Best Online Poker Site in Ontario

Key Takeaways

• Online poker is legal in Ontario for players 19+ who are physically in the province
• Only play at rooms registered with the AGCO and operating under an agreement with iGO
• 888poker is our top-rated Ontario poker room, scoring 4.58/5 in our review
• Ontario players compete only against other Ontario players for now

Poker is different from every other game on this site. You play against other people rather than the house, and your decisions shape results over time. This guide covers the games and formats you will find, how online poker works in Ontario, and how to play with sensible limits. If you are looking for casino games instead, start with our list of the best online casinos in Ontario.

Top Site

Our Top Poker Site in Ontario: 888poker

We only list poker rooms we have reviewed in full. Right now that is one room, 888poker. We would rather recommend one site we know well than pad out a list.

1. 1

   888poker

   Poker 8 software · MTTs, PKO & Mystery Bounty · BLAST Sit & Go · Interac e-Transfer

   4.58/5Our rating
   Visit Site Read Review

   19+. T&Cs Apply. Play responsibly. ConnexOntario.ca. 888poker operates under an agreement with iGaming Ontario.
   Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario.

888poker has been running since 2002. In Ontario it is operated by VHL Ontario Limited, part of Evoke plc (formerly 888 Holdings), and it is registered with the AGCO and operates under an agreement with iGaming Ontario.

We rate it mainly for tournament depth. The schedule covers multi-table tournaments (MTTs), Progressive Knockouts, Mystery Bounty events, Deep Stack and multi-flight tournaments, plus BLAST, its jackpot-style Sit & Go. Everything runs on the in-house Poker 8 software, which works on desktop, iOS, Android and in the browser, so you keep one account and one balance across devices. Cash games cover Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo.

For the full breakdown of games, software, payments and player protection, read our 888poker review.

How We Rate Ontario Poker Sites

A poker room has to do more than deal cards. Because you play against other people, fair seating, traffic and security matter as much as the game list. These are the areas we check before we recommend a room.

Licensing & Player Safety

The room must be registered with the AGCO and operate under an agreement with iGaming Ontario. We also look at identity checks (KYC), how player funds are protected, and how disputes are handled.

Game Variety & Formats

We check which variants are dealt (Hold'em, Omaha, Hi-Lo) and the range of formats, from cash tables to scheduled tournaments and Sit & Gos, across a spread of stake levels.

Player Traffic & Table Availability

Ontario's player pool is ring-fenced, so traffic matters. We look at how easily you can find a seat at your stake and whether tournaments run on schedule.

Software & Fair Play

We check for a tested random number generator, anti-collusion and bot detection, and seating rules that limit predatory behaviour, along with how stable the client is.

Rake & Fee Transparency

Rake and tournament fees are how a poker room earns its money. We look for clear, easy-to-find information on how much is taken from cash-game pots and tournament buy-ins.

Payments & Mobile Play

We look for Canadian-friendly payment methods, clear verification steps for cash-outs, and mobile apps or browser play that work well on a phone or tablet.

Online Poker Games You Can Play in Ontario

Most of the action in Ontario centres on three games: Texas Hold'em, Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo. All three are dealt at 888poker.

Texas Hold'em

Hold'em is the most widely played poker game online, and the easiest to learn. Each player gets two private hole cards, and five community cards are dealt face up in the middle: three on the flop, one on the turn and one on the river. There are four betting rounds (pre-flop, flop, turn and river), and you make the best five-card hand from any combination of your two cards and the five on the board. Simple rules and plenty of depth are why it is the default game at most tables.

Omaha (Pot-Limit Omaha)

Omaha deals you four hole cards instead of two, but you must use exactly two of them with exactly three community cards. More starting cards means stronger hands are common and pots tend to grow quickly, so there is more action per hand. It is usually played Pot-Limit, which is why you will often see it written as PLO.

Omaha Hi-Lo

Omaha Hi-Lo (also called Omaha 8 or Better) splits each pot between the best high hand and the best qualifying low hand. To qualify for low, a hand needs five different cards ranked eight or lower. If no hand qualifies, the high hand takes the whole pot. It rewards players who enjoy split-pot thinking.

Other Variants

Elsewhere you may also come across games such as Seven Card Stud, which uses no community cards, or Short Deck, which removes the twos through fives. These are not part of 888poker's Ontario game list, so check the lobby of any room you join to see what is actually dealt.

Betting Structures

The betting structure sets how much you can bet. In No-Limit you can bet all your chips at any time. In Pot-Limit the maximum bet is the current size of the pot. In Fixed-Limit bets and raises come in set amounts.

Online Poker Formats: Cash Games, Tournaments & Sit & Go

The format you pick shapes your session as much as the game. It sets how long you play, how much you put in, and how you leave the table.

Cash Games

In a cash game the chips in front of you represent real money. You buy in for an amount within the table's range, the blinds stay fixed, and you can leave whenever you like and take your remaining chips with you. That makes cash games the most flexible option.

Multi-Table Tournaments (MTTs)

You pay a fixed buy-in and receive a stack of tournament chips. Blinds rise at set intervals, and play continues until one player holds every chip. Popular variations include Progressive Knockout (part of each eliminated player's bounty goes to the player who knocks them out, and part is added to that player's own bounty), Mystery Bounty (bounty values are hidden until claimed), Deep Stack (bigger starting stacks), Turbo (faster blind levels) and multi-flight events, where you can enter one of several starting days.

