Published on: November 12, 2025, at 06:23h.

Updated on: November 12, 2025, at 06:27h.

In a groundbreaking ruling today, the Ontario Court of Appeal, in a 4-1 decision, affirmed that Ontario has the legal authority to offer international liquidity, a verdict poised to transform the igaming sector within the province.

The core issue before the court was to ascertain whether online gaming and sports betting remained lawful under the Criminal Code when participants could engage with users beyond Canadian borders.

This ruling opens the legal doors for daily fantasy sports (DFS) and poker players based in Ontario to compete internationally—a notable victory for the local gaming industry, as stated by Canadian Gaming Association President and CEO Paul Burns, who emphasized the revival of a popular option for consumers to engage in pooled gaming activities.

DraftKings and FanDuel Halted DFS Operations in Ontario

“The majority ruling validated this authority,” Burns noted. “Nevertheless, many operational components of the Proposed Model remain unspecified. Furthermore, no timeline has been disclosed concerning the initiation of this model in Ontario.”

Both DraftKings and FanDuel ceased their DFS services in Ontario in 2022 following the implementation of the province’s new igaming regulations, which targeted unlicensed fantasy sports platforms.

The Canadian Lottery Coalition, which includes entities such as the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Lotteries & Gaming Saskatchewan, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, and Atlantic Lottery, opposed the integration of player pooling for peer-to-peer games.

Uncertain Timeline for Implementation

The CLC has 30 days to appeal the court’s decision to the Supreme Court. Casino.org has made attempts to connect with the CLC for a statement but is still awaiting a response.

“We anticipate that the strength of this ruling will inspire a thoughtful reaction,” added Burns.

With a clear route toward expanding the online poker and DFS markets to include international players, it is expected to enhance revenue significantly for companies operating in these sectors.

Recent Market Performance

According to financial statistics from iGaming Ontario, the province recorded CAD $8.55 billion in total cash wagers for September, marking a 5% increase from the previous month, while revenues were reported at CAD $329.4 million—a 2% decline month-over-month.

Peer-to-peer poker generated CAD $144 million in cash bets, reflecting a 4% drop from August, holding a 2% market share. Additionally, it yielded CAD $5.1 million in revenue, demonstrating a 25% decrease month-over-month for the same market share percentage.