Is Online Poker Legal in Ontario?
Online poker in Ontario is safe and legal to play, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some differences with other poker markets around the world. The provincial government created a new online gaming market in April 2022, ensuring that sites that wish to operate in Ontario are fully licensed and regulated but also cutting off players from the rest of the world.
Several sites have taken advantage of the new rules in place across Canada’s most populous province and opened their platforms for players in Ontario. These include PokerStars, partypoker, 888poker, and WSOP at GGPoker. Players must prove they are physically located within the province in order to play. Online poker is legal in Ontario, but under some unique conditions.
Poker in Ontario - The Complete History
From the start of the poker boom in 2003, Ontario proved a breeding ground for some of the game’s top players. Toronto native Daniel Negreanu was followed by players such as Sam Greenwood, Mike Watson, Sorel Mizzi, Timothy Adams, and Kristen Foxen.
In 2010, Jonathan Duhamel of Boucherville won the World Series of Poker Main Event. Back then online poker sites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker flourished in Canada’s most populous province. Even after Black Friday on April 15, 2011, online sites were back up and running in Ontario within a few days.
The development of online poker in Ontario was dramatically changed, however, on January 28, 2022. The provincial government announced that online gaming would now be regulated by a new commission named iGaming Ontario. Online gaming platforms, including poker, wouldn’t have shared liquidity. Most importantly for Ontario poker players, it meant that the market would be cut off from the rest of the world.
By the time the new market launched on April 4, a number of sites had become fully licensed and regulated, including PokerStars Ontario, partypoker Ontario, and 888poker Ontario. On Sept. 30, the World Series of Poker came north with the launch of GGPoker Ontario, a platform utilizing GGPoker software.
The milestones were quick to come. From Oct. 1-17, PokerStars ran the first-ever Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP). Later that month, David “Edeskie” Cowling and Xing “Mai_K_4_Life” He won the first WSOP gold bracelets awarded exclusively to Ontario players.
PokerStars awarded five Platinum Passes to the PokerStars Players Championship to players in Ontario, including Jonathan “fuzztacular” Newman, who won an incredible six events over the 17 days of the ONCOOP, and Team PokerStars Pro Arlie "Prince Pablo" Shaban, who won an astonishing five ONCOOP titles.
Ontario Poker Timeline: When was poker legalized in Ontario?
- June 22, 2021- The Canadian government passes Bill C-218, opening the way for fully licensed online gaming. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario would announce the creation of iGaming Ontario, a new provincial body to regular the new market
- January 28, 2022- Ontario government announces that the online gaming market would be launched on April 4, with all sites needing to be fully licensed and regulated by iGaming Ontario. No shared liquidity would be allowed, so poker players across the province would be segregated from the rest of the international player pool.
- April 4, 2022- The new gaming market launches, with sites including PokerStars, 888poker, and partypoker securing licenses. Players needed to be physically located within the province to play on these sites.
- Sept. 28, 2022- The World Series of Poker launches WSOP at GGPoker for players in Ontario. The new platform makes use of GGPoker software.
- Oct. 17, 2022- The inaugural PokerStars Ontario Championship of Online Poker concludes, with Jonathan “fuzztacular” Newman finishing as the top winner with six titles.
- October 30, 2022- David “Edeskie” Cowling and Xing “Mai_K_4_Life” He won the first WSOP gold bracelets awarded on GGPoker Ontario exclusively for Ontario players.
Is Poker Legal in Canada?
Online poker has always been legal across Canada. Even after Black Friday, it took only a short amount of time before online sites such as PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker returned to the Canadian market.
"There are no widespread regulations prohibiting Canadians from enjoying poker action"
The regulation of online poker is a provincial issue, but there are no widespread regulations prohibiting Canadians from enjoying poker action. That means Canadian poker players have access to all the major online poker sites and online poker tournaments as players around the world.
The one exception is in Ontario, which, beginning in April 2022, launched its own regulated online gaming market.
Can you Play Poker in Ontario - Is it Legal?
Yes, online poker is completely safe and legal to play in Ontario. Online poker sites are fully licensed and regulated by iGaming Ontario, a commission established by the provincial government to oversee the new segregated market.
When was Poker Legalized in Ontario?
A new era in Ontario online poker was inaugurated on April 4, 2022, when the provincial government launched its new regulated, segregated gaming market. This allows Ontario players access to sites that are licensed by iGaming Ontario, but fences in the player pool to only other players in the province. Ontario players currently cannot play with other players around the world and must prove they are physically located within the province to play.
What are the Best Sites to Play Poker in Ontario?
A number of poker sites have entered the Ontario gaming market since it was launched last April. These include PokerStars, partypoker, 888poker, and GGPoker Ontario. All of these sites are completely safe and legal to play on for real money in the province.
Online Poker in Ontario
Online poker in Ontario is fully safe, secure, and regulated by the provincial government. There are several poker sites that have entered the Ontario market and are available for players across the province.
PokerStars - Can you Play PokerStars in Ontario
Yes. PokerStars Ontario was among the first platforms to secure a license from iGaming Ontario. The site requires players to use GeoLocation software to prove their presence within the province.
PartyPoker - Can you Play PartyPoker in Ontario?
Yes, PartyPoker is fully licensed by iGaming Ontario and available for players in the province. The site has also partnered with BetMGM to provide another outlet for players to find all their poker action.
GGPoker - Can you Play GGPoker in Ontario?
Yes, the World Series of Poker came to the province back in September with the launch of WSOP at GGPoker. The site uses GGPoker software and, in October, awarded the first two WSOP bracelets to players in Ontario.
888poker - Can you Play 888poker in Ontario?
Yes,888poker is fully licensed by iGaming Ontario and was among the first sites to enter the new, regulated market.
BetMGM - Can you Play BetMGM in Ontario?
Yes,BetMGM has entered the Ontario market. The site has partnered with partypoker, which provides the same software and tournament options that partypoker players are familiar with.
GGPoker - Can you Play GGPoker in Ontario?
No, GGPoker is not available in Ontario, but the site has provided software for the launch of WSOP at GGPoker. This gives players in Ontario all the benefits that GGPoker users around the world enjoy.
Borgata - Can you Play Borgata in Ontario?
No, Borgata Poker is only available for players in New Jersey
Bet365 - Can you Play Bet365 in Ontario?
No, while Bet365 is licensed by iGaming Ontario, only casino games and sports betting are available - you cannot play poker on Bet365 in Ontario.
Poker Legality in Ontario FAQs
Can I play live poker in Ontario?
Yes, there are 10 legal poker rooms located around the province, including Caesars Windsor, Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, and Casino Rama.
Is there an online poker ban in Ontario?
No, online poker is fully legal and safe to play in Ontario. The province does mandate that player pools are segregated.
Can I play poker in Ontario if I’m not from there?
Yes, you can play poker in Ontario if you're not there - the sites only mandate that you are physically located within the province in order to play.
Do I have to live in Ontario to play poker legally?
No, you don't have to live in Ontario to play poker leagally - you only have to be physically located within the province to play online poker in ON.
What sites can I play poker on legally in Ontario?
Several online poker sites are fully licensed and regulated by iGaming Ontario, including PokerStars, partypoker, BetMGM, 888poker, and GGPoker Ontario