Poker Operator Reviews

Are you a fan of online poker? Are you looking for a reputable poker site that offers your favourite real money poker games like Texas Hold'Em, Omaha, and stud poker? If so, this tutorial will guide you through the best real-money poker sites for Canadian players.

We'll tell you everything you need to know about our top online poker sites and give you all the information you need to get started.

How Do We Choose the Best Online Poker Sites?

In our search for the best Canadian poker sites, our experts analyze a variety of factors such as:

• Software
• Bonuses and promotions
• Selection of poker games
• Customer service
• Available payment methods
• Withdrawal times
• Tournaments
• Player pool and traffic
• Rake and fees

While each factor we consider carries a different amount of weight, they are all important. We will explain some of these factors below.

How Do We Review Real Money Poker Sites?

We will now explain some of the more important factors we consider when rating the best online poker sites. Here they are in no particular order.

Sign Up Bonuses and Promotions

A great welcome deposit bonus can get your online poker adventure off to a great start. However, Canadian poker players need to understand that poker bonuses are not created equally. In short, there are some truly generous deposit bonuses available, and there are some pretty bad ones.

Online poker players who are searching for the best place to play poker online need to take a close look at the offer at hand. This assessment should go far deeper than the bonus amount. You need to understand how much of your own money you need to spend in order to cash out the bonus.

In most cases, online poker bonuses require claimants to contribute a certain amount of cash game rake or tournament entry fees. Once the player reaches the benchmark, the poker site releases a portion of the bonus. So, you need to figure out how much you can expect to pay to convert your deposit bonus into real money.

By examining the full terms and conditions of poker bonuses, you gain an understanding of the offer's real value and your obligations. Two poker bonuses might look identical at first glance, but there's a good chance that the terms and conditions will reveal significant differences.

#1

GGPoker Welcome Bonus

use bonus code PROTIPSTER

$100 in Rewards or up to $600 Matched Deposit Bonus

Visit GGPoker Check Review

The minimum deposit necessary to obtain a matched bonus is $10, or if a Player chooses the $100 in rewards the minimum deposit necessary is $20. In order for players to receive the bonus, they must download the GGPoker app, register an account with bonus code PROTIPSTER, deposit funds and play for real money at GGPoker.

Software

When you're looking for a site to play online poker at, you should consider the software being used. In addition to having an eye-catching interface, you want to be 100% certain that every card you and your opponents get is random. Furthermore, you don't want flaws in the software that players can exploit to manipulate cards. Even worse would be having opponents know your cards.

We look for real-money online poker sites that display certification from entities like TST, iTech Labs, and eCOGRA. Seeing such a logo means that the random number generator is routinely tested to ensure they are indeed random and cannot be tinkered with by either the players or the operator.

While we are on the topic of software, you should also know that there are several easily accessible programs that some players use to improve their chances of winning. Holdem Manager 3, Poker Tracker 4, and Simple GTO Trainer are quite popular. If you plan on using a poker HUD, be sure that the site you're looking at allows them.

Available Games

Like online casinos, some poker sites offer more games than others. A lot of sites that you'll come across don't offer much more than Texas Hold'em poker and Omaha.

On the flip side, the best online poker rooms serve up several variants including Stud poker, Draw poker, Badugi, Short deck poker, and more. This gives Canadian poker players an opportunity to experiment with different games and expand their online poker horizon. It also ensures that players won't get bored easily.

Then there are the cash game formats. For example, some people don't like waiting around for a hand to play out after they have folded. For those players, most top online poker rooms feature some type of speed game. Once you fold your hand, you will automatically be sent to another table with different players to start a new hand right away. These tables are ideal for Canadian players who want to focus on positioning and playing premium hands.

We also like poker sites that offer the widest range of stakes. A lot of beginners are more comfortable playing at $0.01/$0.02 tables to start with. They can then move up to higher stakes. On the other hand, bigger bettors might prefer to play with $20/$40 stakes or higher. Make sure the poker sites you play at have stakes that suit your bankroll.

#1

WPT Global Welcome Offer

use bonus code PTVIP

$1,200 First Deposit Bonus & Free Tournament Tickets

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Tournaments

Most players in the Canadian online poker scene love tournaments. Even though bigger tournaments require players to invest a certain amount of time, the potential payoff is well worth it. Many top poker sites frequently run tournaments with seven-figure prize pools. Winning just one could change your life.

