Last updated December 2024
Top Live Poker Online Casinos In Canada 2024
Live poker is an exciting casino card game where you compete against the dealer to see who can make the strongest hand. You can pick up the game in less than 5 minutes, but it can take years to master. The game features a high RTP, massive jackpots, and you get to compete against actual dealers via live stream!
In this guide, you will find:
- Top Canadian live poker online casinos personally tested by our expert team
- Exclusive live poker casino bonuses you can claim right now
- Tips and tricks to transform you into the next coming of Daniel Negreanu
Best Online Casinos With Live Poker 2024
As online gaming continues to grow many Canadian players are turning to virtual casinos for their poker fix. However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s why we have done the research and testing for you to bring you the best online casinos for live poker in Canada.
From poker types to gameplay quality to bonuses, we’ve ranked the top sites to ensure you have an incredible live poker experience. Let’s dive in and explore the best online casinos in Canada!
Slotimo | 🥇 Number #1 Canadian Casino For Live Poker |
Betonic | 🤗 Brand New Live Poker Games From Evolution Gaming |
Bingo Bonga | 🤩 Get 20% Of Your Live Poker Losses Refunded |
HotBet | 🔥 24/7 Caribbean Stud Tables |
Boomerang | 💫 Play Side Bet City & Exciting New Poker Games |
Winawin | 🎲 Live Poker Games 7 Days a Week |
Thrillsy | 🤑 Massive Payouts For Casino Hold’em |
ICE Casino | 💰 Play High Stakes Three Card Poker |
Skycrown | 🏆 Top Live Poker Variants Developed by Playtech |
5 Best Online Live Poker Casinos In Canada 2024 Reviewed
Do you want to play the best new live poker releases, claim epic bonuses and enjoy a seamless deposit and cash-out process? You are in for a treat! We have personally tested over 60 different Canadian live poker casinos, and these are our top picks:
Slotimo: Best Live Poker Casino In Canada
- Action-packed Casino Hold’em by VIVO Gaming
- Play live poker on your iOS and Android device
- Deposit and withdraw via Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin in the blink of an eye
- Chase 100x jackpots when you hit big poker hands
- Enjoy exclusive private tables and a max bet of $10,000 per hand
- Make your first deposit and claim $450 in free bonus cash
- Friendly and top-rated dealers who keep the action moving
Betonic: Great Range Of Live Poker Games By Evolution
- 8 + variants of live poker, including Texas Hold’em and Three Card Poker
- Plenty of Caribbean Stud games featuring jackpots
- Crypto-friendly casino that accepts Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum
- $300 free bonus cash when you make your first deposit
- Huge live casino with roulette, baccarat and blackjack
- Great for high-stakes live poker with max bet limits up to $10k
Bingo Bonga: Get Your Live Poker Losses Refunded
- Exciting Bet On Poker games produced by Playtech
- 20% cashback for Live Poker
- Bet as much as $10,000 on single hand of live poker
- Dealers keep the action running quickly and love to chat
- Play live poker on iOS and Android devices, site is 100% mobile-optimized
- Impressive game library featuring slots, video poker, live baccarat and blackjack
HotBet: 24/7 Caribbean Stud Games
- 7+ live poker variants such as EG Triple Card Hold’em and PokerBet
- 100% up to $300 first deposit bonus
- Fun live poker games developed by Ezugi
- Massive jackpot bets
- World-class live games, including blackjack, baccarat, and roulette
- Bet on thousands of live sports events every single week, including NFL and NHL games
Boomerang: Play Side Bet City By Evolution Gaming
- Huge range of live poker tables such as Caribbean Stud and Texas Hold’em
- One of the few casinos that hosts Evolution Gaming’s Side Bet City
- Massive $750 first deposit bonus + 200 free spins on epic slots
- Experienced dealers who know how to keep the action running quickly
- Withdraw for free and almost instantly via e-wallets, crypto, and credit/debit cards
- If you get bored of live poker, you can play over 5,000 games, including slots, video poker, and blackjack
How To Find Real Money Live Poker Casinos?
Separating the good live poker casinos from the bad is a full-time job! To help you quickly identify top-rated Canadian live poker casinos, we have come up with an extensive rating methodology, where we analyze the choice of games, bonuses, terms and conditions, table limits, customer support, payment options, player safety, and mobile play.
