There are many grey areas when it comes to gambling in Canada, and online gambling is no exception. However, online casinos do exist in Canada since there are very few laws that relate to online gambling. The most important fact is that it is not illegal to play in an online casino but it is unlawful to operate an online-based casino from Canada.

Play Real Money Keno. Real money keno is a lottery style game played in land-based casinos in one of two major formats: live and video keno. Terminals can be placed to allow electronic gaming for real money in local gambling spots. When it comes to the legality of online poker it just so happens that Canada is one of the best places in the world to play online poker for real money. There are a wealth of online poker sites to choose from.

Online poker Rules and laws of online poker in USA. Historical roots of poker are in New Orleans. Since invention of this game it has conquered world and became both a way to earn money and to spend spare time with friends. It has many fans from each corner of our planet. Though it is relatively an old game, waves of its popularity are not fading. 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.

Despite that, Canada remains one of the more attractive countries for online poker players because of its wide variety of online gambling sites. I will introduce some of the top online poker sites and provide you with detailed features.

These are my top picks for reliable online poker sites that accept Canadian players in 2021:

BetOnline Poker

BetOnline

• Bonus Package:100% Poker Welcome Bonus
• Recommended Bonus:100% up to C$1,000
• Bonus Code:NEWBOL
• Last Checked:February 2021
• Compatible on:Mobiles, laptops, desktops

BetOnline has been present in the gambling industry for some time now, but they caught the players’ eyes in 2011 with their new marketing strategy. Appealing bonuses attract many new members, while ongoing promotions keep them playing.

BetOnline is available to players from the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Players from 50 US states can wager in BetOnline — more than any other online poker site allows.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

BetOnline offers many payment methods, such as Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, and others. However, they prefer their players using Bitcoin. The minimum deposit bonus for Bitcoin is $10, while the maximum is $100,000. Other methods have different limits; for example, credit and debit cards’ minimum is $50, while the maximum limit is $2,500.

Withdrawal limits also vary depending on the method you choose. Bitcoin‘s minimum cashout is $20, while the maximum is $2,500. There are no payout options for credit and debit cards, but you can get from $500 to $3,000 by wire transfers. Bitcoin transactions are instant, while wire transfers can take up to 15 days.

Security and Software

BetOnline has significantly improved its software since it first started operating. I have noticed significant changes in the appearance of the site. The site’s new graphics are modern and exciting with plenty of fun animations.

BetOnline’s security is tight, and it helps that it uses 256-bit SSL encryption technology that keeps all the players’ information and personal details secure.

Bonuses

BetOnline offers amazing deposit bonuses to both new players and regular ones since it provides a bonus on every deposit you make. There is a $25 bonus for live in-game betting and $50 for mobile bets.

Canadian players get special treatment with a 100% match bonus for deposits between $50-1000. The amount will be transferred to your account in installments — $10 at a time. New players are welcomed with various promotions and bonuses and a chance to win 410,000.

Read the full BetOnline Review.

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Sportsbetting.ag Poker

Sportsbetting.AG

• Bonus Package:100% Poker Welcome Bonus
• Recommended Bonus:100% up to C$1,000
• Bonus Code:NEWSB
• Last Checked:February 2021
• Compatible on:Mobiles, laptops, desktops

SportsBetting has been present in the industry since 2003, and they have a well-established reputation among players. It’s important to know what kind of poker rooms you’re looking for because some of their online poker games are a bit mediocre and not so busy, I noticed.

SportsBetting includes a comprehensive list of restricted countries but is still available to players from the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, etc.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

There are several deposit and withdrawal methods to choose from, especially for Canadian players. SportsBetting also encourages the use of Bitcoin as the safest and quickest option. Deposits with Bitcoin go from $20 to $100,000.

Withdrawals are also the safest with Bitcoin — the minimum payout is $20, while the maximum is $3,000. You can also use Skrill, Litecoin, Ripple, bank wire transfers, and more for withdrawals. You can only make one withdrawal per week.

Security and Software

SportsBetting’s software could be the most significant feature the online site has to offer. It operates on Betsoft — high-quality software with smooth-running systems. SportsBetting’s poker rooms are part of the Chico poker network, which means fantastic graphics, smooth gameplay, and excellent support are guaranteed.