You may have noticed that some of the more popular poker events have substantial buy-ins. The World Series of Poker is a good example of this. However, top operators run regular satellite tournaments through which you can win an entry into a major poker event. The buy-ins for these satellite tourneys are much lower enabling small-time players to have a chance of getting there for a fraction of the cost.

We give preference to poker operators that offer regular tournaments including Sit & Go's and Spin & Go's. These types of small tournaments don't require much investment in terms of time. Still, they are a pleasant departure from ring games and give players a taste of the tournament experience.

Player Pool and Competition

Entering a movie theatre and having the whole place to yourself might be fun, but having nobody around when you plan on playing online poker certainly isn't.

One of the benefits of playing poker online at the sites we endorse is that they are always brimming with activity. This means you never have to wait around to find an opponent at the table you want to play at. It also usually means that the site's MTT tournaments have more players which equates to bigger prize pools.

Of course, having more players in the mix means that there is a better chance of running into players that are much better than you are. The biggest and best poker sites tend to attract plenty of serious players.

While not all of these experienced players aim to feast off of the inexperienced, some do. Contrary to what you may think, these players don't just stick to higher-stakes games. A lot of them like the warm chum-filled waters of the $0.01/$0.02 tables.

Customer Support and Security

If you run into any technical issues or other problems, you want to have them remedied as quickly as possible. This is why the best real money poker sites offer 24/7 support. Moreover, agents can be immediately reached through either a live chat feature or by telephone.

It's not nearly enough for operators to limit players to email correspondence and a customer service department that only operates during regular office hours.

Those who play at Canadian poker sites also need to be sure that their players' funds and any sensitive data they have provided is safe and secure. We like to see PCI DSS certification because it means all financial transactions are as secure as they can possibly be. On top of that, using the latest firewalls and encryption technology gives players the highest level of security.

In addition to having security software constantly monitoring activity at Canadian poker sites, the top operators also have a team of trained experts keeping watch over things.

Rake and Fees

Let's face it. A poker site is a business and has to make money. After all, it costs a lot of money to run one. The main source of revenue at online poker sites is the rake. This is essentially a commission that is taken from every cash game pot or tournament fee.

On average, Canadian poker sites take about 5% of every pot give or take. The rake is usually capped at a certain amount and only taken if a round sees the flop. This is obviously important to know because it cuts into your potential profits. The bigger the rake, the less money you win.

Most Trusted Poker Sites for Real Money

We will now take a look at our picks for the most trusted online poker sites for Canadian players. There's a good chance that you have at least heard about many of these sites. They are all highly reputable and have been thoroughly examined by our team of experts. They also offer some great bonuses and regular promotions, i.e GGPoker Bonus Code.

GGPoker

#1

ProTipster Score

91

User Rating

4.35 from 22 reviews 4.35 stars

Check Review Play Here

For those who aren't familiar with this poker site, GGPoker is the headliner of the Good Game Network. It originally mainly catered to the Asian market when it launched in 2017. As the site has grown, it has attracted a lot of players from other regions including North America, Australia, and Europe.

If you have read any expert reviews for GGPoker, you have probably seen that the site has a very solid reputation. It is also known for offering a nice selection of poker variants and relatively soft competition. This makes it a great destination for recreational players who like to try different poker games.

Another reason for GGPoker's popularity amongst beginners is that the operator has removed the ability to save hand histories. Why does this matter? Well, it renders a lot of external poker programs like Poker Tracker and others unusable. This equates to a more level playing field which greatly benefits newbies.

GGPoker took a big step in 2022 when it was granted a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. However, it will be operating as World Series of Poker which GGPoker previously entered into a partnership. This definitely lends to GGPoker's credibility which is already sky-high.

We have to admit that the game selection is pretty much limited to Texas Hold 'Em and Omaha. With that said, the site offers some unique playing features such as straddling, run it three times on all-ins, and rabbiting. As for the stakes; they start at $0.05/$0.10 and progress all the way up to $100/$200. Canadian players will also love having access to loads of daily tournaments and a variety of tournament formats. Other popular poker games at GG Poker include:

• All-in or Fold
• Flip & Go
• Rush & Cash
• Spin & Gold

WPT Global

WPT Global is a new site where Canadians can play poker online. It launched in 2022 and is a product of the World Poker Tour. So, why would we recommend such a new real-money online poker site? Well, the World Poker Tour is perhaps the biggest poker entity in the world and the operator brings decades of experience.

