It should come as no surprise that there are a number of excellent online Canadian poker sites. After all, some of the greatest real money poker players in the world are Canadian, like Daniel Negreanu (who currently holds the record for highest lifetime earnings) and the 2010 WSOP Champion Jonathan Duhamel. If you're ready to pursue your own ambitions to become a pro card player online, you've come to right place.
These online poker sites were selected for our exclusive listing because each one of them:
If you want to learn more, scroll down and take a look at each of these recommended Canadian online poker sites. To really get a good feel for these Texas Hold'em sites, take them for a test drive by signing up and playing with a free player account today!
Our number one choice for online poker in 2021 is 888 Poker .
At Cardschat, we only recommend the best online poker sites for Canadian players. To be considered one of the best, a poker room must pass the following checks during our strict review process.
With more than 10 million registered members, 888 Poker is one of the fastest growing online poker rooms with a seven-day average of 1,100 cash game players.
A well-established poker site with a massive community of players, 888Poker initially launched in 2002 under the name of Pacific Poker before renaming in 2006.
Some of the key names within the 888 Poker community are the brand ambassadors.
These include WSOP Champion Martin Jacobson, famous WSOP reporter Kara Scott, and online poker icon Chris Moorman.
If you want to play poker online at a faster pace, SNAP Poker is 888's exclusive fast-fold poker variant. It allows users to instantly get a new hand after folding.
The selection is just as impressive when switching over to tournaments. 888 poker Canada is known for its busy schedule and special series.
Withdrawals from 888 Poker are processed within three working days and paid to the same methods used for deposits. The closed loop offers extra security for playing poker online for real money.
The 888 Poker Club gives members extra benefits based on their activity. You can claim prize scratchcards, entries to freerolls, and gold tokens just by playing here regularly.
Now one of the best online poker sites in Canada, GG Poker originally focused on Asian markets, before launching as the flagship poker room on the Good Game Network in 2014.
Averaging 5,400 cash game players over seven days, GG Poker Canada has impressive traffic levels and this number is only expected to grow as GG expands even more.
Team GG Poker brand ambassadors include Canadian poker legend Daniel Negreanu, Dan Bilzerian, and Elky.
In addition to the familiar poker games, GG also has some exclusive options, such as Flip & Go, All-In or Fold, and Rush & Cash.
When it comes to online poker tournaments, the schedule is always packed. There are daily guarantees and events for all bankrolls. GG Poker also has satellites for the WSOP Main Event and holds its own series with large prize pools, like GGMasters and MILLION$.
Withdrawals from your GG Poker account are also pretty straightforward. There is a $1 fee per transaction and processing varies from a few minutes to a couple of days.
Launched in 2001, PokerStars is by far the largest online poker site.
With a seven-day average of 8,200 ring game cash players, PokerStar’s traffic puts it well ahead of other top poker sites in Canada.
Current PokerStars Team members include Andre Akkari, Muskan Sethi, and Lex Veldhuis.
In the tournaments department, PokerStars Canada has a busy weekly schedule and often adds special series, such as SCOOP and WCOOP, in formats for low, mid, and high stakes.
The operator offers very fast withdrawals, often processing requests within 24 hours for verified members. You can learn more about it in the full PokerStars review at CardsChat.
The second welcome offer is a 100% bonus on the first three qualifying deposits made within 60 days.
What makes one poker room better than the rest? If you've never played online poker before, then it could be hard for you to identify the best Canadian poker sites.
There are literally hundreds of online poker sites in Canada that would be glad to take your money, but only a handful of them will offer you the gaming experience you deserve.
While some lesser real money online poker sites will try to lure new players in with a big bonus, or a clever ad campaign, the best Canadian poker sites we recommend here at Cardschat excel in every category.
You can even play on your iPhone or Android device on one of our most-recommended Canadian mobile poker sites.
So, what should you be looking for in an online Canada poker site?
Steady traffic at Canadian peak times.
Good bonuses to get the most out your bankroll.
More importantly, they must also offer a good variety of poker games. Check out our list of guides below for even more real money poker games:
Rank | Poker Site | Exclusive Bonus | Rating (5) | Review |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
888 Poker
|
C$1400 | ||
2 |
GG Poker
|
C$100 | ||
3 |
PokerStars
|
C$600 | ||
4 |
Party Poker
|
C$100 | ||
5 |
Unibet
|
C$300 |
When you first look to play poker online, it can be difficult to decide between playing at real money poker sites or free money poker sites. Use our comparison table below to help you decide what’s best for you.
It is not illegal for players in Canada to access real money poker sites – provided the poker rooms are properly licensed and regulated.
Where confusion can sometimes occur, is that Canada does not allow online poker sites or online casinos to be based/registered in Canada, so poker rooms entering or operating in the Canadian market must seek their appropriate licenses elsewhere.
As a result, many online poker sites in Canada are regulated by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission.
Based in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory, a First Nations reserve located in Quebec, the commission can legally offer gambling licenses to poker, casino and sportsbook sites.
In terms of age restrictions, you must be 19 to play poker online in most of Canada, but there are some exceptions to this rule. In Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec the age limit is 18. So for the majority of online gambling in Canada, it is safe to assume 19 is the limit.
Yes, provided you play at a licensed and regulated online poker room that is based outside of Canada.
As the Canadian government does not allow for Canadian-based online casinos, most poker rooms open to Canadian players will have a license from the Kahnawake Gaming Commission, based in the Kahnawake Mohawk Territory – a First Nations reserve.
Absolutely! The real money online poker sites we recommend here aren't just Canadian-friendly, they are top-of-the-line poker rooms no matter where in the world you live.
Having been through a strict review process, the safety, reliability, and security of these sites is beyond question.
No, poker winnings are not taxed in Canada because of the guiding principal that the gambling is done with after-tax dollars. Therefore, any potential windfall is exempt from tax.
Yes, Canadian poker players are particularly lucky in this regard. Essentially every major real money poker room accepts players from Canada (and Canadian-friendly deposit methods) without issue.
If you don't already have your heart set on a specific poker site, you should compare and check our recommendations for the best Canadian online poker site including 888 Poker, GGPoker, PokerStars and more.
The bonuses offered to Canadians by online poker sites come in different shapes and sizes. Some are genuinely valuable while others are pretty much gimmicks designed to get new Canadian card players in the door.
Make sure to take a good hard look at the wagering requirements on the website to see if you have a realistic chance of actually receiving your bonus, based on how much you gamble.
Also, don't forget about the loyalty programs that can really add up in the long run.
Every poker site is unique, and since so many of them accept Texas Hold'em players from Canada, it's hard to say how all of them deal with tournaments.
Luckily, the top poker sites for Canadians have full schedules of regular tournaments, not to mention the big monthly events that attract tons of players.
Stick with any of the tried and true top real money Canadian poker sites listed above, and you won't have to worry about a thing!
We aim to promote responsible gambling when playing poker. If you think you have a problem, take a look at the resource as Problemgambling.ca
This site provides tips for safer ways to gamble, as well as assistance with spotting the signs of problem gambling and gambling addiction. This site also gives access to research into problem gambling.
A self-help service for problem gamblers, and for their family and friends including a community forum. This site also has a link to the helpline which is open 24/7 and staffed by helpful and informative advisors.
GA meetings are available around the world, in face-to-face and online form. This anonymous help service provides a safe space for problem gamblers to talk and provides a program to assist self-help.