Our PokerStars Ontario Review

Reviewed By Daniel Smyth

Last Updated: 2023 Sep 4

Players in Ontario, Canada, have access to the biggest name in the online poker industry. That's not hyperbole, it's a fact. PokerStars has been a global operator since 2001 and, today, it attracts more players than all other online poker rooms.

Now, thanks to a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission, locals can play responsibly on an app packed with features. From low-stakes cash tables to lucrative poker tournaments, there are options and innovations aplenty.

To see what PokerStars has brought to the Ontario online poker market, scroll down for our open and honest review.

PokerStars Pros and Cons

PokerStars entered the new regulated environment of Ontario online casinos on June 28, 2022. The PokerStars Ontario launch followed approval from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) and means it can legally offer fair games to anyone in the province.

PokerStars ON is available to Ontario players aged 19 or older within the province. Finally, iGaming Ontario is ring-fenced, which means you'll only be competing against poker players in your home market.

What makes PokerStars' software among the best in the business? For starters, this operator has been developing its own software for over 20 years. A lot of international online poker sites are part of a network. The network provider develops most of the software its partners use. PokerStars is a standalone poker operator, so it doesn't use third-party products.

That means it's been building and refining its own innovations since 2001. Add to this a commitment to quality and plenty of resources, and it's easy to see why PokerStars' software is rated so highly among players and industry insiders.

PokerStars' Ontario software is available across all platforms. Your journey starts when you click our registration link and land on the website. From there, you can register for an account and download PokerStars Ontario for PC or Mac.

Alternatively, you can go to your native app store (iOS and Android) and download the PokerStars Ontario mobile app. Whichever digital gateway you use, you'll get a world-class experience, as you'll discover in the sections below.

The desktop site provides an overview of everything this operator has to offer. But, when it comes to playing poker games in Ontario, you need to download the PokerStars app. Depending on your preferences, you can install the software on your PC, Mac, iOS, or Android device.

Ontario PokerStars offers a wide range of cash games and tournaments. Texas Hold'em poker and Pot Limit Omaha are the most popular variants, but there are plenty of alternative ways to play, including:

• 6+ poker (a short deck variant)
• Spin & Go tournaments
• Tempest

The mobile app gives you access to all of those games, as well as a full selection of banking options, ways to win tournament tickets, and a variety of personalization options.

Everything you can access via the mobile app is available on PC and Mac. Therefore, whatever features we mentioned in the previous section apply here. Similarly, whatever features we've picked out in this section of our review are also available on the mobile app.

With this in mind, here are some of the finest features this fully licensed poker operator offers:

• Pop-Up Tips

Pop-up tips ensure you always know what buttons to press as a newbie or where to find the best games. You can also get online poker strategy tips via the PokerStars Ontario news and blog pages.

• Customizable Content

You can customize the lobby. This means you can add/remove elements from the lobby and toggle dozens of filters to help you find your preferred games. You can also adjust various table themes. From different coloured cards to custom backgrounds, you have total control over the aesthetics.

• Free Play and Real-Money Games

Other features of note are the PokerStars Ontario play money/real-money buttons. Located in the top right of the lobby, these buttons allow you to view all of the free-play fun tables. Alternatively, you can switch to real-money play, make your first deposit, and choose the buy-ins that suit you.

PokerStars offers a great selection of games. Cash game tables come as standard and betting limits range from $0.02/0.05 to $50/$100. This online casino app also features multi-table and single table tournaments for free and real-money buy-ins. There isn't much action at the highest stakes, but all other tables attract a decent amount of players.

There are some positives and some negatives when it comes to game selection. The positives are that you can play all types of Hold'em and Omaha poker. You can also play novel variants, such as 6+ Hold'em and Tempest.

The main negative, in our opinion, is the lack of variety in some areas. Specifically, there aren't any Stud, Draw, or Mixed Games cash tables. There is a small selection of MTTs covering these variants, but the only cash games are Hold'em and Omaha .