All wagering and personal information are 100% secure. SportsBetting is a reliable option for poker players.

Bonuses

SportsBetting provides a 100% deposit match bonus on your first crypto deposit with the code100CRYPTOand a 35% bonus for every qualifying deposit with the code35CRYPTO

Additionally, there is a 100% welcome bonus for online casino games on your first three deposits — up to $1,000 each. There are also plenty of promotions related to online poker, from weekly cash races to 20% balance boosts.

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Read the full SportsBetting.ag Poker review.

Bodog Poker

Bodog Poker

• Bonus Package:100% Poker Welcome Bonus
• Recommended Bonus:100% up to C$1,000
• Bonus Code:Not required – Use link
• Last Checked:February 2021
• Compatible on:Mobiles, laptops, desktops

Bodog has quickly become one of the leading names in the online poker industry. Even though they spent some time in court over domain name rights, that has not stopped them from attracting customers worldwide, with Canada being their primary market.

Bodog players can enjoy the variety of games from most countries in South America, the US, UK, and of course, Canada, among others.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

Bodog has similar deposit and withdrawal options as the previous online poker sites. Deposit methods include Bitcoin, BitcoinCash, Visa, Mastercard, and other credit cards and direct bank transfers.

The minimum deposit limit varies from $20 to $100, while the maximum limit ranges from $1,200 to $5,000.

There are multiple withdrawal options as well. If you opt for Bitcoin, you can withdraw a minimum of $10, while there is no maximum limit. Bitcoin transactions are instant and you can withdraw money every three days.

Other transfers can take up to three to five business days to complete, which is why Bitcoin is highly recommended.

Security and Software

Bodog uses more than one software developer, but their main developer is RTG — a well-known brand name in the industry. Among other developers is BetSoft with its cutting-edge approach toward online gaming. Users have nothing but words of praise for the realistic visuals and superb graphics.

Bodog uses the most stringent security measures with special SSL encryption. The players can relax, knowing all their personal information and financial details are 100% protected.

Bonuses

Bodog offers a 100% welcome bonus worth up to $1,000. As is the case with other online poker sites, issued bonuses are based on the Rewards Points and will be unlocked in $5 instalments.

If you deposit using Bitcoin, play with Canadian dollars, and enter the code BOCBITCOIN150, you’ll get a 150% poker bonus worth up to a total of $900.

Bodog also offers various promotions, such as the Bad Beat Bonus or Royal Flush Bonus, worth up to $1,000 and $200, respectively.

There is also the Bodog Rewards program. For example, if you want to participate in a poker tournament where the buy-in is $9+1, you will receive 150 rewards points. Collect points and you can get to the Bodog Diamond stage.

Read the full Bodog Poker review.

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TigerGaming Poker

Tiger Gaming

• Bonus Package:100% Poker Welcome Bonus
• Recommended Bonus:100% up to C$1,000
• Bonus Code:NEWTG
• Last Checked:February 2021
• Compatible on:Mobiles, laptops, desktops

TigerGaming has been around since 1999 but still hasn’t entered the mainstream poker world as one of the biggest poker sites. However, that doesn’t make it any less trusted than other poker sites — it is still a great choice for both experienced and new players.

Some countries can not use the TigerGaming site, but residents of the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and more are granted access.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

Like many other online poker sites, TigerGaming has a variety of deposit and withdrawal methods to choose from — Bitcoin, Visa, Mastercard, Ripple, Skrill, and others. The minimum deposit limit goes from $10 for Skrill to $1000 for bank wire transfers. The maximum deposit limit is $2,500 for credit cards, $50,000 for Bitcoin, while there’s no limit for bank wire transfers.

The maximum withdrawal limit on poker winnings is $3,000 per week. Apart from other payment methods, you can withdraw money using a bank wire transfer to withdraw a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $3,000 or Bitcoin where the minimum is $20 and the maximum is the same as for the wire transfer.

There are no credit or debit cards available for payouts.

Security and Software

TigerGaming takes care of its players, providing them with a safe and carefree environment to enjoy playing games. Its poker rooms are part of the Chico poker network — which means guaranteed smooth play and excellent graphics for a whirlwind experience.

