Last Updated: October 19, 2026

Ontario online poker is legal and regulated, with six licensed poker sites currently available to players physically located in the province. The market launched in April 2022 and includes some of the biggest names in online poker, including GGPoker, PokerStars on FanDuel, BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, Bwin, and 888.
These six sites operate across four separate poker networks. GGPoker and PokerStars on FanDuel have their own Ontario player pools, 888 operates independently, while BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, and Bwin share the same network and players.
Ontario remains a ring-fenced market, so players on these sites currently compete only against other players located in Ontario. That could eventually change. The Supreme Court of Canada heard arguments on international shared liquidity on October 7, 2026, and has reserved judgment. Separately, Ontario and Alberta are exploring the possibility of combining their regulated poker player pools.
This guide compares the legal Ontario online poker sites and explains everything players need to know about the market, including regulation, software, tournaments, cash games, banking, shared liquidity, and the potential for Ontario poker sites to connect with players outside the province.
| Online Poker in Ontario | |
|---|---|
| 📢 Status | Legal and Live! |
| 📅 First Poker Site in Ontario Launched | April 4, 2022 |
| 🔥 Top Ontario Poker Sites | GGPoker Ontario, PokerStars Ontario, BetMGM Poker Ontario, 888 ON, PartyPoker |
| 🏆 Top Ontario Online Poker Tournaments | WSOP Online Gold Bracelet Series on GGPoker.ca, PokerStars’ Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP) & Spring Championship (ONSCOOP), WSOP Online Circuit Series, BetMGM Poker Network’s Ontario Poker Championships, 888’s Mystery Bounty Festival & XL Winter Series |
| ⚖️ Regulated By | Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) & iGaming Ontario (iGO) |
| 🔞 Legal Age to Gamble | 19+ |
GGPoker Ontario is currently our top choice for Ontario online poker players, particularly those interested in tournaments. It combines modern desktop and mobile software with a strong tournament schedule and the opportunity to compete for official World Series of Poker bracelets and WSOP Circuit rings online.
That does not necessarily make GGPoker the best choice for every player. PokerStars on FanDuel stands out for software and game variety, while the BetMGM Poker network provides another substantial player pool shared among BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, and Bwin.
The best Ontario poker site ultimately depends on what you want to play. Tournament schedule, cash-game traffic, game selection, software, and available stakes can all make one network a better fit than another.
There are currently six regulated online poker sites in Ontario, operating across four separate poker networks:
BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, and Bwin share the same Ontario poker network, so players across those three brands compete against one another. GGPoker, PokerStars on FanDuel, and 888 each operate separate player pools.
All six sites are part of Ontario’s regulated iGaming market. Operators must be registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and, other than the provincially operated OLG, enter into an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario (iGO).
From a player’s perspective, the biggest differences are therefore not legality or regulatory status but the poker experience itself. Player traffic, tournament schedules, cash games, software, mobile apps, and available poker variants vary considerably between networks.
GGPoker Ontario is our top pick for tournament players. The operator combines a busy weekly tournament schedule with regular festivals, satellites, progressive knockout tournaments, and other formats.
One of its biggest advantages is its relationship with the World Series of Poker. Ontario players can compete in official WSOP Online bracelet events and WSOP Circuit ring tournaments without leaving the province.
Regular tournaments include familiar GGPoker brands such as GGMasters, while larger tournament festivals provide additional events across a broad range of buy-ins. Satellites also give lower-stakes players routes into many of the site’s bigger events.
GGPoker is also a strong choice for cash games and offers one of the most modern poker clients available in Ontario.
Read our complete GGPoker Ontario review »
PokerStars underwent a major change in Ontario in 2026. The previous PokerStars Ontario platform went offline on May 6, 2026 and returned on June 4 as PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel, running on a new software platform aligned with PokerStars’ US operations.
The platform remains one of Ontario’s most complete poker options. Players can find daily tournaments and cash games along with a broader selection of poker variants than is available at many competing sites.
In addition to No-Limit Hold’em and Omaha, PokerStars has traditionally been the Ontario destination for games such as Stud, mixed games, and other less common variants when sufficient players are available.
PokerStars is also known for major tournament festivals. Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP) and Ontario Spring Championship of Online Poker (ONSCOOP) have been two of the most important recurring tournament series in the regulated Ontario market.
