was the most valuable conclusion of this review: Online poker is wide open to Canadians with dozens of sites to choose from and easy deposit options - Find the best online poker sites in Canada here. at Online Poker Canada