Ontario Online Poker Sites
Last Updated: January 30, 2026
- Play for WSOP bracelets online.
- Quality tournament schedule.
- Best software & mobile app.
- One of the leaders in North America.
- Great range of cash game stakes.
- Quality MTT series with big guarantees.
- Home to ONCOOP.
- State-of-the-art software.
- Great daily MTT schedule.
- Modern poker platform.
- Good range of cash game stakes.
- Nice MTT schedule.
Ontario’s regulated online poker market launched in April 2022, marking a historic first for real‑money online poker in Canada. Since then, it has grown into a fully licensed, competitive ecosystem, home to some of the world’s most established poker brands and a core part of the province’s iGaming framework.
Today, Ontario online poker sites such as GGPoker Ontario, PokerStars Ontario, BetMGM Poker Ontario, and 888poker Ontario offer distinct experiences for local players, from WSOP‑linked tournament play to deep cash‑game schedules and industry‑leading software. The market is ring‑fenced, meaning games are available only to players physically located in Ontario, creating a self‑contained but highly competitive poker environment.
This guide explains how online poker works in Ontario and how the province’s licensed sites compare, covering software, tournaments, cash games, and regulation. Whether you’re choosing your first Ontario poker site or looking to switch platforms, this page provides a clear, up‑to‑date overview of the options available in Canada’s most mature regulated poker market.
| 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, 888poker 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, 888poker’s Mystery Bounty Festival & XL Winter Series |
| ⚖️ Regulated By | Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) & iGaming Ontario (iGO) |
| 🔞 Legal Age to Gamble | 19+ |
Which is the Best Online Poker Site in Ontario?
GGPoker Ontario is currently our top choice of the best online poker rooms in Ontario. GGPoker is the biggest online poker operator in the world and it brings its world-class software to the Ontario market along with the chance to compete for World Series of Poker gold bracelets. The combination of big tournaments and great software is what makes GGPoker ON our #1 pick in Ontario.
The Best Ontario Online Poker Sites
Currently, players looking to play online poker in Ontario on fully licensed sites will find the top online poker operators in the world serving Ontario. Three of these — BetMGM Poker, partypoker, and bwin — operate on the same network, so their offers are pretty much the same.
GGPoker offers World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet and ring events in market. Then you have PokerStars one of the most iconic brands in the world offering top notch tournaments and daily cash games.
- GGPoker Ontario: Best for MTT players
- BetMGM Poker Ontario: Best for unified wallet and shared network with PartyPoker
- PokerStars ON: Best software and game variety
For any player, it is very important to examine and understand these specifics to be able to select the right site for them. Depending on your personal preferences and expectations, one room can be a much better option than the other, even if both options are quality picks.
While it is impossible to know everyone’s particular situation, we tried to come up with our list of top picks based on some of the most important aspects that online poker players tend to pay attention to.
As far as safety and reliability go, you cannot go wrong picking any of the sites licensed by the iGaming Ontario. All of these operators adhere to the highest standards and uphold all the relevant laws and regulations.
However, from a player’s perspective, there are always certain considerations that may tip you more towards one site over the other. We are bringing you our top picks for Ontario poker sites based on some of the most important aspects that you may want to consider when choosing what platform to make your online home.
GGPoker Ontario: Best for Tournament Players
GGPoker Ontario is our top pick for tournament players thanks to their hefty weekly guarantees. The operator has the best weekly schedule of events, with hundreds of thousands in guarantees up for grabs every single weekend.
Sunday flagship tournaments like GGMasters and Ontario Million$ offer some of the best value in the province and the buy-ins are fairly affordable. Plus, there are many satellites running all week around that you can use to get your seat on the cheap.
In addition to regular MTTs, the operator runs frequent series with big guarantees, such as the microFestival and Bounty Hunters Series. But the tournaments that set GGPoker Ontario apart from the rest is the ability to host online WSOP bracelet events. With the partnering of WSOP and GGPoker Ontario, players in this Canadian province now have an opportunity to compete for the coveted poker trinkets from the comfort of their homes.