Read our complete PokerStars FanDuel Ontario review »
BetMGM Poker Ontario operates on the same Ontario network as PartyPoker and Bwin. Players using any of the three brands therefore compete in the same player pool and generally have access to the same underlying cash-game and tournament traffic.
The network uses PartyPoker technology and offers No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, tournaments, and other common online poker formats.
For players choosing among the three skins, BetMGM is our preferred option. The actual poker liquidity is shared, however, so players should not expect three separate poker ecosystems simply because three brands are available.
Read our complete BetMGM Poker Ontario review »
PartyPoker Ontario is another way to access the BetMGM Poker network. It shares players with BetMGM Poker and Bwin but maintains its own branded site and account experience.
Long-time PartyPoker players will find a familiar poker platform, with cash games and tournaments drawing from the same combined Ontario liquidity as the other two network skins.
For that reason, the choice between PartyPoker, BetMGM Poker, and Bwin is primarily about the individual brand and account experience rather than finding a larger poker player pool.
Read our complete PartyPoker Ontario review »
888 Ontario is the fourth independent poker network in the province and has operated in Ontario’s regulated market since its launch in April 2022.
The room offers cash games and tournaments through 888’s own software rather than sharing players with GGPoker, PokerStars, or the BetMGM network.
Its player pool is smaller than Ontario’s leading poker networks, but it provides another fully regulated option for players who prefer the 888 platform or want access to a different tournament schedule.
Read our complete 888 Ontario review »
Ontario has Canada’s largest competitive regulated online poker market. Its model allows private operators to compete within a provincially regulated framework rather than limiting players to a government-owned gambling site.
There are currently six regulated poker sites spread across four networks. This distinction is important: the number of poker brands does not equal the number of separate player pools.
| Ontario Poker Network | Sites Sharing the Network |
|---|---|
| GGPoker Ontario | GGPoker |
| PokerStars on FanDuel | FanDuel Poker |
| BetMGM Poker Network | BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, Bwin |
| 888 Ontario | 888 Poker |
Ontario’s large population gives these networks a much stronger starting point than most ring-fenced poker jurisdictions. Nevertheless, restricting each network to Ontario players limits tournament fields, available cash games, and the number of players online at off-peak hours.
That is why shared liquidity has become one of the most important issues for the future of Ontario online poker.
Ontario’s regulated iGaming market launched on April 4, 2022. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is responsible for regulatory oversight, while iGaming Ontario conducts and manages internet gaming offered by private operators under operating agreements.
Players must be at least 19 years old and physically located in Ontario when playing on these regulated sites. Operators use geolocation technology to verify a player’s location.
Ontario poker is currently ring-fenced. A GGPoker Ontario player, for example, does not sit at the same tables as players on GGPoker’s international network. The same principle applies to the other Ontario poker networks.
This restriction has been one of the defining features of the market since 2022, but a major court case could eventually change it.
The future of Ontario online poker could depend heavily on a case heard by the Supreme Court of Canada on October 7, 2026. The Court has reserved judgment, and no decision date has been announced.
In November 2025, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled 4–1 that Ontario’s proposed model could legally allow players in the province to participate in games involving players outside Canada, provided the gaming activity remained under the province’s conduct and management.
Provincial lottery corporations appealed that decision, bringing the question before Canada’s highest court.
The Supreme Court heard arguments on October 7, 2026 in Atlantic Lottery Corporation et al. v. Attorney General of Ontario. Ontario defended its proposed international shared-liquidity model, while opposing provincial lottery corporations challenged whether it complies with the Criminal Code. The justices reserved judgment after the hearing. For a detailed account, see our coverage of the Supreme Court hearing.
Alberta also participated as an intervener, supporting international shared liquidity. Its involvement is particularly important for online poker because Alberta has launched a regulated commercial iGaming market and has expressed interest in combining poker player pools.
The completed Supreme Court hearing does not mean international player pooling will begin immediately. Even if Ontario ultimately prevails, regulatory arrangements and agreements would still be required before Ontario poker sites could connect their players with pools outside the province.
The potential impact is nevertheless enormous. International liquidity could give Ontario players access to substantially larger cash-game pools and tournament fields. It could also make it easier for operators to offer less common poker variants and games at a wider range of stakes.
Inter-provincial shared liquidity represents a potential opportunity to expand Ontario’s regulated online poker player pools.
