Online Poker in Ontario | Top 5 Poker Rooms in 2024

What Is The Legal Status of Online Poker in Ontario?

Ontario has revolutionized its online poker scene by transitioning from an unregulated market to a fully legalized and regulated one following the passing of C-218 in June 2021.

This change means that online poker in Ontario now operates in a ring-fenced environment, where Ontarians can only play against others within the province. This setup has led major poker sites like PokerStars, partypoker, 888poker, and GGPoker to create Ontario-specific clients, separating them from their global counterparts.

Despite this segregation, these sites still offer a wide variety of cash games and tournaments, although with a smaller player pool compared to the global market. All games are played in Canadian Dollars, and the legal gambling age is set at 19.

The BetMGM Ontario Network, linking BetMGM, partypoker, and bwin, is a pioneering example of a multi-brand online poker network within the province, showcasing the potential for a more interconnected poker community in Canada’s largest province.

Ontario Online Poker: A Timeline of Key Events

This timeline showcases the rapid development and expansion of the online poker market in Ontario, highlighting the key players and their respective launch dates in the province.

Best Poker Sites in Ontario

Our Poker experts spent over 20 hours reviewing the five online poker sites in Ontario. Below, you will find detailed facts on each poker site that will help you compare them and decide which is the best for you based on your playing style and skill level.

What Poker Games and Variants Are Available at Online Poker Ontario Sites?

In Ontario, online poker players have a broad range of poker games and formats at their disposal across various licensed poker sites.

Despite a smaller player pool due to regional restrictions, the offerings are diverse.

Dominating the scene is Texas Hold’em, the most popular variant, along with Pot-Limit Omaha. These games are widely available and cater to most players’ preferences.

The most prominent sites in Ontario also feature other poker variations, including Seven-Card Stud and mixed games like H.O.R.S.E., with the selection often adapting to player demand.

Limit and no-limit versions of Hold’em and Stud further diversify the gaming experience.

While currently limited to these variants, the range of games could expand in response to growing interest and participation within the Ontario poker community.

Aside from poker, players also have the opportunity to explore a selection of casino games available at the region’s top Ontario online casinos, providing a comprehensive gaming experience.

How to Play Poker Games in Ontario?

The diverse variants and types make Poker one of the most popular online casino games among Ontario players. If you’re new to poker or need a refresher on how to play poker games, take a look at these players’ top three online poker games and their descriptions.

1. Texas Hold’Em

Texas Hold’Em is hands-down the most popular and widely played version of poker.

Each player receives two cards face-down, and then a betting round ensues.

The dealer then puts three cards face up in the middle of the table. This is known as the “Flop.”

These are community cards that each player can use. After another betting round, the dealer places another card face up.

This process repeats itself one more time, leaving each player to make the best 5-card hand out of the five community cards and their two face-down cards.

2. Omaha

Omaha is very similar to Texas Hold’Em. The biggest difference is that each player starts with four face-down cards instead of two.

There are betting rounds after the cards are dealt and then more betting rounds between the flop, the turn, and the river.

Unlike Texas Hold’Em, in which you can use both, one, or none of your hole cards to make your hand, Omaha requires players to use exactly two of their hole cards and three community cards.

We must mention that one version of Omaha, known as Omaha Hi-Lo, involves a split pot. Half of the pot is awarded to the player with the lowest qualifying hand. If no such hand exists, then the player with the highest hand takes the entire pot.

3. Seven-Card Stud Poker

In 7-Card Stud Poker, a round begins with each player receiving two cards face-down and one card face-up.

After a round of betting, each player gets another face-up card. This repeats until the remaining players have two hole cards and four face-up cards.

After the betting round, each player gets one last card face-down.

After the final bets are placed, it goes to the showdown, and the strongest hand wins.

If you play at the best Ontario poker sites, you will come across 5-Card Stud. This is the same as the 7-card version, except players wind up with three-hole cards and two face-up cards. Some online poker sites even offer a hi-lo version of the 7-Card Stud.

Best Banking Options For Online Poker Players in Ontario

In Ontario, online poker sites offer a wide variety of banking options for easy deposits and withdrawals, with each site providing different methods based on their agreements with payment providers.

Common methods include major debit cards like Visa and MasterCard, bank transfers, and e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill. Additionally, prepaid cards like the Play+ Card are also expected to be widely available.

