Best Online Poker Sites in Ontario

Ontario has legal, regulated online poker. With five apps to choose from, Ontario offers the most diverse online poker market in North America. Players have access to the biggest cash games and tournaments on the continent.

Real money online poker in Ontario went live on April 4, 2022, when 888poker opened the first licensed site in the province. Since then, the biggest names in the industry have set up shop in Ontario, including PokerStars, GGPoker (through a partnership with WSOP) and BetMGM. Each offer round-the-clock cash games and big tournaments. All operators have top-class desktop software and mobile apps.

In this Guide to Online Poker in Ontario, we will give you all the information you need to know about the market’s current state. We also help you pick an Ontario online poker site, with expert reviews, in-depth poker app analysis, and answer all your questions about the market.

Is Online Poker Legal in Ontario?

Yes online poker has been safe, legal and regulated in Ontario since April 2022. Ontario is the first province in Canada to regulated online poker and allow a competitive, commercial market. This players means that players can choose to play on the world’s top online poker brands, including PokerStars, WSOP, GGPoker, BetMGM and 888poker.

The Best Ontario Online Poker Sites

Currently, players looking to play online poker in Ontario on fully licensed sites can do so on one of the six active operators in the regulated Ontario online poker market. Three of these — BetMGM, partypoker, and bwin — operate on the same network, so the offers are pretty much the same.

Ontario Online Poker: at a Glance

PokerStars Ontario

PokerStars launched its Ontario-exclusive poker room on June 28, nearly three months after the first Ontario online poker rooms went live.

Having waited until the right moment, it did not take long for PokerStars Ontario to become the best online poker room in the province, offering its top-notch desktop software and mobile apps and much more beyond that.

If there is one thing that PokerStars is known for, it is their impressive daily and weekly tournament schedule, and this is true in every market they operate in.

PokerStars Ontario came hot out of the gate, wasting no time in running its inaugural tournament series — the Ontario Platinum Series — which, despite some overlays, was still a solid success. This was soon followed by the first-ever Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP), which was a great success,

One of the other big upsides of PokerStars is that they offer tournaments in poker games other than No-Limit Hold’em, with a variety of Omaha, Stud, 8-Game, and other tournaments also on the schedule.

PokerStars Ontario features the following game types and formats:

• NLHE & PLO Cash Games (NL/PLO2 to NL/PLO10,000)
• 6+ Hold’em cash tables ($0.02 to $5 big blind/ante)
• Sit & Go
• Tempest
• Tournaments
• Spin & Go Jackpot Sit & Go ($0.25 up to $100)

Download the PokerStars Ontario app or head to our complete PokerStars Ontario Review to learn about everything this leading poker room has to offer »

GGPoker Ontario

Although the last poker room to actually go live in the province, GGPoker Ontario is also one of the best picks for the players in the province. Backed by the World Series of Poker and powered by the GGPoker software, this platform brings all the elements required for an enjoyable gaming experience for recreational and professional players alike.

The rich schedule of daily tournaments and busy cash game tables ensure plenty of action for players across the board, from those with small bankrolls to serious professionals looking to play higher stakes and compete in big guaranteed events.

But the real differential that sets GGPoker Ontario apart from the rest is the ability to host online WSOP bracelet-awarding events. With the arrival 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.

GGPoker Ontario offers:

• NLHE & PLO Cash Games (NL/PLO2 to NL/PLO2000)
• Tournaments (including ring and bracelet events)
• Spin & Gold Jackpot Sit & Go ($0.25 up to $50)

Download the GGPoker.ca app or all about what this global poker leader has to offer Ontarians in our detailed GGPoker Ontario Review »

BetMGM Poker Ontario

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 site name — BetMGM, partypoker and bwin. 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 because it’s a huge, trusted brand in North America.

BetMGM 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. However, at the time of writing, none of BetMGM’s MTTs have run. It could be that it’s waiting for partypoker to join the party and pool players before kicking things off.

Ontario players on the BetMGM Poker Ontario Network have access to:

• Cash Games
• Fast Forward
• Freerolls
• Sit & Go’s
• Spins
• Tournaments

Download the BetMGM Poker Ontario app, and jump into the action or learn more about this room in our BetMGM Poker Ontario Review »

888poker Ontario

888poker Ontario was the first licensed operator to go live and start dealing with real money online poker in the newly regulated Ontario market. It was also the first and only operator to launch all three verticals on day one. 888 expects to build on an already strong presence in Canada by being one of the first Ontario-specific poker rooms.

