Nova Scotia: 2023‘s Best Poker Sites For Bluenoosers
Population: | 923,598 |
Gambling Age: | 19 |
Online Poker: | Legal |
Online Gambling: | Legal |
Regulatory Body: | The Alcohol and Gaming Authority |
Welcome aboard my fellow poker enthusiasts from Nova Scotia. If you’re eager to play poker online but you’re not sure what are the best options for it, this page is going to solve all your dilemmas.
Nova Scotia is one of the smallest provinces in Canada and one of three coastal provinces in the country. It belongs to Atlantic Canada — a region located on the Atlantic coast that consists of four seaside provinces.
The thing that connects residents of Nova Scotia with people from other Canadian provinces is the love towards gambling, and especially poker. Although there are no tribal casinos within the province, Nova Scotia is home to a few deluxe gambling venues owned by Great Canadian Casino Corporation.
A great number of Bluenoosers enjoy playing online poker, and since the Canadian government has adopted a lenient stance towards online gambling, these players have plenty of options at their disposal — far more than their neighbours in the South.
However, despite the wide availability of options, poker fans from Nova Scotia must be extremely careful when choosing an online poker room to play at. There are a bunch of rogue poker platforms out there, and if you’re not being cautious, you may end up getting scammed or ripped off.
That’s what this page is all about. I’m going to show you what your best possibilities are and where you can polish up your poker skills with a peace of mind.
Here’s a quick overview of my all-inclusive guide for online poker fans from NS:
- Can you legally play poker while in Nova Scotia?
- Finest online poker rooms for Bluenoosers
- The three most superior poker platforms
- What is the best land-based poker room in Nova Scotia?
- Are poker sites in Nova Scotia safe?
- Summary
- FAQ
You know how they say — the faster you learn, the faster you earn. So, let’s get right into it!
Top Online Poker Sites in Nova Scotia
If you’re living in Nova Scotia, you’ll have tons of choices for playing poker online. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should register in the first poker room you can get your hands on. Why? Because not all of them are safe.
It can be extremely hard to make a distinction between a rigged and a trustworthy poker site because shady operators go to great lengths to cover their tracks. Even seasoned gamblers often get caught in these traps. I also had trouble identifying a safe poker site in the beginning and even got burned a couple of times. But with experience comes wisdom, and over time I learned how to spot these dishonest sites.
Safety is not the only factor I look into when trying to find a top-tier poker site. I examine the entire package — from game selection and software to payment methods and customer support. Feel free to check out the results of my research below.
My list of the best Canada poker sites which I consider to be the best rooms to play in 2023:
100% Legal & Licensed Verified Bonus Mobile Friendly Advertiser Disclosure. Must be +18 to participate.
Rank | Poker Rooms | Bonus | Review... |
---|---|---|---|
1. |
Bonus
100% up to $1000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
Features
Payout Speed 1-3 daysLicensed by |
|
2. |
Bonus
100% upto $1000 (T&C apply. 18+)Bonus OfferUK new players only • £20 free bonus: Full T&C apply BeGambleAware• Bonus will be granted in Tournament Tickets gradually over 7 days after the claim date • Each Tournament Ticket will expire 24 hours after it was granted • Deposit bonus: Full T&C’s apply BeGambleAware • First deposit only • Min. deposit $10 • The bonus will be granted in $10 chunks subject to wagering restrictions of 100 Bonus Points per chunk • Bonus wins are capped at $500 • Valid for selected games only, when playing Casino • Wagering req. vary by game • Bonus expires in 90 days • |
Features
Payout Speed 1-3 daysLicensed by |
|
3. |
Bonus
100% upto $1000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
Features
Payout Speed 1-3 daysLicensed by |
|
4. |
Bonus
100% upto $1000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
Features
Payout Speed 1-3 daysLicensed by |
|
5. |
Bonus
100% upto $1000 (T&C apply. 18+) |
Features
Payout Speed 1-3 daysLicensed by |
|
6. |
Bonus
100% upto $600 (T&C apply. 18+) |
Features
Payout Speed 1-3 daysLicensed by |
Is Online Poker Legal in Nova Scotia?
All gambling activities in Canada are regulated on two levels — federal and provincial. At the federal level, the main act that regulates gambling in Canada is the Criminal Code of Canada. According to the Federal Statute, all forms of gambling are illegal in the country.
However, the Federal Government gave individual provinces full control over gambling laws in its territories. So, each of the ten provinces in Canada is responsible for its own set of regulations with respect to online and land-based gambling.
As for Nova Scotia, the organization in charge of regulating all gambling activities is the Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel, and Tobacco Division of Service. This institution authorizes most forms of gambling (both online and land-based), including casinos, lottery, bingo, some forms of sports betting, and poker. So, to answer the initial question — yes, online poker is legal in Nova Scotia.
Being one of the Atlantic provinces, Nova Scotia has access to ALC.ca — a group of online gaming sites owned by Atlantic Lottery Corporation. However, these sites offer a modest number of gambling activities, so players have to look for first-class poker action elsewhere.
Fortunately, Nova Scotia doesn’t prohibit offshore operators from accepting Canadian players and offering them their services. So, the key problem here isn’t to find a Canadian-friendly poker site, but rather find one that’s well-regulated and safe.
In my decade-long experience of playing poker online, I’ve learned which sites fly under the radar and which of them are safe. I’m going to elaborate on this in my next section, so stay tuned!