Read our complete GGPoker Ontario review »
PokerStars Ontario
PokerStars Ontario offers impressive daily and weekly tournament schedules along with its top-notch desktop and mobile app software.
PokerStars has great game variety — they offer a wide variety of tournament variants such as No-Limit Hold’em, Omaha, Stud, 8-Game plus many more. It also offers online qualifiers to tournaments and throughout the year run flagship tournament series such as The Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP).
Read our complete PokerStars Ontario review »
BetMGM Poker Ontario: Good Pick for Less Experienced Players
BetMGM Poker Ontario, powered by partypoker software, is also live with a full suite of popular game types. Ontario players who played on partypoker’s global client will see a familiar interface at BetMGM Poker Ontario.
There are actually three separate sites on the network — BetMGM Poker Ontario, partypoker Ontario and bwin Ontario. They share the same player pool and tournament schedule, and offer a very similar experience, so the choice between them is pretty close. Of the three, we recommend BetMGM Poker because it’s a huge, trusted brand in North America.
BetMGM Poker came out of the gates with an impressive-looking schedule of tournaments in Ontario. It promises the Daily C-Note every night a $109 buy-in tournament starting at 7:05 pm local time. There is a High Roller tournament every Tuesday and Thursday, beginning simultaneously with a $530 buy-in.
Its Super Sunday tournament schedule looks solid, with 12 tournaments kicking off at five past the hour, from 3:05 pm to 8:05 pm, including PKOs, a $55 Sunday Masters, and a $530 High Roller.
Read our complete BetMGM Poker Ontario review »
PartyPoker Ontario: Shared Network With BetMGM
Partypoker Ontario is a part of the network that includes BetMGM Poker ON and bwin poker ON, but it is a standalone operator with its own games and promotions.
The room uses the tried and tested PartyPoker software and features a great tournament schedule. Being a part of this network, PartyPoker ON is able to offer some big series with significant guarantees, which gives players a lot of reasons to join.
Read our complete PartyPoker Ontario review »
888poker Ontario: Good if Tried Other Brands
888poker Ontario will be familiar to people moving over from the 888poker global client. 888 kicked things off in full 888 style, running daily MTTs with ambitious guarantees from day one, which led to a lot of players enjoying a lot of value thanks to huge overlays.
Read our complete 888poker Ontario review »
Ontario Online Poker Market Overview
Ontario continues to lead the way for regulated online poker in Canada. Players here have access to more licensed poker brands than anywhere else in the country and more rooms than any single US state.
Six licensed operators currently run poker sites through iGaming Ontario across four major networks: GGPoker Ontario, PokerStars Ontario, the BetMGM Poker Network (BetMGM Poker, partypoker, and bwin), and 888poker Ontario.
GGPoker Ontario and PokerStars Ontario remain the province’s largest poker networks by traffic. GGPoker, through its WSOP partnership, hosts the online bracelet series and satellites that feed into the live World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. PokerStars Ontario consistently delivers some of the province’s biggest online tournaments, often featuring guarantees exceeding CAD $1 million.
The BetMGM Poker Network sits behind those two leaders, averaging between 100 and 200 concurrent cash game players. 888poker Ontario continues to operate steadily, though with a smaller player base of roughly 40 concurrent cash game players at peak times.
Regulation and Player Pool
Ontario operates as a ring-fenced online poker market, meaning play is restricted to people physically located within the province. Despite this, with nearly 15 million residents, Ontario remains the largest single regulated poker jurisdiction in North America.
The iGaming Ontario (iGO) model allows private, licensed operators to compete under provincial oversight while keeping player funds separate and secure. This open but tightly controlled model is unprecedented in Canada and widely regarded as the framework that future provinces will follow.