888poker Ontario got off the ground immediately with a full-service application offering a full selection of popular 888poker formats. The interface 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.

888 also boasts of being the only operator with a local Ontarian as a brand ambassador. Ontario-based streamer Adam “iamEklo” Tocholke was one of the founding members of the 888poker StreamTeam. He had already been streaming live from the newly launched 888 Ontario poker room on his Twitch channel.

The poker formats available at 888poker Ontario are:

• BLAST
• SNAP
• Cash Games
• Freerolls
• Tournaments

Download the 888poker app or head to our comprehensive 888poker Ontario Review to learn about all the features 888 has to offer »

Partypoker Ontario

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.

You will find the following games and formats available on the site:

• NLHE & PLO Cash Games (NL/PLO5 to NL/PLO5000)
• Tournaments
• Sit & Go
• Fast Forward (NL10 to NL200)
• Spins – Jackpot Sit & Go ($1 up to $50)

Download the partypoker Ontario app and get into some tournament action or check out our partypoker Ontario Review to learn more about this interesting member of the BetMGM Ontario Poker Network »

Comparison of Active Online Poker Rooms in Ontario

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.

Run It Once Poker Ontario

While Run It Once Poker is 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 RIO 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.

At this point in time, it is not possible to say if this is the direction RSI and Phil Galfond will take, but the company has left room for the possibility of Run It Once Poker Ontario at some point down the line.

How to Choose the Best Ontario Poker Site for You

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.

#1 GGPoker Ontario – Biggest Weekly Guarantees

If you are an online tournament player then GGPoker Ontario is the best pick for you. 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, so if tournaments are your cup of tea, you will feel right at home here.

#2 PokerStars Ontario – Best for Spin & Go Players

While all Ontario poker sites feature some kind of progressive jackpot sit and goes, PokerStars Ontario is the place to be if these are the games you enjoy.

Known as Spin and Go tournaments, they give players a chance to compete for prizes that can go as high as 5000 times the initial buy-in. The spread of buy-ins is very good as well, with the lowest games starting at just $0.50 and stakes going all the way up to $50.

The player traffic at Spin & Go tables is usually quite good, especially on the weekends, so you will not have to wait long for games to start, allowing you to put in a decent volume and stay in the action almost all the time.

#3 BetMGM Poker Ontario – Good Pick for Less Experienced Players

BetMGM Poker Ontario cannot quite compete with the likes of PokerStars and GGPoker in terms of tournament schedule or big guarantees. While this may not sound too good at first, the platform has some redeeming qualities that make it a great pick for less experienced players.

Simply put, this site does not attract a huge number of hardcore grinders, which makes both cash games and tournaments much softer on average. This applies in particular to lower buy-ins.

So, if you are making your first steps into the world of online poker, BetMGM Poker Ontario might be the perfect pick. You will have a much better fighting chance and will have an opportunity to learn the game in a less competitive environment, which means your bankroll will go much further.

Ontario Online Poker: Key Facts

Ontario’s Online Gambling Regulators

At first glance, regulation in Ontario seems a bit confusing, with two agencies prominently mentioned. The main regulatory body for gambling in Ontario is the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Still, there is also iGaming Ontario (iGO), a subsidiary of AGCO that manages the private entities regulated in the Ontario iGaming market.

One key point for Ontario is that the iGO is restricted to “conducting and managing” the online gaming of private entities in the market. The existing, government-controlled Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) does not fall under the watch of iGO, though OLG does not have a poker component.

Real Money Poker in Ontario

This market is in flux, but two networks and six poker rooms are currently dealing with real money online poker in a regulated environment. First, we have 888poker Ontario — the first Ontario poker site to go live — and then we have the three sites that comprise the BetMGM Ontario Network — BetMGM Poker Ontario, partypoker Ontario, and bwin Ontario. Then, we have PokerStars Ontario, the latecomer of the group, finally launching at the very end of June. All five have Ontario online poker apps and software available for download and offer an evolving schedule.

The latest addition to the regulated market is GGPoker/WSOP Ontario. Powered by the famous GGPoker software and backed by arguably the greatest poker brand out there, GGPoker ON gives players another great option. Most importantly, the operator offers bracelet-awarding online events, which makes them stand out from the rest.