TigerGaming uses Thot Management B. V. and has a valid Curacao e-gaming licence N 5536/JAZ. The players shouldn’t worry about their security and personal information since the online site is as safe as they come.

Bonuses

All the promotions and bonuses are focused on specific TigerGaming’s games. Poker newcomers will get a 100% deposit bonus of $50 or more.

Experienced players are also taken care of with weekly promotions and cash races where they can win up to $10,000. If you want to try out your luck like me, you can go for the jackpot and maybe win a 5,000x your buy-in.

Read the full TigerGaming Poker Review

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888 Poker

888 Poker

• Bonus Package:C$88 Free – No Deposit
• Recommended Bonus:100% up to C$400
• Bonus Code:WELCOME100
• Last Checked:February 2021
• Compatible on:Mobiles, laptops, desktops

888poker takes pride in being the fastest-growing online poker site in the industry. They have more than 10 million registered users playing on hundreds of ‘play money’ tables. 888poker has been in the business for more than 20 years, and it has gained an impeccable reputation among players in multiple countries.

Residents of the US, UK, and Canada can play poker online in 888poker in a safe and secure gaming environment.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

There are plenty of deposit and withdrawal options in 888poker. They are offering 13 options that can be used for both deposits and withdrawals and 19 options that are only suitable for deposits.

Among the 13 options for both deposits and withdrawals, you can find all the most common methods, such as Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, and others. The deposit limit can vary, but it is usually around $10.

The same goes for withdrawals, the limit depends on the method you choose. The minimum withdrawal limit varies between $10 and $25. Also, for more significant amounts, 888poker has the right to verify your account. You cannot withdraw more than $50,000 in one month.

Security and Software

Being present in the online gaming market for 20+ years, 888poker has its own software. The software has gone through many upgrades to become high-tech, but it’s still easy to use. One of their best features that immediately grabbed my attention was the graphics, along with animations.

888poker has top-notch security — your information and transaction are always safe. They use 128-bit SSL technology to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Bonuses

888poker can be generous with their bonuses, primarily if you’re based in Canada. At the moment, they are offering their Canadian players a $88 free no deposit bonus package.

Also, if you are a new player, you will get a 100% bonus up to $400 on your first deposit with the code WELCOME100.

However, this bonus comes in $10 instalments, so every time you collect 100 bonus points, you’ll get a $10 poker bonus.

Read the full 888 Poker Review

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PartyPoker

Party Poker

• Bonus Package:Free Play Poker
• Recommended Bonus:C$40 Free Play
• Bonus Code:Not required – Use link
• Last Checked:February 2021
• Compatible on:Mobiles, laptops, desktops

PartyPoker is one of the few selected and trusted brands in online gaming. It offers fast-paced poker and gives the players a chance to qualify for the World Poker Tour events. Their mobile app is one of the best on the market, and it’s ideal for playing poker on the go.

Residents of the US, UK, Canada, France, and other countries can use their online poker site. Canadian residents have the best PartyPoker promotions offered only to them.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

Canadians can use various deposit methods, such as Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, electronic transfers, instant banking, and seven other options. There are no fees for these payment options and deposit limits depend on the customer because they can set and change them anytime.

Regarding withdrawals, PartyPoker allows methods such as Maestro, instant banking, Visa, Skrill, and more. All minimum payouts are $10, while maximum payouts vary. Withdrawals can take up to 24h or three to five business days, depending on the method.

Security and Software

PartyPoker complies with a wide range of laws, rules, standards, and regulations throughout various jurisdictions. Customers can rely on 28-bit SSL encryption and a five-level security system. I noticed that they also give great advice on their site about further protecting yourself and your winnings.

Since 2001, PartyPoker has been known for large pools of soft players attracted to the online poker site under the bwin.party Digital Entertainment umbrella, the world’s largest publicly listed gaming company.

Bonuses

There are not many welcome bonuses in PartyPoker, but they make up for it with many attractive promotions. They offer a $30 free bonus on your first deposit of $10 or more.

However, their poker promotions are much more diverse. PartyPoker has a daily cash boom where poker players can win up to $12,000. Also, there are various tournaments poker players can enter with a chance to win up to one million dollars. Regular players can also get up to 40% cashback rewards every week if they first earn a minimum of 25 points.

