Best video poker online casinos of 2024: Ontario
Did you know that you can raise the RTP to over 100% in some video poker online casino games? That’s just one of the many perks of playing this casino classic!
Our poker pros will let you in on all video poker particulars and variants, teach you how to play the game and point you in the direction of where to find the hottest video poker hits in Ontario.
| Casino logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to casino Button | Show more | T&C |
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1
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95/100 Games rating by Elena I. 92% Playscore based on |
Most reliable casino operator
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods 
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19+. Terms and conditions apply. Play responsibly. Connexontario.ca |
2
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95/100 Games rating by Elena I. 85% Playscore based on |
Excellent games library
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
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3
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95/100 Games rating by Elena I. 63% Playscore based on |
Best for Jackpot King
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
7 payment methods
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4
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95/100 Games rating by Jovana G. 83% Playscore based on |
Best gamified casino experience
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods
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5
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95/100 Games rating by Elena I. 92% Playscore based on |
Reliable and award-winning operator
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
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6
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94/100 Games rating by Dasha G. 85% Playscore based on |
Interactive gaming experience
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
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19+. Terms and conditions apply. Play responsibly. Connexontario.ca |
7
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90/100 Games rating by Elena I. 87% Playscore based on |
Rich live dealer lobby
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
7 payment methods
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8
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86/100 Games rating by Elena I. 85% Playscore based on |
Best casino for poker
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
11 payment methods
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9
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85/100 Games rating by Elena I. 88% Playscore based on |
Top loyalty rewards
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods
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10
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85/100 Games rating by Dasha G. 81% Playscore based on |
Best slot game collection
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
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11
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85/100 Games rating by Elena I. 85% Playscore based on |
Excellent mobile experience
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
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12
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84/100 Games rating by Jovana G. 84% Playscore based on |
Most trusted online casino
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
9 payment methods
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bet365 operates pursuant to an agreement with iGaming Ontario. #ad |
13
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80/100 Games rating by Elena I. 93% Playscore based on |
Great for progressive jackpots
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods
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14
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80/100 Games rating by Elena I. 85% Playscore based on |
Best mobile casino apps
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods
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15
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60/100 Games rating by Elena I. 94% Playscore based on |
Canadian-owned operator
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
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1
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87/100 Games rating by Elena I. 89% Playscore based on |
5,000 WoW Coins + 1 Sweepstake Coin
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods
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2
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87/100 Games rating by Elena I. 83% Playscore based on |
250 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
4 payment methods
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3
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84/100 Games rating by Dasha G. 87% Playscore based on |
500 Free Fortune Coins
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Play players accepted |
4 payment methods
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4
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74/100 Games rating by Elena I. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 1,000 Virtual Credits
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
1 payment methods
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Editor's note
The casinos highlighted above are specifically chosen to reflect their video poker offer. They’re certainly some of the best casinos for playing video poker, but we’re not aiming to regurgitate our top CA casinos list.
The expert scores displayed are the overall ratings from our reviews; if there’s a spot higher up on the list with a slightly lower rating, it’s because it does video poker better than the rest.
Popular video poker games: Variants
Just like poker, there are a whole lot of different online video poker options available to play. So, how do you know which is the one for you, and which are the best video poker games around? Well, we’re here to help you out with that. A large number of these are three- or five-draw games and they are the most prevalent at Canadian casinos. However, there are some online games that are almost always found at any video poker casino, and these are Jacks or Better, Double Bonus Poker, Tens or Better and Deuces Wild. Though minor, there are some differences between these games.
Because of these minor differences, you will need to understand how to play video poker games depending on the variant you are playing — at least to make sure you get all the nuances of the game. There are also some online casino games that are better for newer players, while others are suited to those with a lot of experience, and the answer isn’t always video poker! So, while it can be a bit confusing, just take the time to read our game outlines below, and you’ll get to grips with all the different options very quickly.
- Jacks or Better — Best for new players. This online game is the easiest to learn. All you need to do is get a hand with a pair of jacks or more, and you will win the prize. It’s got an RTP of over 98% too.
- Deuces Wild — Player favourite. This online game has an exciting game mechanic where twos become wild cards. That means in a 52-card deck there are four wilds, so the winning combos are easier to achieve.
