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Bring the casino to you with live hold’em poker. Discover the best tables, odds, and exclusive bonuses available online at the top live casino sites in Canada in our live hold’em poker guide.
Live dealer casino hold’em has become a firm hit among players looking for an authentic gambling experience online. The gameplay is very similar to regular Texas hold’em poker, with the main difference being that you’re playing against a human dealer, not other players, and the action is streamed via a live video feed.
Live casino hold’em combines the fun of land-based casino gambling with ultimate convenience, as you can play from your home or on your mobile device. Unlike land-based casinos, which have opening and closing hours, live casino hold’em poker is streamed 24/7 from a studio. The multiple camera angles also enable you to change your view at any time, so you never miss a second of the action.
Unlike the standard online version, you can interact with other players and the dealer via the chat function, resulting in a much more authentic and sociable experience. Furthermore, you’ll typically find more favourable odds and payouts at live online casinos than at brick-and-mortar casinos.
Hold’em, or more specifically, Texas hold’em, is one of the world’s most popular casino card games, but the rules can be complex, which is why alternative versions of this game have been developed over the years that are easier and quicker to play. One such alternative game is casino hold’em which – unlike Texas hold’em where you play against other players – is played against the dealer. And in live casino hold’em, this is a human dealer.
Once you’ve selected your table, the live HD video will appear on your screen and the friendly dealer will be waiting, ready to deal your cards. In live hold’em poker, each player is dealt two cards face down, while five community cards are dealt face up on the virtual table over several betting rounds. The community cards are dealt in three stages:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| The flop | Three community cards revealed in the first betting round. |
| The turn | Fourth community card turned face up in the second betting round. |
| The river | The fifth and final card on the board is revealed. |
The aim of the game is to form the best five-card hand using your two private cards and those community cards. If the cards on the live dealer table form a better combination than yours, you can also choose to play all five community cards.
To make an informed decision about what bet you should make, it’s important to get to grips with the hand rankings, which we will explain in more detail below. Different hands have different values, and the goal is to have a better hand than the dealer.
As one of the most popular casino games, there are plenty of live casino hold’em versions available online. While the core gameplay is similar, each variation offers something unique to players:
This popular twist on Texas hold’em was created in 2000. It was also the first variant of hold’em where the player competes against the dealer instead of other players, making gameplay much more fast-paced. The game uses a standard 52-card deck, and the aim is to beat the dealer by getting a higher five-card hand.
Ultimate Hold’em is a variant developed by Bally that differs from the standard version by allowing players to raise at any point during the hand. Another unique feature is that the ante bet remains in place through a round. The variant also includes an optional side bet, known as the Trips bet.
Launched in 2012, Live Hold’em Pro is a social gaming app that allows users to play casino hold’em without having to spend any money. Developed by Dragonplay, this free-play version doesn’t offer any cash rewards or payouts. Along with the app, the game can also be accessed via Facebook for desktop players.
While live casino hold’em has the same hand rankings as classic Texas hold’em games, it has a unique payout structure ranging from 1:1 to 100:1. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of hands and their respective payouts:
| Poker hand | Description of hand | Payout |
|---|---|---|
| High card | Lowest possible winning hand. No pairs, straight or flush made, so highest card counts | 1:1 |
| Pair | Two cards of equal value. Example: two jacks | 1:1 |
| Two pair | Two sets of two cards of equal value. Example: two 10s and two 9s | 1:1 |
| Three of a kind | Three cards of equal value but not a pair of another value. Example: three 8s | 1:1 |
| Straight | Five cards in a sequence. Example: jack, 10, 9, 8, 7 | 1:1 |
| Flush | Five cards of the same suit. Example: 2, 6, 9, jack, and queen of hearts | 2:1 |
| Full house | Trio of cards of equal value and a pair of another value. Example: three 8s and two 10s | 3:1 |
| Four of a kind | Four cards of equal value, regardless of suit. Example: four 10s | 10:1 |
| Straight flush | Five cards in a sequence with the same suit. Example: 7, 8, 9, 10, and jack of hearts | 20:1 |
| Royal flush | Best hand. Five cards from 10 to ace, all belonging to the same suit. Example: 10, jack, queen, king, and ace of diamonds | 100:1 |
You can enhance your gameplay further by claiming a casino bonus or promotion at a live casino to boost your bankroll and extend your playing time.
