Poker is one of the most popular card games in the world, with centuries of play behind it, and Texas Hold’em is by far the most popular variant. It’s fast, it can be played against the casino or other players, and it creates a number of betting opportunities and an array of possible outcomes.

In this guide, we’ll look at games of Live Hold’em Poker right here at MansionCasino Canada CA. We’ll showcase the features that make these games unique and describe how they work and why you should play them.

If you’re a big poker fan seeking a new way to play, or you’re a newbie only just discovering this game, then our Live Hold’em Poker guide is for you.

Main Features

  • Number of Live Dealer Hold’em Games Available: 1.
  • Format: Player vs Dealer.
  • Decks Used: 1 (shuffled after every hand).
  • Platform: Playtech.
  • Min-Max Bet Limits: $1-$5000.
  • Spectator Mode: Yes, you can join as a live watcher.

Available Live Casino Hold’em Poker Games

To play the Live Hold’em Poker games available at MansionCasino Canada, you just need to sign up, log in, and then find your game of choice. If you’re a first-time member making a qualifying deposit, you can secure our substantial Welcome Bonus, the credits from which can be used to play the many virtual and live poker games in our games room.

Sign up to MansionCasino Canada here. Once you deposit money into your account then you’re good to go!

The table below lists all currently available Casino Hold’em games in the MansionCasino Canada games room. Right now, there is only one game available, but this offers a wealth of features and is more than enough to meet the needs of experienced and amateur poker players alike. It has a wide betting range, beginning at $1 and increasing to $5,000, and there is also an additional side bet that triggers payouts as high as 100x.

Live Hold’em GameBet LimitsRTP %Description
Casino Hold’em$1 to $5,00099.18%A Playtech variant that pits the player against the house and offers a side bet known as “AA Bet”.

Why Live Hold’em Poker?

There are several reasons why Live Hold’em Poker is superior to virtual and non-Hold’em variants. Firstly, the game of Hold’em poker is often contested in a player-vs-player format, one that simply isn’t conducive to the online casino format.

Live Hold’em Poker is the exception to this rule because it pits you against the dealer in a heads-up format, not unlike a game of Blackjack.

Secondly, Hold’em is a low House Edge poker variant that rewards knowledge and strategy. Typically, player-vs-dealer poker games use a Draw, Stud, or Three-Card format as these greatly favour the house. Live Hold’em Poker tips the balance a little and creates a scenario not unlike a fast-paced heads-up game.

Pros

  • Real-life casino experience
  • You see the dealer, but they don’t see you
  • Play from the comfort of your own home
  • Heads-up against the dealer
  • Can chat with the dealer

Cons

  • Only one other player

Top 3 Strategies

Countless books have been written on optimal poker strategies and there is no shortage of courses, tutorial videos and internet forums relaying all of this information. It’s a lot to cover, but the basics are quite simple when it comes to Live Dealer Poker:

1. Understand Poker Hand Values

This is a prerequisite for all poker players, whether you’re playing in your living room with friends or playing through a Live Casino stream. The good news is that poker hand values are consistent across most variants and there is a lot of common sense at play.

For instance, a Pair (2) is better than a High Card; a Set (3) is better than a Pair; and Four-of-a-Kind (4) is better than a Set. Hold’em is Ace High and higher cards are better than lower ones, which means a 3 beats a 2, a King beats a Queen, and so on.

This is all fairly easy to grasp and remember, but inexperienced players often struggle with understanding the value of Flushes and Straights and how these compare to Sets and Quads. It’s simply a case of understanding, trying to remember, and then playing enough hands for it to be drummed into you, but here is a quick rundown:

  • A Straight beats Three-of-a-Kind
  • A Flush beats a Straight
  • A Full House (a Set and a Pair) beats a Flush
  • Four-of-a-Kind beats a Full House
  • A Straight Flush beats Four-of-a-Kind
  • A Royal Flush beats everything!

2. Budget Correctly

Whatever game you play and however experienced you are, it’s important to set an affordable budget and make sure you stick to it. This is something that all professional poker players do and something that every inexperienced player needs to consider.

By establishing a budget based on your affordability, you can limit risky decisions and prevent losing money that you can’t afford to lose. When used in this manner, a budget is often referred to as a “Bankroll”.

3. Know When to Fold

There are not as many betting rounds in Live Hold’em Poker as there are in PvP games of Texas Hold’em. However, it still pays to know when to quit. This is one of the most basic tenets of playing poker, something that all experienced players know but many newbies overlook.

Professional poker players will consider how likely they are to gain a winning hand and compare this to how much money they stand to win or lose. This is known as Expected Value (EV) and is something they do almost instinctively.

You don’t need to be adept at math to do this, simply be prepared to give up a lost cause and stop throwing good money after bad!

Rules

The game of Live Hold’em Poker is a lot like any other Hold’em variant. It uses the same betting system and hand values—anyone experienced with the game of Texas Hold’em will feel right at home here.