Alberta launched its regulated commercial iGaming market on July 13, 2026, becoming the second Canadian province to adopt a competitive private-operator model similar to Ontario’s.
Regulated online poker followed on October 13, when 888 became Alberta’s first locally regulated poker operator. Its player pool remains restricted to Alberta and is separate from 888 Ontario.
On October 19, the Alberta iGaming Corporation confirmed that it is “actively looking at shared liquidity pools within Canada,” reinforcing the possibility of an eventual agreement with Ontario.
Alberta and Ontario have been discussing a memorandum of understanding that could allow their regulated poker sites to combine player pools. However, no agreement has been finalized, and no implementation date has been announced.
If an agreement is reached, it could create Canada’s first shared commercial poker network spanning multiple provinces, giving Ontario players access to additional Canadian players and potentially supporting larger tournaments and more active cash games.
For the latest developments, see our complete guide to Alberta online poker.
Ontario and Alberta are not the only provinces where regulated online poker is possible, but their commercial model differs from the government-run systems found elsewhere in Canada. For a broader overview of provincial rules and poker options, see our guide to online poker in Canada.
British Columbia, Manitoba, and Québec offer provincially controlled online poker rather than Ontario-style competition among private operators.
State-Owned Canadian Online Poker Operators
| Province | Government-Run Site | Online Poker? |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | OLG | ❌ |
| British Columbia | PlayNow | ✅ |
| Manitoba | PlayNow | ✅ |
| Québec | Loto-Québec | ✅ |
Ontario’s system is therefore distinct. Instead of one government-operated poker platform, multiple private poker brands can compete after satisfying Ontario’s regulatory and operating requirements.
Ontario already has most of the major operators currently active in regulated North American online poker, but another established US poker operator could eventually join them.
BetRivers Poker is now active in the regulated US online poker market, and its parent company, Rush Street Interactive, already operates BetRivers Casino and Sportsbook in Ontario.
BetRivers executives have expressed interest in bringing poker to Ontario and Alberta if market conditions make a launch viable.
Shared liquidity could make Ontario and Alberta considerably more attractive to additional operators. For now, however, BetRivers Poker has not launched in Ontario.





Playing on a regulated Ontario poker site requires an account with an approved operator and location verification showing that you are physically within the province.
The basic process is:
You must be 19 or older to gamble online in Ontario.
Ontario’s regulated poker sites offer desktop and/or mobile access, although the exact installation process varies by operator and device.
Desktop players can generally download the poker client directly from the operator. Mobile players can use the appropriate mobile app or supported mobile experience.
Geolocation is an important part of the process. You must be physically located in Ontario to play real-money games on an Ontario-regulated poker site, and operators use location technology to confirm eligibility.
One account generally works across the supported devices for the same operator, so players do not need a separate poker account for desktop and mobile play.
Tournament poker is one of the strongest parts of Ontario’s regulated market. GGPoker, PokerStars on FanDuel, the BetMGM Poker network, and 888 all run scheduled tournaments, while larger series periodically create some of the biggest prize pools available within the province.
The ring-fenced market means Ontario tournament fields are smaller than those on major international networks, but the province’s population is large enough to support regular tournament schedules across several competing platforms.
GGPoker Ontario has one advantage no other Ontario poker room can currently match: official World Series of Poker online events.
Ontario players have been able to compete for official WSOP Online Bracelets through GGPoker, while WSOP Circuit events provide opportunities to win WSOP gold rings online.
This connection to the WSOP is one of the main reasons we rank GGPoker as the strongest Ontario option for tournament-focused players. Satellites and qualifiers also give players routes into larger online and live WSOP events.
PokerStars has historically run some of Ontario’s largest dedicated tournament festivals.
The Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP) has served as the provincial counterpart to PokerStars’ international COOP festivals, while the Ontario Spring Championship of Online Poker (ONSCOOP) has provided a major spring series.
These festivals typically span numerous buy-in levels and tournament formats, giving both recreational players and higher-stakes tournament players a substantial schedule.
PokerStars’ move to its new FanDuel-integrated platform in 2026 represents a major change to the Ontario product, so individual series schedules and guarantees should be checked when each festival is announced.
For more, see our dedicated guide to the best Ontario online poker tournaments.
BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, and Bwin draw from the same Ontario network, which means their tournament liquidity is combined.
The network runs a regular daily tournament schedule along with larger tournament festivals and special series throughout the year.
