Ontario
Poker in Ontario – The Ultimate Guide for Players
Ontario is the poker capital of Canada, boasting some of the country’s best live poker rooms, online platforms, and major tournaments. Whether you’re a casual player looking for a friendly game or a grinder hunting for big tournaments, Ontario offers plenty of options.
Live Poker Rooms in Ontario
Ontario has some of the busiest and most competitive live poker rooms in Canada, with cash games and tournaments running daily. Here are the top venues:
- Fallsview Casino (Niagara Falls) – One of Canada’s premier poker destinations, hosting large tournaments and daily cash games.
- Casino Rama (Orillia) – Known for its high-stakes cash games and professional-level tournaments.
- Playground Poker Club Toronto (Coming Soon) – A highly anticipated poker room expected to bring Montreal’s legendary Playground brand to Ontario.
- Great Blue Heron Casino (Port Perry) – Offers a solid mix of cash games and smaller tournaments.
Online Poker in Ontario
Ontario is the only province with a fully regulated online poker market, meaning players have access to legal, licensed poker platforms under iGaming Ontario.
Legality of Online Poker in Ontario
Before legalization, online poker in Ontario existed in a regulatory grey zone, with players accessing poker rooms licensed in offshore jurisdictions.
The situation changed on January 28, 2022, when the Ontario government announced plans to legalize the market. The regulations came into effect on April 4, 2022, with iGaming Ontario—a division of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario—appointed as the industry regulator.
The organization issues licenses to poker rooms and serves as a contact point for player complaints regarding service violations.
Ontario players could only compete with fellow residents within the province. Leading brands like PokerStars, 888Poker, and partypoker secured licenses to operate in the province. These companies were required to set up offices in Ontario to serve local players.
By September 28, 2022, GGPoker Ontario became part of the mix, offering exclusive World Series of Poker (WSOP) Online tournaments with the chance to win WSOP gold bracelets.
Legal Poker Sites in Ontario
- GGPoker Ontario – The province’s official WSOP partner, offering the biggest tournaments.
- WPT Global Ontario – A great option for players looking for soft fields and WPT qualifiers.
- 888poker Ontario – One of the best sites for recreational players.
GGPoker Ontario
As a leading name in the online poker industry, GGPoker offers Ontario players a lucrative opportunity to participate in WSOP Online tournaments. New players can use the GGPoker bonus code NEWBONUS when joining. The platform also features guaranteed tournaments, multiple cash game formats, and generous bonuses.
Seven-time WSOP bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu serves as the poker room's ambassador. GGPoker.ca operates under AGCO license OPIG1231707.
Offshore Poker Sites
Many Ontarians still play on international poker sites, but only sites regulated by iGaming Ontario are officially legal for residents.
How to Start Playing Online Poker in Ontario?
Getting started on licensed poker platforms is pretty simple. Here’s a simple guide:
- Choose a licensed room from options such as GGPoker
- Visit the room’s website and click the “Sign Up” or “Register” button.
- Provide accurate details and use GGPoker promo code NEWBONUS
- Download the gaming client and log in with your credentials.
- Make a deposit on the platform, pick a game of your choice and start playing.
Online Poker Cash Games in Ontario
Cash game limits range from C$0.01/0.02 to C$50/100, with options for No Limit Hold’em (NLH), Pot Limit Omaha (PLO), and other variants. While GGPoker.ca leads the market, peak traffic rarely exceeds 1,000 cash players.
Online Poker Tournament Series in Ontario
Compared to cash games, tournaments in Ontario offer a wide range of options. Players can grind in daily tournaments with guaranteed prize pools and exclusive events.
GGPoker Ontario
The platform is home to WSOP Online tournaments, where players can win WSOP gold bracelets and compete in WSOP Circuit events for championship rings. Eight WSOP Online events with buy-ins from C$100 to C$1,500 are available.
