The announcement by PokerStars and FanDuel to debut PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel in Ontario is a clear indication of the direction that online poker is taking in the province.
Through X, players in North America were informed that this was taking place. Additionally, PokerStars will only be available on FanDuel in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
In order to provide shared player liquidity in the three U.S. states, PokerStars will launch through a dedicated poker app and desktop. This will result in larger games, greater prize pools, and a wider variety of tournaments and cash games throughout those regulated markets.
Ontario is a different story. Although gamers in Ontario may access PokerStars on FanDuel within its boundaries, this could soon change.
In 2024, Ontario Premier Doug Ford's cabinet issued an order-in-council asking the court to decide whether "legal online gaming and sports betting remain lawful under the Criminal Code if its users were permitted to participate in games and betting involving individuals outside of Canada."
In a landmark ruling in November, the Ontario Court of Appeal decided that players in the province could compete against players outside of Canada in peer-to-peer games like online poker and daily fantasy sports.
The battle against international liquidity has been spearheaded by the Canadian Lottery Coalition (CLC), a pan-Canadian alliance of provincial gaming businesses, including British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation, Loto-Québec, and Atlantic Lottery Corporation.
CLC has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada, claiming that the ruling of the Ontario court may cause unlawful gaming to spread throughout the areas where they conduct business.
Proponents of international liquidity in the industry contend that permitting players to play DFS or online poker with players in other countries would stay legal and increase competition in regulated gaming. If the dam bursts and Ontario players are permitted to travel beyond the province, the financial consequences will be enormous. Higher stakes are what players want.
As of right now, there is obviously insufficient motivation to play on provincially regulated websites, according to iGaming Ontario market financial statistics. A new approach would allow players from outside Canada to enter Ontario's regulated market in addition to Ontario players playing overseas.
P2P poker saw $156 million in cash wagers in January, up 11% from the previous month and accounting for 2% of the market. In terms of NAGGR by product category, P2P poker generated $5.9 million in revenue (a 2% monthly rise and a 1% market share).
To book a seat, players must create a FanDuel account. Look out for a significant increase in the poker bankroll with a welcome bonus when the tables are ready, according to FanDuel. A seamless wallet that allows access to poker, casino, and sports in a one account, as well as greater tournament guarantees.
Until it launches with FanDuel in 2026, PokerStars will continue to operate on its present platform with the same schedule.There will soon be more information on that.
