You can gamble on online poker websites if you are a Canadian resident. However, the law dictates that any gaming company that is Canadian based needs to have a gambling license in order to legally provide a service of gambling games.

There is a massive population of Canadians that plays poker online. If you want to play then there are a number of things to take into consideration. The following is a comprehensive guide to all aspects of playing online poker in Canada. You will get to know where you can play, what games are available to you online and which jurisdictions offer the best protection to their players.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you are a Canadian resident and a serious poker player, the thought of playing poker online completely must have occurred to you. If so, you will probably have a number of questions about how playing online works. Therefore we have compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions that poker players ask.

Is there any restriction on age?

There are a total of three territories and ten provinces in Canada and all of them have their unique legislature in place about the age to be reached when residents can start to gamble. You have to be of the legally acceptable age in order to be able to gamble online. Websites carry out stringent checks and you are usually required to provide documentation that evidences your stated age.

Can I be certain that I have access to fair games?

You can be certain of websites that have a gambling license from a gaming platform that is well recognized. This is because these authorities carry out stringent testing of a website’s games to ensure that they are completely random and fair. Playing at websites that are unlicensed carries an inherent risk of playing games that are not randomized or fair.

How can I deposit my money?

If you are a Canadian resident, you should ensure that you are playing on websites that permit deposits in Canadian dollars. You can transfer money to any licensed poker website using Bank Transfer, Web Wallets, credit cards and debit cards; there aren’t many restrictions in this regard.

How much time does it take for poker sites to pay you?

The time taken by poker sites to pay up can significantly vary. However this is clearly specified on the website in question. The time taken also depends on the payment method that was chosen by the player. There are sites that pay within hours and some that take days to pay.

 

Can I play in free poker tournaments online?

There is always a large number of people who want to play poker for free. Companies recognize that and therefore there are a lot of options for playing freeroll poker tournaments. These are available on most of the poker websites if not all of them.

Is there any such thing as a “best time” for playing online poker?

People who want to start playing online often ask this question. It’s natural to do so, you might wonder if there would be enough people who would be playing if you log in early during the day. However, these sites have people logging in from a variety of different locations in the world, so usually the time at which you log on does not make that much of a difference.

You will however see a large number of people logged in whenever there is a big tournament happening.

Do I get to go against the pros?

Experienced poker players do log on frequently on to poker websites but you will never really get to know who you’re competing with. Usually sites just display the user name of the player. There is an increasing number of poker websites that allow for players to compete anonymously. This has been met with much appreciation as players can play confidently knowing that other players cannot track them.

Is there any tax that I would have to pay on playing poker?

Winnings from gambling or any games of chance are not subject to tax deductions in Canada. There are taxes on gambling but only gambling companies within Canada have to pay these. These aren’t imposed on people who gamble. You are completely allowed to gamble and not declare your winnings. Residents of Canada can even claim back tax if they have made money at a US based casino.

What poker games can I play online?

There is an extremely broad range of poker games that can be played online. Every website does not have the full range of games available, but almost all websites have Omaha Poker and Texas Hold Em. Take your time to explore all the varieties that are available for playing.

Do I have to download software?

One of the best things about playing online poker is that you do not have to download a program to be able to play. Of course there are websites that do have a program which can be downloaded and, as you will see, is fully configurable.

However if you just want to sign up and start playing as soon as you can without having to install a program, usually websites have a platform that is web based.

 

LEGAL LICENSING JURISDICTIONS in the COMMONWEALTH

UK Gambling Commission

The Commission is one of the oldest and most experienced in the line, and is renowned for its strict regulation of its license holders.

Alderney Gambling Control Commission

Online poker sites that have a license from the Alderney Gambling Control Commission have a reputation of conforming to the highest standards and are guaranteed to give you a great experience of playing online poker.

Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner

There are a multitude of online gambling sites that are based in Gibraltar. An online gambling website regulated and licensed by Gibraltar can be safely considered a trustworthy gambling site.

Isle of Man Casino Control Commission

A lot of the designers who have developed online poker, online casino and casino related software are based on The Isle of Man. No surprise then that the island has one of the most experienced Gambling Commissions that regulates and supervises a large number of online gambling sites.

OTHER GAMBLING JURISDICTIONS

Gambling licenses are also offered by jurisdictions other than those mentioned above. These authorities are the Government of Curaco and the Antigua Directorate of Offshore Gambling. However popular opinion does not favor these authorities. Both of these authorities provide licenses to online poker websites, but their reputation is such that websites that have been licensed by these authorities are not to be trusted.