Read the full PartyPoker Review

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Bet365 Poker

Bet365 Poker

• Bonus Package:New Player Bonus
• Recommended Bonus:€365 (Equivalent in CAD)
• Bonus Code:Not required – Use link
• Last Checked:February 2021
• Compatible on:Mobiles, laptops, desktops

One of the most popular poker sites and a familiar name among bettors, Bet365 is an international experience. The online site features a lot of action, regular promotions, and an excellent customer service team. The quality of play I experienced is unprecedented and the number of poker variants is a must-see.

There are a few countries on Bet365’s list of restricted countries, but if you’re from the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, etc. you are welcome to play.

Deposit and Withdrawal Options

Canadians have a few deposit options, a bit less than on previous online poker sites, but still, plenty to satisfy most customers. You can use Visa, Mastercard, InstaDebit, iDebit, Paysafecard, Visa checkout, or a bank wire transfer.

The minimum deposit is $10 for every method except InstaDebit and iDebit, where it’s $20, and via bank wire transfer where it’s $75. Maximum deposit limits vary from $400 with Paysafecard to $200,000 via bank wire transfers.

Withdrawals can be performed with Visa, Mastercard, InstaDebit, iDebit, and bank transfers. There are no fees for any of these methods and payout limits can vary. For example, with Visa and Mastercard, you can withdraw $10 to $40,000, while you can withdraw from $50 to $50,000 with a bank wire transfer.

Security and Software

Bet365 poker is on the iPoker network, which guarantees a great cash-game and tournament volume with regular promotions. Bet365 poker offers a number of newly upgraded poker variants, so there are plenty of games for both newcomers and experienced players.

Bet365 offers additional security by providing each player with a four-digit security number. You have to enter the four-digit number before you can take any action regarding your betting account to verify your identity and prevent any possible security breaches.

Bonuses

On this site, you’ll get one of the best welcome bonuses for new players — $365. The payout comes in $2.50 installments as you earn Status Points. Also, Bet365 offers a Welcome Prize Wheel Spin with a chance to win $100 in cash.

When I visited the site, Bet365 offered a couple of promotions but not a lot for online poker. Bet365 focuses its promotions on sports bets more. However, there are many poker tournaments such as Bet365 Speed Poker and Bet365 Poker 6+ Holdem that are worth a try.

Read the full Bet365 Poker Review

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Legal Situation Regarding Canadian Poker Sites

Canadian gambling falls under provincial jurisdiction. However, the Internet doesn’t know about boundaries. Additionally, each province determines its own gambling rules and regulations.

Countless online offshore gambling sites accept bets from Canada. There isn’t anything specific in Canada’s criminal code that forbids betting on offshore sites. Although offshore gambling continues to be in the grey area, Canada can easily decide to enforce new laws against offshore poker sites.

The most important thing is that Canadians can play poker online legally if they are playing on offshore sites. However, if you want to own and operate a Canada-based online poker site, you must go through several procedures to obtain a gambling licence. Without a licence, one cannot legally offer any gambling service to residents of Canada.

In case you’re not sure which online poker sites offer the best playing conditions and guaranteed payments and include no tricks or scams, I’ll recommend a few of my favourite ones.

Top Canadian Deposit and Withdrawal Options

How To Play Poker Online For Money In Canada Now

When it comes to depositing and withdrawing your funds for real-time gameplay, you want to use a site that offers deposits and withdraws in your home currency and makes the entire process easy and straightforward. The poker sites that I recommend offer all of these points and many different deposit and withdrawal options in CAD.

The popular favorites include debit and credit card, bank transfer (BACS), wire transfer, e-wallet, PayPal, Skrill, and even Bitcoin in some cases. When it comes time to take your winnings, the sites that I recommend offer a swift and streamlined system of collecting funds which are quick and easy to do. Most withdrawals will show up in your elected account within three business days.

Security is my top priority when I thoroughly test online poker rooms for Canada and my review criteria also extends to the protection of your personal banking details and other information. You can rest assured with knowledge that my recommended sites have the very best in up to date security features and will never release your information to third parties.

Making your first deposit is very easy and the sites I have tested all offer a fantastic welcome bonus in addition to first deposit bonus which matches your first deposit with real money to be played on the games that they offer. In most cases, you can get into the action with a minimum deposit of 5-10 CAD.