- Live Poker Options
Did you know there are over 10 different live poker variants? Before you hit that Register button, open up the live poker lobby and check out what games are on offer. Some of the most exciting variants include 2 Hand Casino Hold’em, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Three Card Poker. Also, you should stick to sites that offer games produced by major producers, including Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, and Playtech.
- Big Live Poker Promo
Do you want to double or even triple your bankroll? Claim a bonus! You need to find the juiciest promo possible that allows you to play all variants of live poker. The most valuable bonus offers include deposit match and cashback. If you can score a 100% welcome bonus + 20% cash back, your bankroll will be growing in no time.
- Favourable Promo Conditions
A bonus may look amazing on the outside, but as you dig a little deeper and start reading the terms, it can quickly lose its value. When looking at a bonus’ t&cs, check out the wagering requirements (the lower, the better), game and bet restrictions, and expiration dates. All our recommended live poker casinos offer plenty of juicy bonuses with lengthy expiration dates and low wagering requirements.
- Low & High Limit Tables
To ensure you can play amazing live poker games irrespective of the size of your bankroll, you need to open up different tables and view the min and max betting limit. If you are a baller, double check you can wager $1,000 + each hand, and if you are on a budget, see if you can bet less than $1 per hand. At our recommended live poker casinos, you can wager anywhere from $0.5 to $10k!
- Customer Support
Customer support can give you exclusive bonuses, speed up withdrawals and fix any issues with your account. A good customer support team is worth their weight in gold! At top-rated online casinos, you can reach customer support 24/7, even on Christmas, by live chat and email. Before you sign up to a live poker casino, contact their customer support and see how professional they are, and pay close attention to their response time.
- Payment Options
Nowadays, top live poker casinos process deposits instantly and withdrawals within 24 hours. They offer deposits and withdrawals via credit and debit cards, bank transfers, e-wallets, and crypto. Don’t settle for a site with limited, slow, and expensive payment methods!
- Player Safety
Unfortunately, there are lots of online casinos that are straight-up scams that won’t think twice about stealing your cash. Therefore, you must check that the casino you sign up to is licensed by a reputable gaming authority, has legit player reviews, and uses encryption to keep hackers away. Every site on our site is fully licensed, has high-end security to keep your personal information safe, and has solid reputations!
- Mobile Betting
Do you enjoy playing live poker on your phone? Then stick to casinos that provide mobile gambling. Our selected Canadian casinos offer a variety of live casino variants for iOS and Android devices. They also feature a mobile-first design ensuring the games look incredible on your phone.
How To Register At Live Poker Casinos And Play
It has never been easier to play live poker. We will walk you through all the steps and show you how to sign up at Slotimo, make your first deposit, and play some live poker. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Sign Up
To sign up, head to Slotimo’s website and click ‘Register‘ at the top of your screen. Then just create your username and password, and share your email. In the final step, enter your full name, mobile number, and country and confirm your account.
Step 2: Make A Deposit
To add funds to your account, click ‘Deposit‘ at the top of your screen. Then pick a payment method and choose your currency. Now enter your banking information and deposit sum, then Tap the Deposit button to confirm your transaction.
Step 3: Claim Your Bonus
Tap ‘Deposit‘ in the top right-hand corner and type in your bonus code and click activate. Make sure you type in the bonus code carefully because even if you get one letter or number wrong, it won’t work. If there is any issue claiming a bonus, Slotimo’s customer support team will assist you.
Step 4: Play Your First Hand Of Live Poker
Log in to Slotimo, tap Live Casino at the top of screen and then tap Live Poker on the right-hand side. From there, choose any poker game. Select your seat and place a wager!
Types Of Live Poker
If you thought Texas Hold’em was the only game in town, you are wrong! There are all kinds of live poker, each with unique rules and betting options. Apart from providing excellent video poker casinos, check out these epic live poker variants you enjoy at our top-rated Canadian sites:
Live Poker
Live Poker is a unique form of online casino poker where you connect to a real casino via live stream, and a professional dealer runs the table. You are dealt actual cards and can chat with other players and the dealer.
Live Poker brings together the comfort and speed of online gaming with the social and sophisticated feel of brick-and-mortar casino play. There are tons of different live poker variants, including Three Card Poker, Caribbean Stud and Casino Hold’em.
Texas Hold’em
This poker variant is extremely popular with tournament prize pools in the millions. Instead of battling the dealer, you take on your fellow tablemates.