The Three Best Poker Sites for Players from Nova Scotia
After thorough consideration of all the poker sites available for players from Nova Scotia, I picked out the three operators I found to be the best. These platforms provide a fair gambling experience to all Canadians, including those living in NS. Without any further ado, here’s the top list:
888poker
100% upto $1000
+ $88/£20 Free NO DEPOSIT BONUS, No Deposit Required
- Household brand in the industry
- Cutting-edge software and graphics
- $88 no deposit bonus + $888 deposit welcome bonus
- Accepts players from Nova Scotia
BetOnline Poker
100% up to $1000
$100,000
in Guaranteed Tournaments
- Multi-gaming platform with sportsbook, casino, and racebook
- Soft competition
- Supports a variety of cryptocurrencies
- Accepts players from Nova Scotia
TigerGaming Poker
100% upto $1000
$250,000
Guaranteed Every Weekend
- Lots of multi-table tournaments
- Easy-to-use mobile app
- Rewarding promotions all over the place
- Accepts players from Nova Scotia
Best Live Poker Room in Nova Scotia
All poker action in Nova Scotia is centred around venues in Sydney and Halifax.
Since tourism is booming in the province, the casino poker rooms are frequently visited by waves of travelling poker enthusiasts.
The poker room I found the most appealing in Nova Scotia is Casino Nova Scotia Halifax
This vibrant casino complex features a wide array of slots and table games plus live music, restaurants, and even comedy nights. The poker room here is particularly classy and boasts 8 poker tables, which means that you’ll always find an open seat available.
Working hours are Sunday–Thursday 12:00 PM – 2:00 AM, and Friday–Saturday 12:00 PM – 4:00 AM. The mix of games spread in Casino Nova Scotia poker lounge includes NL Texas Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha.
Apart from a variety of cash games, players can take part in daily and weekly Sit N GO tournaments. The Bad Beat jackpots are up for grabs, offering players a chance to win big. Speaking of winning big, you can also visit their high rollers lounge and play Let it Ride in high-stakes format.
Upon your arrival at Casino Nova Scotia, you will be offered a chance to join the players club. The principle is simple — earn points and exchange them for cash or fantastic prizes like tickets to concerts, free buffets, free parking, and more.
Site: | casinonovascotia.com |
Address: | 1983 Upper Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 3Y5, Canada |
Opened: | 1995 |
Poker Games Available: | Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Let it Ride |
How Did I Evaluate Best Online Poker Rooms in Nova Scotia?
To make it on my top list, all poker rooms must meet and exceed my strict criteria. I pick apart all aspects of the site and examine them comprehensively. Naturally, some features are more important than others. For instance, safety is always the top one priority, but that doesn’t mean I’ll disregard payment methods or customer support.
You’ll get a clearer picture of my selection process once you read the section below.
Licensing
Online poker rooms, at least reputable ones, are licensed by governmental or independent authorities (in some cases both). These organizations oversee the gambling operations that take part on the site, making sure that players feel safe to play at any time.All the sites above are licensed by esteemed gambling regulators like the Gibraltar Gambling Commission, the Malta Gambling Authority or the Government of Curacao. When a poker platform has a stamp of approval from these licensing jurisdictions, it tells me that they’re honest and trustworthy business operations.
User Experience
While poker rooms don’t have a section for player comments on the site, there are several major poker review portals where players share their experiences. If I notice that a certain poker site has numerous complaints regarding confiscated funds and delayed cashouts, it won’t get a recommendation from my side.Games
Some players stick to one particular poker variation, like Texas Hold’em, while others like to have more options to explore. That’s why I always choose poker rooms that offer various types of games.For starters, it should at least offer players the opportunity to play Omaha. Also, operators must offer a variety of SNGs and tournaments, and possibly modern formats like fast-fold poker and Spin and Go. I want you guys to be able to switch to different games once you get bored or tired.
Traffic
This factor is particularly significant for semi-pros and professional poker players. I only list poker rooms that have sufficient active tables, at least during peak hours. You can’t hone your skills if games are barely running since you can’t play enough poker hands. On the other hand, if the poker room has overcrowded traffic, that means you’ll always have to wait for an eternity to find an open seat. My top poker sites have balanced traffic, suited for players of all tastes.Software
This goes without saying, but a glitch-free, easy-to-navigate poker client is a must. If you choose a site from this page, you can rest assured that you’ll be able to access it whenever you want hassle-free and that it won’t break down during your poker session.Moreover, mobile compatibility is also significant. The mobile version of the site (or the app) should have handy features like custom bet sizing and multi-table play. Feel and usability of the site are also considered, with special regards to navigation speed.
Customer Support
When gambling online, all kinds of stuff can happen. That’s when you have to contact the customer support for help and rely on their assistance. Personally, I prefer poker sites that offer real-time support via live chat or phone. Email support is also fine, as long as it offers a timely response.Also, I check how trained and polite the support agents are. They have to handle all situations fast, regardless of where you’re from, or how complicated the problem is.
Payment Methods
Regardless of how significant these other aspects are, they are irrelevant if you can’t deposit and withdraw money from your account. That’s why I look for online poker rooms that support a decent number of payment providers. At my recommended poker sites, you’ll find all sorts of Canadian-friendly payment methods, like credit cards, e-wallets, and wire transfers.Is It Safe to Play at These Sites?
As I said earlier, the safety of my readers always comes first. I always pick poker sites with a proven track record for safety and security. Having a licence is not the only criterion — the site must be protected with SSL encryption and other advanced technologies that protect your data at all times.Most, if not all sites from my list, have an SSL certificate, which is proof that they handle information and transactions safely and securely.
Final Thoughts
Now that I’ve shown you what the best poker sites in Nova Scotia are and why I consider them the best, you have to decide which one suits your playing preferences the most. For example, do you prefer to play against weak competition or high rollers? Are you looking for a site that has great bonuses or superb Rakeback promotions?Each poker site has its pros and cons, regardless of how fantastic it is overall. Whatever the case, you shouldn’t rush into a decision — quick decisions create regret, even when they’re good.