If you’re not familiar with this game or need a quick refresh on how Live Hold’em Poker differs, here is what you need to know:

  • Betting Rounds: As with standard games of Texas Hold’em, Live Hold’em Poker makes use of multiple betting rounds. However, these have been simplified somewhat. There is no Big/Small Blind and the Turn and River (the final two Community Cards) are dealt together. The rounds are as follows:
    • Ante – Make a bet within the table limits to begin the hand.
    • Deal – The dealer gives you two cards (face-up) and then deals two cards (face-down) to themselves.
    • Flop – Three cards are placed face-up in the middle of the table. This is known as the “flop”.
    • Call/Fold – You can make one of two decisions. You can either “Call”, in which case you will place a fixed limit bet, or “Fold”, in which case you forfeit the hand.
    • Showdown – If you “Call”, then you enter what is known as a “Showdown”, whereby your hand will be compared to the dealer’s to determine the winner.
  • Winning Hands: The goal of Live Hold’em Poker, like Texas Hold’em, is to make the best 5-card hand based on typical poker hand values. To do this, you can use your two cards, known as “Hole Cards”, in addition to the 5 Community Cards.

All Live Dealer games have a “Rules” section that you can consult if you need more information.

Odds and Payouts

Live Hold’em Poker typically has a high RTP when compared to other poker games. You can see the exact RTP, also known as a Payout Percentage or House Edge, by looking at the Help section provided within each game.

These games may also include additional bonus bets, known as “Side Bets”. In Playtech’s version, which you can play at MansionCasino Canada, there is something known as an “AA Bet”. If this is placed, then the table will reward a small jackpot sum (ranging from 7x to 100x) for hands that show a pair of Aces or better.

Software

Playtech’s Live Casino Hold’em uses the Eurolive platform, which is safe, secure, fast, and trusted by the biggest names in the online gambling sector. In addition to providing one of the best Live Dealer poker experiences, this platform is filled to the brim with other Live Casino games, including versions of classic games like Baccarat and Roulette, as well as Spin a Win and 3 Card Brag.

Eurolive provides an unrivalled experience and you can sample its benefits for yourself by playing Live Casino Hold’em Poker.

Mobile Experience

All Live Hold’em Poker games can be played on mobile devices and they look, sound, and play just as well as they do on desktop. You don’t need a high-powered smartphone or tablet, but it will need to have some basic specifications. A stable Wi-Fi or 4G/5G connection is also required.

The games have been optimized for mobile systems, which means the buttons, sizing options, chat boxes, and everything else works perfectly on the smaller screens. These games were created by Playtech, after all, and there are few developers out there who can match them in terms of innovation, accessibility, and pretty much everything else.

The result is a selection of Live Hold’em Poker games that you can take anywhere with you and play whether you’re on the train, in the passenger/back seat of the car, or just lounging around at home.

Help

Live Casino games offer next-level playability. They take the world of virtual gaming and transform it into something that feels a little better, a lot faster, and infinitely more life-like. If you’re used to virtual games, where you have all the time in the world to make a decision, then the speed and interactivity of these games may be a little overwhelming.

However, there is no rush, especially for the more intimate heads-up games. There are timers in place, but you can still take a few seconds to make your move and you don’t need to play at hyper-speed.

Just because the dealer moves quickly and effortlessly doesn’t mean you need to do the same!

Finally, and most importantly, there is a wealth of additional support on hand if you need it, including:

  • In-Game Menus: All Live Casino games, including poker variants, have built-in game menus where you can read about the rules, betting options, time limits, and everything else you need to know.
  • Customer Support: We have a dedicated team of support staff on hand to help you when you need them. They can be contacted 24 hours a day via Live Chat, email, and phone.

Bonuses and Promotions

We have a selection of bonuses and promotions available, many of which can be used on our Live Hold’em Poker games. Make sure you check out our Welcome Bonus before you sign up and keep a close eye on our Casino Bonuses page to learn about the latest offers.

We have bonuses for new players and current ones, so don’t worry if you’ve quickly burned your way through your Welcome Bonus. Just check with our Bonuses page and another will be along shortly.

Additional Live Dealer Games

Once you’ve had your fill of Live Hold’em Poker, you can play the many other Live Casino games that we have. These games all take place in a real casino setting and are streamed to players all over the world. You can try your hand at a game or two of Blackjack, take a few spins of a Roulette wheel, or beat the banker in a game of Baccarat.

All games are available in Live Dealer and virtual formats and there are several variants of each.

Conclusion

Live Hold’em Poker games were made for poker players seeking the rush that playing on a real table can bring. These games combine elements of real casino play with all the benefits of playing at an online casino. You don’t need to wear your best suit/dress, you don’t need to turn on your webcam—just click onto your game of choice and connect to a real table immediately.

MansionCasino Canada has some of the very best Live Hold’em Poker games. Sign up today to play these games for yourself.