*Note: PokerStars offers all variants on many of its international online poker networks. This suggests its ON app will have more options in the future.

We've given you a general overview of what you can bet, now let's talk specifics.

Cash Games

Cash games at PokerStars Ontario start at $0.02/$0.05 and you'll be able to try the following variants:

• 6-Max No Limit Hold'em (NHLE) and Pot Limit Omaha (PLO)
• Zoom NLHE and PLO - Fast-fold games where you move to a new table/hand each time you fold
• 6+ Hold'em - A short-deck game where all cards lower than a 6 are removed and flushes beat a full houses
• Tempest - A Hold'em variant where the antes change based on the number of community cards dealt in the previous hand. Players have two options: all-in or fold. This is a variant for players who enjoy online gambling .

Multi-Table Tournaments

There are plenty of freerolls if you want to build a bankroll without making a deposit. For bigger prize pools, there are buy-ins to suit every bankroll. MTTs start at $1 and cover all variants. At the other end of the spectrum, you can enter marquee MTTs, such as the $500 Sunday Super High Roller, with prize pools topping $10,000.

Sit & Gos

There are traditional SNGs, as well as lottery-style games (Spin & Go) where the payouts are decided randomly. These three-handed games cost between $1 and $100 and the random prize pools range from $10,000 to $1 million!

Heads Up

There aren't a ton of heads-up events, but you will be able to compete in one-on-one showdowns in the weekly $20 Saturday Duel. This event uses a turbo, Zoom, progressive knockout format, so it's a high-paced affair where every elimination counts.

Tournament Series

PokerStars has been leading the way for over two decades when it comes to online tournament series. For example, the Ontario Platinum Series featured 90 MTTs and $1 million in guaranteed prizes. This series is flanked by other innovative offerings such as the Bounty Builder and Championship of Online Poker ('COOP).

Home Games

If playing with friends is your thing, PokerStars has you covered. Simply go to the "Home Games" section of the main lobby and you'll be able to build your own games. From free-play to real-money tables, cash games to tournaments, the choice is yours.

PokerStars has an Ontario license. In fact, it's licensed in dozens of jurisdictions around the world, including other parts of Canada thanks to a license from the Malta Gaming Authority.

Being a regulated operator means every game has been tested and certified as fair. Moreover, the software features SSL encryption and responsible gaming tools to help stop you from developing a gambling problem.

You can get access to help and support via account whenever you need it. There's an FAQ that answers questions such as, why won't PokerStars Ontario install? If that doesn't help, the PokerStars ON customer support team is active 24/7 via an onsite contact form.

The minimum deposit and withdrawal is $10. You'll need to verify your account and identity before your first deposit and withdrawal are processed. After that, requests are handled within 24-48 hours, which means you should get your winnings within 1 to 5 days.

The casino payment options at PokerStars ON are:

• Visa
• Mastercard
• PayNearMe
• Interac
• ACH bank transfer (deposit & withdrawal)
• Skrill (deposit & withdrawal)
• PayPal (deposit & withdrawal)
• Play+ (deposit & withdrawal)
• EcoPayz (deposit & withdrawal)
• InstaDebit (deposit & withdrawal)

You must be at least 19 years old and in the province to play. If you meet these entry conditions, you can start the registration process by following these steps:

1. Click here to create your first (and only) PokerStars Ontario account.
2. Tap the PokerStars Ontario download option for desktop/mobile.
3. Complete the registration form and provide copies of your ID to verify your identity.
4. Use your login details to open the app and play first ever hand on PokerStars ON.

PokerStars is the biggest name in gambling and it offers a high-quality product for players of all persuasions. The ON app does lack variety in certain areas. However, other than a few minor criticisms, this poker site has something for everyone. From traditional games and innovative formats to major tournaments with $1 million+ guarantees, there's no doubt PokerStars is among the top poker, online casino , and betting sites in Ontario.

Updated by

Daniel Smyth

Last Updated:   2023 Sep 4

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