Online Poker in Ontario
Ontario became the first province to legalize and regulate online poker in April 4 2022. Since then, it has attracted some of mobile poker's biggest names. 888Poker, BetMGM and PartyPoker are just some of the notable Ontario online poker sites.
The Ontario regulated market ensures that online poker players can play in a safe environment. It also requires operators to obtain licensing so that only approved poker sites in Canada are legal. You can learn more about online poker Ontario below, including market updates, key regulatory points, legal sites and more.
- 1
Launched 2014 - 2
- 3
Ontario Poker Operators
| Operator | AGCO License | Launch Date | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| 888Poker Ontario | Yes | April 4, 2022 | 888Poker Ontario Review |
| BetMGM Poker Ontario | Yes | April 6, 2022 | BetMGM Ontario Review |
| PartyPoker Ontario | Yes | April 12, 2022 | PartyPoker Ontario Review |
BetMGM Poker Ontario
- 📅 Tournaments: $215 Weekly Sunday, Spins (lottery SNGs)
- 🃏 Types of Poker Games: Texas hold'em, Omaha, Seven card stud
- 📱 Mobile Poker App: Yes
- ⚖️ Platform: PartyPoker
888Poker Ontario
- 📅 Tournaments: Double or Nothing, Progressive Knockouts (PKO)
- 🃏 Types of Poker Games: Hold'em, Omaha, Stud
- 📱 Mobile Poker App: Yes
- ⚖️ Platform: 888
PartyPoker
- 📅 Tournaments: $215 Weekly Sunday, $535 high roller, Spins (lottery SNGs)
- 🃏 Types of Poker Games: Hold'em, Omaha, Stud
- 📱 Mobile Poker App: Yes
- ⚖️ Platform: PartyPoker
Poker Games Available in Ontario
The best online poker sites excel at offering a variety of cash games. Poker sites in Ontario are doing a decent job at providing different game variations. The collective market offers Texas hold'em, Hi-Lo and pot-limit Omaha, and seven-card stud.
You can enjoy hold'em and stud as limit and no-limit games. No other games are currently available in the Heartland Province. This might change, though, if more ON residents and visitors begin playing poker.
Ontario Online Poker Latest Updates
The ON online gambling market is still in its early stages. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)—the province's key gaming regulator—is monitoring the current situation. That said, Ontario players will see plenty of changes in the future. Here's what has happened so far at the time of writing:
Licensed Ontario online casinos, poker sites and sportsbooks are legal as of April 4, 2022.
888Poker, BetMGM and PartyPoker hold licensing in the province.
BetMGM and PartyPoker form the province's leading online poker network (140 avg. hourly cash players).
You can check out our Gambling.com Canadian gambling page for future updates on Ontario's market.
Regulated Ontario Online Poker
The Heartland Province formerly had an unregulated (a.k.a. "grey") online gaming market like the rest of Canada. It didn't feature any laws that legalized nor criminalized mobile poker. Therefore, online poker operators catered to Canadian players with no regulations or rules.
The province's legislative assembly changed the market, though, when it passed C-218 in June 2021. C-218 legalized and regulated online poker sites in Ontario. Now, online operators need licensing and express prior written permission to legal serve Ontarians.
The new market ring-fences Ontario's online poker games from the rest of the world. Therefore, the ON online poker community is limited to the province's 14.6m people. The good news, though, is that Ontario customers get to play poker in the country's largest province.
Legal History of Ontario Online Poker
Again, Ontario used to have a grey market and didn't regulate online poker apps. This situation changed, though, when the province legalized online gambling in 2021. Legal online Ontario sports betting, poker and casino games went live on April 4, 2022. Some Ontario online poker sites launched on or around this opening date.
You can see a quick timeline of events that led to ON legal real money online poker below:
Ontario Online Poker Timeline:
The ON Senate passes C-218, which officially creates Ontario's online gambling legal market. Specifically, online casinos, poker rooms and sportsbooks become legal.
The AGCO creates subsidiary iGaming Ontario to help manage the province's regulated market.
The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation launches Proline+, Canada's first legal single-game betting site.
Official launch date for legal ON gambling sites (besides Proline+). 888poker becomes the first legal Ontario poker site to go live.
BetMGM becomes the second regulated ON online poker site to launch.
PartyPoker ON becomes the province's third poker client to launch.
Land-Based Ontario Poker Rooms
Much of the current Ontario news involves the online poker game. But while playing Ontario online poker is definitely in fashion, the province's land-based scene is still popular too.
Toronto is no doubt the king of ON live poker rooms. It features the popular Aces Club, Toronto Poker Tournament and Toronto Poker Game rooms. Windsor is also a hot spot for land-based cash games and tournaments. Caesars Windsor even hosts World Series of Poker events.
Online Poker Rooms in Ontario
This province currently features three poker sites in 888, BetMGM and Party. Each online poker site is available to Ontario residents and visitors. These rooms are committed to guaranteeing that players can gamble responsibly, regulated and safely.
Operators also need to ensure that they only serve adults physically located within Ontario's borders. To do this, they use gelocation software similar to online casinos tools and trackers sports betting states. Geolocation ensures that only those inside the province can enjoy real money games.
Poker Tournaments in Ontario
Online operators are still feeling out the market. Therefore, ON poker sites are slowly adding big tournaments to their lineup. BetMGM Poker, for example, offers a large $215 buy-in Weekly Sunday event.
Depositing & Withdrawing on Ontario Poker Sites
Ontario poker players can fund their real money poker accounts through a variety of payment methods. Common banking options available here include:
Deposits
- Interac
- Mastercard
- Neteller
- Online banking
- Play+ Card
- Skrill
- Visa
Withdrawals
- Interac
- Neteller
- Online banking
- Play+ Card
- Skrill
FAQ
Is online poker legal in Ontario?
Yes, ON online poker became legal on April 4, 2022, along with casino gaming and sports betting. It's legal and regulated through C-218, which passed the legislative assembly in June 2021. As a result, Ontario players can legally enjoy top online casinos, poker rooms and sportsbooks.
What’s the legal age to play online poker in Ontario?
The Ontario legal gambling age is 19 years old. Therefore, you must be at least 19 to play poker online in the Heartland Province. Poker sites can ask for additional identification during deposits and/or withdrawals to verify your age.
Can I play online poker in Ontario?
Yes, you can legally play Ontario online poker. However, you need to meet gelocation and age requirements. As for geolocation, you must be within the province's borders. The ON minimum gambling age is 19+ years old.
How do I play online poker in Ontario?
You can begin playing online poker by ensuring that you're within the province. As per Ontario authorities, poker sites can only serve those inside ON borders. Next, you visit a licensed Ontario poker site and register and deposit. You'll then be ready to play in ring games and tournaments.
What online poker sites are available in Ontario?
PartyPoker, BetMGM and 888Poker are currently the only available online poker sites in the ON market. These operators have each undergone an extensive licensing process to gain approval. You can feel confident when playing at a licensed Ontario product.
What poker formats and variants can I play online in Ontario?
The online poker Ontario market currently offers Texas hold'em, Omaha, and stud. Omaha comes in Hi-Lo and pot-limit formats. Hold'em and stud, meanwhile, are available in limit and no-limit formats.
Can you win real money with online poker in Ontario?
Yes, you can win money through Ontario mobile poker sites. You just need to deposit at a licensed poker site to get started. Common deposit methods include Visa, Mastercard, Neteller, Skrill, Interac, Play+ Card and online banking.
