Online Poker Ontario: Best Real Money Poker Sites

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Oct 18, 2022 22 min read Last updated May 20, 2024

In this article, we'll provide you with a comprehensive and independent guide to everything you need to know about the best (legal and regulated) real money online poker sites in Ontario. We will compare player traffic, tournaments, apps and more.

Online poker was officially legalized in Ontario on April 4, 2022. This positive development opened the doors for Ontarians to access a variety of major online poker sites, all of which have obtained the necessary gaming licenses from provincial authorities. In total, five online poker sites offer their services to Ontarians.

This means those of you who used to play at one of the major online poker sites can head to their Canada-specific counterparts at 888poker Ontario, PartyPoker Ontario, PokerStars Ontario, and WSOP @ GGPoker Ontario. These sites allow you to continue enjoying your favorite poker games.

Best Online Poker Sites in Ontario

Selecting the right poker site can be an overwhelming decision. To make this process easier for you, PokerNews has conducted an extensive comparison of all the poker rooms available in Ontario to help you choose the ideal poker platform. Keep reading to gain insights into the five major online poker sites operating in Ontario.

PokerStars Ontario

GGPoker Ontario

888poker Ontario

Partypoker Ontario

BetMGM Poker Ontario

Which Online Poker Sites Can I Play in Ontario?

888poker Ontario was the first of this stellar quintet to launch its online poker offering in the province. 888poker Ontario opened its doors to the public on April 4, 2022, when the new online poker rules and regulations came into force in the province of Ontario.

The launch of 888poker Ontario has proven popular thanks to the site offering freeroll tournaments, exciting cash games, its popular BLAST fast-fold games, and daily tournaments dripping with value. 888poker Ontario players can enjoy the feature-rich downloadable client as those playing on dot-com or choose to use the fantastic Android and iOS app for intense, fun poker on the move.

PartyPoker Ontario followed suit rather quickly, launching its product on April 12, 2022. Those who loved playing in the Daily Legends tournaments at partypoker.com can continue doing so at partypoker Ontario; they have C$400,000 worth of combined weekly guaranteed prize pools.

PokerStars Ontario, home of the ONCOOP, launched its online poker site- later that year on June 28, 2022.

BetMGM Ontario is another option for Ontarians to choose. BetMGM and PartyPoker share player pools, which means there is plenty of cash game and tournament action at both sites.

Last, but certainly not least, GGPoker has launched GGPoker Ontario, which is a collaboration with the world's most famous poker brand, the World Series of Poker.

Legal Online Poker Sites in Ontario

Rules and regulations out by the AGCO and iGO state any Ontarian wishing to play legal online poker must do so in a ring-fenced player pool. This means Ontario residents can only play poker online against other players physically located in Canada's largest province.

As a result, online poker giants such as PokerStars Ontario, partypoker Ontario, 888poker Ontario, and GGPoker Ontario, have created specific online poker clients where Ontarian grinders are segregated from the global dot-com player pool.

While the poker sites operating legally in Ontario are essentially carbon copies of their dot-com versions, naturally, the number of players — often called a site's traffic — will be lower than playing on dot-com sites. That said, those with an AGCO license are still offering a wide variety of cash games and tournament poker, with all planning on hosting online poker tournament festivals in the coming weeks and months.

Two other key rules stand out for Ontarians. First, all cash games and tournaments will be played using Canadian Dollars instead of United States Dollars which are the industry standard. Second, the legal gambling age in Ontario is 19 years old, a year older than in most of the dot-com countries.

What Poker Games and Formats Can You Play in Ontario?

A reduced player count aside, Ontario online poker players should be able to find their favorite poker games and formats on all licensed poker sites. Cash games, sit & go tournaments, and multi-table tournaments are already up and running.

Texas Hold'em is by far the most popular poker variant, followed by Pot-Limit Omaha, so expect to find these two games in abundance. The busier poker sites will also spread other games including Seven-Card Stud, H.O.R.S.E., and other mixed games, although PokerNews expects the games offered to depend entirely on players' demands.

You can, of course, also play a selection of Casino games at the best online casinos in Ontario.

Do Canadian Players Need to Provide Personal Information to Online Poker Sites?

The AGCO and iGO are extremely keen on responsible gambling and reducing the potential harm or problem gambling. With this in mind, each Ontario online poker site has a raft of responsible gambling features, including but not limited to limiting the amount of time spent playing, deposit and loss limits, in addition to the ability to self-exclude from games.

Know Your Customer (KYC) has become increasingly strict in the dot-com world and is expected to continue for Ontario poker players. At the very least you need to supply your real name, date of birth, postal address, telephone number, and email address. Expect operators to request photographic evidence, such as bank statements and passports, to verify your details are legitimate.