How I Rank Canadian Online Poker Sites

Choosing a trustworthy and safe online poker room is vitally important and your personal safety is my number one concern. I vigorously test 100’s of online poker sites so that I can recommend the very best and equip you with all of the information to make the best decision. There are a large number of sites that don’t operate best practice and I have spent countless hours ensuring that those sites are canceled out so that I only recommend the safest and highest pay-out sites available.

In addition to the stringent safety tests that I perform on my recommended sites, I have also put an incredible amount of emphasis on other testing criteria such as payout ratio and bonuses. This is to ensure that you are receiving the most amount of money possible and keeping the odds in your favor. This separate the Canadian no deposit bonus poker sites that I recommend from the others because the odds advertised are tested and confirmed by yours truly.

The sites that I recommend also operate on a lower wagering requirement to keep things fair for all players and not price players out of the market by only offering games that require larger bets to take part in. This creates a much better value to you as a player because the sites I recommend offer the ability for everyone to play and win real money regardless of deposit and amount wagered.

Best Welcome Bonus For Canadians

One of the many reasons why I recommend certain poker sites is because they offer the best Welcome Bonuses around. These bonus amounts aren’t exactly life-changing sums, but they’re most certainly welcomed and will give you even more chances at winning the massive jackpots that could potentially change your lives forever!

These bonuses are also an excellent way for players just starting out to get a better feel of the games available without spending much of their own money.

Is It Legal to Gamble in Canadian Online Poker Sites?

Absolutely! – Online poker sites in Canada are heavily regulated by the provincial government and each province has its own set of laws and regulations when it comes to sites that operate above board. That being said, it is still possible to operate without a full set of licenses so that is why it is vital that you only play on fully licensed sites which are regulated by the government and have been thoroughly tested by me.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is completely legal. Gambling revenue accounts for a large part of the Canadian economy so keeping those funds coming in is important to the government.

Some things to look out for are ratings and reviews from players or independent reviewers. This is usually a good sign as to how the site operates. Also look out for high payout ratios and regular winners. Lastly, look for a variety of game variants because the better sites offer a larger selection of games and change things once in a while to keep gameplay fresh.

Good question – all the information about where to find the best online poker sites in Canada are right here in this article. That was lucky, wasn’t it?

What are the Best Online Poker Sites in Canada?

In this article, we will give you an overview of the opportunities for Canadian players who would like to play poker online, by showing you how you can play free online poker and directing youto the best online poker sites where you can play this game for real money.

Your choice of online poker site to play with from Canada depends on what you would like to get out of playing this game. Maybe you’d like to experience Live Poker, participate in Online Pokerpromotions, or you may simply wish to have some fun by playing Free Poker Online. No matter what your requirements are, there will always be an online poker site in Canada that will meet yourexpectations. Fortunately for players, today they can choose from a practically infinite number of Canadian onlinecasinos that offer this game. Check out the ones below, which we can recommend due to their excellent reputation, bonuses and level of service.

What is Online Poker?

Online Poker refers to all the poker and poker-style games that you can find available at casino sites. While certain online poker sites will have a downloadable poker softwarewhich you would need to get in order to play poker, in this article we will focus on instant-play online poker games, i.e. those games that you can play for real-money simply by joining anonline casino, without the need to download any software. These include virtual poker games, which you’ll find alongside other card games like Blackjack and Baccarat, Video Poker games andLive Poker games, which are played against a real live dealer.

Live Dealer Poker vs Virtual Poker

There are two ways you can play poker online. One of them is by going to the table games section at an online casino and playing poker against the machine. In this case, you would be playingVirtual (RNG) Poker, which is an excellent way to have some fun while practising your poker skills.

Another option for you today is to head straight to the Live Casino category of a casino, to check outits selection of Live Poker tables. Here you can check out variants like Live HoldEm poker and Live Three Card Poker, which you can play against a real live dealer. These gamesare streamed from the provider’s game studio directly to your desktop or mobile device, and you’ll be able to watch the dealer deal real playing cards onto his table, while you will place allyour bets digitally.