Sit & Go and Jackpot Sit & Go

A Sit & Go is a small tournament that starts as soon as every seat is filled, with no fixed schedule. 888poker's BLAST is a jackpot-style version: a short, fast format where the prize for the table is set at random before the first hand is dealt. Most draws produce a modest prize and larger multipliers are rare, so treat it as a high-variance format.

Fast-Fold Poker

In fast-fold poker you are moved to a new table with new opponents as soon as you fold, so you see many more hands per hour. If you try it, take regular breaks, because the faster pace makes a session easy to stretch out. Check the lobby of any Ontario room to see whether this format is offered.

Poker vs. Casino Games: Skill, Luck and Rake

In casino games you play against the house, which has a built-in edge. In poker you play against other players, and the room charges a fee for hosting the game instead of competing with you.

In cash games that fee is called rake: a small percentage of each pot, usually capped at a maximum amount. For example, with a 5% rake capped at $3, a $40 pot would have $2 taken out. In tournaments the fee is built into the buy-in. A buy-in listed as $10 + $1 means $10 goes into the prize pool and $1 goes to the room. These figures are illustrations only, so check the actual rake and fees in the room's help pages before you play.

Skill does matter in poker. Hand selection, position and reading how opponents play all affect results over a large number of hands. In the short term, though, the cards still decide a lot, and even strong players go through long losing stretches. Nothing guarantees a profit, and poker should never be treated as a way to make money.

Casino games work differently. In blackjack and roulette the house edge is fixed by the rules, and slots pay out according to a set return to player (RTP), no matter how you play.

Is Online Poker Legal in Ontario?

Yes. Online poker has been legal in Ontario since the regulated market opened on April 4, 2022. You must be 19 or older and physically located in Ontario when you play. Rooms must be registered with the AGCO and operate under an agreement with iGaming Ontario. You can check any room against the operator list on igamingontario.ca.

Player pools are ring-fenced: Ontario players only play against other Ontario players. In November 2025 the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled that sharing player pools internationally would be lawful. The provincial lottery corporations appealed, and the Supreme Court of Canada heard the appeal on October 7, 2026. As of October 26, 2026, no ruling has been issued, so Ontario tables remain Ontario-only for now.

How to Start Playing Online Poker in Ontario

Getting set up takes a few minutes. If you are new to real-money play, our guide to real money casinos in Ontario covers the basics.

1. Choose a registered poker room. Pick one registered with the AGCO, such as 888poker.
2. Register and verify your identity. Expect KYC checks, confirmation that you are 19+, and an Ontario location check.
3. Set your limits first. Add deposit and time limits before you play a hand.
4. Make a deposit. Use a supported method such as Interac e-Transfer.
5. Pick a format and stake. Start at low stakes that fit your budget.
6. Learn the software. Get to know the table settings, hand history and time bank.

Payment Methods at Ontario Poker Sites

You deposit through the room's cashier and withdraw back to the same method where possible. Before your first withdrawal, expect to complete identity verification.

The table below shows the methods available at 888poker's Ontario site, taken from our review. Interac is the most widely used option in Canada and works for both deposits and withdrawals.

The minimum deposit is $10 and the minimum withdrawal is $5. 888poker does not publish its maximum limits or processing times for each method, so check the cashier before you move money.

Playing Poker on Mobile in Ontario

888poker's Poker 8 software is available as an app for iOS and Android, and you can also play in the browser with no download. You use the same account and wallet on every device, so you can start a session on desktop and check your tables on your phone.

Mobile works best for one or two tables at a time. Playing more tables on a small screen makes mistakes more likely. Most players find portrait mode comfortable for a single table and landscape better for reading the full layout. Before you sit down, check that your connection is stable and your battery is charged, because a dropped connection mid-hand can cost you the pot. For more mobile options, see our guide to Ontario mobile casinos.

Online Poker Tips for Beginners

Good habits matter more than tricks. These tips focus on playing well and staying in control, not on promises of results.

• Be selective with starting hands. Most hands should be folded before the flop. Playing fewer, stronger hands keeps your decisions simpler.
• Understand position. Acting after your opponents gives you more information. Hands you would fold early can sometimes be played from late position.
• Manage your bankroll. Keep poker money separate from everyday money, and only play with money you can afford to lose. Choose stakes where one bad session will not hurt.
• Choose tables and stakes carefully. Start at the lowest stakes and move up only if you are comfortable, never to win back losses.
• Avoid tilt. Frustration after a bad beat leads to poor decisions. Take a break when you notice it, and end the session if it continues.
• Practise without pressure. Some rooms have play-money tables where you can learn the software and rules without spending money. Check whether your room has them.

Responsible Gambling at Ontario Poker Sites

Every registered Ontario poker room has to provide tools that help you stay in control. These include deposit limits, session and time reminders, cool-off or time-out periods, and self-exclusion. At 888poker you can set daily, weekly or monthly limits on deposits, losses and playing time, take a break for anywhere from one day to three months, or self-exclude for longer periods.

Poker carries a few specific risks. Tournaments can run for hours, fast formats speed up play, and playing several tables at once adds to the pressure. Watch for chasing losses, tilt, and sessions that last longer than you planned.

If gambling stops being fun, help is available. Contact ConnexOntario on 1-866-531-2600, free and confidential, 24/7. You can also read player-protection information from the AGCO and iGaming Ontario.

The Bottom Line

Online poker is legal and regulated in Ontario for players 19 and over. 888poker is our current top pick for its tournament depth, Poker 8 software and Interac banking, and we will add more poker rooms once we have reviewed them. Whatever you play, set your limits before you start.

Frequently Asked Questions