PokerStars sent out emails to its Alberta players, notifying them that it will be exiting the market on October 13. PokerStars has previously blocked access to its casino and sports products, and now the poker site will be closing down, too.
The development is due to regulatory changes in the Canadian province. Alberta launched a regulated online gambling market on July 13, 2026, requiring operators to acquire a local license from the AGLC. However, the operators were given a grace period of three months, during which they were allowed to continue offering their services without a license.
That grace period expires on October 13, which means that PokerStars can no longer continue to serve Alberta players on its international platform. The email sent out to the customers makes no mention of whether or when the operator might launch the Alberta-licensed site.
What Comes Next for PokerStars Players in Alberta?
The official email from PokerStars explains what players can expect leading up to and on October 13. Starting Tuesday, all players who have Alberta as their registered province will no longer be able to access the site. The restriction will be implemented using both IP and registration information.
All players’ funds remain safe, protected, and available for withdrawal at all times. Any registered tournaments that start at or after October 13 will be refunded to players’ balances. All non-promotional rewards will also be converted to cash and added to the balances.
What’s particularly interesting is that the email makes no mention of whether or when PokerStars might return to Alberta. For that to happen, the operator would have to obtain a license from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).
Will PokerStars Come Back?
The news about PokerStars leaving Alberta comes as a disappointment for many players in the province, especially given the lack of communication about the potential return.
PokerStars is available in Ontario, the only other regulated province in Canada, offering its services under the new PokerStars on FanDuel brand. So, if they do come back, they’ll likely do so under the PokerStars on FanDuel Alberta brand. However, at this time, there is no clear explanation of whether this is the path that the operator wants to take.
It is possible that the operator is waiting for more clarity regarding the ability to share player pools with the Ontario online poker market, and potentially with the international market. The second point has been heavily debated in recent months, but there is no definitive answer just yet.
It is hard to envision the regulated Alberta online poker market without PokerStars, given their presence in Ontario. If the opportunity to combine those player pools is available, the operator will likely obtain a license and launch at some point in the near future.
Of course, this argument is even stronger if international player pooling is allowed.
The only scenario where there is a real possibility of PokerStars not coming back to Alberta would be if things develop so that it is likely that the market would remain completely segregated for a long period. In that case, the size of the market could become a significant factor and potentially delay some operators’ license applications.
We should have more clarity on what’s to come in Alberta in the coming weeks. On October 7, there was a hearing where interested parties presented their arguments for and against international player pooling, with Counsel for Alberta’s Attorney General supporting the idea. How things develop from here on will have a major influence on the outlook for the future of online poker in Alberta.