Virtual Online Poker Games

At the best poker casinos, you’ll have the option to try different virtual poker variants from the most popular Texas Hold Em and Caribbean Poker as well as a range of video poker games. We’vehad a look at one of our favourite online poker casinos for Canadian players, VideoSlots, tofind all of the below online poker games:

Virtual Poker

• Texas Hold Em / Casino Hold Em
• Ultimate Texas Hold Em
• Poker 3 Heads Up Hold Em
• Caribbean Poker
• Oasis Poker
• Ride’M Poker
• Triple Edge Poker

Video Poker

• Tens or Better
• Jacks or Better
• Deuces Wild
• Aces & Faces
• Aces and Eights
• All Aces Poker
• Bonus Poker / Double Bonus Poker
• Multihand Bonus Poker

And many more! To play any of the above online poker games for free or for real money, click on the link below to visit VideoSlots casino.

Live Poker Tables

Live Poker tables constitute a new way of playing poker online that’s taking online casinos by storm. In these fast-paced games, which are developed by live casino studios like Evolution Gamingand Playtech, players have to play poker against the house, in real-time. There are several live poker variants that you can try,

• Live Casino Hold Em (Playtech & Evolution both have these live poker games)
• Live Texas Hold Em Bonus Poker (Evolution)
• Live Ultimate Texas Hold Em (Evolution)
• Live Three Card Poker (Evolution)
• Live Caribbean Stud Poker (Evolution)
• 2 Hand Casino Hold Em (Evolution)
• Live Casino Stud Poker (Playtech)

You can play these awesome live poker games at LeoVegas Casino by clicking on the linkbelow.

How to Play Online Poker - Basic Poker Rules

Online Poker is played with one standard 52 card deck, which will sometimes include one or two Joker cards (wilds), depending on the variant being played. Players will get 2 or more cards each,whereas 5 cards will be dealt in the center – the latter are called Community Cards. The aim of the game is to combine your cards with the community cards to create the best 5-cardpoker Hand. Below, we’ll give you an overview of poker rules, but you have to keep in mind that these rules may vary depending on the variant of online poker that you choose to play.

Poker Rules

There are numerous variants of poker nowadays, with the two most popular ones being Texas Hold Em and Omaha Poker. Texas Hold Em poker rules and Omaha poker rules differ in some aspects, butthe two have got several things in common. In both of these variants, a Poker hand will consist of five cards, which we rank from highest to lowest below:

• Five of a Kind – the highest hand possible, this can occur in Poker variants where there is at least one wild card, i.e. a Joker, the two one-eyed Jacks, or four deuces. Forexample, having four 10s and a wild card will count as five of a kind.
• Straight flush – this is the highest combination while playing poker with the standard pack, consisting of five cards of the same suit in sequence, for example, 9, 8, 7, 6and 5 of spades. The best straight flush would be the A, K, Q, J and 10 of the same suit – this is also called the ‘Royal Flush’, and comes with odds of 1 in almost 650,000!
• Four of a Kind – ranking just below the straight flush, this involves having 4 cards of the same suit or same value (e.g. four Jacks or four 5s).
• Full House – This will consist of three cards of one rank and two cards of another, for example, three 4s and two 2s, or three Aces and two 7s.
• Flush – This involves five cards of the same suit, which are not in sequence. For example K, 10, 6, 4 and 2 of hearts.
• Straight – a combination of five cards in sequence, which are not of the same suit. For example, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (with a mix of hearts, clubs, spades, and diamonds).
• Three of a Kind – a lower-ranking combination consisting of three cards of the same rank, and any two other cards, e.g. three queens, a six and a four.
• Two Pairs – a pair of cards of the same rank, and another pair of a different rank, plus any other card. For example K, K, 8, 8, 3.
• One Pair – a very common combination consisting of just one pair with three other cards. For example 10, 10, Q, 2, Ace.
• No Pair – as the name suggests, in this case players have no matching cards (none of the five cards will be of the same suit or in sequence). When more than one player has ano pair, their hands are rated according to the highest card in each hand, so that a hand consisting of an Ace would rank higher than a hand with a King.

Before a game of poker begins, each player will have to fork out an initial contribution in the pot, which is called an ‘Ante’ in Stud Poker, or the Big Blind and Small Blind in Hold’Em andOmaha. The small blind is placed by the player to the left of the dealer button, whereas the big blind is posted by the next player. These blinds exist because Omaha and Hold Em are playedwithout antes, to avoid all players folding without placing a bet.