Ontario’s Segregated Player Pool

The regulations in Ontario specify that all play be restricted to players within the province and, for poker operators, that means a segregated player pool. Operators will need to deploy products that serve only the Ontario market. Still, there is a grace period in regulations for licensed operators that have begun the licensing process but are not ready for launch.

Rather than forcing those operators to cease operations in Ontario pending the launch of their market-specific offerings — which would have created a blackout period and potentially pushed more customers to risky offshore sites — the regulators decreed that operators could continue letting Ontario players play in their global markets, so long as they had begun the licensing process and were actively working towards a launch of their licensed and regulated Ontario poker rooms. However, they are expected to transition to a ring-fenced Ontario player pool as quickly as possible.

It is possible this could all change in the future. The Ontario regulators have considered “inter-jurisdictional compacts”. Canada already has such a compact, allowing British Columbia, Manitoba, and Québec players to play against each other via IGT software.

While the commercial component of Ontario makes it unlikely it will join that compact in its current form — and the other three provinces do not have any commercial operators — it shows that there is potentially an inclination to share liquidity across Canada.

While only operational within Ontario borders, BetMGM, partypoker, and bwin have linked up their player pools, creating the BetMGM Ontario Network, the first three-skin online poker network in the province.

Shared Liquidity

The elephant in the province of Ontario’s private regulation scheme is shared liquidity. As a result of provincial regulation of gambling in Canada, only the Ontario local government can regulate gambling for Ontarians, and it can only regulate for Ontarians.

The Ring-Fenced Ontario Poker Market

As a result of such regulation, the Ontario internet gaming regime was deployed as a geofenced jurisdiction, where operators are expected to restrict their users to people physically located within Ontario’s borders. While some licensed operators still deal poker to Ontarians through their global player pools, that is a time-limited accommodation for operators actively working on a discrete Ontario-only version.

As geofenced markets in North America go, Ontario is very attractive. With almost 15 million people, Ontario is the largest single regulated jurisdiction in North America, capping the previous king-of-the-hill Pennsylvania with about 13 million residents.

That means, even without shared liquidity, Ontario is still an attractive market in the context of North American regulated jurisdictions. However, online poker is particularly sensitive to the player pool’s size, compared to casino gaming or sports betting activities, so online poker operators in Ontario will almost certainly be looking to expand that pool through inter-jurisdictional compacts if regulations allow.

Shared Liquidity in Canada

For the time being, shared liquidity in Canada is not part of the plan. However, it is not outside the realm of possibility. A couple of similar pacts have already been formed in North America, with the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) — an interstate online poker compact that allows operators to combine player pools across state lines between its member states. The recent addition of Ontario’s neighbor Michigan to the MSIGA makes a stronger case for other jurisdictions to also look towards shared liquidity.

Additionally, Canada has its shared player pool between British Columbia, Manitoba, and Québec, creating a market of around 14.7 million people — slightly smaller than Ontario on its own. Ontario regulators have considered “inter-jurisdictional compacts”, but it seems unlikely it would join the existing Canadian compact as there are fundamental differences between the markets.

State-owned Canada Poker Operators

The existing BC/MB/QC Canadian online poker compact serves players via government-controlled gaming monopolies in the three provinces, and none of them have any penetration by private entities. In Ontario, the existence of private companies in the market means it would not be an easy fit into a compact with no private competition.

It is important to note that, unlike in the United States, international poker sites continue to cater to the Canadian market outside of Ontario. The current legal environment is such that it allows for offshore poker rooms to accept players from Canada without breaking any laws.

While the situation in the country has often been described as a “grey market,” it seems likely that Canadians outside of Ontario will continue to enjoy the benefits of international platforms, where they can play not just with other compatriots, but also players from all over the world.

This could change when and if other provinces decide to follow in Ontario footsteps, passing their own regulations for commercial operators, requiring them to obtain local licenses.

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 room in Ontario?

Top Online Poker Rooms in Ontario:

1. PokerStars
2. GGPoker
3. BetMGM Poker
4. 888poker
5. partypoker

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 rooms 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 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.

GGPoker Ontario also brought WSOP’s gold ring-awarding Online Circuit Series to Ontario, kicking off the first edition in October 2022, immediately after the site launched.

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. Additionally, advanced technology and encryption methods are used to secure players’ data and funds, ensuring that the players are protected.