Published on: May 6, 2026, 03:25h.

Updated on: May 6, 2026, 03:25h.

• Players in Ontario informed of PokerStars platform closure effective May 7
• PokerStars will be exclusively available via FanDuel moving forward
• Relaunch date pending regulatory approvals

PokerStars Ontario is set to transition to FanDuel starting tomorrow as the province narrows its licensed igaming operators to 45.

Closure of Platform Tomorrow

Both PokerStars and FanDuel operate under Flutter Entertainment. This merger encompasses PokerStars’ offerings in online poker, casino games, and sports betting, rebranding the product as “PokerStars on FanDuel”.

This notice has been shared via PokerStars Ontario’s X platform:

“Effective May 7, PokerStars will discontinue Poker, Casino, and Sports offerings on our current platform in Ontario. Your PokerStars account will still be accessible until June 4, 2026. Any funds not withdrawn from your account by June 4 will be issued via check.”

Upcoming Relaunch with FanDuel

An additional post on X indicated that the relaunch date in collaboration with FanDuel will be revealed once all provincial regulatory requirements are satisfied.

This announcement follows a period during which Ontario experienced one of its most profitable months for online poker.

Recent figures from iGaming Ontario revealed that in March, poker revenue reached $6.9 million, marking a 28% increase from the previous month and making it the second highest since Ontario’s regulated market launched in April 2022, just shy of the record $7.1 million in March 2024.

Player Pool Consolidation

The merger between PokerStars and FanDuel is part of a broader trend of market consolidation in Ontario, reducing the number of licensed operators to 45, according to iGaming Ontario.

FanDuel announced in March that it would become the sole operator for PokerStars in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ontario.

As a result of this U.S. relaunch, players across these three states will be merged into a single liquidity pool along with players from outside the states.

Currently, online poker and paid daily fantasy sports (DFS) players in Ontario are restricted from competing with players outside the province. This restriction has faced legal challenges from the Canadian Gaming Association, GGPoker owner NSUS, and Flutter.

Increase in Poker Revenue in Ontario

Last November, a ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal favored these challenges, validating a new “pooled liquidity” framework for online gaming, which would allow Ontario players to compete with those outside Canada. This development is set to enhance game sizes and prize pools, offering a wider variety of tournaments across regulated markets.

Moreover, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, British Columbia Lottery Corporation, and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation have appealed this ruling to Canada’s Supreme Court as of December.

A report in Canadian Gaming Business this past March revealed that Alberta, preparing to launch a market similar to Ontario’s open igaming model, is seeking to participate in the Supreme Court deliberations. The potential for pooled liquidity between Alberta’s imminent regulated market and Ontario is likely to be a significant point of discussion.