PokerStars – Our Verdict

Since its Ontario launch in June 2022, PokerStars has proven to be one of the province’s most successful poker providers. Its downloadable software is sleek, its payment methods are varied and reputable, and its customer support is efficient. Catering to both traditional and modern poker fans, PokerStars offers a huge selection of cash games alongside its unique and fast-paced Spin & Go tables. 

PokerStars is also ideal for all budgets and experience levels. It has micro-limit tables for budget bettors and detailed game explanations for beginners. In contrast, experienced players have the opportunity to bluff, call and raise their way into PokerStars’ exclusive North American Poker Tour (NAPT) in Las Vegas. 

Complementing its award-winning poker server is a fully stocked casino with exclusive branded games and a sportsbook with great market coverage, making it a one-stop shop for iGaming enthusiasts. 

About PokerStars

Launched in 2001, PokerStars is not only one of the oldest poker operators in Ontario but one of the longest-running poker platforms in the world. Solidifying its position as a top poker provider, it has won six out of the last ten EGR Best Poker Operator awards, alongside the Best Live Stream Award at the Global Poker Awards. 

Holding four licenses in North America (Ontario, NJ, MI, PA) and over half a dozen licenses in other global jurisdictions (including the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority), PokerStars is a universally trusted, respected, and popular operator. 

PokerStars Mobile Experience

The PokerStars mobile app is available for download on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Ontario poker players can also download the desktop version on both iOS and Android devices via the PokerStars website. 

With no option to play from a web browser, I can’t compare the app to the desktop version. However, I can say that it works very well on any sized mobile device. The games adjust perfectly to every screen size, and the only lag depends on the quality of your internet connection. 

The navigation works better on the mobile app than the desktop software (more on that below), with intuitive search tools, collapsible menus and a slightly more modern interface. Though the app has a smaller surface area on which to display the extensive selection of games and tournaments, it’s still easy to find whatever you’re looking for.

PokerStars Desktop Experience

Like most poker platforms, you need to download software to play PokerStars on a desktop. The PokerStars desktop download process is quick and straightforward. Just hit “Download PokerStars”, agree to the recommended setup, and launch the app. 

From the get-go, you can tell this is a separate product from the PokerStars mobile app. The ‘Cash’, ‘Tourney’ and ‘Sit & Go’ sections are stripped back to basics, and the interface bears more resemblance to raw computer code than a fun poker platform. However, it does the job, neatly organizing games by factors like the buy-in and game type. 

I like that you can see exactly which players are sitting at each table and that there are detailed game stats available before entering. The ‘Quick Seat’ feature is also a great addition, allowing you to jump into a cash game, tourney, or Spin & Go table with only a couple of clicks. The site is mostly easy to navigate, but a site-wide search bar (instead of the small, game-specific search tools) would be an improvement. 

PokerStars Mobile Registration Process

After downloading the dedicated PokerStars app, you can create an account, make a deposit, and start playing your favourite poker games, all from the convenience of your mobile. The process is simple, but I’ve created a step-by-step guide below to help you get started.

1. Download the dedicated PokerStars mobile app in the Apple App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). 
2. Open the app and hit the green “Join” button on the home page. 
3. Create a memorable username and password and enter your personal information, such as your name, street address, date of birth, etc. 
4. Agree to terms and conditions and tick the box saying you are eligible and fit to play. 
5. Open the Cashier and hit “Deposit”. Select your desired payment method and payment amount, then finalize the transaction.
6. Once the deposit lands in your account, you’re ready to start betting. 

PokerStars Account Verification

Every legal Ontario poker platform requires players to verify their accounts with the necessary documentation. This is part of regulatory requirements and anti-money laundering measures and is a legal requirement of the poker site by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). 

To verify your account, you’ll need:

• Photo ID (can be a passport, driver’s license, or other government-issued ID)
• Proof of address (a recent utility bill)
• Proof of payment method used (a bank statement, a photo of your credit card)

PokerStars Payment Methods

PokerStars truly covers all bases when it comes to payments. You can deposit with credit/debit cards (Visa and Mastercard), Interac, e-wallets (Skrill, MuchBetter, PayPal), eCheck, Instadebit, and Paysafecard. You can also deposit with Apple Pay via your mobile device.

Unfortunately, neither Visa nor Mastercard is available for withdrawals. This is expected of Mastercard, which is no longer legally available for withdrawals. However, Visa is still widely accepted at most online poker and casino sites, so it’s disappointing that PokerStars does not allow payouts to a Visa bank card. In place of debit/credit card withdrawals, PokerStars offers withdrawals via bank transfer.

What PokerStars lacks in choice for withdrawals, it more than makes up for in speed. Interac, MuchBetter, Skrill, PayPal and Instadebit are typically processed within one hour and will land in your account after a few minutes. eChecks are also processed within an hour but can take 3-10 business days to arrive in your account. Bank transfers are processed within 24 hours, and you’ll receive your funds 3-5 business days later.

PokerStars Poker Games

While the old-school computer code aesthetic of the ‘Cash’, ‘Sit & Go’ and ‘Tourney’ pages may seem a little outdated, their contents are far from it. PokerStars offers the biggest online poker tournaments and has one of the largest cash game collections of the five sites currently operating in Ontario. Inside these retro-looking hubs, you’ll find dozens of poker tables offering stakes from $0.01 to $100.

