Ontario has had a regulated online market since April 2022. Six poker rooms hold Ontario licences, and they only seat players located in Ontario. If you live in Ontario, these are the sites to use; this site does not promote offshore rooms to Ontario players.
Legal age in Ontario: 19.
Licensed poker rooms in Ontario
| Licensed room | Notes |
|---|---|
| GGPoker Ontario | Largest Ontario poker room; WSOP events |
| PokerStars on FanDuel | PokerStars moved under the FanDuel brand in 2026 |
| 888poker Ontario | Beginner-friendly; webcam tables |
| BetMGM Poker | Ontario-only player pool |
| PartyPoker Ontario | Shares software with BetMGM |
| Bwin Ontario | Smaller room on the same network as PartyPoker |
Why we don't list offshore rooms here. Ontario expects residents to use licensed sites, and its regulator has told publishers to stop promoting the rest. Licensed rooms also give you things offshore sites can't: provincial dispute resolution, a central self-exclusion program, and payouts in Canadian dollars to your bank.
The trade-off
Licensed rooms seat only players located in Ontario (an Ontario–Alberta shared pool is under discussion). That means smaller tournaments and thinner high-stakes games than the international sites. For most recreational players it makes little difference: there are games at micro and low stakes around the clock.
How Ontario's licensed market works
Ontario opened Canada's first licensed online gambling market on April 4, 2022. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario sets the rules and registers operators, and iGaming Ontario signs the operating agreements. Dozens of operators now run sites under it, and a handful of them offer poker.
- You play against Ontario only. Each room seats players who are physically in the province. Tournaments are smaller than on international sites, and the highest stakes can be quiet.
- Your location is checked. The software confirms you are inside Ontario every time you sit down. A VPN will get an account closed.
- Accounts and cashouts are in Canadian dollars, paid to your bank, with the province's dispute process behind them.
- Bonuses are not advertised. Ontario does not let sites like this one publish gambling inducements. Each room shows its offers to registered players.
- Self-exclusion is available at every licensed site.
What changed in 2026
PokerStars closed its own Ontario site on May 7, 2026 and reopened in early June inside FanDuel, as PokerStars on FanDuel. Old accounts did not move, so players registered again. The detail is on the PokerStars page.
Will Ontario's tables ever open up?
Possibly. Ontario's top court has said the province could let its players sit with players outside Canada, and that question is now before the Supreme Court of Canada. Separately, Ontario and Alberta have discussed combining their player pools. Neither has happened yet.
Live poker in Ontario
Official sources
- iGaming Ontario: list of regulated sites
- Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
- ConnexOntario help line
- Responsible Gambling Council
- 211 Canada (local support services)
This site is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Gambling law differs by province and changes. If you need to rely on it, check with the regulator or a qualified professional.
Questions
Can I play online poker in Ontario?
Yes, on provincially licensed sites: GGPoker Ontario, PokerStars on FanDuel, 888poker Ontario, BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker Ontario, Bwin Ontario.
What is the gambling age in Ontario?
19.
Which online poker sites are legal in Ontario?
The licensed rooms are GGPoker Ontario, PokerStars on FanDuel, 888poker Ontario, and the BetMGM, PartyPoker and Bwin network.
Can Ontario players play against the rest of the world?
Not at present. Licensed rooms seat Ontario players only. A Supreme Court case could change that.