After the blinds are placed, players will bet one or more chips on his hand. They decide to take any of the below actions during each betting round:

• Check – the players may refuse to bet if there is no bet during the current round.
• Bet – Players may bet if no other player has placed a bet during the current round. Once a player places a bet, the others must ‘call’ by matching the same bet amount inorder to remain.
• Fold – the decision to forfeit one’s cards for the current hands. Players cannot win or act when they decide to fold.
• Call – If someone else has bet during the round, players can call by matching the highest bet.
• Raise – If other players have already bet, the raising player may raise the bet by at least doubling the amount. Then, other players will be required to either call the raiseor raise again to continue playing.

Poker Betting Rounds

In Texas Hold Em Poker and Omaha Poker there are 4 betting rounds which take place after the blinds are placed. These are called pre-flop, flop, the turn and the river.

• Pre-flop – players bet before community cards are dealt, as soon as players receive their hole cards.
• Flop – players bet again after the first 3 community cards are dealt.
• The Turn – players bet once the fourth community card is dealt.
• The River – this is the last betting round, when players bet after the final community card is dealt.

Each round will continue until every player has called, raised or folded their bets, or when every player has checked if no bets have been made. The next round will then follow. Once the lastbet or raise has been done, a showdown will take place – the remaining active players will reveal their hands, and the player with the best hand wins the pot!

Poker betting systems and strategies

Although Poker rules are quite easy to grasp, it will take a lot of practice and mindwork to develop a solid poker strategy that will help you win more on poker. Below, we’ll look into the mostcommon strategies to give you a general idea:

Starting hands

It is fundamental for a player to know which are the best starting hands to play and which hands you should never play. Players need to recognize weak hands in order to be able to fold beforethe flop. Thankfully, there are plenty of Starting Hands Carts online that will group hands into categories, enabling you to learn which hands are worth playing and which are not.

Value Betting

Value betting is a technique that comes in useful in land-based poker, when a player wants to try and make his opponent think that he’s got a better hand than yours. This involves placing a betthat is of the perfect size that would prompt the opponent to call, so you can get the best value from someone’s weaker hand!

Bluffing

A player can bluff in poker when he knows that he doesn’t have the best hand. In this case, the player may raise in order to make his opponents fold, and in this way get rid of opponents with abetter hand!

Why play Poker Online?

Your Online Poker experience will be quite different to traditional poker because you may not be able to put on your Poker face and judge other players. Most online games are played against thehouse, so the game is between you and the computer or the dealer (that said, you can still play poker against other players if you join an online poker room). Despite these differences, thereare still enough compelling reasons as to why you should play poker online, which we’ll look into here.

Play Online Poker from anywhere!

The convenience of being able to play real money poker from the comfort of your own home or from your mobile cannot be underestimated. Thanks to online poker, you’ve got access to a largevariety of games for as long as you’ve got a stable internet connection. What’s more, when it comes to virtual poker and other virtual tables, you can play these at any time of the day andnight!

Get a bonus to play Online Poker

How To Play Online Poker In Canada

It’s much easier to find bonuses and offers on online poker than it is on land. Most online casinos will offer you a welcomebonus on your first few deposits, which you may be able to use on its range of poker games, or on live Poker tables. Some of the best online poker casinos will also run regularpromotions involving poker, including tournaments or regular poker offers.

Play Free Poker online!

At online casinos, you’ll have the opportunity to play free online poker for as long as you wish to, to practise your skills or just for fun! You can typically choose from a casinos’ range ofvideo poker and virtual poker games when it comes to free play (live poker games cannot be played for free).

Online Poker Variants

And now, let’s look at some of the best online poker games that you can play at Canadian online casinos these days. Just like any other casino game, providers have come up with different onlinepoker variants, some of them with interesting twists to entertain those players who are looking for something a bit different.

