Best Canadian Poker Sites

• Best Canadian Poker Sites
• Best Canadian Online Poker Sites
• Best Canadian Online Poker Sites
• Best Canadian Gambling Sites
• Best Canadian Online 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.

This is a resourceful guide on how to play online poker in Canada. What perks await in Canadian poker sites? Read on to find out! While you're at it, make sure to check out our list of the best poker sites for Canadians. Poker players in Canada want simply the best online poker sites for Canadians. Canadians want the best online poker sites to play at and they must be safe, licensed and regulated. Many Canadian players have played at Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker and UB, are not happy and are looking for safer alternatives. The 3 best Canadian poker sites in Canada are 888poker, PokerStars, and Full Tilt Poker. Each has its advantages, so I'll discuss all three online poker rooms separately. Two of the sites, PokerStars and FullTilt Poker, are now owned by the same gaming group. The game of Omaha is another variant that is offered at all of the top Canadian poker sites we recommend. In this game, each player is dealt four cards face down. Community cards are drawn by the dealer in the same sequence as they are for Texas Hold‘em. You can only use two of the four cards in your hand and three of the community cards. Playing on the government-operated sites in BC and Quebec (which share a player pool, by the way) is of course the best way to ensure you're playing on a fair and secure site but the major offshore poker sites that allow Canadian players - namely PokerStars, 888poker and partypoker - are also as safe and secure as you can get.

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 2020

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.

Best Canadian Poker Sites

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).

Looking for the best Canadian online poker sites December 2020? Poker players in Canada want simply the best online poker sites for Canadians. Canadians want the best online poker sites to play at and they must be safe, licensed and regulated. Many Canadian players have played at Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker and UB, are not happy and are looking for safer alternatives. The best real money poker sites are not simply safe they are also high traffic, have outstanding software, game variety and support. they also offer superior sign up bonuses for new players, run constant and exciting promotions and have outstanding player rewards programs. You also want to be able to play in English or in French and have support in your language of choice. Below we have listed the top online poker sites for Canadians for you to choose from.

Best Online Poker Sites For Canadians

#1 Online Poker Site For Canadians - 888 Poker

Best Canadian Online Poker Sites

Best Canadian Online Poker Sites

Online Poker in Canada

Online poker is legal in Canada and your winnings are tax free as long as it is not your primary source of income. The government's of Quebec and BC operate online poker sites but they are truly horrid with very low stakes and player volumes on bad software.

Online poker is popular in Canada and Canadians are some of the best poker players in the world. Canadian players win more often online and off. Canadian Jonathan Duhamel won the WSOP Main Event in 2010.

The most popular cities for online poker are Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Edmonton in that order. Toronto is not only the biggest city in Canada - but the nearest Casino poker room is Casino Rama near Orillia Ontario and is run by the OLG (The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission)

Best Canadian Gambling Sites

Online Poker is also very popular in rural parts of the country like Nunavut, Newfoundland and the Yukon as well as many small towns across the country. You can play online poker via satellite high speed internet which is popular in the most rural parts where cable and DSL are not available.

Canadians play the most online poker in the winter months especially December through May. Peak Canadian Online Poker traffic runs from around Christmas time to the end of May.

Best Canadian Online Poker Sites

Peak traffic times for different poker sites in Canada. Most online poker sites have traffic that peak between 3 in the afternoon (Central Time) and 8:00pm. The exception to this rule would be Bodog which has peak traffic between the hours of 7:00pm and 10:00pm. Peak traffic is important because it not only makes it easier to find a sit n go or cash game of the type and stakes that you desire it is also when the casual poker players play and if you have even a little skill you will be more profitable playing during peak hours. So for you night owls Bodog Poker would be a good choice.