Shared Liquidity: Court Decisions and What Comes Next
A key legal breakthrough arrived in November 2025, when a Superior Court of Ontario ruled that shared liquidity between Ontario and other jurisdictions is legal under current law, provided player funds and data remain under iGO’s supervision. The decision cleared a path for regulators to consider compacts that would allow Ontario-licensed poker rooms to share player pools with international or U.S. markets.
Just weeks later, an appeal challenged that ruling, arguing it could disadvantage companies operating in Canada’s unregulated provinces. The appeal is still before the court as of January 2026, leaving cross-border play on hold pending the final decision expected mid-2026.
If upheld, the ruling would position Ontario as the first jurisdiction in North America to formally permit international shared liquidity — a move that could transform the size and competitiveness of the province’s online poker market.
Other Canadian Jurisdictions
Outside Ontario, a shared Canadian player pool already connects British Columbia, Manitoba, and Québec via government-controlled lottery sites. While Ontario regulators could theoretically form partnerships with these provinces, the private-operator model in Ontario makes integration difficult.
State-Owned Canadian Online Poker Operators
| Province | Population | Site | Online Poker? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 14.6 million | OLG | ❌ |
| British Columbia | 5.1 million | PlayNow.com | ✅ |
| Manitoba | 1.4 million | PlayNow.com | ✅ |
| Québec | 8.5 million | LotoQuébec.com | ✅ |
Ontario’s system differs sharply from its government-run neighbors. All of its poker sites are privately operated under license from iGO, allowing for greater competition but also increased regulatory complexity.
Alberta Online Poker: The Next Province to Regulate
Alberta has become the leading candidate to follow Ontario’s model. In January 2026, provincial lawmakers advanced legislation that would create a regulated iGaming market with room for private poker operators. The proposal is being overseen by Minister Dale Nally and supported by industry discussions with First Nations groups.
Several operators — including BetRivers, PokerStars, and BetMGM — have expressed interest in launching in the province. Based on comments from BetRivers executives, Rush Street Interactive also intends to apply for a license if Alberta authorizes private operation.
If Alberta finalizes its regulatory framework this year, it could issue the first commercial online poker licenses by early 2027. With Ontario now exploring shared liquidity following its court rulings, collaboration between the two provinces could lead to Canada’s first inter‑provincial player pool — a likely scenario explored further in Alberta online poker.
Potential Future Online Poker Sites in Ontario
Other operators have hinted at going live in Ontario. Here’s two to look out for.
bet365 Ontario
While bet365 has both of the required licenses and was one of the first operators out of the gate, deploying its casino and sportsbook operations when the market went live, the operator did not launch a poker client in its first offerings.
BetRivers Poker Ontario
While BetRivers Poker is soon to become the latest addition to the regulated US market, there is a possibility that the room will launch in the only regulated Canadian market, too.
The company behind BetRivers Poker is Rush Street Interactive, which operates BetRivers Casino and Sportsbook. BetRivers was one of the first operators to enter the regulated Ontario market, so launching an online poker product would nicely round up their offering.
Ontario Online Poker Sites in Action!
How to Get Started Playing Online Poker in Ontario
Signing up with licensed and regulated poker sites in Ontario couldn’t be easier. To get started and start playing online poker, follow these simple steps:
- Visit the website of the poker operator you want to play on — PokerStars, BetMGM Poker, GGPoker, or 888poker by using the links at the top of this page
- Find the “Join” or “Sign Up” button on the page then click on it
- Fill in the required information (name, surname, address)
- You will probably need to verify your email and/or phone number using the link in the message sent to you
- Then log in using your newly created username and password
- Alternatively, download the mobile app if you plan to play more on the move
- When using the mobile app, you will be able to log in with the same information (no need to create a new account)
How to Download Online Poker Site Apps & Software
It is super straightforward for Ontario residents to download and install poker software and mobile apps on their devices. The process is identical to downloading any other software on the internet.