Is PokerStars Legal in Ontario?

Yes, PokerStars is absolutely legal in Ontario! PokerStars Ontario is one of the industry leaders in the online poker world and an operator who has more licenses around the world than any other gaming company. Play online poker, including Texas Hold'em, PLO and Stud, for real money legally in the province of Ontario.

To jump directly into the action on PokerStars Ontario, click below.

Can I Play 888poker in Ontario?

Yes, you can play 888poker in Ontario. It was one of the first online poker sites operating legally in the state. It launched on April 4, 2022, with its desktop client and its fantastic, feature-rich mobile app. 888poker wasted no time in creating a raft of value-packed promotions for its Ontario customers to enjoy.

In addition to its online poker operation, 888 also launched legal casino and sports betting products under the names 888casino and 888sports.

You can access the flashy 888poker Ontario client by clicking the direct link below.

Is GG Poker Available to Play in Ontario?

GGPoker has joined forces with the World Series of Poker (WSOP). This special joint venture makes it possible for Ontario's poker players to be able to win their way into major live poker tournaments such as the WSOP Main Event. Check it out below.

Is PartyPoker Available to Play in Ontario?

Yes, PartyPoker is available to play in Ontario. It is one of the longest-running online poker sites and one of the first online poker rooms to legally operate in Ontario. PartyPoker launched in Ontario in mid-April 2022 and players in the province are flocking to the site. PartyPoker Ontario offers a wide selection of multi-table tournaments, cash games, fast-forward cash games, and jackpot SPINS.

The partnership PartyPoker enjoys with MGM Resorts, known as BetMGM, allows you to play against both PartyPoker Ontario and BetMGM Ontario player pools.

Can I Play at BetMGM in Ontario?

Yes, you can play poker legally at BetMGM in Ontario! BetMGM Ontario is fully licensed and regulated to operate in ON, meaning you can enjoy busy cash games and epic tournaments from home. BetMGM and PartyPoker share a special relationship that allows them to share traffic, which gives you even more choices when it comes to playing online poker.

Which Other Poker Sites are Available in Ontario?

In addition to PokerStars Ontario, PartyPoker Ontario, GGPoker Ontario, and 888poker Ontario, a raft of online poker operators is expected to launch in Ontario in the near future. Unibet has stated it has applied for a license with the AGCO.

Playtech, owners of the iPoker Network, is ready to offer an online poker network in Ontario. Earlier this year, Playtech partnered with Northstar Gaming. While the partnership is primarily focused on sports betting and casino products, there is every chance Playtech will offer B2B services if Northstar Gaming wishes to offer online poker. Although Playtech is yet to debut in the lucrative United States market, the press release in January does explicitly mention poker.

What are the Best Ontario Poker Apps?

There are a number of apps available on both iOS and Android for players based in Ontario. Some of the best Ontario poker apps are the PokerStars Ontario app and the GGPoker Ontario app. However, other operators also have apps that you will find easy to use and that offer plenty of games to choose from.

What Banking Options are Available to Online Poker Players in Ontario?

The banking options offered by Ontario online poker sites, casinos, and sports betting operations differ from site to site and are based on the deal those operators have with payment providers. Online gaming operators know the importance of having a variety of deposit and withdrawal options available to their players; they want players to move their funds with relative ease.

Major debit cards, powered by Visa and MasterCard, are the obvious choices and tend to be the staple methods of every merchant globally. Expect bank transfers, e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill, and prepaid cards to become available either at April 4, 2022, or soon after.

It is worthwhile reading the Ontario poker room reviews here at PokerNews for more banking information in addition to contacting the various offshore operators' customer support teams for more information. You will find they are as accommodating as they can possibly be.

What is Happening with Online Poker in Ontario?

The legality of playing online poker in Ontario has been something of a grey area for several years. While not technically illegal, it was not entirely legal either. That changed on April 4, 2022, when the Ontario government gave the green light for companies to offer online poker, casinos, and sports betting in the province.

Online poker, online casinos, and sports betting on the internet all became 100% legal providing the operator has received a license and entered into an operating agreement with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO).

Operators wishing to offer services to Ontarians must be licensed by the AGCO. The AGCO created a subsidiary called iGaming Ontario (iGO) which oversees everything online gambling-related. Dozens of established gambling operators, including PokerStars, 888poker, and the World Series of Poker (WSOP), the last-named powered by GGPoker, have had their Ontario gaming licenses accepted.

Can you Play Free Poker and Casino Games legally in Ontario?

Free To Play poker and casino sites are still fully legal to play in Ontario despite the recent rule changes. They remain legal because they are either completely free to play, are subscription-based, or use a sweepstakes model to award prizes.

