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It’s official: PokerStars has landed in Ontario! This world-class casino, poker and sportsbook brand brings you everything you could ever need for the best online gaming and betting entertainment experience possible.
Today, in our PokerStars Ontario online casino review, we’re going to give you the lowdown on this incredible site, including what games you can play, how to open a new PokerStars account and make lightning-fast deposits and withdrawals. We’ll also go into detail about PokerStars Ontario apps and their awesome rewards program. So let’s dive straight in!
Payment Provider | Safety | Approval rate |
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low risk | ||
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very high | High | |
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The great news is, enjoying everything on offer at PokerStars is perfectly legal in Ontario. In the past, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) was in charge of Ontario Gambling, however, the gambling opportunities on offer were very limited, and only included a small selection of tribal land-based casinos and physical slot machines at a handful of horse racing tracks.
But this changed as of April 2022, and now Ontario has its own online gambling market, called iGaming Ontario (iGO), which has opened the door for a lot more casino and sportsbook operators to offer their products and services in the territory. Furthermore, as the iGO invites more operators to advertise in Ontario, it won’t be long before we see an influx of even more world-class online casinos and bookmakers, which is very exciting.
As soon as you land on the PokerStars Ontario online casino homepage, you’ll see that this is a well organized site that’s been fantastically put together. The very first thing you do when you arrive is choose your territory. That way, you get a site specifically designed for Ontario-based players, which is a great touch from PokerStars.
The red and black colour scheme is synonymous with the PokerStars brand, and you can move around the site with ease, jumping from casino to Ontario sports gambling and poker, using the handy tabs at the top of the page.
When it comes to casino games, this is one packed site! As you scroll down the casino’s homepage, you’ll see some great selections, including Game of the Week and PokerStars Picks, where you’ll find a wonderful collection of the hottest games on the market. Choose from smash-hit slots and live casino, to classic table games and even Casino Races, which are regularly held tournaments offering unique prizes. We particularly like the buttons at the bottom of the page that let you filter games by theme, jackpot and even features. Plus, you can use the search bar function to skip straight to your favourite titles.
Finally, opening an account, or logging into your existing one, is easy. And the same goes for accessing payments, the rewards program and iGO’s responsible gaming policy. All in all, the PokerStars Ontario online casino is an incredibly well thought out site that’s a joy to use, even if you’re new to online casino gaming.
As a reputable brand, PokerStars offers its customers a great mobile gaming experience. Because there are so many products on offer, such as casino, poker and a PokerStars Ontario sportsbook, you’ll find multiple apps that you can download, depending on what you’re looking for.
Available on both Android and Apple devices, each PokerStars Ontario app can be downloaded from your relevant app store, and there are instructions and information available at the PokerStars site on which ones to choose and what the game selection is like.
Unfortunately, not all of the games catalogue is available through the app. That said, this brand adds new games to the collection every month, so you still get a fantastic variety of all the top casino games around.
For new customers, simply head to the top right-hand corner of the PokerStars homepage and hit the ‘Join’ button to open an account. The process is super simple, and you’ll first be asked for some personal info, including your name, address, date of birth, telephone number and email address. You can also choose a username at this stage.
Your account will be verified by email, and at this point you may also be asked to complete KYC. If you don’t know what KYC is, let us explain.
KYC stands for ‘know your customer’ and it’s a simple process whereby you have to prove to the casino that you are who you say you are! KYC involves submitting documents, such as a photocopy of your ID, as well as a recent proof of address. It’s important to remember that KYC is a legal requirement, so there’s no avoiding it if you want to withdraw real money from any Ontario-based casino.
As one of the world’s premier online casino brands, we expect a lot from PokerStars Ontario online casino. And when it comes to quick and easy deposits and withdrawals, this brand is top of the pile once again. Choose from classic banking methods, like wire transfer and debit/credit cards. Or opt for more modern platforms, such as e-wallets like MuchBetter, Apple Pay and PayPal, and extra secure e-transfer provider, Interac.
The minimum deposit at PokerStars is just $10 and, regardless of which payment method you use, deposits are instant. However, PokerStars runs a very rigid withdrawal policy and, usually, you can only receive funds back to the same source you used to make your deposit, so think before you make a payment into the site. Also, we recommend checking out the ‘Deposits & Withdrawal’ tab directly on the site, as there are a few more tricky rules that this brand has in place. Finally, as usual, e-wallets top the list when it comes to quick withdrawal times, and you can receive your winnings pretty much instantly. But you can expect a wait of between 3 and 10 days, if using a more traditional banking method.
Here at TheGruelingTruth, we believe that a casino is only as good as its customer care. And PokerStars is right up there with some of the best brands in the world when it comes to looking out for their customers. Not only is there a dedicated support email and 24/7 live chat feature, but you can also find an entire Help Centre by clicking on the link at the bottom of the homepage.
In the Help Centre, you’ll find individualized topics to explore that will help you with your query, including deposits and withdrawals, technical issues and rewards. So very often, it’s not necessary to contact the casino, as you may find the answer you’re looking for here. There’s also a thorough FAQ page and you can log in to receive personalized help as well.
Unsurprisingly, PokerStars runs a tight ship, and customers with this brand can look forward to an extra safe environment in which to enjoy all your favourite casino games. Specifically in Canada, the PokerStars brand is operated by TSG Interactive Canada Inc. and, as such, is an agent of iGaming Ontario (iGO), meaning that it is perfectly safe and legal for you to play at the site. Not only that, but as we saw in our LeoVegas reviews, more and more casino brands are coming to Ontario, due to the relaxation of strict Canadian gambling laws. So PokerStars is just one of the trusted and reputable sites now offering their services to Ontario-based customers.
