PokerStars Ontario Closes Operations on May 7, Transitions to FanDuel Platform
PokerStars Ontario ceased operations on May 7, 2026, marking the end of its standalone presence in the province’s regulated online poker market. The platform is now transitioning to a new home under the name PokerStars on FanDuel, with both FanDuel Poker and FanDuel Casino expected to launch in Ontario soon. This closure requires a brief downtime to meet regulatory requirements from iGaming Ontario. All player funds are confirmed 100% safe and secure, according to PokerNews reporting. Launched in June 2022 following Ontario’s legalization of online poker, the site offered the largest selection of cash games and tournaments in Canada, including no-limit hold’em, pot-limit Omaha, and specialized formats like 6+ Hold’em and Zoom Poker. The move affects only players physically located in Ontario, preserving the province’s player-versus-player model established in April 2022.
Closure Details and Regulatory Context
The shutdown occurred on May 7, 2026, as stated across PokerNews updates. This step ensures compliance with iGaming Ontario regulations, which mandate Ontario players compete only against other Ontarians—a rule set in April 2022. The transition to PokerStars on FanDuel involves a short period where tables are offline. PokerNews confirms player funds are 100% safe, addressing immediate concerns for account holders. Prior to closure, the platform supported dedicated Android and iOS apps, praised for state-of-the-art design and one-handed operation on mobile. Customer support operated 24/7 via email, with quick responses but no live chat or phone options.
Game Offerings Prior to Shutdown
PokerStars Ontario hosted Canada’s biggest selection of games, per PokerNews. Cash games included no-limit hold’em, pot-limit Omaha, and 6+ Hold’em, with stakes from $0.01/$0.02 to $50/$100. Tournaments spanned buy-ins of $0.25 to $500, featuring formats like turbos, freezeouts, progressive knockouts, and Zoom Poker events. Mixed games such as H.O.R.S.E. and 8-Game appeared in MTTs only. Pot-limit Omaha variants included Hi/Lo, 5-Card, 6-Card, and Courchevel, especially during festivals. Short Deck/6+ Hold’em used a 36-card deck, altering hand rankings to favour full houses over flushes. Home Games allowed private clubs for cash and tournaments among Ontario players. Major series like the Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP) featured a $500 Main Event with $200,000 guarantee, won by ‘youaremelon’ for $36,864.
Access, Deposits, and App Features
Access required players to be physically in Ontario, with geolocation enforcement. Apps for iOS and Android offered full cash games, MTTs, SNGs, Zoom, and Spin & Go, limited to four tables on Android (five on iOS). Deposits started at $10 via Visa, MasterCard, Skrill, Neteller, PayPal, Interac e-Transfer, bank transfer, and ecoPayz. Withdrawals matched the $10 minimum, with processing times from 1-2 days for Skrill and Paysafecard to 4-7 days for wire transfers. Desktop clients for Windows and macOS required download, as browser play was unsupported. Account setup involved email, password, username, identity verification per Ontario rules, and terms acceptance. Play money tables served beginners.
| Aspect | Details | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Closure Date | May 7, 2026 | Transition to FanDuel platform |
| Fund Safety | 100% safe and secure | Confirmed for all players |
| App Table Limit | 4 on Android, 5 on iOS | Mobile restrictions vs desktop |
| Min Deposit/Withdrawal | $10 | All methods |
| ONCOOP Main Event | $500 buy-in, $200,000 GTD | Won by 'youaremelon' for $36,864 |
| Launch Date | June 2022 | Post-legalization |