- Tens or Better — Similar to Jacks or Better. To win here you just need to get a pair of tens or more, which makes it perfect for new players. However, wins tend to be smaller, but they are more regular.
- Ultimate video poker — Branded video poker game from IGT. It incorporates a number of different video poker types and allows you to activate the X feature, which is a multiplier to give you bigger wins
- Single hand poker — Play with a single hand. Depending on the specific poker game you’re playing, the rules and payouts will vary, so make sure you check the paytable prior to playing.
- Multi-hand poker — More than one hand in play. Great for experienced players. This option gives you more chances of scoring a winning hand. It has high variance, so there are big wins to pick up here.
Choosing the perfect video poker online casino
When choosing the very best online video poker casinos, we have a carefully created list of the main criteria we score the all top online casinos in Canada against. This makes our ratings comparable too, so you know just how good (or bad) an online video poker casino is. You can use these criteria to check out our rankings or even use them independently to rate casinos that we haven’t even listed. In this way, you can find the perfect online casino that suits your needs. So, check out our casino criteria right here.
Game selection
Being able to have a wealth of different games to choose from is a must when playing at online video poker casinos. As a start, we want you to be able to have access to a good video poker machine selection, which means that you’re looking at picking an instant play casino. Not only should you be able to have a large number to choose from, but you should also be able to pick from a diverse selection of online video poker game types. This means that for a top video poker casino, we’re looking for at least 10 different video poker games. And, we want to see some of the more popular games on offer, including Jacks or Better, Aces and Faces, Double Double Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild or Joker Poker. It’s also important that there’s a range of single-hand and multi-hand variants on offer so that players of all types can choose their favourite online game. If a casino is only offering one or two video poker options, then there’s not much to choose from, and we don’t recommend that you play here. Other than video poker, the casino should also offer a good selection of live dealer games and online casino slots. We consider anything over 500 to be a decent number.
Software
There aren’t so many providers that offer video poker games, but those that do have some high-quality games for you to enjoy. Because of this, it’s usually quite simple to check whether there are going to be video poker games on offer, as you just need to first look for specific online providers. For instance, some top online providers include Microgaming, IGT and SG Digital. Each of these has created a number of different video poker games, and these can be found at several of the top Canadian online casinos. Better still, these providers offer high-quality graphics, smooth gameplay and some good payables — it’s all about the quality when it comes to these games. If a casino has their video poker games available, then they get extra points from us. But, if a casino is to get the very highest rank, then we want to see some exclusive video poker games from the most esteemed software developers too. Casinos with video poker options from unknown providers will get a lower score from us.
Fairness and security
It’s important that you are in a safe, secure environment when playing video poker and other games in Canadian real money online casinos. To that end, we make sure that every casino we recommend to you is actually fully licensed and regulated by Ontario. However, to even make it onto our list, the casino must hold the Ontario iGaming licence, and we want to see this clearly displayed on their site. By having this online licence, the casino demonstrates its ability to follow the law. To obtain this licence, casinos must abide by strict safety and security criteria too, which means you’re going to get a better gaming experience from the outset. For instance, Ontario licensed casinos must regularly audit their games for fairness. This means that third-party companies test the games to make sure the RNGs are running properly and there’s no bias. The best casinos will also have 128 or 256-bit encryption protocols in place to make sure that your data is protected and can’t be accessed by anyone else. If a casino has no online security in place, look elsewhere.
Payment options
Though you may not realise it, having a range of online payment options and clear terms and conditions is a very important part of your online gaming enjoyment. We look at this very closely, and you should too when looking for casinos to play at. The first thing we check is the number of online payment options available. The best casinos will have at least 10 different methods, and these will include a variety of different online payment types. Casinos that have 4 or fewer payment options get scored much lower. On top of this, we also want to see clear and transparent terms and conditions. The top video online poker casinos will not only have everything laid out clearly, but these will be easily accessible and not hidden away. Best payout sites will have no fees attached to their payments and will also offer fast withdrawals (we’re looking for two days or less) as well as low minimum online deposits and withdrawals. Casinos that get a bad rating from us will have fees, slow transaction times and high minimum limits.