Online Texas HoldEm Poker

Undeniably the most popular Poker variant, Texas Hold’Em is played with up to 10 players. Every player gets 2 hole cards at the start, and the board will consist of 5 community cards. TexasHoldEm involves 4 betting rounds. The first one, called the Pre-flop, is when players make their bets before the community cards are dealt. The first 3 cards are revealed during the secondround, called the flop. The next one is revealed at the third round (the Turn), while the last card is revealed at the very end. Once this round (known as the River betting round) has beencompleted, players will enter into the showdown, and this is when the remaining players reveal their hands and the best 5-card poker hand wins!

You can play a fast-paced and enjoyable game of Live HoldEm Poker by Evolution Gaming most of the casinos that we recommend in this guide, or go for a virtual Online TexasHoldEm Poker game by browsing the casino’s table games collection.

Omaha Poker

Omaha is similar to Texas Hold Em, with the main difference being that each player gets dealt 4 cards in Omaha Poker, and must form a hand using two of these cards and 3 of the Community cards.The game involves the same 4 betting rounds, and to win you need to get the best hand at showdown, or all other players must have folded their hands.

Live Three Card Poker

Another online poker favorite which you’ll come across at several live poker sites, Three Card Poker involves playing against the dealer. The game starts by placing a wager before being dealt 3cards face up, while the dealer gets 3 cards face down. The player may decide to fold and forfeit the stake, or place a second bet equal to the first. If the player wagers, the cards will beturned face up to see who has the better hand. If the player folds, the dealer will collect the initial wager.

Seven Card Stud Poker

This is an online poker variant played with no community cards and was the most popular poker game before the rise of Texas Hold’Em. Players get to bet only on the cards they’re dealt, whichconsist of 7 cards. Bets are fixed on Seven Card Stud Poker, and increase in increments depending on the round.

Jacks or Better

This is a popular video poker game, which requires players to bet before they are dealt their 5 cards. They can hold onto any number of cards they would like before dealing one last time. Then,the hand with a pair of jacks or better will win, which makes Jacks or Better a very simple and fast-paced game!

Is Online Poker legal in Canada?

In order to understand the legal situation better, one must keep in mind that Canada is a Federal State. This means that every territory and province may make its own laws and regulations withregard to online gambling, and this includes online poker. Therefore, if a province decides to ban Poker completely, another one may authorize it for its residents. At present, none of theprovinces has decided to ban people from playing poker online from Canada, but this doesn’t mean that they authorize it either…

Does this sound confusing? It’s natural to think that the legal situation is problematic. However, at the moment, it’s quite the opposite! Online poker is possible and completely legal forplayers, and this means that a lot of online poker sites are accessible to Canadian players, no matter where they reside!

Are Online Poker games rigged?

While we cannot exclude that there may be a couple of rigged poker games out there, we can safely assure you that if you join a licensed online casino, any of the online poker games youplay will be fair. Virtual Poker games are programmed to generate random outcomes, according to the odds of traditional poker. This means that the program is made to randomly generateany card from a 52-card pack, and there is no way that this program can be changed to purposely deal you weak hands. In fact, online poker games by licensed providers are audited by independentauthorities for fairness, and the casino cannot change the game in any way.

On the other hand, live poker games are run using a real deck of cards, and these cards are dealt in a highly visible manner thanks to the multiple cameras directed at thetable. Players can watch the dealer in real-time, and can also rest assured that there is no foul play involved if they play games by the likes of Evolution Gaming or Playtech.

Play Free Online Poker from Canada!

It is indeed possible to play free poker online! In fact, some people may not be prepared to play poker for real money. Luckily, these kinds of players may join one of the manyonline casinos in Canada which offer free online poker games, allowing them to practice before they throw themselves in at the deep end. As we’ve pointed out above, you can try any virtualpoker game for free, but in order to play Live POker, you need to wager at least the minimum required to participate in the game.

Your Online Poker Canada guide!

The online poker situation in Canada at the moment comes with plenty of opportunities and variety, thanks to the fact that Canadians can join so many offshore gaming sites, some of them backedup by years of experience in the industry. Poker players have access to free online poker games, plenty of bonuses as well as to special promotions aimed specifically at Canadians.

So as not to miss out on any Poker bonus or offer, we invite you to visit CanadaCasino from time to time, since we’ll be keeping track of everything that's going on at the best online pokersites in Canada. Start your online poker experience with us, and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with playing with a secure and rewarding poker site!