Because the network generally has smaller fields than GGPoker or PokerStars, it can offer a different tournament environment for players who prefer more compact fields.
888 Ontario operates its own tournament schedule and has run recurring festivals including Mystery Bounty and XL-branded series.
Its independent player pool is smaller than Ontario’s leading networks, but 888 remains another option for tournament players who want to shop among different schedules or prefer the operator’s software and tournament formats.
Cash games run across all four Ontario poker networks, with No-Limit Texas Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha forming the core of the market.
Game availability depends heavily on the network, stake, format, and time of day. Larger player pools generally provide more tables and a wider range of stakes, while less common poker variants may only run when enough interested players are online.
GGPoker and PokerStars on FanDuel provide two of the province’s most substantial independent poker ecosystems. The BetMGM/PartyPoker/Bwin network combines players from three brands, while 888 maintains its own separate pool.
Players interested in variants beyond Hold’em should pay particular attention to game selection when choosing a site. PokerStars has traditionally offered one of the broadest selections, while GGPoker provides several proprietary poker formats alongside conventional Hold’em and Omaha games.
Ontario poker sites support a variety of deposit and withdrawal methods, but availability differs by operator. Players should check the cashier at their chosen site for the methods currently available to their account.
Common payment methods offered by regulated Ontario gambling operators can include:
| Payment Method | Availability |
|---|---|
| Visa | Varies by operator |
| MasterCard | Varies by operator |
| PayPal | Varies by operator |
| Skrill | Varies by operator |
| NETELLER | Varies by operator |
| Interac | Varies by operator |
| Bank transfer | Varies by operator |
| Paysafecard | Varies by operator |
Deposit and withdrawal limits, processing times, and eligibility can also differ by operator and payment method.
Yes. Online poker is legal and regulated in Ontario. The province’s competitive regulated iGaming market launched on April 4, 2022.
Private poker operators in the regulated market must be registered with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and operate under an agreement with iGaming Ontario.
Yes. You must be physically located within Ontario when playing on an Ontario-regulated poker site.
Operators use geolocation technology to verify your location. You do not necessarily need to be an Ontario resident, but you must meet the operator’s eligibility requirements and be physically inside the province while playing.
Yes. Regulated Ontario poker sites offer real-money cash games and tournaments.
Players must be at least 19 years old and physically located in Ontario while playing.
There are currently six regulated online poker sites in Ontario: GGPoker, PokerStars on FanDuel, BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, Bwin, and 888 Poker.
BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, and Bwin share one poker network, so the six sites represent four distinct player pools.
No-Limit Texas Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha are widely available. Depending on the operator and current player traffic, players can also find additional poker variants, fast-fold games, Sit & Gos, satellites, bounty tournaments, and mixed games.
PokerStars on FanDuel generally provides one of the broadest traditional game selections, while GGPoker offers several proprietary poker formats in addition to Hold’em and Omaha.
We currently rank GGPoker Ontario as the best overall option, particularly for tournament players. PokerStars on FanDuel is another leading choice and stands out for its software and game variety.
The best site for an individual player depends on preferred games, stakes, tournament schedule, software, and player traffic.
Not yet. Ontario’s regulated poker market remains ring-fenced, so players currently compete only with other players located in Ontario.
However, Ontario and Alberta have been discussing the possibility of inter-provincial shared liquidity. No agreement has yet resulted in the two provinces combining their poker player pools.
Potentially, but international shared liquidity is not available today.
The Supreme Court of Canada heard oral arguments on October 7, 2026, concerning Ontario’s ability to offer games involving players outside Canada. Judgment has been reserved, with no announced decision date.
If Ontario ultimately prevails, additional regulatory and operational steps would still be necessary before international shared liquidity could launch.
Ontario-regulated poker sites operate within a framework overseen by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and iGaming Ontario.
Regulated operators must meet requirements covering areas such as game integrity, player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering controls, and protection of player information and funds.
Yes. Ontario’s major regulated poker operators offer mobile access, including GGPoker, PokerStars on FanDuel, BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, and 888.
Available apps and installation methods vary by operator and device.
Yes. GGPoker Ontario has hosted official WSOP Online bracelet events for Ontario players since 2022.
Winners of designated online bracelet events receive official World Series of Poker bracelets, while WSOP Circuit events on GGPoker Ontario can award official WSOP Circuit rings.