PokerStars has a well-rounded and diverse game selection. From the buy-in cost and game format to the speed and size of the table, PokerStars’ Sit & Go games are entirely customizable. The fast-paced Spin & Go games are an innovative feature exclusive to PokerStars, awarding random prize pools of up to $1 million. Meanwhile, the Tourneys – consisting primarily of NL Hold’em but also a few PL Omaha, Stud and Razz – are numerous, often boasting over three dozen a day. 

Poker Variations at PokerStars 

The two main poker variations at PokerStars are Texas Hold’em and Omaha. Though there are several different tournaments and many sub-variants with varying price points and features, Texas Hold’em and Omaha are the two main games. 

Texas Hold’em

The most famous of all poker games, Texas Hold’em comes in Limit, Pot Limit and No Limit formats. At PokerStars, there are multiple different Hold’em variants, including Tempest Hold’em (featuring only ‘all in’ or ‘fold), 6+ Hold ’em (removes all cards lower than 6 from the deck), and Showtime Hold’em (all folded cards remain face-up).

In Texas Hold’em, players are dealt two private ‘hole’ cards, and the dealer spreads five ‘community’ cards across the table; three at once, and then another, and another. Players can combine both the hole and community cards to make the best five-card hand possible. Bets are placed before and after every card is dealt, and the best hand wins the pot. 

Omaha

Omaha works similarly to Texas Hold’em, except you have four ‘hole’ cards instead of two, and your hand must consist of exactly two ‘hole’ cards and three ‘community’ cards. Omaha poker can come in many forms, including Pot Limit, No Limit, Fixed Limit, and Hi/Lo (also known as Omaha 8). Of all the Omaha variants, Pot Limit and Hi/Lo are the most common at online poker sites. 

Omaha requires between two and ten players to begin and involves four rounds of betting: the ‘pre-flop’ (before the cards are dealt), the ‘flop’ (after the first three community cards are turned over), the ‘turn’ (after the fourth community card is revealed) and the ‘river’ (after all five community cards are turned). After this, the players remaining in the hand will reveal their cards. 

Other Games

Besides Omaha and Hold’em, PokerStars does offer a couple of other variants under its ‘Tourney’ tab. There’s HORSE and 8-Game (mixed games), Razz (7 Card Stud Low), Five Card Draw, and Badugi. 

Game Types Available at PokerStars

Not only are there multiple different games at PokerStars, but there are also numerous ways to play them. With cash games, Sit & Go, Spin & Go and more, there’s a speed, size and buy-in for every player. 

Cash Games

Cash games, often called live-action games, are poker tournaments that are played with “real” chips (representing real quantities of money, unlike non-cash games) where players can leave or join as they like. They differ from tournaments because your payout doesn’t depend on the position you finish in. 

Sit & Go

Sit & Go’s don’t have a given start time. Instead, these games begin once enough players have joined. There are many different S&G formats, with limits ranging from micro to high and speeds from slow to Hyper-Turbo. Each S&G has a predetermined prize pool. At PokerStars, the number of players in a S&G tournament ranges from two to nine. 

Spin & Go

Spin & Go is a fast-paced poker format unique to PokerStars. Available for both Omaha and Hold’em and with buy-ins from as little as $0.25, they are a three-play, Hyper-Turbo version of the Sit & Go tournaments. Spin & Go’s have 500-chip starting stacks and randomly drawn prize pools of up to $1,000,000. 

Spin & Go Flash is a faster version of the game with 300 chips, while Spin & Go Max has more players and additional ways to maximize your winnings. 

PokerStars Customer Support

Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat, email and FAQs. Live chat is accessible for both registered and unregistered players. After a brief interaction with a bot, you’ll be transferred swiftly to a live agent (this wait may be longer during peak hours). In my experience, the agents were friendly, fast and informative. 

Most queries can be solved by the FAQs. Found inside the “Help” tab, PokerStars’ FAQs cover every potential issue, including account queries, deposits and withdrawals, technical issues, responsible gaming, rewards, game rules, and more. You can narrow down the extensive list of questions by using the intuitive search bar. 

PokerStars Responsible Gambling

Every Canadian poker site must have a Responsible Gambling page to obtain a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). PokerStars’ Responsible Gambling page is available on the website and features numerous online tools such as deposit, loss, wager and time limits, “cooling off” periods, a self-assessment, self-exclusion tools, and a section dispelling common gambling myths. 

You’ll also find links to both local and international counselling and advice services, including Connex Ontario, CAMH, and GamblingTherapy.

Is PokerStars Legal in Ontario

Online poker, sports betting and casino gambling have all been legal for Ontarians since the regulated Ontario iGaming market went live in April 2022. However, no gambling platforms are allowed to operate from within the province without a license from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). 

Only five online poker providers currently have a license to offer real-money poker in Ontario. PokerStars secured a license from the AGCO in June 2022 and launched in Ontario the same month. The operator was the third poker provider to enter the province after the launch of the regulated iGaming market.