You start with two hole cards and then decide whether to call, fold or raise. If you haven’t folded your hand, the flop featuring 3 face-up cards are dealt, and more betting goes down. Then another community card is dealt on the felt and extra betting takes, and the last community card is placed on the table.
After all the bets have been called, you table your cards, and the winning hand wins all the money in the pot. In Texas Hold’em, there are no betting limits; you can play for all the money in front of you on a single hand.
Texas Hold’em Bonus
In this unique take on Texas Hold’em, you can make an additional bonus bet before your hand is dealt, which pays out if you hit a pair, A-K, A-Q, or A-J. You receive 1000 to 1 if you and the dealer have AA!
To start the game, you make a compulsory blind wager and an optional bonus bet. Then you and the dealer receive two cards, each face down. You can bet or fold. If you fold, you lose the hand and your ante bet. If you raise, 3 face-up cards are dealt.
Now you have the option of checking or betting. The dealer places another face-up card on the felt, and again you can check or bet. The last community card is placed on the table, and you reveal your cards. You win the ante and all bets if you have the best hand. You should play nearly all hands, excluding 2-3, 2-4, 2-5 and 2-6 unsuited. By choosing the right hands, the game’s RTP increased significantly.
Caribbean Stud Poker
In Caribbean Stud, you start by making a blind wager, and then you and the dealer receive 5 cards each. The dealer reveals one of their cards, and then you can bet or fold. If you bet, you and the dealer table your hands.
The dealer needs AK or higher to qualify; otherwise, you win the ante bet. If you have the best hand and the dealer’s hand qualifies, you win the blind and raise wager. To increase your win rate, remember to fold all hands, which are worse than ace, king.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em
If you are looking for high-stakes action, then Ultimate Texas Hold’em is a great game. You start the game by making a blind & ante wager. Then you and the dealer receive two cards each. After viewing your cards, check or do a Play wager worth four times the ante. Then 3 face-up cards are placed on the table.
If you have previously made a Play wager, you can’t bet anymore and must check. However, you can now make a Play wager if you previously checked. Then two more face-up cards are placed on the table, and you must make the best hand possible. There are tons of jackpots, including a 500x max win if you hit a royal flush. To play perfectly, take advantage of the Play bet with any ace in your hand, pair, or better!
Three Card Poker
Three Card Poker is a relatively new version of poker that debuted in the mid-90s. To play, you need to make a blind bet, and then you receive 3 cards each. If the dealer’s hand doesn’t qualify (less than Queen High), you receive 2x the ante bet. You then need to call or fold. If you fold, you lose the ante bet; if you bet, you then reveal your cards.
If your hand is better than the dealer’s, you win 2x the ante and call a bet. This game is unique because there is no flop, and you receive 3 instead of the standard two hole cards.
Variation | RTP | Limit | Best Casino |
---|---|---|---|
Live Poker | 97.55% | $0.50 – $15,000 | Slotimo |
Caribbean Stud Poker | 97.44% | $0.50 – $2,000 | Thrillsy |
Ultimate Texas Hold’em | 97.40% | $0.50 – $1,000 | Boomerang |
Texas Hold’em Bonus | 97.35% | $0.50 – $5,000 | Betonic |
Three Card Poker | 97.52% | $0.50 – $10,000 | Boomerang |
Texas Hold’em | 97.50% | $0.50 – $4,000 | Bingo Bonga |
Incredible Live Poker Promos
Liver poker has 3 common forms of promos, bonus cash, cashback and free bets. To access bonus cash, you typically need to make a deposit. For example, if you claim a 100% welcome bonus and deposit $200, you will receive another $200 in bonus cash. You can use this cash to play different live poker games. To withdraw your bonus funds, you need to meet the playthrough requirement, which can be between 25x and 40x.
Cashback is another popular live poker bonus. With this offer, you get some of your losses back. For example, if you claim a 15% cashback offer and lose $100 playing Three Card Poker you will get $15 back. The final offer you might come across is a free bet promo. With a free bet bonus, the casino might let you play 3 hands of poker for free, and you get to keep whatever you win.
Best Online Live Poker Producers
There are not many game developers who actually produce live poker games. Most developers focus on slots and online table games, as live games involve building gaming studios and hiring dealers. The best producers of live poker games are Evolution Gaming, Ezugi, and Playtech. These developers feature gorgeous gaming studios, live stream via HD and have professional and friendly dealers!
