Top Online Poker Sites in Ontario - December 2024

Displaying online Poker sites that accept players from Ontario. To change country go to Country selector or to see all sites in our database visits Online Poker Directory.

Historically speaking Ontario and Canada as a whole, have been major destinations for poker. Not only that, but professional Canadian players such as Daniel Negreanu and Jonathan Duhamel have been winning international tournaments for years. While poker has been thriving in Canada, it was considered a ‘grey market’. It means that due to a lack of regulations, many forms of poker games were neither legal nor illegal in the past. On one hand, many poker operators licensed elsewhere have been successfully serving players from Ontario. On the other hand, Ontarians have had a strong appetite for gambling. Some stats indicate that around 80% of Ontario residents gamble on a regular basis. So, it can be said that there has been a mutual interest in poker in the province. In the last decade, more and more Ontarians choose to enjoy poker from the comfort of their home. Thus, Ontario became having a ridiculously rich culture in online gambling. If you are one of the online poker lovers, here is all you need to know about the thriving online poker industry in Ontario.

Poker in Ontario - Who Owns Ontario Poker Games?

There are many government-owned and private operators that have a large footprint in the country. So, if you like poker, you have some exciting options available. If you would like to experience poker in person you may visit one of the 25 brick-and-mortar casinos in the province. They are regulated and overseen by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The good news is that as of mid-March 2022, all Ontario casinos have become fully opened to the public. So, you may pay a visit to any casino and chill with no restrictions whatsoever.  However, if you prefer enjoying online poker games over visiting land-based casinos, then you are also in luck. As of 4 April 2022, plenty of platforms have started providing Ontarians with the opportunity to legally play all different styles of poker on the internet. But what about Ontario gambling laws concerning online poker? We provide you hereinafter with all the information you need to know.

Online Poker Laws in Ontario - Are Online Poker Sites Legal in Ontario?

Yes, they are legal and currently live in Ontario! While Ontario gambling sites were not officially regulated in the past, as of 4 April 2022, they have got the green light to finally come to Canada’s largest province. Dozens of private companies located offshore have acquired Ontario gambling licenses and offer their products and services to Ontario residents. Most of these companies offer a full slate of online sports betting, casino games, and poker. It has been all done under the management of iGaming Ontario, the subsidiary of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). So, you can play all your favorite poker games whether it is Texas Hold’em, Omaha, seven-card stud, or any other game with ease. But, be aware that the legal gambling age in Ontario is 19 years or older. There are other positive outcomes from the legalized online gambling environment in Ontario and we demonstrate the main ones next.

Online Poker Sites in Ontario - Licensed, Trustworthy Poker Sites in Ontario

The availability of licensed and trustworthy poker sites gives great benefits to the players. Chief among these benefits is that you do not have to worry about your finances and data safety. In other words, you can find online poker sites in Ontario that apply rigorous security measures and privacy policies to protect players' sensitive information. What is more, if you have any complaints about handling your personal information and finances you can find efficient customer service with all the answers you need. To learn more about the licensed internet poker under the new Ontario poker regulation just have a look at the official list displayed on the iGaming Ontario Website. Otherwise, you may find iGaming Ontario’s logo displayed on the bottom of an online poker site. So, it is a very exciting time for both players and the industry.

More Benefits of Licensed and Trustworthy Online Poker in Ontario

One of the further advantages is that you may exploit the responsible gambling tools, where you can make sure to stay in control while at the virtual tables. In other words, you may set the deposit limit, loss limit, and the amount of time to spend on a site. All of that can help you immensely to not overdo it and avoid spending more time and money than you already planned. Should you lose track of your time of play or the amount of money you spend, the software takes the charge of alerting you or even logging you out.

Ontario Poker Restrictions

The major restriction on online poker sites is that they have to segregate poker rooms. This means players from Ontario play in games and tournaments separate from the rest of the world, including the rest of Canada. It must be extremely unfortunate to read such online poker news in Ontario. But there is still much hope for online poker to open up in the near future. There are already discussions about the introduction of interstate traffic sharing under the so-called ‘inter-jurisdictional compact’. It is an agreement between provinces and countries to allow private operators to pool liquidity across borders. It already exists in the United States and between European countries. So, it will likely be adopted sometime later in Ontario.

Poker in Ontario - Popular Games in Ontario

Ontario is currently the home of all types of poker games. You have the chance to play them in single games or in tournaments that have bigger pots and more diverse competitions. Here are some types of most popular poker games played in Ontario: 
  • Texas Hold’em, which is the classic and most popular poker game. It is played with a standard 52-card deck. The winner is the player who can create the best find-card hand.
  • Omaha, which is very similar to Texas Hold’em, although it has more playable cards. Also, it provides some bigger swings. Not to mention that there are a few different rules when it comes to community cards.
  • Stud, which can be either 5-card or 7-card stud. It has plenty of fans in the province given that it is considered the hipster poker game.
  • 2-7 Triple Draw is one of the advanced poker games. It is played with inverse hand rankings as players aim for the lowest possible five-card hand.

Ontario Poker App - Is Mobile Gaming Possible from Ontario?

Yes, of course. Licensed online poker sites are able to get their apps into the official Apple app store and Android play store. So, you may try the one that suits you and your device's operating system. Also, you may enjoy your games while on the move anytime, anywhere, for real money. But how can you access such great technology? Here is our simple guide to get you started.

How to Install an Ontario Poker App

Downloading and installing a poker app on your mobile device should be quite easy. To kick off your experience just follow these steps:
  1. Visit the official poker website you choose on your browser and you will find the download the app button to click on. It will directly take you to the play store or app store.
  2. Before downloading the app check out the latest reviews, descriptions, and how many stars the app accumulated. In that way, you can be sure of using a reliable and user-friendly app.
  3. When you choose your favorite app just press download and then install it on your mobile device.
  4. You will be required to complete a registration process by filling in your personal information.
  5. It should be all set now, so you can browse through the lobby to find the game or tournament you want to play.

What Makes a Poker App Stand Out to Its Competitors

Understandably, not all gamblers are tech-savvy. Therefore, should an app be designed in a simple and straightforward way, players will be able to easily navigate their way. Also, a good poker app should be able to offer players all sorts of games including classic and innovative ones. Not to mention the ability to narrow down your options and create your own list of favorite games and tournaments. So, you can easily access them whenever you return to play.

Ontario Online Poker Payment Methods - How to Deposit and Withdraw Money in Ontario?

You may find a wide range of reliable payment options, both for deposits and withdrawals. Such options include credit and debit cards, e-wallets, bank transfers, and several other popular payment methods. The complete list of payment methods can be easily found on the terms and conditions of an online poker site. Just be aware that not all types of payment methods are available for both deposits and withdrawals. Online poker sites often have two separate lists. So, make sure when you pick a particular method to check if you can use it once you want to withdraw your money.

Online Poker Sites in Ontario that Accept CAD

All regulated Ontario gambling sites likely accept players to play and reap big in Canadian Dollars. After all, it is the official currency, but also it has so much strength and online poker sites recognize it. Playing poker in Canadian dollars gives you incredible value for your money. You will not lose anything due to differences in exchange rates, or due to expensive fees for opening a bank account in a foreign currency to play. We are all aware of how high fees and commissions for currency exchange can be a constant pain in the neck. So, you will certainly avoid that pain by using Canadian dollars and you will also avoid extra time for completing transfers from one account to another. No need to worry about all of that as you may enjoy your financial security when playing