- PokerStars is now live in Ontario with sports betting, casino gaming and poker.
- The company has deep roots in Ontario–the first hand of poker at PokerStars was played in the province over 20 years ago.
- PokerStars recently signed a promotional partnership with Toronto pro sports juggernaut Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
You can add another name to the growing roster of sportsbooks serving the red hot Ontario market. Flutter Entertainment owned PokerStars has announced that they’ve gone live in the province offering sports betting, poker and casino gaming. They’ve completed the licensing requirements of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and registered with the provincial iGaming oversight body, iGaming Ontario.
Ontario sports betting gets most of the publicity (particularly on this website) but with the launch today the provincial poker scene continues to heat up. Ontario now has poker action from 888Poker, BetMGM, PartyPoker and now PokerStars. Waiting in the wings is the Canadian debut of the World Series of Poker branded WSOP.ca. There are no doubt others that are forthcoming in the not too distant future.
PokerStars has roots in Ontario–according to the company the first ever hand of PokerStars poker was played in the province. Not sure about the veracity of that, but the original founders of PokerStars (Isai Scheinberg and his son Mark Scheinberg) were born in Israel and immigrated to the Toronto area. Here’s what Tom Warren, MD – Marketing, says about the new Ontario market and the company’s roots in the area:
“In many respects Ontario is our home market, given the first ever hand of PokerStars was played here over 20 years ago, so we are thrilled about the new regulated environment within which our players can play. A lot has changed in that time, but our commitment to offering our players the most epic and thrilling experience in the market hasn’t – and we can’t wait to get started.”
PokerStars will be holding a special launch series exclusively for Ontario players to commemorate the new market:
The registration provides for a regulated offering to the community in Ontario, across PokerStars’ three verticals of poker, casino, and sport, featuring many of the gaming products that players know and love, while presenting a localised schedule and offering, as well as experiences and benefits that only PokerStars can offer. With more than 5,000 games, poker, blackjack and much more, available 24/7, the in-app and online experience provides consumers with a variety of exciting ways to play and be rewarded.
To mark the launch of the new PokerStars CAON platform, PokerStars will be hosting a special launch series, the Ontario Platinum Series, exclusively for those in Ontario from July 10 -18, offering a $1 million guaranteed prize pool.
Also getting a mention in the press release–Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE). MLSE owns just about every professional sports team in the Queen City (aka the 6ix)–specifically, the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs, NBA Toronto Raptors, MLS Toronto FC, CFL Toronto Argonauts and the AHL Toronto Marlies. Flutter Entertainment signed a promotional deal with MLSE in April for both PokerStars and FanDuel. It is the first North American partnership deal by Flutter to feature multiple brands. MLSE has also signed a promotional deal with PointsBet Canada.
