Whether you consider it a slot, or its casino game category altogether, video poker is easy to play, easy to beat, and loads of fun, putting it among the most popular games at online and live casinos all over the province. Most video poker games have a low or even negative house edge, which means casinos are sometimes paying you to play.
There is no difference between video poker at Ontario casinos and Ontario online casinos. The outcome of every hand on all video poker games in the province is determined by the software and random number generators employed, whether it’s hosted on a computer server online or in a game cabinet on the floor of a casino. Keep reading for more information about video poker across Ontario.
Leading casinos with real money video poker games in Ontario
IN ONTARIO
Baccarat & Blackjack
Top 5 online casinos for video poker
The opening and expansion of the online casino market in Ontario mean plenty of choices in terms of games for players. While not as popular as video slots or certain table games, video poker is a casino classic. Therefore, it’s no surprise that almost every gambling site tries to offer at least a few variations of this game. Here are five online casinos where you’ll find a versatile and quality video poker selection:
DraftKings
When it comes to video poker, the DraftKings casino app features several titles from IGT. These include triple play, five-play, and 10-play versions of Draw Poker and Ultimate X Poker. You’ll also get to play the 9-in-1 Game King video poker option, with variations such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, and more.
Depending on the game you choose, you’ll have access to a variety of betting limits, starting between $0.03 and $1 and going all the way up to $500 per hand.
FanDuel
FanDuel is another reputable online gambling provider. It offers a solid choice of quality games from the industry’s top software studios and a lineup of bonuses and promotions for both new customers and regular players.
All video poker games on FanDuel Ontario appear in the “Tables” section, together with all RNG table games. Options include IGT’s Draw Poker in triple play, five-play, and 10-play formats. You will also find Game King video poker and its nine variations of the game. Limits are usually from $0.1 to $100 per play.
BetMGM
MGM has flourished on the US market over the last several years, thanks in part to the introduction of its online gambling platform, BetMGM Casino. One of the main reasons for its popularity is its ever-expanding library of quality games and exclusive titles. It also has one of the biggest video poker collections among online casinos.
Under the table games section, you’ll find IGT’s 9-in-1 Game King, Draw Poker, and Ultimate X Poker. Each comes in triple play, five-play, and 10-play formats. You’ll also get to play individual variants such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Jester Poker, Double Double Regal Poker, Tens or Better, and more.
Caesars
Caesars is a veteran of the land-based casino industry, and it has been able to translate that experience online, as well. Its online casino features a variety of video poker options along with its many slot titles.
Like many other online casinos, the Caesars casino app offers the most popular IGT video poker products — Game King, Draw Poker, and Ultimate X Poker. You’ll also find Destiny Poker from Jama Games, as well as a set of eight titles from Spin Games —Jacks or Better, Regal Poker, Deuces Wild, Jester Poker, and more.
OLG
If you’re wary of new, outside companies, you can always resort to the official casino site of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. On OLG.com, you can find hundreds of titles in a variety of categories, including video poker.
There are seven video poker titles to choose from. One of them is Game King, with nine variants. Other games include Ultimate X Poker and Draw Poker, both of which feature triple play, five-play, and 10-play formats. The minimum bet is $0.03 on triple-play games, while the maximum is $200 on Ten Play Draw Poker.
Is video poker legal in Ontario?
Slots and video poker games are 100% legal in Ontario, as long as you play these games at a provincially licensed Ontario casino or racetrack with slots. That includes the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation’s online casino, and the more than two dozen provincially licensed casinos and racetracks in the province that have slots and video poker.
Can you play video poker online in Ontario?
Of course, you can. There are multiple online casinos in Ontario offering Game King Video Poker and Triple Play, Five Play, and Ten Play Multi-Hand Draw Poker. All four feature nine video poker games in one, including:
- Jacks or Better
- Bonus Poker
- Bonus Poker Deluxe
- Double Bonus Poker
- Double Double Bonus Poker
- Triple Double Bonus
- Deuces Wild
- Deuces Wild Bonus
- Joker Poker
Ontario video poker near you
There are dozens of casino and racetrack slots facilities across Ontario where you’re likely to find video poker. Here’s a look:
| Casino | Address | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Casino Ajax | 50 Alexander's Crossing Ajax, ON | 866-445-3939 |
| Pickering Casino Resort | 888 Durham Live Avenue Pickering, ON | 833-629-0552 |
| Casino Woodbine | 555 Rexdale Blvd Etobicoke, ON | 416-675-1101 |
| Casino Rama | 5899 Rama Rd Orillia, ON | 800-832-7529 |
| Elements Casino Mohawk | 9430 Guelph Line Campbellville, ON | 905-854-4053 |
| Gateway Casino Innisfil | 7485 5th Side Rd Innisfil, ON | 705-726-6770 |
| Great Blue Heron Casino | 21777 Island Rd Port Perry | 905-985-4888 |
| Casino Niagara | 5705 Falls Ave Niagara Falls, ON | 888-325-5788 |
| Fallsview Casino | 6380 Fallsview Blvd Niagara Falls, ON | 888-325-5788 |
| Gateway Casinos Sault Ste. Marie | 30 Bay St Sault Ste. Marie | 705-759-0100 |
| Gateway Casinos Thunder Bay | 50 Cumberland St S Thunder Bay, ON | 807-766-7900 |
| Rideau Carleton Casino (Future Hard Rock) | 4837 Albion Rd S Gloucester, ON | 613-822-8668 |
| Shorelines Casino Belleville | 380 Bell Blvd Belleville, ON | 613-689-9100 |
| Gateway Casinos - Sudbury | 400 Bonin St Chelmsford, ON | 705-855-7164 |
| Elements Casino - Grand River | 7445 Wellington County Rd 21 Elora, ON | 519-846-2022 |
| Gateway Casinos - Clinton | 147 Beech St Clinton, ON | 519-482-7540 |
| Gateway Casinos - Woodstock | 851 Nellis St Woodstock, ON | 519-537-4808 |
| Gateway Casinos - London | 900 King St London, ON | 519-672-5394 |
| Gateway Casinos – Sarnia | 1730 London Line Sarnia, ON | 519-383-3732 |
| Playtime Casino Hanover | 275 5th St Hanover, ON | 519-364-7606 |
| Shorelines Casino Peterborough | 1400 Crawford Dr Peterborough, ON | 833-678-0880 |
| Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands | 380 ON-2 Gananoque, ON | 613-382-6800 |
| Shorelines Slots Kawartha Downs | 1382 County Rd 28 Fraserville, ON | 705-939-2400 |
| Casino Windsor | 377 Riverside Dr E Windsor, ON | 800-991-7777 |
| Elements Casino Brantford | 40 Icomm Dr Brantford, ON | 888-694-6946 |
| Elements Casino Flamboro | 967 Ontario 5 Dundas, ON | 905-628-4275 |
| Starlight Casino Point Edward | 2000 Venetian Blvd Point Edward, ON | 519-383-7770 |
| Cascades Casino Chatham | 615 Richmond St Chatham, ON | 226-296-0309 |
Improving your video poker odds in Ontario
You can’t change the cards you’re ultimately going to draw, but since most video poker games involve a decision on which cards to hold, there is an element of skill involved. There’s a right way and several wrong ways to handle almost every decision. You have to do things the right way every time to realize each game’s theoretical RTP. In other words, play perfectly to get the best odds, or make mistakes and watch your odds drop dramatically.
Perfect video poker strategy considers probability, in terms of the next card or cards that might be drawn and chances of making a specific hand. It also considers expected value, or how much you stand to win by making a specific hand versus the probability of actually making it. With so many different video poker variants, hands, and draws to consider, providing a full slate of perfect video poker strategy outlines or charts would take up too much space here. Instead, we will refer you to The Wizards Of Odds’ Video Poker Strategy Maker, where you can input the type of video poker game and its paytable into a calculator that will tell you the perfect strategy.
Video poker basics
From Jacks or Better to Ten Play Multi-Hand Deuces Wild Bonus, most video poker games are simple five-card draw games. You need to check out the paytable to determine what your goals are before you start. That means looking at the minimum hand to get paid, the hand that pays best, and everything in between. Most of the time, maximum bets offer the best odds, so you’re going to want to bet the max. Other than that, follow these five basic steps to play the game.
- Choose your bet
- Hit ‘Deal’ and you’ll get an initial five-card hand
- Hold your choice of cards and the rest will be discarded
- Hit ‘Draw’ and the discarded cards will be replaced by cards from the same deck
- Winnings will be automatically paid out according to the paytable
Video Poker variants and strategy
Just remember, there’s still a huge element of luck involved in video poker. There is a bit of skill involved, and you need to play a perfect strategy to realize a game’s published RTP, but anything can and will happen and wins are never guaranteed. In other words, luck still plays a big role no matter how perfect you play.
That said, your goal should always be to make the right decisions to realize a game’s RTP. That starts with the understanding that there are many different Video Poker variants, each with its own rules and intricacies that impact the RTP. Here’s a look at the variants available in Ontario:
- Jacks or Better: Wins start with a pair of Jacks. RTP of 99.5%.
- Bonus Poker: Jacks or Better with higher 4-of-a-Kind payouts for low-cards and aces. RTP of 99.1%.
- Bonus Poker Deluxe: Jacks or Better with higher 4-of-a-Kind payouts for all cards. RTP of 99.6%.
- Double Bonus Poker: Jacks or Better with three groups of higher 4-of-a-Kind payouts. RTP of 99.1%.
- Double Double Bonus Poker: Jacks or Better with groups of higher 4-of-a-Kind payouts based on the kicker. RTP of 98.9%.
- Triple Double Bonus: Jacks or Better with groups of higher 4-of-a-Kind payouts based on a kicker that can pay as much as a Royal Flush. RTP of 99.5%.
- Deuces Wild: 2s are wild and wins start with 3-of-a-Kind. RTP of 99.7%.
- Deuces Wild Bonus: Deuces Wild with special 4-of-a-Kind and 5-of-a-Kind payouts. RTP of 99.4%
- Joker Poker: A Joker is added to the deck and it’s wild. Wins start with a pair of Kings. RTP of 99.2%
Don’t forget, you might win playing video poker, but even if you play perfectly and realize a game’s RTP, you stand a better chance of losing. Knowing how to quit when you’re up or down money is the key to booking wins and avoiding big losses. Never play video poker with more than you can afford to lose. Accept the unpredictable and random nature of these games, which means never thinking a win is due or a hunch will pay off, and you will be OK.
More online video poker variants
Private operators like Caesars, Mohegan Sun, and BetMGM may also bring the following video poker games to Ontario with them:
- Ultimate X Poker: Nine standard video poker games with an Ultimate X feature that multiplies payouts with every winning hand. Up to 98.98% RTP.
- Destiny Poker: Jacks or Better with the Destiny Poker bonus for missed max-bet flush draws. Up to 98.48% RTP.
- Tens Or Better: Wins start with a pair of tens. The game has a 97.96% RTP.