Just remember to be physically within Ontario when downloading the software, as you cannot register to the online poker sites unless you are in the province.
Simply visit the site you want to play on and find the download link. If you are playing from your computer, you will download the installation file and then run it locally. Once installed, you can use the software to open an account if you already have one.
Mobile users will need to download the appropriate app. If the site offers Android and iOS apps, select the one that fits your device.
Online Poker Tournament Series
There are flagship tournament series that run in Ontario from all the major operators. Depending on the type of player you are and what you are looking for, you might prefer one poker room over the other, but you are almost certain to find a good fit at one of them.
WSOP Online Bracelet and Circuit Events in Ontario
Winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is the ultimate achievement for any poker player — and thanks to GGPoker Ontario, players can now chase that dream without ever leaving the province. The platform gives Ontarians a rare opportunity to compete in official WSOP Online Bracelet events, where winners earn not just substantial prize pools but a permanent place in poker history.
Alongside the bracelet series, WSOP Online Circuit tournaments provide even more chances to grab hardware. The WSOP Circuit is one of the most prestigious global tournament series, and Ontario players can now compete for the coveted WSOPC gold rings online. Each leg of the WSOP Online Circuit Series at GGPoker ON features a dozen or more ring events plus exciting side tournaments, offering buy‑ins starting around $50 and total prize pools exceeding $250,000.
Whether battling for a ring or going for a bracelet, WSOP Online events in Ontario combine top‑tier competition with the convenience of playing from home. They offer local players one of the best opportunities to face Canada’s toughest pros, build a tournament resume, and experience poker’s most prestigious brand—all from within Ontario’s regulated market.
Online Tournament Series at PokerStars Ontario
Typically running in the fall months, ONCOOP is the PokerStars Ontario’s version of the popular WCOOP festival, which runs on the international PokerStars platform.
ONCOOP is one of the biggest and most attractive tournament festivals in the province, with buyins typically ranging between $50 and $1,000, and a variety of poker games and tournament formats offered throughout.
The spring months at PokerStars ON are marked by the Ontario Spring Championship of Online Poker (ONSCOOP), which features three buyin orbits and offers players across all stakes a chance to compete.
Players who compete in the PokerStars ONSCOOP can expect to take part in events with buyins as low as $5 and as high as $2,500, along with a number of extras such as satellites with added seats and a Player of the Series leaderboard awarding the most successful players.
If you want to learn more, we have an dedicated guide to the best Ontario online poker tournaments.
Online Tournament Series at BetMGM and PartyPoker ON
The BetMGM Poker Network, which includes BetMGM, PartyPoker, and BWIN, is another one that regularly hosts big tournament series for Ontario players each year. The Ontario Poker Championships is a series of a few dozen online events with somewhat smaller guaranteed prize pools than those offered at PokerStars ON or GGPoker ON, but also with softer competition and smaller fields.
The network is looking to grow the Ontario Poker Championships and could soon be looking at a total prize pool in excess of $1,000,000, making it another interesting tournament series to look out for in the fall each year.
888poker Ontario
Mystery bounty tournaments have taken over the poker world and quickly become one of the most popular formats of competition, which caught the attention of the online poker operators in Ontario. 888poker ON in particular decided to take jump on the mystery bounty bandwagon and offer players a chance to compete in a Mystery Bounty Festival, which features only events with the novel format in play.
Looking to make sure poker players in the province have access to great tournament action all year long, 888poker ON offers a variety of seasonal tournament series dubbed XL Winter Series, XL Spring Series, and XL Autumn Series.
The seasonal series at 888poker typically offer a few dozen events with buyins ranging between $11 and $525 and a total guaranteed prize pool in excess of $300,000, a number likely to grow with each passing year. These frequent tournament series make 888poker ON one of the best poker sites for tournament grinders in Ontario, as they allow maximum action for players at any stake.