Device optimisation
Unlike classic video poker machines, playing online gives you the advantage of playing how and where you please. If you want to play mobile video poker in Canada, ensure that you can play most video poker games when you’re out and about. But how can you check this for yourself? Well, we always look at their online mobile casino site, whether it’s an app or the mobile browser version of the site. For the best video poker sites, all of their online video poker games should be available on mobile devices. Importantly, they should work well no matter what device you are using, be it a mobile or a tablet. The mobile site should also be fully compatible with both iOS and Android. Extra points are awarded if the mobile casino works smoothly and has the same layout as the desktop site allowing you to jump back and forth between the two with no learning curve. In contrast, an online mobile casino that is glitchy, cluttered and hard to navigate will score a lot lower. And, any site that doesn’t offer the same video poker games in mobile form gets a no from us.
Overall casino product
Generally, the types of video poker games you can expect to find at Canadian online casinos are the same. This means that you need to consider the casino in overall terms if you want to find the best one to play at. As a starting point, you can take all the above-mentioned criteria to help inform your decision. But there are other factors to add to the mix too. For instance, we also want to see a live casino preferably with some online live poker options if you decide to make that jump. The online customer service should also be easy to reach and offer speedy response times — the best will have 24/7 online live support and not use bots. Finally, we also want to see that the online casino is making life easy for you, the player, and offering additional gamification features such as tournaments and ensuring that the site is easy to use and navigable. Online casinos that don’t make any of these efforts should be avoided as they’re not putting the player first.
Video poker rules explained in more detail
While video poker is relatively straightforward — at least in comparison to a real poker game — there are still some rules that you need to be aware of if you want to have a good game. For instance, it’s very important that you look at the online paytable before you start playing. This is because paytables are different for the various online video poker casino games you find at online video poker casinos. Essentially, the payout for getting a specific hand will actually widely differ from casino to casino, so you really need to know how much you stand to gain.
You need to understand the different types of online payouts offered by real money video poker games too. For instance, there are short-pay and full-pay casino games. Indeed, for a full-pay real money video poker machine, you will get an RTP of over 99% (some can even be over 100% though this is based on you making the best possible decision per hand). In contrast, short-pay games are those that have a much lower maximum payout percentage. This means that online payouts on specific hands are often decreased so that while you can still win as often as a full-pay game, you won’t win as much.
- Always check the paytable before staking money
- Choose to play full-pay casino games over short-pay ones
- Learn the different poker hands and their values
- Understand the names of the best video poker casino games to know what you can win
Video poker rules explained in more detail
While video poker is relatively straightforward — at least in comparison to a real poker game — there are still some rules that you need to be aware of if you want to have a good game. For instance, it’s very important that you look at the online paytable before you start playing. This is because paytables are different for the various online video poker casino games you find at online video poker casinos. Essentially, the payout for getting a specific hand will actually widely differ from casino to casino, so you really need to know how much you stand to gain.
You need to understand the different types of online payouts offered by real money video poker games too. For instance, there are short-pay and full-pay casino games. Indeed, for a full-pay real money video poker machine, you will get an RTP of over 99% (some can even be over 100% though this is based on you making the best possible decision per hand). In contrast, short-pay games are those that have a much lower maximum payout percentage. This means that online payouts on specific hands are often decreased so that while you can still win as often as a full-pay game, you won’t win as much.
- Always check the paytable before staking money
- Choose to play full-pay casino games over short-pay ones
- Learn the different poker hands and their values
- Understand the names of the best video poker casino games to know what you can win
How to play video poker machines
You might be feeling ready to get playing for real, so we’re just going to go through the main points for playing video poker online. First, you need to choose which variant you want to play. This means selecting from the list of video poker machines we outlined above. Beginners should start out with casino games like Tens or Better or Aces and Faces. Experienced players can launch right in by playing multi-hand games or options like Joker Poker. If you want to bet big and win big, then Bonus Video Poker games are the best way forward.