WPT Global is licensed and regulated in Curacao and the site's random number generator is certified by GLI. Players can be 100% certain that all cards are dealt randomly and that there's no funny business going on. Beginners should also like the fact that third-party tracking software and HUD are prohibited. It's also worth noting that there is no player chat although players can use emojis.

Admittedly, WPT Global has a few kinks to iron out. While they will most likely add Omaha to the cash game menu sooner than later, the wildly popular game is not yet an option for cash games. You can, however, play Omaha tournaments.

Speaking of tournaments, this is the area that WPT Global excels. You can play tournaments at the regular pace, or enjoy the faced-paced hyper-turbo action. Tournament entry fees generally range between $2 and $109 not including the many freerolls.

If, like most online poker players, you dream of playing in the famous WPT World Championship, WPT Global is giving away 100 seats through daily qualifiers. For as little as $5, you can win a $10,400 World Championship entry along with $2,000 for travel and a bunch of swag. This alone is a good reason to sign up and start playing at WPT Global.

Partypoker

Most Canadians who are familiar with online poker have heard of Partypoker. In fact, many Canadians have played at Partypoker since it launched in 2001. By 2003, over 60% of the world's online poker players were playing at Partypoker. While the poker landscape has dramatically shifted since then, Partypoker still has one of the largest player pools on the planet. You'll routinely find the poker room has at least 3,000 players in it at any given time.

One thing that makes Partypoker one of the best poker sites is the variety of poker games. In addition to Texas Hold 'Em and Omaha, you can play a variety of stud games and short deck hold 'em. Stakes start as low as $0.01/$0.02 and go up to $50/$100. This range makes Partypoker ideal for any poker budget.

Then there is the incredible tournament schedule that includes bounty games, deep stacks, and satellite tournaments among others. Entry fees generally range between a penny and $1,000. Of course, the site also serves up plenty of freerolls every day.

Fast Forward poker is perfect for those who don't like idly waiting for a hand to finish after they have folded. As soon as you fold, you have whisked away to a fresh hand at a new table. Meanwhile, Spins games give you a shot at winning up to 10,000 times the buy-in.

Finally, we have to tell you that few online poker sites offer as many regular promotions and perks as Partypoker. From a generous welcome offer and daily gifts to cashback and prize boosts, Canadians always have access to lots of added value.

PokerStars

PokerStars is hands-down the biggest online poker site on earth. It launched in 2001 and has a license from the Isle of Man where the operator is headquartered. There is a lot to like about PokerStars. For starters, the site is number one in terms of traffic. It isn't uncommon to find over 100,000 online at any one time. A lot of this has to do with the sheer variety of poker games on offer.

As you would expect, the site offers Texas Hold 'Em and Omaha. However, they also have razz, Badugi, draw poker, HORSE, Courchevel, and stud. You can play cash games for stakes ranging from $0.01/$0.02 up to hundreds of dollars. The filters make it easy to find the exact game and stakes you're looking for.

Even though you're bound to come across your share of donkeys, PokerStars is notorious for tight cash games and experienced players. They are also famous for having such a busy tournament schedule. You can find one pretty much any time of day. One of the many highlights is the Sunday $1 Million Guaranteed.

Anyone who has played at PokerStars can attest to the site's generosity. Aside from the welcome offer, the site is constantly running various promotions through which players can easily earn perks like cash, free tournament tickets, and Rakeback.

PokerStars supports an impressive selection of popular payment options including PayPal. This is significant because PayPal is very selective when it comes to providing services to online gambling sites. Only the most reputable operators can offer PayPal as a payment option.

If you value strong branding and an excellent reputation, then PokerStars is worth a try. We're pretty sure that the overall quality of the site, the games, and access to an array of special offers will have you coming back for more.

888Poker

Canadian players really have no excuse not to try 888poker. After all, one of 888poker's appealing aspects is the no-deposit bonus that new players can claim. This gives them the opportunity to see first-hand what the site has to offer. 888poker is licensed in several jurisdictions including the United Kingdom and Gibraltar. The site has also planted roots in several American states.

Remember when we said that PokerStars is known for tight play? Well, 888poker lies on the opposite end of that spectrum. The players there, and there are a lot of them, don't seem to know that they can fold before the flop.