Online Poker Cash Game Traffic in Ontario
Similar to tournaments, players in Ontario can enjoy a wide variety of cash game options across four networks. Action is abundant, with stakes ranging from CAD $0.01/$0.02 to $50/$100.
No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha are available on all four networks, but each network also offers unique game options. For example, PokerStars Ontario is the only site offering 6+ Hold’em (Short Deck) in the region, while GGPoker Ontario exclusively features the 4-handed All-In or Fold poker variant.
GGPoker also spreads 5-Card PLO, and BetMGM Ontario provides heads-up cash game tables along with a fast-fold variant. 888Poker, in contrast, runs the traditional 9-handed cash game tables alongside 6-handed tables.
In terms of cash game action, GGPoker and PokerStars frequently compete for the top position, with GGPoker often leading the market. BetMGM comes in third, while 888poker ranks as the smallest, focusing primarily on tournament tables.
Banking Options for Players in Ontario
Online poker players in Ontario have access to a fair number of banking options. Most importantly, all these methods are completely safe and reliable, so you don’t have to worry about your personal information getting into the wrong hands or your money not reaching its intended destination.
As for the available options, this is one of those things that always change and develop, so if you do not see an option that works for you, this does not mean that it will not be added at some point in the future.
Popular Online Poker Payment Methods:
| Payment Method | Accepted |
|---|---|
| Visa | ✅ |
| MasterCard | ✅ |
| PayPal | ✅ |
| Skrill | ✅ |
| NETELLER | ✅ |
| Wire Transfers | ✅ |
| Paysafecard | ✅ |
| Interac | ✅ |
| Trustly | ✅ |
| American Express | ✅ |
| Payz | ✅ |
| ecoPayz | ✅ |
- Excellent tournament schedule
- The best variety of game types
- #1 Rated online poker room in Ontario by pokerfuse.com
- Trusted brand now fully licensed in Ontario, Canada
- Modern & versatile desktop platform
- Top quality mobile apps
Ontario Online Poker FAQ
Is online poker legal in Ontario?
Yes, online poker is legal and regulated in Ontario. The regulated online gambling market went live in April 2022, and players in the province have had legal options for playing real money poker online ever since. However, it is only legal to play on the sites that are licensed and regulated by the iGO.
Do I have to be physically present in Ontario to play online poker?
Yes, Ontario requires all players to be physically present within its borders* to access Ontario-licensed sites. You will need to allow geolocation tracking on your device before accessing an Ontario poker site so that the operator can make sure you are in compliance with this request.
What is the best online poker sites in Ontario?
There are five legal online poker sites that are all good options, but we think PokerStars or GGPoker are the best sites to play on in Ontario.
Does Ontario share player pools with other provinces?
No. Currently, Ontario operates as a segregated market, fully ring-fenced from the rest of Canada, so Ontario online poker players can only play against other Ontario online poker players.
Are Ontario online poker sites safe?
Yes. All legally-operating poker rooms in Ontario are safe to play at. These operators are licensed and regulated by the iGO and are subject to strict rules and regulations to ensure the integrity and fairness of the games. They also use advanced security measures to protect player information and funds, including the use of encryption technology and secure servers.
Are there any Ontario poker mobile apps?
Yes. The PokerStars Ontario app and the GGPoker Ontario app are two of the finest gaming platforms in the world. BetMGM Poker, 888, and partypoker also provide top-notch apps with sleek designs, good functionality, and plenty of games to choose from.
Can I win WSOP bracelets by playing online poker in Ontario?
Yes! GGPoker Ontario, in partnership with the WSOP, hosted its first online bracelet event in October 2022, giving players in the province their first shot at winning some of that coveted gold bling from the comfort of their own homes.
Are Ontario online poker games rigged?
No, Ontario has strict regulations in place to ensure that all online poker games are fair and honest for players. The iGO oversees the licensing and regulation of all online poker sites operating in the state. They conduct regular audits and inspections of the software and systems used by these sites to ensure that they are operating fairly and that all games are random and unbiased.