The only prerequisites for playing at the PokerStars Ontario site are that you are aged 19 or older and physically present in the territory of Ontario at the time you access the site. And if you have any other questions regarding PokerStars licence or jurisdiction, you can find full details about the brand in the Help Centre section of the site.
Everyone wants to be made to feel special, and our Ontario online casino reviews found a great rewards program for loyal customers at Pokerstars, with 6 levels and ‘Chests’ full of goodies to be won.
Being a brand with many strings to their bow, you can collect points to earn Chests across casino, poker and the PokerStars Ontario sportsbook, depending on what you enjoy. For casino players, you can look forward to extra points for playing specific games, and sports fans can unlock points for settling certain types of bets. Finally, poker players get rewarded via tournaments and competitions. All these points equal Chests and, as you move up the levels, the Chests become more lucrative, and you can check your progress in the ‘My Rewards’ section of your account.
You may be wondering why a site that specialises in poker would want to venture into the world of sports. That answer will become clear when you see their pretty extensive lineup. It’s much more than you might expect:
That’s not all, either. They’ve even included a special category called “specials” that include politics, among other niche markets.
Pokerstars have gone out of their way to make the complex world of odds as simple as possible. You can display them in decimal, fractional and American formats to keep things on your terms. Not only are there competitive odds on match outcomes but other, more special bets including first to score and overall number of goals.
While live betting is available at Pokerstars, it doesn’t seem to be their number 1 priority. In fact, it’s not as easy as we’d like to find the available live bets. However, once you’re there, it’s just as exciting!
Remember, however, that Pokerstars accepts no liability for incorrect information during live events, so bet with caution!
Every site should offer some kind of limit to ensure the safety of their players. Luckily, Pokerstars is committed to exactly that. While setting personal limits is part of the game, maximum payouts are also common. Pokerstars have maximum payouts ranging from $50,000 CAD to $1 million CAD depending on the sport.
Don’t be fooled by the name, Pokerstars are in it to win it when it comes to sports betting markets. Although we’d love to see a bigger focus on live betting, the amazing odds and unusual markets more than make up for any misgivings. Now is the perfect time to start!
The PokerStars site uses some of the most sophisticated software on the planet to power its many pages and apps. And the result is lightning-fast loading times, no lagging and crisp, vibrant graphics and sounds on all games.
The games on the PokerStars site are also provided by some of the biggest names in software development, including NetEnt, Play’n GO and Pragmatic Play. Plus, the majority of their live titles come from leading iGaming creators, Evolution Gaming. And if you want to access their famous poker tournaments, you can download PokerStars’ unique software directly to your device, for the most seamless experience possible.
Like most modern online casinos, the PokerStars catalogue is made up mainly of slot titles. Choose from fan-favourite action-adventure games, or opt for a classic fruit machine/Vegas-style slot, as well as loads of new releases from the hottest slot studios in the world.
The live collection here is also bursting with tons of traditional table games, including roulette, blackjack and baccarat. Or try something new, with PokerStars’ jaw-dropping selection of game show-inspired titles, from Evolution Gaming.
Filmed in dedicated studios, using the most state-of-the-art equipment and professional, fully-trained dealers and croupiers, the live gaming section of PokerStars offers the most immersive and exciting live experience possible. Just straight to the live gaming collection using the handy tab at the top of the page, and enjoy these amazing games from any of your devices.
Table limits will depend on the types of games you want to play. But, as a general rule of thumb, you can expect higher buy-ins on live gaming titles. And the good news is, whatever your budget, there’s a game to suit you at the PokerStars Ontario online casino. The slots selection offers a great range of games, where you can play for under a dollar. Or go big with one of their jackpot slots, where high rollers can get their kicks, with huge max bets.
We have to say that PokerStars really is a first-class casino site. Slots players will be delighted with the vast and varied collection of games, and live casino fans are also spoiled for choice, with the most cutting-edge titles on offer anywhere in the world.
The site and multiple apps are all easy to use, and the dedicated poker and PokerStars Ontario sportsbook pages are a must for those who like to mix up their gambling styles. All in all, we recommend PokerStars 100% for all your gaming desires!
Gambling laws in Ontario, and Canada in general, are constantly changing. That’s why we recommend that you always come to us for the most up-to-date news and info on all Canada-wide gambling rules. We’ll tell you where you can play and how to find the most secure and exciting sites in the Ontario territory.
As a world-renowned brand, PokerStars offers its customers multiple different apps for their various products. To find out which app you should download, read our comprehensive PokerStars review. We’ll tell you all about the different apps and how you can benefit from each one.
For sports betting fans, PokerStars offers a dedicated sportsbook with a wide range of odds and markets. To find out everything you need to know about sports betting in Ontario with PokerStars, as well as which devices you can use, check our full review of PokerStars and all their products.
There’s a reason that everyone knows the name PokerStars! This brand offers world-class gaming, slick and modern sites and apps, a wealth of banking methods and unparalleled customer service.
While we were sure the poker would be first rate, we were surprised at just how good their casino site is as well. The slots collection here is absolutely fantastic, along with 5-star live games and a comprehensive table games selection, too.
We love the multiple PokerStars apps and dedicated 24/7 customer service. In summary, PokerStars proves once and for all that it’s one of the premier casino brands anywhere in the world.
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19+ and physically located in Ontario. Gambling Problem? Call 1-866-531-2600 or visit connexontario.ca.