888poker doesn't offer as many poker variants as PokerStars, but they come close. Draw poker, HORSE, Razz, 2-7 triple draw, and 5-card Omaha are a few of the alternatives to Texas Hold 'Em and PLO. Their SNAP poker is their version of speed poker while BLAST poker games are 4-handed sit & go in which you can win up to 10,000 times your buy-in.

When you arrive at the poker lobby and hit the "Tournament" tab, you'll be presented with a long list of regular tournaments and other events. One of the more unique tournament formats at 888poker is the Mystery Bounty. Unlike your average bounty poker game in which you can see the price on your opponent's head, the bounty remains hidden until the player gets knocked out. This really spices up the game, especially in the latter phase of the tournament.

If you like to play fast and loose, then we suggest you sign up and claim your no-deposit bonus. You can then experience playing with many like-minded poker players. You can also learn a thing or two by checking out some of the site's tutorials that cover everything from the basics to more advanced strategies.

Mobile Poker Sites

These days, most players access their favourite Canadian poker sites using a mobile device. And why not? Having a mobile poker app gives you the freedom to play from anywhere as long as an internet signal is available. The best mobile apps for poker are very well-designed and uber-user-friendly. They look great and run flawlessly.

Best Real Money Poker Apps for Android

Every one of the sites we covered above have mobile poker apps for Android. In most cases, you can download their poker apps right on their sites. Alternatively, you can usually find their Android mobile poker app on Google Play. Be aware that some of the best online poker sites have multiple apps with each one being configured for specific regions. Be sure to get the right one.

These Android poker apps are specifically designed for small screens. While they typically offer all the same features as the desktop version, not all of them are ideal for playing at multiple tables.

Best Real Money Poker Apps for iOS

If you own an iPhone or other iOS device, you can download your mobile poker app from the App Store. Most of our top sites also provide their mobile apps in their poker lobbies.

There is no noticeable difference between iOS poker apps and their Android counterparts. They are easy to install and even easier to use. They just work on different operating systems.

How to Start Playing on a Poker Site for Real Money

Let's go through the simple steps you need to take to get started with online poker.

Choose a Poker Site

Your journey to the poker table starts with finding a poker site. Now, don't just settle on some random poker site. Instead, do a bit of research into the various online poker sites and pick the one that suits you best. If you like poker games like razz and draw poker, then make sure the site you select has those games. You also want to be sure the site offers stakes to suit your budget.

Of course, you also want to play at a site that has a solid reputation. You can't go wrong by choosing one of the poker rooms mentioned above. They are all licensed, regulated, and known to treat players well and pay them quickly.

Create an Account

Once you have found the ideal poker site, you'll need to sign up. This usually takes less than a minute to do. Those who plan on using poker apps can streamline the process by downloading the app and launching it. They can then hit the "Sign Up", "Register", or similar icon at the top of the screen to open the registration form.

You will need to provide some basic personal information such as your name, residential address, date of birth, and mobile number. You will also be asked to create a userID and password. You can submit the form once you've completed it. You may be asked to activate your new account by clicking on a link that will be sent via email. Alternatively, you may be asked to enter a one-time PIN that the operator will send via SMS. This will complete the account setup phase.

Make a Deposit

The best poker apps give you several convenient payment options to choose from. These can include credit/debit cards, eWallets, vouchers, online banking, eChecks, and wire transfers. some operators even accept cryptocurrency.

To make your deposit, launch your mobile poker app, log in, and go into your player profile to select the "Deposit" option. Some sites have a "Deposit" link right at the top of the screen.

You can enter the amount you wish to deposit and select the payment method you would like to use. In most cases, your funds will be available in your poker account as soon as you complete the deposit. It couldn't be any easier.

Claim a Welcome Bonus and Start Playing

Be aware that some poker sites require players to claim their welcome bonus before making a deposit or when they are making the deposit. Make sure you read the offer's terms and conditions to find out when you should claim your welcome bonus.

Now that you have signed up at your online poker site and funded your account, you can now hit the tables and start playing.

Most Popular Poker Games

There are several fun poker variants, but we will briefly go over four of the most popular ones.

Texas Hold 'Em

Sometimes referred to as the Cadillac of poker, Texas Hold 'Em is by far the most popular poker variant. A round starts with the player to the left of the dealer posting the small blind. The player to the left of the small blind places the big blind. Each player is then dealt two cards and fun begins with a round of betting.

After the first betting round, the dealer puts three community cards face-up in the middle of the table. This is known as the flop. After another round of betting, the dealer deals another face-up community card which is often called the turn or fourth street.