Once the game has been chosen, all you need to do is place your bet. Make sure this is within the limit of the game. You will then get dealt the first round of five cards in your hand. Just like any poker game, you then need to look at these cards and see what’s the best hand you can make from them. You can discard any cards you don’t want, and you’ll get dealt more to make your 5-card hand again. Once this has been done, the round is over, and you can compare it to the paytable to see if you’ve won.
- Choose your game variant
- Place your bet
- Hit deal to get your first five-card poker hand
- Get rid of any cards you don’t want to use
- Collect replacement cards from the virtual deck to keep five cards in your hand
- See if you can match one of the hands
- Get your payout if you’re lucky
Tips for winning at the best Canadian video poker casinos
As there is an element of skill involved when playing online video poker, we have some tips you can use to get ahead. So, on top of learning the rules and actually understanding the paytable, there are a couple of points to consider. For instance, you should figure out which game type you prefer — single-hand or multi-hand? You should always make sure you set a budget and stick to it. It’s also a good idea to practice your online strategies before you go all in, and make sure you have a place to concentrate when playing. Finally, choose a reputable video poker site to play at.
- Learn the rules
- Know all the video poker terms
- Understand the paytable
- Get to know your own personal preference
- Manage your bankroll carefully
- Practice your strategies a lot
- Remain focused and concentrated when playing
Pros and cons of video poker
As with all games, there are a number of pros and cons to playing online video poker. However, there are more pros than cons with this game, which makes a nice change we think! Some of the pros here include the fact that this game blends luck and skill into a nice gaming mix. It’s also a great game for players of all budgets as there’s the option to place bets of just a few cents as well as hundreds of dollars. You can claim decent wins too thanks to some real money games offering online progressive jackpots and bigger online payouts per hand.
One of the biggest pluses is the fact that it has a low house edge in comparison to other casino games. And, these online real money games have high RTPs some of which can be over 100% meaning you’ve got a great chance of claiming your money back. However, the fact that these are operated using RNGs means you can’t predict which cards are dealt. For experienced video poker players, this can be frustrating leading them to choose other online poker types. It means there’s still an element of luck, something not found if you play a real poker variant. Check out more pros and cons.
- Budget-friendly casino game
- Offers progressive jackpots for big wins
- Low house edge compared to other casino games
- High return to player (RTP) percentage
- Learning a video poker strategy can increase your winning odds
- RNG means you can’t predict which cards will be dealt
- Still a bit luck-based
Real money video poker vs for free
It’s possible to play video poker online either for free or for real money. But which one should you pick? Well, playing for real money means you can actually win money. It also means that there’s a bit more of a risk when you’re gaming which will encourage you to use your online skills when playing and this can really up the fun factor. However, while you can win real money, you can also lose real money which can lead to addiction and continual playing. It’s therefore important to set budgets and stick to them when playing real money online video poker.
In contrast, playing an online demo video poker game means that you can actually hone your skills first. It’s a great way to practice your strategies and get a feel for the game as a whole. Plus, because you’re not using any of your own funds, you’re not going to lose any money either. But, you’re also not going to win any money if you do win. Overall, though, this is a great way to master the rules in a risk-free way. This is something we recommend you do especially if you are a beginner when it comes to online video poker.
Best video poker alternatives
Real money video poker is not for everyone. Luckily, there are plenty of other online games available at online casinos. Most online games are online slot machines. These focus on the luck-based element of online casino games so that you can just sit back and let the reels fall where they may. There’s an array of different slots available ranging from simple online classic slots to more complex five-reel video slots packed with an assortment of different online bonus games. You can also try your hand at online progressive jackpot slots where you can win huge sums of money on just a couple of spins.
For some, online video poker may not be enough of a challenge. Or you may feel that you need to move on to the next level of your playing. This is where virtual poker games can be a great option. Virtual poker games can be found at many online casinos in Canada and should not be confused with video poker. These online virtual games are based on more traditional poker games, such as Texas Hold’ em or Omaha, and allow you to play out the games as if you were playing them with other people. They’re still run using RNGs, so you’re up against a computer.
Online live games are the best option if you really want to push your poker playing to the next level. Like the online virtual poker games, these are games where you play traditional versions of poker. You can often find Casino Hold’ em or Caribbean Stud in live form. However, you are really upping the ante here (both literally and figuratively) as these games are played against real people. Set up in a studio, there’s a real dealer dealing the cards, and you have to make real-time decisions within the game. It brings the thrill of a land-based casino directly to your home.
