After a long wait and several postponements, PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel Ontario has finally launched! The whole process took longer than originally anticipated, and players were disappointed on Wednesday when the operator pushed back once more on what was supposed to be the official launch date.
However, in the post on X announcing the delay, it was made clear that this time, it wasn’t going to be a long one, hinting that the new platform was in the process of ironing out some final wrinkles before the official rollout.
Whatever those wrinkles may have been, it looks like they are now gone, as PokerStars on FanDuel Ontario is now open for business, and the new platform will be looking to recapture its market share. In the weeks prior, it was GGPoker Ontario capitalizing on the fact that its biggest competitor in the province was not around, and the operator will now need to put in some work to make up for the lost time.
- Special No Sweat Freeroll Series!
- All new software!
- Great tournament schedule & cash games
What’s New About PokerStars FanDuel Ontario?
Despite the long wait, we already knew what to expect from the new PokerStars Ontario platform, and it has all been confirmed now.
Just like in the US, players have been moved to a new platform powered by iPoker, which brings a completely new experience. The software not only looks differently, but it also has a number of distinct features, so there will be a bit of an adjustment period. The good news for Ontarians is that the operator had plenty of time to deal with bugs and technical glitches, so it should be a fairly smooth transition.
Of course, the partnership between two online gaming powerhouses also means that their player pools will be combined, which should be particularly beneficial on the poker side of things. Existing FanDuel players can log into the new poker app using their current username/password combo, and this should encourage many to give it a try.
Overall, the change should be a positive for the players, leading to better traffic, more action, and bigger tournament prize pools. The only question is whether the long absence from the province will have significant lasting effects.
Despite some players’ hopes, the Ontario platform will not be combining players with the US network. Although this is something that both players and the operator would love to see, the current legal framework doesn’t allow for that eventuality.
Next Up: Reclaiming Ontario
Now that the software is up and running, the next step for PokerStars on FanDuel Ontario is to create some buzz and get players excited about the launch. While the power of these two brands is quite strong, it alone may not be enough after a month-long hiatus.
That said, the operator certainly has the know-how and resources to make up for it. In the US, the operator rolled out with a big tournament series, and we already know they have similar plans for Ontario.
It was already confirmed that players will get to enjoy the No Sweat Series, a freeroll tournament series giving everyone a chance to compete for some prize and get familiar with the new software. There will also be a lineup of new Sunday flagship events, with tournaments like Sunday Dynasty and Sunday Shield.
It remains to be seen if the operator also plans to roll out something similar to the Ignite Series that it held in the US, but it would be a good way to attract players.
The bottom line is that the wait is finally over. PokerStars FanDuel Ontario is up and running, GGPoker has a worthy competitor in the province once more, and Ontarians have more options when choosing where to play online poker.
