Online Poker Canada

Historians are in disagreement with regard to the origins of poker. Some claim that it started out in the late 17th century in France, whereas others are adamant about poker deriving from As-Nas, a Persian card game that also originated in the 1600s and quickly made its way to Europe.

As is often the case with blurry historical interpretations, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. What’s important is that after becoming a smashing hit in France and other countries in Europe, poker made its way to the United States, where it has undergone even more changes, particularly in the South, giving rise to Texas Hold’em and other American spins on the classic game.

The advent of the Internet popularized poker even further, and there are now hundreds (if not thousands) of poker sites offering players a wide variety of games and rooms with real cash prizes.

The rules of traditional poker casino games and online poker are pretty much the same. The main difference lies in dealing with the cards. Poker sites enable gamblers to enjoy the game by themselves, and cards are dealt by pressing the “deal” button.

After dealing, next up are the betting rounds, where players (or AI opponents) wage money by adding it to the pot at the center of the table. There are a few actions you can take during each betting round:

• Call: calling means that you accept the bet made by the previous player and add the same amount to the pot.
• Raise: the player who raises a bet increases the amount that others need to match in order to keep on playing.
• Check: checking is not always an option right away. In poker variations like Texas Hold’em, players need to wait until all five cards are revealed. When playing classic poker, you can check whenever there is no active bet during the round (i.e. at the start of the round). Checking forces other players to reveal their cards and effectively ends the round. The player with the strongest hand takes the pot.
• Fold: by folding, you give up the chips you’ve placed on the table and take yourself out of the current game and will need to wait until the next hands are dealt to play again.

Poker is definitely not a game for the faint of heart, especially if played in person. One advantage that online poker sites have over the real deal is the fact that bluffing is made much easier, as other players cannot see your face and figure out what you’re up to based on your expressions.

Winning real money in online poker is determined by the highest hand held by one of the players. The hand values don’t change between games — the main factor setting the games apart is the number of cards held by the players.

Canadian players have a wide variety of games available at their disposal, accessible through the many online poker sites in the Great White North. Here are some of the main variations ranked by popularity.

1. Texas Hold’em Poker
2. Three Card Poker
3. Omaha Poker
4. Seven-Card Stud
5. Five-Card Draw
6. Caribbean Stud Poker
7. Five-Card Omaha Poker
8. Double Draw Poker
9. Short Deck Poker
10. Razz Poker

It should come as no surprise that Texas Hold’em games came out on top. Over the years, it became known as the default version of the game, and when you think “poker” you probably visualize this variant in your mind.

The main difference between regular online poker and its live counterpart is the fact that live casino poker aims to emulate the brick-and-mortar experience by live streaming a professional dealer who oversees the game.

In live poker rooms, players link up to the same stream and wait for the croupier to deal the cards and proceed with the next steps of the game. In regular online poker, on the other hand, it is the player who hits the “deal” button to serve the cards.

As far as the heart of the poker gameplay is concerned, nothing really sets the two apart. The rules of each variant remain the same, regardless of whether you’re playing a live dealer game or a regular round of online poker.

One thing you should be wary of when trying to get into a live room is your internet connection. Your online poker experience can be seriously worsened when playing over a slow connection. In some cases, you might even get kicked out of the room if your lag disrupts the flow of the game for other players.

Video poker is a good alternative for newcomers who are intimidated by the myriad of factors that come into play during a game of online poker with real players. It is more reminiscent of a slot machine than a card game, as it is just you versus the computer. After the cards are dealt, you can choose between holding them or picking three cards at most to get replaced by others to form the final combination.

Paytables determine your real money reward, and they may differ depending on the variant as well as the developer of each particular video poker game.

When you play real money online poker, the rules may be the same, but the entire gameplay process differs quite a bit from what you may have experienced when playing at a brick-and-mortar casino.

1. Pick out a solid online casino from our list of recommended operators at the top of this article.
2. Make a deposit via one of the available payment methods.
3. Choose a real-money poker title from your chosen platform’s game library.
4. After launch, place a bet using the virtual chips you were provided (they match the value of your deposit).
5. When all the cards are dealt, either call, fold or raise the stakes.
6. Keep on playing poker until the game is over, or take yourself out of it by folding.

You can play poker online without even registering if you’re interested in trying out the demo version of any particular game. Demos are also known as free-play poker games, and they do not allow you to place bets with real money. For actual cash games, you’ll need to make an account with an online casino operator of your choosing. You’ll be asked to fill out your personal details, such as name and email, as well as set up a password. Make sure to pick Canada as your country of residence and CAD as your main currency in order to avoid any delays or complications during the deposit and withdrawal process.

Once your account is ready to go, all that’s left to do is transfer some money to your profile, claim your first deposit bonus, and start playing!

Playing an online poker game or even participating in poker tournaments on your smartphone at Canadian poker sites is as easy as doing so on your laptop or desktop PC. Even if a platform doesn’t have a dedicated Android or iOS app, you’re bound to be able to access it via your phone browser (we recommend Google Chrome for the best experience), as nearly all casino sites nowadays are coded in HTML5, making them easily displayable on mobile devices.

There is also no shortage of mobile poker apps, downloadable for both iOS and Android. Check out our casino reviews to see which platforms offer this solution.

All the best poker sites in Canada offer their players a variety of poker bonuses. They can be presented in the form of free chips you can use to place your bets or simply as a match-up of your deposited money to be used for all games available on the site, not just poker.

Most casino platforms offer the best bonuses for new players, which are often tied to the first three deposits you make. However, plenty of sites also have loyalty programs or VIP clubs, which grant users access to exclusive rewards and bonuses unavailable to new or non-VIP players.

Canadian players surely can’t complain about the lack of available online poker sites. With dozens of legitimate platforms to choose from, you will surely be able to find something that suits your gaming preferences as well as accommodates your chosen payment method. Due to the intense competition in the e-gaming industry, most of these sites offer generous bonuses to new players, allowing you to play a high-stakes game or two without risking too much of your own money in the process.