FAQs
What is online video poker?
Video poker is actually an online virtual game that is based on five-card draw poker. It works using RNGs and actually operates in a very similar manner to a slot game. In fact, as it is powered by RNGs, there is an element of luck to it too. However, there is still some skill involved, and you will need to use some online strategies to get better results. The actual gameplay is very simple, though you will need to check the paytable of the game you are playing as these vary across popular video poker games. Once the round ends, your hand is compared to those in the paytable, and you receive your payout if you’ve managed to get a match.
Can I play video poker for free in Canada?
Yes, you can. There are a number of online casinos in Canada that offer online demo or online free versions of different online video poker games. This means that you can start playing video poker without spending your own money. As there is some skill involved when playing online video poker, it’s actually a good idea to make use of these different demo versions. And this is because it means you can practice your strategies in a risk-free manner before you move forward with playing with your own money. In fact, we recommend that you do this as it can really pay off for you later down the line? Check out where to play free video poker machines right here.
Which is the best video poker casino in Canada?
This really does depend on you and your preferences. There are many top online video poker casinos in Ontario, but we only recommend those that are actually licensed within the province. Once you’ve determined that the casino has a licence for Ontario, you can then look at a number of top game criteria to see which one is the best for you. For us, the best are the ones that have at least 10 different video poker machines on offer. These games encompass various video poker game types as well as offering popular versions such as Jacks or Better, Tens or Better and Deuces Wild. Other factors to consider include mobile compatibility, customer support and payment options. Check our best video poker casinos here.
How do you play video poker?
It’s very easy to play online video poker. First, you need to choose which variant or game you are going to play. You then need to place your online bet (top video poker games often have very wide betting limits, which is great as it caters to all budgets). When your bet is in place, just hit the ‘deal’ button, and you will get five cards. You can then discard one or more cards, and you will then receive replacements. Once this is done, the round is over and the hand you have left is the one that the game will use to determine whether you have won or not. Your hand is compared to the paytable and if you’ve got a hand that matches, you win that payout.
Can I win real money playing online video poker?
When it comes to winning at video poker it’s important to remember that there is still an element of luck involved. Unlike other poker games, it’s not possible to predict the cards that will come out in your hand as this is because it’s all run on RNGs. However, you can carefully choose the game type to give yourself a better winning chance. For instance, you should choose full-pay video poker games as these tend to have a really high RTP of around 98% though some can be even higher. This means that you have a better chance of getting regular wins. And these wins are going to be greater than the wins offered by low-pay video poker games.
Is it safe to play video poker online casinos?
Yes, it is, provided you are playing at a licensed and registered online video poker casino. To help you out with this, we have a list of the top video poker casinos in Canada and you can find them right here. It’s important to make sure you are playing at one of these casinos, because these video poker sites make sure that the games you are playing are fair. Holding an Ontario iGaming licence means these casinos are required to audit all their games via third-party auditing companies. This means that the online games are all certified fair, and you can rest easy knowing that there are no bias and fair payouts are being made when you play video poker at these casinos. However, only play at recommended video poker casinos.
What strategies can I use when playing video poker variants?
You can use various strategies when playing real money video poker. However, the first thing you need to do is to learn the video poker strategy and rules. The more knowledge you have of the game, the better this will be for you in the long run. You should also always check the paytable as the payouts for the different hands will differ between video poker games. Importantly, figure out which online game type you prefer and stick to that too. After all, you don’t want to be playing multi-hand real money video poker when you’re just a beginner. Finally, we do recommend that you practice first. And you can easily do this by playing one of the free video poker versions found at many Canadian casino sites online.
Is playing video poker worth it?
As worth it as playing any other casino game. Regardless of which game you choose to play, be mindful of the house edge, limit your spending and don’t expect to walk away a winner or beat video poker machines – it’s a game of chance, after all.
What is the best video poker game?
That depends on your preferences! Most players enjoy games like Double Double Bonus Poker and Deuces Wild, but you’ll find plenty of other popular video poker variants at online casinos.
