Canada’s Best Video Poker Sites in 2023

Video Poker Explained

When you pull up a virtual seat for an online poker cash game or tournament, you’ll be up against human opponents, so it’s pretty much like playing in person – minus the need for a poker face. 

Online video poker is different. As with a typical machine in Las Vegas, you don’t have an opponent, other than the game software. Most games imitate Five Card Draw poker, so you’re dealt five cards right off the bat. You can hold these cards, or exchange some or all of them for a new one, and hope your resulting hand is somewhere on the paytable. 

Video poker game hand rankings and paytables vary, but your best hand – or hands in multi-hand games – will always be taken from the five cards displayed on the screen. The single-player nature, speed and overall presentation of video poker can lead many players to refer to video poker games as poker slots. 

However, players should realize that hitting a winning combination on slot machines is purely a matter of luck. Crafting a winning hand in video poker takes a combination of luck, skill, and basic strategy. It’s just one of the reasons why video poker games like Double Bonus Poker, Aces and Eights, and Joker’s Wild are so popular with gamblers.

How We Review Canadian Poker Sites

Before we recommend any poker site or online casino, we review each site to confirm it meets our standards. We check out a range of details on your behalf, so you can feel confident that every site is a great place to play video poker:

Licensing

It’s not hard to give the green light to regulated online gambling sites managed by Ontario

Lottery & Gaming, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission, and any other Canadian gaming authority. However, we have to be extra vigilant when looking at offshore video poker game sites. We stick strictly to those licensed by respected gambling authorities. This is your best indication that a site adheres to fair play standards and will keep your details secure. As player safety is our top priority, licensing is a non-negotiable factor for us.

Range of Poker Games

Just as regular poker comes in several variants, such as Texas Hold’em and Omaha Hi-Lo, so too does video poker. Having access to different video poker variations will improve your experience and your skills. We also like to see plenty of other games available, such as those on slot sites, roulette, and blackjack.

Poker Bonuses

We check out the promotions page to confirm that players can access a range of bonuses. A generous sign-up offer is always welcome, whether that’s a no deposit bonus or a matched deposit bonus. We also hope to see reload bonuses and freebies for existing players. 

Mobile Experience

Most poker sites offer mobile versions, making it easy to play video poker for real money – or just for fun – whenever you like. 

The best sites go the extra distance and offer players the chance to download a native mobile app. Boasting improved security, top-quality graphics, and push notifications for bonuses, well-oiled mobile apps get a big thumbs up from us.  

Payment Methods

A stop by the banking page is always on our to-do list. We ensure real money poker sites offer a good selection of trusted payment methods, including debit cards, e-wallets, online banking, and more. Deposit options should be free from fuss and allow for instant deposits. Payouts should be fast and free, too. 

Support

Solid FAQs can answer some of the most common questions you may have at a poker site, but when there’s a need to contact customer service, we expect to see several ways to get in touch. 

Live chat is ideal, though attentive email, phone, and social media support are also appreciated.

Video Poker Tips 

Video poker can be an excellent form of entertainment, and you may even win yourself a real money payout. Here are some basic tips to help you master the game and enjoy the best possible video poker experience. 

Read Reviews

There is no shortage of tips and video poker strategy charts out there, but reading reviews of specific game types can help familiarize you with different variants before you risk real money. Regular players often share gameplay videos on YouTube, which beginners may want to check out.

Choose Your Game

There are many multi-hand video poker games available, including Triple and Five Card Draw, though beginners may want to stick to single-hand versions like Deuces Wild and Joker Poker at first. Playing single-hand video poker can help you get used to the fast-paced nature of the game before trying your luck with multi-hand options. 

Set Your Wager

When you load up a single or multi-hand video poker game, you need to work out your wager before receiving your cards. You set the coin value and choose how much to bet per round. You can bet between one and five coins on a hand, with the max bet resulting in the highest payouts for winning combinations. 

Deal Your Cards

When you’ve chosen the value and number of coins to bet on each round of your preferred video poker game – you can change these settings between rounds – it’s time to have your cards dealt. Click the relevant button to reveal the cards on the screen. 

Choose Your Cards

Choosing which cards to keep and which to exchange is a crucial moment. Be sure to consult the paytable for the variant you’ve chosen, as the rewards for winning combinations vary between video poker games. Decide which hand you want to aim for, click the cards you want to hold and exchange those you don’t. 

Know Your Hand

Knowing the winning combinations for video poker games is crucial, especially if you plan to switch between variants with titles like Triple Play Draw video poker. Most paytables include familiar hands like three of a kind, four of a kind, straight flush, and royal flush. Some games also offer payouts on combinations like Jacks or Better, which pays out for a pair of knaves or any hand of higher value. 

Best Video Poker Casino Games

Whether you’re after a free video poker game or feel like playing for real money, you should find a few different options at the top Canadian sites. Let’s have a look at some of the most popular casino video poker titles.

Deuces Wild

Deuces Wild plays out like most video poker games. Players receive five cards from a standard 52-card deck and exchange any they don’t want to hold. The difference here is that deuces – 2s – are wild cards that can replace any other card to help your hand. While this feature makes it easier to hit a winning hand on the paytable, a natural royal flush still pays the highest. 