Playtech
Playtech is an industry giant. They have been producing casino games since way back in 1999 and produce slots, bingo, sports betting and live poker. The company has thousands of employees and generates 10 figures in yearly revenue. Playtech is famous for their Casino Hold’em game which has a $10,000 max bet limit and is played with a single-hand-shuffled deck.
Ezugi
Ezugi has been producing incredible live poker variants since 2012. The Romanian game produced focuses exclusively on live casino games and is famous for its innovative rule sets, well-trained dealers, and stunning gaming locations. Their most popular live casino games include Royal Poker, Casino Hold’em and 32 Cards. In 2018, Ezugi was purchased by Evolution Gaming.
Evolution Gaming
Evolution is the number 1 developer of live poker. They burst onto the live casino scene in 2006, completely shaking up the industry. Evolution Gaming offers more than 100 games and gaming studios all over Europe and even in New Jersey, USA.
They offer six live poker variants: Three Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Casino Hold’em, 2 Hand Casino Hold’em, Caribbean Stud, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker and Side Bet City. They have exclusive private tables and $0.5 min bet stakes, and there is always incredible action.
Vivo Gaming
Vivo Gaming are OG live casino developers. They have been producing exciting games since 2004 from their stunning gaming studio in Israel. Vivo Gaming produces 9 live games, including roulette, blackjack, sic bo, bingo and, of course, Casino Hold’em. Their live poker tables run 24/7 and are built in HTML5, ensuring an effortless mobile gaming experience. Vivo Gaming’s live poker featuring expert dealers, jackpots and exciting side bets.
How Can You Win At Live Poker
Live poker is all about making the best decision possible with the limited information you have. Your winnings are determined by your ability to make optimal decisions throughout the hand and your session. To dominate the tables, you must bluff frequently, play lots of the right hands, understand the importance of bet sizing and become a master hand reader.
- Bluff regularly: In poker, it is hard to make a strong hand. This means there are tons of situations where neither you nor your opponent have a good hand. In these situations, it is usually the player who bluffs wins. If you are the initial raiser, you should be betting 75% of flops, irrespective of your hand.
- Play Aggressively: The best players play a loose aggressive style where they play 20% to 25% of hands. You should play tight in the early position but play lots of hands in the late position. You need to bluff regularly and play your draws aggressively. If you play too tight, no one will give you action when you hold a dominant hand, and you will be too easy to read.
- Understand the power of bet sizing: Sometimes, a player will call a small value bet but will instantly fold if you bet too big. At the same time, if you overbet with a bluff, you will quickly bleed chips. Also, it is important that you don’t become unbalanced. Weak players are easy to read because their bet sizing reveals their hand. Some players will bet huge amounts when they have the nuts and small when they have a bluff. A good medium is betting 40 to 50% of the pot in most situations.
- Make big value bets: Value betting occurs when you have a winning hand and you want your opponent to call. To maximize your win rate, you need to extract the maximum amount of money from your opponent. You can do this by betting small on the flop (50% of the pot), slightly larger on the turn (65% of the pot) and then leaving yourself a pot size bet on the river.
- Read your opponent’s hand: Hand reading is real! To predict an opponent’s hand, start by putting them on a number of hands and then narrow that range based on their actions. For example, competent players will only play strong hands when under the gun (first player to act), but players on the button will play a much wider range of hands.
Live Poker Advice For New Players & Seasoned Vets
How do you instantly increase your live poker win rate? You need to study bankroll management, know how to choose the right table/seat and become a fearless bluffer. When you combine these factors, you will quickly turn into a dangerous poker player. Below we will explain these concepts and show you how to implement them into your game.
Bankroll Management
The swings in live poker can be brutal! It is common to win and lose numerous buy-ins in a session. To weather this variance, you need a sufficient bankroll. To be conservative, we recommend having at least 100 buy-ins. This means if you play at a $50 table, your bankroll should be $5,000. Once you get your roll hits $6,000, you can then start playing $60 tables.
Choose the Right Table and Seat
In poker, you win cash by playing lots of hands against players you have an edge on. Once you have identified a table with inexperienced players, you can further increase your win rate by finding a good seat. You always want to sit on the bad player’s left because, in poker, the action goes clockwise, and by sitting on the left-hand side of the recreational player, you will always act after them. Acting after someone in poker is known as being in position. It is much easier to play in position in poker because you already know your opponent’s action before you act.