After another round of bets, the dealer delivers one last face-up community card known as the river. After a final betting round, the remaining players show their hands and the winner takes down the pot.

Omaha

It might not be as popular as Texas Hold 'Em, but Omaha is extremely popular nonetheless. Omaha is similar to hold 'em. The biggest difference is that each player is dealt four cards instead of two. Of those four cards, players are required to use two of them to make their best hand. No more and no less.

As far as the dealing goes, there is no difference between hold 'em and Omaha. There's a flop, turn, and river with betting rounds in between.

There are a few different versions of Omaha. In Omaha Hi-Lo, the highest hand wins half of the pot while a qualifying low hand wins the other half. If there is no low hand, then the high hand takes it all.

There is also a 5-card version of the game. Everything is the same except for having a starting hand with five cards instead of four. You still have to use exactly two of your cards to make your hand.

Short Deck

Short deck poker, also known as 6+ hold 'em, is like Texas Hold 'Em on steroids and is perfect for action junkies. It's pretty much the same as Texas Hold 'Em except that all of the 2s, 3s, 4, and 5s have been removed from the deck. That leaves us with 36 cards.

Because most of the low cards aren't in play, short deck players often find themselves holding monsters. However, their opponents often have monsters too. This can result in plenty of betting action.

Five Card Draw

Most people are familiar with this version of the game. Players start by putting in their antes or posting their blinds. Each player is then dealt five cards followed by a round of betting. After that, players have the option of discarding cards and drawing new ones or standing pat. In most cases, you can discard and draw up to three cards.

After the draw and round of betting, the game moves into the showdown phase and the best hand wins the pot. It's worth noting that some 5 card draw games can have more than one drawing round, but most of them only allow one drawing round.

The Best Online Poker Sites: FAQ

How can I play online poker for real money?

The first thing you should do is learn to play. Entering poker rooms without at least knowing the basics is a recipe for disaster. If you are a newbie, the best poker rooms offer some very helpful tutorials that cover topics ranging from the fundamentals to advanced strategy.

You can then select the best real money poker site. Again, we recommend the poker rooms listed above. It's then just a matter of signing up, depositing funds, and getting into the real money poker games.

What is the best poker site for real money?

This really boils down to personal taste. Simply put, the best real money poker site is the one that best caters to your unique needs and wants. If heavy player traffic is important to you, then poker operators like GG Poker or Partypoker might be best for you. If you want access to to the biggest variety of real money poker games, then PokerStars will likely be right up your alley.

We urge you to research any poker sites you are thinking of joining to make sure they have everything you want in terms of poker games, payment options, rake structure, and bonuses among other things.

Where can I play poker online for real money in Canada?

Canadians are blessed with having so many top-tier poker operators to choose from. The sites we recommended earlier are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. For instance, many poker sites operated by various provincial governments offer online poker and casino games.

In 2022, Ontario introduced several poker sites although they are only available to those in Ontario. Then there are the countless foreign poker sites that happily accept Canadian players as well as the Canadian dollar. Just make sure that the poker sites you play at are licensed.

Are poker sites safe and trustworthy?

While there are always exceptions, the vast majority of real money online poker sites are legit, safe, and trustworthy. The ones that we recommend certainly are. You just need to be diligent when you choose a poker site. Read some expert reviews to get an idea of what the site offers and what kind of reputation it has. Check the site out yourself and, once again, make sure its licensed and has a certified random number generator.

Can I win real money playing online poker?

You sure can! You can win real money playing in cash games and you can win real money playing in tournaments. In fact, some tournaments give you a shot at winning millions of dollars.

Despite being able to make real money playing online poker, you must realize that you can also lose real money. This is why you need to be responsible. Even though poker involves quite a bit of skill, even the best players rely on luck from time to time.

Can I play real money poker on my phone?

Assuming you have an Android, iOS, or similar smartphone and not one of those old rotary phones, you can play online poker on your phone.

Some sites are fully configured for mobile devices and allow smartphone users to play poker in instant play mode right in their mobile browser. However, most real money poker sites have great apps that you can get for free. Aside from being able to get mobile poker apps at the poker site, you can also get them at Google Play and the App Store. They are free and very easy to download and use.

Are online poker rooms legal in Canada?

Yes. Canadians can legally play at Canadian-based real money poker sites as well as many offshore sites. Canadians can legally play poker at all of the sites we introduced you to in this tutorial.