Is Online Poker Legal in Ontario?
Yes. Since Ontario opened its regulated iGaming market on April 4, 2022, adults aged 19 and over who are physically located in the province can play real-money online poker at operators registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and operating under iGaming Ontario. Regulated sites must verify your identity and age, protect your funds and offer responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion.
There are two very different ways to play poker online in Ontario:
- Casino poker: you play against the house, either in RNG video poker or at live dealer tables such as Casino Hold’em and Three Card Poker. This is what the online casinos on this page offer.
- Poker rooms: you play against other people in cash games and tournaments, and the operator takes a small fee (rake) from each pot or a tournament entry fee.
Shared Liquidity: Can Ontario Players Join International Tables?
Not yet. Ontario poker rooms are ring-fenced, which means Ontario players can only sit with other players located in Ontario. In November 2025, the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruled 4-1 that a proposed model allowing Ontario players to play against international players through Ontario-facing sites would be lawful. Several provincial lottery corporations appealed that decision to the Supreme Court of Canada, which heard the case in October 2026 and reserved judgment. Until the Supreme Court rules and the necessary agreements are put in place, Ontario’s player pool remains separate. We will update this page when the situation changes.
Casino Poker Games You Can Play in Ontario
Casino poker uses poker hand rankings, but you are trying to beat the dealer’s hand or a paytable rather than other players. Results depend on the game rules, so always open the game’s information panel to check the paytable and return to player (RTP). The figures below are typical values for standard rules and paytables.
| Game | How it works | Typical return |
| Jacks or Better (video poker) | Five-card draw against a paytable; a pair of jacks or better pays | About 99.5% on a full-pay 9/6 table with optimal strategy |
| Casino Hold’em | Texas Hold’em rules against the dealer; ante and call bets | About 97.8% |
| Ultimate Texas Hold’em | Hold’em against the dealer with flexible raise timing | House edge of roughly 2.2% on the ante |
| Three Card Poker | Three-card hand against the dealer, plus an optional Pair Plus bet | House edge of roughly 3.4% on ante and play |
| Caribbean Stud Poker | Five-card stud against the dealer, who must qualify | House edge of roughly 5.2% |
Side bets in live poker games usually carry a higher house edge than the main bet, so treat them as optional extras rather than part of your strategy.
Video poker
Video poker is the fastest way to play poker at an online casino. You are dealt five cards, choose which to hold, draw replacements and get paid according to the paytable. Because the paytable is fixed and visible, video poker rewards good decisions more than most casino games. Look for full-pay versions of Jacks or Better and learn a simple strategy chart before you play for real money.
Live dealer poker
Live casino poker is streamed from a studio with a real dealer, and you place your bets through an on-screen interface. Ontario casinos carry live poker tables from providers such as Evolution, Playtech and Ezugi. For example, review data for PlayOJO in Ontario lists seven live poker games, including Casino Hold’em, Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker and Caribbean Stud Poker. See our live casino guide for more on how live dealer games work.
Poker Hand Rankings
All of the games above use the standard poker hand rankings, from strongest to weakest:
| Hand | Example |
| Royal flush | A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit |
| Straight flush | Five cards in sequence of the same suit |
| Four of a kind | Four cards of the same rank |
| Full house | Three of a kind plus a pair |
| Flush | Five cards of the same suit |
| Straight | Five cards in sequence |
| Three of a kind | Three cards of the same rank |
| Two pair | Two different pairs |
| One pair | Two cards of the same rank |
| High card | None of the above |
In Three Card Poker the order is slightly different: a straight beats a flush, because it is harder to make with three cards.
Poker Rooms in Ontario
If you want to play cash games and tournaments against other people, you need a dedicated poker room rather than a casino. Ontario’s regulated player-versus-player market includes rooms such as PokerStars, BetMGM Poker, GGPoker and 888poker. These operators are not reviewed on ONcasinos, so before you sign up anywhere, confirm that the site is registered with the AGCO and listed by iGaming Ontario, and avoid offshore poker sites that accept Ontario players without a provincial licence.
How to Choose Where to Play Poker Online
- Ontario licence first. Only play at sites registered with the AGCO and operating under iGaming Ontario.
- Game selection. Check whether the casino offers video poker, live dealer poker or both.
- Paytables and RTP. Compare video poker paytables and read the information panel of live games.
- Table limits. Make sure the minimum and maximum bets suit your budget.
- Payments. Look for familiar methods such as Interac, Visa and MuchBetter, and check withdrawal times.
- Mobile play. Most Ontario casinos run poker games in the browser and in their apps; see our casino apps guide.
Tips for Playing Casino Poker
- Learn the basic strategy for each game before playing for real money; most providers include rules and payouts in the game menu.
- Play the main bet and treat side bets as entertainment, not value.
- Choose video poker machines with full-pay paytables.
- Decide on a session budget and stop when you reach it, win or lose.
- Remember that every casino poker game has a house edge over the long run.
Play Poker Responsibly
Poker can feel like a game of pure skill, but casino poker always includes a house edge, and even skilled players have long losing runs. Set deposit and time limits in your account, take regular breaks and never play with money you need for essentials. Gambling is for adults 19+. If poker or any other form of gambling stops being fun, ConnexOntario offers free, confidential support 24/7 at 1-866-531-2600. Visit our responsible gambling page for more help.