Video poker in Ontario
Reviewed by Danielle Tremblay, Editor
Video poker sits between slots and table games. It looks like a machine and plays like one, but the outcome depends partly on which cards you hold, and the returns are published as a pay table you can read before you play rather than as a single RTP figure. That transparency is the appeal. Two machines running the same game can differ by several percentage points purely because of the payout on a full house and a flush, and telling them apart takes about five seconds once you know where to look. This page explains how to read a pay table, covers the strategy basics for the most common variants, and looks at the video poker selection at our five licensed Ontario casinos. All five are registered with the AGCO and contracted by iGaming Ontario.
Licensed casinos for this category
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★ TOP PICK · video poker
1
888casino
VHL Ontario Limited
iGO licensedExclusive in-house live tables, plus poker and sport
Payout: Interac 24h · Min deposit: $10
InteracLive dealerPoker9.0/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- VHL Ontario Limited
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino · Poker · Sports Betting
- Payout times
- Interac 24 hours, card 2–4 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · PayPal · Online bank transfer
- Game count
- 1,100
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- Exclusive in-house live dealer tables
- Casino, poker and sports betting under one account
- Strong blackjack and roulette variety
Cons
- Slot catalogue is the smallest of the five
- Interface design is dated in places
Why it’s ranked #1 for video poker
Live tables and the wider poker and sports offering give this casino a distinct place in our comparison. Our overall order also considers the smaller slots catalogue and published withdrawal conditions.
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#2 PICK · video poker
2
BetMGM Casino
BetMGM Canada Inc.
iGO licensedBig-brand casino, poker and sportsbook in one Ontario account
Payout: Interac 1–24h · Min deposit: $10
InteracLive dealerSportsbook+19.6/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- BetMGM Canada Inc.
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino · Poker · Sports Betting
- Payout times
- Interac 1–24 hours, card 1–3 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · PayPal · Apple Pay · Online bank transfer
- Game count
- 1,300
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- Casino, poker and sports betting in one Ontario account
- Large live dealer floor with Ontario-only tables
- Interac withdrawals normally land the same day once verified
Cons
- The lobby takes a little learning because of its size
- Live chat can be slow on weekend evenings
Why it’s ranked #2 for video poker
Its breadth across casino, poker and sports places it first in our overall comparison. Our criteria balance the registered operator, game selection and published payment information rather than relying on a single feature.
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#3 PICK · video poker
3
PlayOJO
Skill On Net Ltd.
iGO licensedClear, straightforward bonus terms and a huge slots lobby
Payout: Interac 2–24h · Min deposit: $10
InteracLive dealerSlots9.4/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- Skill On Net Ltd.
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino
- Payout times
- Interac 2–24 hours, card 1–3 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · PayPal · Apple Pay
- Game count
- 3,000
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- Bonus terms are the plainest of any casino we cover
- Very large slot library with strong filtering
- Cashback-style rewards apply to ordinary play, not just big spends
Cons
- Casino only, so no poker or sports betting
- Fewer live tables than BetMGM
Why it’s ranked #3 for video poker
Clear terms and a broad slots catalogue distinguish this casino in our comparison. Its casino-only focus is a useful fit for readers who do not need poker or sports betting.
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#4 PICK · video poker
4
Jackpot City
Cadtree Limited
iGO licensedDeep progressive jackpot section, long-running Ontario brand
Payout: Interac 24–48h · Min deposit: $10
InteracJackpotsSlots9.2/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- Cadtree Limited
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino
- Payout times
- Interac 24–48 hours, card 2–4 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · PayPal · Online bank transfer
- Game count
- 1,600
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- Deep progressive jackpot section
- Registration reference published openly in the site footer
- Long-running brand with a stable Ontario product
Cons
- Withdrawals are a little slower than the fastest sites here
- Fewer table game variants than BetMGM or 888casino
Why it’s ranked #4 for video poker
The progressive jackpot selection is its main strength in our editorial criteria. The published withdrawal window is longer than some of the other casinos listed here, which weighs against it in an overall comparison.
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#5 PICK · video poker
5
LeoVegas
TigerGen Limited
iGO licensedSmoothest phone experience, casino and sports in one wallet
Payout: Interac 1–24h · Min deposit: $10
InteracMobile appSportsbook9.2/ 10Key facts
- Registered operator
- TigerGen Limited
- Regulator
- AGCO, contracted by iGaming Ontario
- Offerings
- Casino · Sports Betting
- Payout times
- Interac 1–24 hours, card 1–3 business days
- Minimum deposit
- $10
- Payment methods
- Interac · Visa · Mastercard · Apple Pay · Online bank transfer
- Game count
- 1,500
- Live dealer
- Yes
Pros
- The best phone experience of the five sites
- Casino and sports betting share one Ontario wallet
- Fast, reliable Interac withdrawals
Cons
- Desktop layout feels secondary to the mobile design
- Slot catalogue is mid-sized rather than huge
Why it’s ranked #5 for video poker
Mobile navigation and the combined casino and sports offering are its distinguishing features in our comparison. Readers should still check device compatibility and the current cashier conditions before choosing it.
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Compared side by sideShow table
| Casino | Registered operator | Score | Min. deposit | Payout time | Live dealer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 888casino | VHL Ontario Limited | 9.0 / 10 | $10 | Interac 24 hours, card 2–4 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
| BetMGM Casino | BetMGM Canada Inc. | 9.6 / 10 | $10 | Interac 1–24 hours, card 1–3 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
| PlayOJO | Skill On Net Ltd. | 9.4 / 10 | $10 | Interac 2–24 hours, card 1–3 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
| Jackpot City | Cadtree Limited | 9.2 / 10 | $10 | Interac 24–48 hours, card 2–4 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
| LeoVegas | TigerGen Limited | 9.2 / 10 | $10 | Interac 1–24 hours, card 1–3 business days | Yes | Visit casino |
Reading a pay table
In Jacks or Better, the full pay machine returns nine coins for a full house and six for a flush — nine-six, worth about 99.5 per cent with perfect play. A nine-five or eight-five machine looks identical on screen and returns a percentage or more less. Check those two rows before you play. Deuces Wild, Bonus Poker and Double Double Bonus each have their own benchmark tables.
Strategy basics
Hold a made paying hand unless a one-card draw to a straight flush or royal is available. Never hold a kicker with a pair. Keep four to a flush over a low pair, but keep a low pair over four to an inside straight. Always hold a low pair rather than a single high card. These rules cover most hands; a variant-specific chart closes the small gap that remains.
Availability in Ontario
888casino and BetMGM carry the widest video poker selection of the five, with multiple variants and multi-hand formats. PlayOJO's large catalogue includes the standard games. LeoVegas and Jackpot City offer a smaller selection focused on Jacks or Better and a couple of bonus variants. Multi-hand play increases stakes proportionally, so drop the coin size accordingly.
Pace and bankroll
Video poker plays fast — six hundred hands an hour is achievable — so even a low house edge translates into steady turnover. Play a denomination where a maximum-coin bet is comfortable, because most pay tables reserve the royal flush bonus for maximum coins, and playing below it quietly costs you a chunk of the return.