Banking Options for Ontario Players
Licensed poker platforms in Ontario offer diverse payment options, including:
- Credit/Debit Cards: Visa and MasterCard
- E-wallets: PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller
- Bank Transfers: Traditional and digital transfer methods
- Other Services: Paysafecard, Interac, Trustly, and Payz
- Deposits are generally free and have no age restrictions, with minimum deposits typically set at C$10.
Gambling Tax Implications
Ontario players generally do not face taxes on gambling winnings. Under Canadian tax law (paragraph 40(2)(f)(ii) of the Income Tax Act), prize money and gambling winnings are not taxable for recreational players.
However, professional poker players are subject to taxation. Earnings are taxed at rates starting from 5.05% for income up to C$51,446 and up to 13.16% for amounts over C$220,000.
When winnings are earned in U.S. casinos, such as those in Las Vegas, Canadians face a 30% withholding tax on amounts exceeding USD $1,200. These amounts must be declared in Canadian tax returns, but the U.S. withholding can be credited to avoid double taxation.
Poker Laws in Ontario:
- Live poker is fully legal in Ontario at licensed casinos.
- Online poker is legal but must be played on iGaming Ontario-licensed sites.
- Home poker games are allowed as long as no rake is taken.
Major Poker Tournaments in Ontario:
Ontario hosts some of Canada’s biggest poker events, including:
- Fallsview Poker Classic – A must-play event with huge prize pools and a great tournament structure.
- WSOP Online Ontario – Official bracelet events hosted by GGPoker Ontario.
- WPT DeepStacks – Frequently hosted in Ontario, offering high-value tournaments for mid-stakes players.
Live Poker Scene in Ontario
Great Canadian Casino Toronto stands out as a top poker venue in the province, thanks to its partnership with GGPoker for hosting WSOP Circuit and bracelet events.
The upgraded poker room now features a player’s lounge, improved Wi-Fi, and additional TVs, alongside premier tournaments and integrated bad beat jackpots.
Pickering Casino Resort is another noteworthy poker destination, offering 24/7 action with a mix of cash games and regular tournaments catering to both local and visiting players.
Additional poker destinations in Ontario also include spots like the Casino Niagara, Elements Brantford, Caesars Windsor, and Great Blue Heron.
Casino Niagara is a popular choice in the Niagara region for its variety of table limits and daily tournaments, although its higher rake can be a drawback.
Elements Brantford and Caesars Windsor offer competitive cash games and rake policies, despite having fewer tournament options. Overall, Ontario’s live poker landscape is expanding.
Poker Trends in Ontario:
✔️ Online poker has exploded since regulation, with GGPoker Ontario leading the market.
✔️ High-stakes poker is growing, with more players moving from cash games to bigger tournaments.
✔️ Ontario players are making waves globally, with many local players qualifying for WSOP & EPT events.
Where to Play Next?
Ontario is one of the best places in the world to play poker, both live and online. Whether you prefer grinding MTTs online or hitting up live cash games, there’s always action.
Well-known Players from Ontario
Daniel Negreanu
Ontario is home to some of Canada’s most accomplished poker players. Leading the list is Daniel Negreanu, born in Toronto, who has won over $54 million in career tournament earnings and ranks among the top 10 poker players in the All Time Money List.
Negreanu is a major figure in both live and online poker, with seven WSOP bracelets, one WSOP Circuit ring, and 277 cashes in WSOP tournaments.
Sam Greenwood
Sam Greenwood, also from Toronto, has won over $35 million primarily from Triton Poker tournaments. He has one WSOP bracelet and $1.3 million from WSOP tournaments. Greenwood’s twin brother, Lucas, and older brother, Max, are also poker players based in Canada.
Daniel Dvoress
Daniel Dvoress, from Mississauga but now living in Toronto, ranks third in Ontario and fourth in Canada with over $38 million in winnings. Dvoress’ best live cash came from WSOP Paradise 2024 Triton Million when he was placed 4th for a sum of $4.3 million.