Bluffing
It doesn’t matter if you have 2-7, you can still win by turning your hand into a bluff. Bluffing is all about tricking your opponent into thinking you possess a strong hand. For a bluff to be effective, it must be logical. If you are representing connected high cards like Q +J, it doesn’t make sense to start bluffing on flops with low connected cards like 7,5,9. You must know how to read your opponent before you bluff. For example, if you put your opponent on a weak hand and then the river is a card that doesn’t improve their hand, it makes sense to fire a big bluff.
Top 10 Most Crucial Poker Hands
Poker is all about making the strongest hand possible. The best hand in poker is the royal flush, but you only have a 1 in 649,739 chance of making one! To ensure you don’t throw away a winner and always know when to raise or call, memorize these poker hand rankings:
Hand | Definition |
---|---|
Royal Flush | A royal flush is ace, king, queen, jack and ten of identical suits. |
Straight Flush | A straight flush is 5 cards in a row that are identical suits. For example, seven, eight, nine and ten of clubs. |
Four of a Kind | Four of the same card. For example, four aces. |
Full House | A full house features a pair and three of a kind. For example, a pair of aces and three kings. |
Flush | A flush is 5 cards that aren’t in sequential order but are the same suit. For example, ace, ten, seven, and jack of spades. |
Straight | 5 cards in a row but are non-suited. For example, Ace, two, three, four, five. |
Three of a kind | Three of the same card. For example, three kings. |
Two pair | Two separate pairs in the same hand. For example, a pair of kings + 2 eights. |
One pair | Two of the same card. For example, a pair of queens. |
High card | Your hand is related to the highest card you possess (ace = highest, two = lowest). |
Can You Legally Play Live Poker In Canada?
It is 100% legal to place live poker in Canada. You can enjoy 10 + types of poker, including Texas Hold’em, Casino Hold’em, Three Card Poker and more! All our picked sites are licensed by reputable gaming authorities and accept Canadian players. They have extensive live poker options powered by the top providers in the industry, including Ezgui, Evolution Gaming and Playtech. The games are 100% fair and are subjected to regular 3rd party audits.
Is Live Poker Better Than Classic Online Poker?
Live poker offers a range of advantages over classic online poker casinos. In live poker, you get the brick-and-mortar casino experience from the comfort of your own home. Due to improvements in streaming technology, you can connect to luxurious gaming studios worldwide and play hands of poker dealt by actual dealers and play with a real deck of cards.
Granted, the action can be a little slower than standard online poker, and there aren’t as many variants. Still, the social element and unique combination of offline and online play make live poker worth trying. Compare all of the pros and cons of live and online poker below:
Advantages Of Live Poker
- Real dealers
- Real deck of cards
- Chat with other players and dealers
- Well-designed casino studios
- Unique gaming experience – enjoy a mix of online and offline gambling
Disadvantages Of Live Poker
- Have to wait for other players at your table
- No free version
Advantages Of Classic Online Poker
- Rapid action
- So many different types of poker
Disadvantages Of Classic Online Poker
- Games don’t feature an actual deck
- Online themes can’t compete with real gaming studios
The Bottom Line: Play Live Poker & Enjoy A Unique Gaming Experience
Live poker is an intellectually thrilling casino game that you can play for hours. It will bring out your inner competitor as you attempt to best the dealer. It also features epic jackpots and exciting new variants, and if you play optimally, the house edge can be just as low blackjack!
FAQs: Top Canadian Live Poker Online Casinos 2024
You can win real money playing live poker if you sign up to a legit online casino. Top licensed casinos process withdrawals within 24 hours and have live poker games from the top developers, including Evolution Gaming and Ezugi.
Live poker does not have a free demo mode as there are significant costs involved in offering live games, including operating physical gaming studios and dealer salaries.
The best strategy for live poker is playing a loose aggressive style. It is important to bluff a lot, master the art of value betting and constantly put your opponent in tough situations. Use a live poker calculator to help you determine if your play is optimal.
Live poker is a negative EV game, meaning the casino will eventually win if you play long enough. Luckily, you can shrink the casino’s edge to under 1% with the help of a Casino Hold’em calculator. Just type in your cards and the flop, including the suit, into the calculator, and it will instantly show the best move.
Canada does have legal live poker. There is no legislation that prohibits Canadians from playing live poker. You can play Casino Hold’em, Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker and other forms of poker right now.