The most popular live casino bonuses are welcome offers and match deposit bonuses, but you’ll need to check if live casino hold’em poker games are eligible for promotions. We also recommend reading the T&Cs carefully before you opt-in so you’re aware of any wagering requirements or time limits.
If you want to play live casino games in Canada, you’ll need to deposit real money. Unlike slots and table games which can usually be played in demo mode, most live casino games require you to pay to play. This is due to the costs involved with running the studio, hiring a dealer, and streaming the game.
You can deposit and withdraw with various popular casino payment methods, including Interac, Visa, and Mastercard. The top real money casinos in Canada process deposits instantly, while withdrawals can take several working days depending on the payment provider. To speed up the process, we recommend verifying your account as soon as you sign up, as online casinos need to perform KYC compliance checks on your ID to complete cashout requests, which can take up to two days.
The fundamental difference between casino hold’em and Texas hold’em is that you play against the dealer, not other players. Here are a few other differences between the two games:
Scroll right to view more of table items.
| Live casino hold’em | Texas hold’em |
|---|---|
| ✅ Play against the dealer | ✅ Play against other players |
| ✅ Gameplay is more fast-paced | ✅ Can utilize strategies such as bluffing |
| ✅ Win more when your hand is better | ✅ Win the pot regardless of your hand |
| ❌ No bluffing is involved | ❌ Can take years to learn how to win |
| ❌ Only two optional side bets | ❌ Gameplay is slower |
Live hold’em poker is one of the few casino games where skill can influence the outcome. While there’s nothing you can do to guarantee wins, you can implement betting strategies to increase your chances of success. Below are some of the top tips that any poker player should have in their repertoire:
You can play live casino hold’em on your smartphone or tablet thanks to HTML5 technology. This ensures the game adapts to different screen sizes and performs seamlessly on various devices, including iPhone and Android.
To play live casino hold’em, simply open the game in your mobile browser or download your chosen casino’s native mobile app, if available. Although casino apps arguably have better performance and personalization features such as push notifications, you can enjoy an immersive gaming experience with either option.
More and more software providers are offering live casino hold’em due to the growing popularity of live dealer games. Some of the most popular live hold’em poker developers are Evolution Gaming, Playtech, and Pragmatic Play. You can find out more about them in our dedicated guides.
We follow strict criteria when reviewing live casinos to ensure we only recommend licensed and trustworthy sites. From gameplay to device compatibility and security, our review process covers the complete gamut of the online gambling experience.
Our experts have done the groundwork for you and shortlisted the top five live hold’em poker casinos in Canada:
| 🏆 Best overall live hold’em poker casino | JackpotCity Casino |
| 🔥 Best live hold’em poker bonus | LeoVegas Casino |
| 📱 Best live hold’em poker mobile casino | Ruby Fortune |
| 🛠 Best for software providers | PlayOJO |
| 🎰 Best for live casino game selection | Spin Casino |
Yes, you can play hold’em poker live at all our recommended casino sites, which are available for Canadian players. These live casinos are available on desktop and mobile.
While there are a few top casinos offering live hold’em poker, our experts have given JackpotCity the top spot as it offers a great all-around online gambling experience.
Texas hold’em is just one variant of hold’em poker. Although the gameplay is similar, some hold’em poker games may have slightly different rules than Texas hold’em. An example is Ultimate Hold’em Poker, where the player competes with the dealer instead of other players.
Unlike online hold’em, you’ll see a real game table and human dealer in live casino hold’em, which adds a layer of realism. You’ll also be able to compete with other players or the dealer instead of against a computer.
Of course. In fact, you can only play live hold’em poker games for real money as casinos do not offer the game in demo mode. Simply, deposit your chosen casino’s required minimum amount and wager your cash for your chance to win real money.
Absolutely. Modern casinos make it easy for you to play on your mobile. All our top-rated casino brands have a mobile-friendly website where you can play live games from your browser and, in some cases, a bespoke mobile app.
This live casino hold’em page is a great place to start! Our gambling experts have thoroughly reviewed tons of Canadian online casinos and recommended the best for live casino hold’em in our toplist.
No, live dealer games at online casinos are one-way, meaning you can see the dealer, but they can’t see or hear you. You can communicate with the dealer and other players through the live chat feature.