Canadians, and those living within the borders of Ontario, in particular, can still enjoy playing free online games including ClubGG, the World Series of Poker app, ClubWPT, and PlayWPT.

Ontarians wishing to try their luck in free-to-play online casinos are more than welcome to play at Slotomania, PokerStars Play, House of Fun, and many more. These free-to-play online casinos do not offer real money prizes, just the excitement of slots and casino games, so are permitted almost anywhere in the world.

Are Poker Winnings Taxed in Ontario, Canada?

The AGCO and iGO are still fine-tuning the rules and regulations regarding their licenses, so some things are currently undecided. Taxation is one such area that needs confirmation. Tax on land-based casinos is currently 55%, which would not be an attractive proposition for online operators if the AGCO deployed a similar taxation rate.

However, the regulators have already gone on record to say they are committed to creating a competitive environment that promotes getting Ontario players to play on licensed sites.

Should the AGCO go down the route of taxing poker players, casino game players, or sports bettors, expect operators to 100% comply with the rules and take care of this automatically, much like PokerStars currently does for its Greek players. PokerNews will bring you any tax-related information once it learns of it.

Are Sports Betting and Online Casinos Allowed in Ontario?

Yes, both sports betting and online casinos are allowed in Ontario. The passing of the new online gambling laws in ON paved the way for licensed operators to offer sports betting and online casino games to players residing in the state. PokerStars and 888casino already have a presence in Ontario while more than a dozen operators launched on April 4, 2022. Figures show more than 30 operators have applied for sports betting and casino licenses, and more will follow in the coming weeks and months.

The AGCO has created some new rules regarding online casinos, some of which have caused a stir in the online casino community. First, all bet amounts, etc must be displayed in Canadian dollars and not as credits. Auto-play on slots is also banned, as are any measures to speed up the gameplay.

Each slot's spin must take 2.5 seconds and split-screen or multi-screen slot games are no longer permitted. Operators are also banned from celebrating losses disguised as wins. Sometimes, a player will "win" $1.50 after spending $2 on a spin. The machine then plays a tune and animation to celebrate the victory. This is no longer permitted if you want to offer slots in Ontario.

Are Ontario Poker Rooms Segregated?

Segregating or ring-fencing Ontario players is one of the key terms and conditions of obtaining an operating license in the province. Essentially, this means anyone playing poker in Ontario is only able to play against other Ontario residents.

Of course, there is scope to change this in the future and create a multi-state agreement, much like the existing one in the United States between Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey, although the AGCO nor the iGO have even mentioned this.

Such a multi-state agreement already exists in Canada because British Colombia, Manitoba, and Quebec players are part of one. It makes sense from a player's perspective to have a larger player pool to compete against, and from an operator's point because they receive larger revenues. Therefore, it makes sense for the AGCO, too, because it would receive more tax revenue. Watch this space.

What Makes Ontario Different from other Canadian Provinces?

Ontario residents have already had access to online gaming, but not online poker, which was provided entirely by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). Three other provinces, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Loto Quebec also have online gaming; PlayNow.com operates in the first two provinces with LotoQueubec.com servicing the latter. All three offer online poker but only to Canadians located in those three provinces.

Where Ontario differs from the others is it is allowing private companies to compete in an open marketplace. OLG finds itself in a position where it could partner with an online poker operator and attempt to join a pact with the other three provinces, essentially creating a four-way network.

Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. For more information, visit the Ontario Players Homepage

Final Verdict - What are the Best Online Poker Sites in Ontario?

Overall, Ontario offers a range of top-quality, legal and regulated poker rooms. PokerStars and GG Poker are two of the very best Ontario poker sites to play at. Naturally, their legacy in the industry and illustrious history of delivering exceptional service to poker players across the globe has set them in great stead to do so in Ontario. 888poker, with its comprehensive array of tournaments it offers, and BetMGM are also great options, and join the list of best sites in Ontario. You can't go wrong playing any one of these, and what we particularly loved about them was the attention to detail they give the state.

Despite Ontario operating in a closed player pool, meaning players within the state can only play other players within the state (as opposed to with a worldwide pool), the top sites haven't neglected the region. There is as much on offer here than in other countries, such as the UK and the South Americas. This is a testament to both the companies themselves and the players, with the demand for poker clearly sufficient enough for these larger sites to operate in Ontario.

All-in-all, we really love the poker offering that the big online sites give to players in Ontario.

Best Ontario Online Poker Sites FAQs

Article last updated December 2023

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A former professional poker player with a background in sports marketing and journalism. Yori has been a part of PokerNews since 2016 and manages the content team.

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