Triple Play Draw Poker

Triple Play Draw Poker from IGT features nine different games in one, including Jacks or Better and Double Double Bonus Poker. Players can switch between the available games as the mood strikes. 

Triple Play Draw Poker is a multi-hand variant with three hands in each game. This feature means the chance to win three times, too, making Triple Draw Poker a top pick for many video poker players.

Five Play Draw Poker

Five Play Draw Poker is another multi-hand offering from IGT. This variant sees players step up to playing five hands at once, again, from a choice of nine different online video poker titles. As with Triple Play Draw Poker, players are not required to stick to the same game and may switch between them as they wish. Otherwise, the game plays out similarly to a regular Five Card Draw poker game. 

Joker Poker 

A simple video poker option with a return to player percentage (RTP) of up to 100.64% for players using optimal video poker strategy, Joker Poker is popular online and in land-based casinos. The inclusion of a joker wild means the game plays out with a 53-card deck. This feature gives players a greater chance of landing a winning combination, which the paytable reflects by making a pair of kings the lowest possible winning hand.

Jacks or Better

As you can probably guess, winning combinations on this popular variant start with a pair of jacks. A standout feature of the game is that when players score a winning hand, they can collect or enter a showdown. The latter option sees the ‘dealer’ receive one card and the player receive four face-down cards. The player must choose a card with a higher value than the dealer’s, doubling the win if they do, and losing it all if they don’t.

Low Pay Video Poker Games

Many video poker games are classified as full pay, which means they have a high payout percentage. A classic example is 9/6 Jacks or Better, where you’re paid 9x your bet for a full house and 6x your bet for a flush. 

However, some players prefer low-pay casino video poker, which tends to cut the payouts for the full house and flush while leaving the returns for other hands untouched. These games may offer more frequent payouts and allow you to play with a smaller bankroll. 

Some low-pay options offset the generally smaller returns by providing the possibility of progressive jackpot prizes. Let’s look at some of the best low-pay video poker games.

9/5 Jacks or Better

9/5 Jacks or Better uses regular payout ratios for all hands bar a flush, which drops from 6x to 5x the bet. The max payout percentage for players betting max coins and landing a royal flush bonus is 98.45%.

8/6 Jacks or Better

This variant cuts the payout for a full house from 9x to 8x the stake. Other payouts are the same as full-pay variants. The RTP for players betting the max coins per hand and landing a royal flush drops to 98.39% with this variation.

8/5 Jacks or Better

As for the 8/6 version, 8/5 Jacks or Better cuts the payout for a full house to 8x the bet. However, the flush payout is also cut, from 6x to 5x. As a result, the payout percentage for a royal flush sits at 97.30%.

7/5 Jacks or Better

In 7/5 Jacks or Better, the full house payout drops to 7x the bet and the flush payout to 5x the bet. Therefore, The maximum percentage on payouts is 96.15% for players betting the max and scoring a royal flush. 

6/5 Jacks or Better

6/5 Jacks or Better sees the full house payout fall to 6x the bet and the payout for a flush drop to 5x. The RTP for players receiving the royal flush after betting five coins sits at 95%. 

Playing Video Poker on the Go 

Many players enjoy playing video poker on the move, and, as a result, almost all online poker sites offer a smart-looking mobile site alongside the desktop version. 

Mobile sites are safe, secure, convenient, and allow you to play video poker whenever and wherever you feel lucky. 

Some poker sites and online casinos have also developed mobile apps. These can turn a very good mobile video poker experience into a great one. 

Mobile Apps

Usually offered for Android and iOS, poker and casino mobile apps bring even greater convenience for players. You can just tap the app when you want to play video poker, rather than having to log into your casino account to access the games. The device-specific allows games to run more smoothly, and you can set push notifications to keep you up to speed on the latest bonuses. 

Video Poker Payment Methods

Canada’s best online casinos and poker sites accept various safe and secure payment methods. Here’s just a handful of the options you’ll find listed on the cashier page. 

Debit and Credit Cards

Visa and Mastercard make online deposits and payouts easy. They should also ensure your eligibility for pretty much all welcome bonuses at online casino sites. 

There are a couple of potential drawbacks, though. Depositing with a credit or debit card requires you to feel comfortable sharing your card details online. Plus, you may need to wait for up to six days for payouts to land in your bank. 

e-Wallets

Players hoping to use PayPal, Neteller, or Skrill won’t find these options at casinos for Canadian players. But, that’s not to say e-wallets are off the menu as a payment method. The likes of MuchBetter and ecoPayz are readily accepted at real money online gambling sites, and each provides a secure and confidential banking option with instant deposits and fast payouts. 

While some casinos take a couple of days for internal processing, the quickest-paying casinos offer instant withdrawals to e-wallets. 

Prepaid Cards

Prepaid cards offer an easy way for gamblers to keep casino funds separate from everyday spending, which can help with bankroll management. A popular prepaid system is Paysafecard, which comes in the form of vouchers you can buy from a broad range of brick-and-mortar stores. 

It’s great for gamblers who like to use cash to fund their accounts, though high rollers may find it a cumbersome way to pay, and payouts are generally not possible unless a site allows payouts via a MyPaysafecard account.