The banking options for Ontario poker sites typically include the following:

What Changed For Online Poker in Ontario?

Explore the significant regulatory shifts in Ontario’s online poker landscape and their impact on players and operators. If you are an online poker player in Ontario, this will greatly interest you.

What Does the Ring-Fenced Player Pool Mean for Ontario’s Online Poker?

In Ontario, the legal landscape of online poker has undergone a significant shift with the introduction of regulations mandating a ring-fenced player pool.

This means that players in Ontario can only compete against others within the province.

Major online poker platforms like PokerStars Ontario, partypoker Ontario, 888poker Ontario, and GGPoker Ontario have adapted to these regulations by creating Ontario-specific clients, segregating Ontarian players from their global counterparts.

How Are Online Poker Sites Adapting to Ontario’s Market?

Despite the limitations of a ring-fenced market, these sites continue to offer a wide array of cash games and tournament poker.

All games and tournaments are played in Canadian Dollars, and the legal gambling age is set at 19 years.

Notably, the BetMGM Ontario Network, comprising BetMGM, partypoker, and bwin, has become the first multi-brand online poker network in Ontario.

Is There a Future for Inter-Jurisdictional Online Poker in Ontario?

While Ontario’s online poker community is currently confined within the province’s borders, there’s potential for future changes.

Ontario regulators have considered inter-jurisdictional compacts similar to the existing compact between British Columbia, Manitoba, and Québec.

However, the presence of private operators in Ontario’s market poses challenges for integration into a compact currently dominated by government-controlled gaming monopolies.

🔥 Anthony’s Hot Take on The Online Poker Legislation in Ontario

As an expert watching the online poker changes in Ontario, I think the new rule that limits players to only play against others within Ontario might not be the best move. This rule is meant to keep things safe and regulated but also prevents Ontario players from competing against a broader range of players worldwide. Big poker sites have had to make special versions just for Ontario players, which limits the variety and challenge they get from the game. This could stop players from getting better by not facing as diverse a group of opponents as possible. Ideally, Ontario might rethink this to help players have a richer, more challenging poker experience.

How Does Ontario’s Online Poker Market Compare to the Rest of Canada?

The broader Canadian market outside Ontario remains a grey area, with international poker sites legally catering to players. This situation allows Canadians outside Ontario access to a global player pool. If other provinces follow Ontario’s regulatory footsteps, this privilege will evolve further.

Explore the unique landscape of online poker in Ontario compared to the rest of Canada with our detailed comparison table. See how player pools, major platforms, market structures, and more vary across these regions:

Are Online Poker Winnings Taxable in Ontario?

In Canada, including Ontario, winnings from gambling activities such as online poker are typically not taxable.

This is because they are not seen as income from a business or employment, as outlined in Section 3 of Canada’s Income Tax Act.

If these winnings are earned in a professional context or as part of business income, they are subject to taxation. This distinction is vital for understanding how gambling earnings are treated under Canadian tax law.

Pending Regulatory Clarifications

The situation with online poker in Ontario is still evolving. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO) are refining the regulations surrounding online gaming licenses, including aspects of taxation.

Currently, land-based casinos in Ontario are taxed at 55%. Still, it remains to be seen if a similar rate will be applied to online gaming operations.

The regulators have committed to creating a competitive market, aiming to encourage players to use licensed sites. Should taxation on poker players be introduced, online poker sites are expected to comply fully and likely automate tax handling, as seen in other jurisdictions.

Ontario’s Best Land-Based Poker Rooms

Ontario is a prime destination for poker enthusiasts in Canada, boasting the province’s highest density of poker venues per square kilometre. The region celebrates live poker, with more than 15 land-based poker rooms scattered across Ontario, particularly concentrated in the southern part near the U.S. border. These venues cater to a wide range of preferences, offering daily tournaments with buy-ins reaching up to $100 (plus rebuys), alongside the allure of online poker available to Canadian citizens.

While the focus in Ontario has recently shifted towards online poker, the live poker scene in land-based casinos remains vibrant and popular.

In particular, Toronto is a live poker hub featuring esteemed venues like the Aces Club, Toronto Poker Tournament, and Toronto Poker Game Rooms. Windsor also holds its ground as a hotspot for live cash games and tournaments, solidifying Ontario’s reputation as a leading poker destination in Canada.

Popular Poker Rooms in Ontario include: