PokerStars Canada Review August 2025

PokerStars Ontario Facts

PokerStars Review Ratings

It hasn’t taken long for PokerStars Canada to establish itself as one of the best betting sites available in the region, having quickly learned how to be a strong sports betting brand.

With competitive odds across hundreds of sports betting markets, 24/7 customer support, a mobile app, and most withdrawals processed within one hour, there are plenty of things to love about the platform if you are a sports bettor.

Although some would consider PokerStars Canada short on sport-specific features and promos relative to some competitors, it still has everything a bettor could ask for and more.

An abundance of promos isn’t the be-all, end-all of what makes a good operator in this industry, and that’s a point that can get lost on many players entering the online gaming industry for the first time.

So, here are the grades from our OneFootball team on the PokerStars Sportsbook overall, graded by categories we value highly in our own sports betting journeys.

Is PokerStars Legit in Ontario?

Due to the federal government in Canada allowing each province to establish its online gaming markets and regulations, private operators like PokerStars have had to navigate through some confusing legal waters at times regarding individual provincial laws.

As of this writing, only Ontario has established its legal online gaming market, with all private betting companies forced to obtain online gaming licenses from the provincial regulatory bodies known as the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) and iGaming Ontario (iGO).

PokerStars obtained its online gaming license from those bodies by splitting its platform into two distinct branches for Canadians. One for Ontario-only, known as PokerStars Ontario, and one for the rest of Canada, which still operates in a sort of grey market, as only legal under federal law.

Both are legitimate and legal for Canadians of legal betting age to play on, but as far as Ontario bettors go, the fact that PokerStars Ontario has legal backing at the federal and provincial levels (AGCO + iGO) makes it as legitimate as they come from an operator standpoint.

That goes for all branches of the PokerStars gaming platforms, including PokerStars Casino Ontario.

Where Can I Play PokerStars in Canada?

PokerStars Ontario may only be available to players based in the province, but Canadian bettors elsewhere in the country can still legally access the PokerStars Sportsbook.

It’s just that their version of PokerStars is the global version that is licensed and regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority as well as the International Betting Integrity Association.

From a betting standpoint, there is no difference in the two platforms; PokerStars just had to make an Ontario-specific version to comply with provincial laws there. All private operators that have roots in global online betting go the same route when dealing with Ontario.

PokerStars Pros & Cons

No matter where you are accessing PokerStars Sports from, if you are new to the platform, it is important to have some understanding of what you’ll be walking into.

That is why, just like earlier, when the consensus ratings from our OneFootball team were shown in key categories, our team has come together once again to put together this list of pros and cons on the platform.

Pros

• Lightning-fast withdrawal processing times
• Live streaming of 11 sports, including UFC, MLS, and most major tennis championships
• Solid PokerStars Rewards program with cash rewards
• Competitive odds on sports leagues from around the world
• Mobile betting available
• 24/7 customer service

Cons

• No phone support

Available Sports on PokerStars

All of the top leagues from around the world in more than 20 different sports are available to bet on at PokerStars Sports, as competitive odds on popular and niche markets are littered across its betting menu.

Canadian sports bettors will be glad to hear that popular leagues with Canadian-based franchises (NHL, MLB, NBA, CFL) are always well-represented with betting options, but so are the smaller Canadian leagues like the CEBL and Canadian Premier League.

It’s the overall breadth of the sports leagues available that is behind the PokerStars Sportsbook earning a good reputation among bettors quickly, as bettors love options, and PokerStars Ontario gives exactly that.

Sports you can bet on at PokerStars are:

• Hockey
• Football
• Basketball
• Soccer
• Golf
• Baseball
• MMA/UFC
• Motor Sports
• Tennis
• Table Tennis
• Snooker
• Volleyball
• Aussie Rules
• Volleyball
• Cricket

Most Popular Sports on PokerStars

Without question, the most popular sports to bet on at PokerStars Sports are the “Big 4” leagues in North America (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB), as Canadian bettors love to get action down on these leagues just as much as their friends down south do.

Given that it is Canada and hockey is in the blood of most Canadians, the NHL odds and action available at PokerStars are great for any hockey fan. But, NBA and especially NFL action dominate the betting interests of Canadians during those seasons as well.

But with leagues from all around the world available on PokerStars – like the “Big 5” European Soccer leagues (EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1) – the most popular leagues are often just the ones in season.

That’s how high-quality the betting board is at PokerStars Sportsbook.

Hockey Betting at PokerStars

With seven NHL teams located in Canada, bettors in the country have no shortage of options to “bet local” if they want.

With competitive odds on full game, period, and prop markets for all Winnipeg Jets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, and Edmonton Oilers games, PokerStars Sportsbook has it all for the hockey bettor in Ontario.

Futures prices on the next Stanley Cup winner, or even the next Winter Olympics winner in hockey (Men’s and Women’s), can be found there as well.

Football Betting at PokerStars

You might not think that NFL betting dominates the football betting scene in Canada like it does in the US, given that Canadians have their own football league (CFL) to bet on, too. And don’t get us wrong, CFL action isn’t light during the summer and early fall, but once the NFL arrives, Canadian bettors are scouring the odds on games every day, all week.

Everything from season futures to player specials, draft odds, preseason odds, and regular season games is priced at PokerStars Ontario. It is a virtual one-stop shop of some of the best and most unique NFL betting markets available in the region.

Basketball Betting at PokerStars

Interest in basketball was already growing exponentially in Canada before the Toronto Raptors won the 2019 NBA title, but it has been strapped to a rocket in the country ever since.

Add in Canada’s own Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning the NBA trifecta in 2025 – league MVP, Playoffs MVP, NBA Title – and it’s hard to see that rocket of interest slowing down anytime soon.

As is always the case, popularity in a sport quickly bleeds into betting interest, and PokerStars Ontario is a great place to bet on the NBA. Like its football odds, competitive prices and markets are available all year round on futures, games, and individual awards.

It’s not just NBA odds available in basketball betting on the platform either. PokerStars features betting markets on the WNBA, CEBL, Big 3, and EuroBasket leagues, too.

Baseball Betting at PokerStars

Like the Toronto Raptors, the Toronto Blue Jays enjoy nationwide support in Canada as the only Canadian-based team in their league. During the summer months, they dominate the headlines on Canadian sports programming.

Baseball bettors will find odds on MLB games, player awards, player markets, and daily specials all year long at PokerStars. However, the platform also offers odds on the MLB minor leagues (MiLB), as well as some overseas leagues from South Korea (KBO) and Japan (NPB).

Soccer Betting at PokerStars

Soccer is still the most popular sport in the world these days, and as we’ve discussed already in this section, the popularity of a sport and betting interest in it go hand-in-hand.

Over at PokerStars Ontario, bettors will find a host of great odds on all the top soccer leagues, including the “Big 5” from Europe we already mentioned.

MLS odds and prices for all UEFA competitions can be found as well, along with a host of more than 50 top leagues from other countries around the world.

Tennis Betting at PokerStars

Like soccer, tennis is a global sport that is loved by bettors all over the world. With the ATP and WTA (and lower-level Tours) travelling to numerous countries throughout the season, fans everywhere have the opportunity to watch their favourite tennis stars come to their area.

And who doesn’t like to have a bit of action on a tennis match while they watch, right?

Well, PokerStars offers great betting markets on all ATP and WTA tournaments, along with Challenger and ITF events.

College Sports Betting at PokerStars

Working in tandem from a betting popularity standpoint in football and basketball, the NCAA football and basketball seasons have as much betting interest from Canadian bettors as they do in the US.

The College Football Bowl season during the holidays or the NCAAB March Madness Tournament have Canadian bettors unloading betting units on games, as interest is through the roof at PokerStars Ontario.

It’s a shame that betting on Canadian University Sports (U Sports) isn’t legally allowed in the country because, without question, interest in those leagues would grow tremendously.

PokerStars Sportsbook Bet Types

Now that we’ve dissected the top sports and leagues available to bet on the PokerStars Ontario platform, it’s time to dig deeper into the bet types available as well.

Many were already referenced in some of those sections, like futures, props, and game odds, but we don’t like to assume anything here at OneFootball. The next reader could be researching sports betting and betting terms for the very first time.

With that in mind, let’s go through those popular bet types now.

Live Betting

Live betting is exactly what it sounds like, as odds on all sorts of betting options are posted while the game is currently being played. Bettors can wager on things like who will win, total combined points, live prop markets, and more here.

PokerStars has an excellent live betting platform, offering great markets at fair odds for all the top sports and leagues from around the world.

Match Props

Match props, also known as game props, are statistical categories within an event that players can bet on, typically going ‘over’ or ‘under’ a stated line. There can also be head-to-head match props.

A head-to-head match prop could be something like, “Which team will kick more field goals between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills?”. Odds are priced in the -110 range each way, and bettors select which side will end the game with more made field goals.

An example of a statistical prop in that same scenario would be asking bettors to bet ‘over’ or ‘under’ on 3.5 made field goals in that Chiefs/Bills game. Then it’s about the combined field goals made between the two teams being higher or lower than that 3.5 line.

Moneylines

Moneyline bets are where you just have to pick the winner of the game or match. Odds prices are posted based on the perceived talent disparity between the participants.

Moneyline odds for a game between the 1st place Vegas Golden Knights and the 30th-place San Jose Sharks would see Vegas priced as a heavy favourite. They could be -265 (bet $265 to win $100) against San Jose’s +200 (bet $100 to win $200).

There are no handicaps or winning margins to concern yourself with on moneyline bets. If Vegas wins the game on the scoreboard, Vegas moneyline bets are paid out as winners.

Multi Bets

Multi-bets, or parlays, are when bettors put together multiple betting selections on a single betting ticket to increase their odds and potential payout. All selections on the multi-bet ticket must win for the ticket to cash, as 3 of 4 selections winning is nothing but a costly piece of virtual toilet paper.

The odds of each selection are multiplied by one another, and then the stake amount put up by the bettor is used to determine the potential payout. The more selections made, the bigger the potential payout, but also the harder it is to get all the selections correct.

Multi-bets can be made across multiple games in the same sport/league at PokerStars, as well as different sports and leagues. Same-game multi-bets apply to multiple selections coming from an individual game or match.

Outrights

Outright bets are when a bettor is looking to bet on an outcome that will be determined on a date in the future (most likely). This could include things like betting on the Toronto Blue Jays to win their division, the American League, or the World Series, all while the season is going on, or even yet to be started.

Outright bets aren’t limited to team or league results/winners either. Individual outright wagers, such as award winners or season-long stat props, can also be bet on PokerStars.

Player Props

Player props are in the same category as game props mentioned above, except that the odds and markets are only related to an individual player’s statistical production in the given betting category.

For example, betting on Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen to go over 300.5 passing yards in a game against Kansas City would be classified as a player prop bet.

Spread Betting

In contrast to moneyline bets, point spread wagers are where the odds price stays at a relatively even metric, while the perceived talent disparity between the participants is reflected in the point spread number that the favoured team must win by.

Using that same Bills/Chiefs game as the template, a sample point spread line for that game could be Buffalo -3.5 points. That would mean that a Buffalo win by 4+ points cashes tickets for bettors who backed the Bills, while any other result (Buffalo win by 3 or less or a KC win) means the Chiefs cover the +3.5 point spread they were initially given.

Totals

Totals bets refer to the total number of points/goals scored in a game or time frame, and bettors are betting on the result being ‘over’ or ‘under’ that line.

A Chiefs/Bills game could have a total set at 53.5 points for the game. Any combined score between the two teams that is above that number (31-28, 40-21, 28-27) would have ‘over’ bets graded as winners, while any combined score lower than 53.5 points (30-21, 24-23) would have ‘under’ bettors as winners.

How to Sign Up on PokerStars in Canada

Signing up for PokerStars is slightly different than most platforms, as you’ve got to download the software whether you are using a desktop browser or a mobile browser. There are PokerStars mobile apps available for iOS and Android devices as well, but the specifics on those will come later in this review.

For now, let’s walk through the steps to signing up for a new account on the platform, giving you access to not only the PokerStars Sportsbook but the PokerStars Casino and Poker platforms as well.

Step 1: Select the PokerStars Banner on This Page

You can’t create a new PokerStars account without being on the platform first, so go ahead and click on any PokerStars banner you find on this page. They all direct you to the official PokerStars Ontario website.

Step 2: Download and Install the PokerStars software

Players will need to download the PokerStars software before any sort of PokerStars login can be created, since it all has to be done within the platform.

Click the ‘Download’ button to get the software, and when a pop-up box appears, select the ‘Run’ option. Players will be asked to read and agree to the End User License Agreement for the platform once downloading is complete, and must agree to the terms to install the software.

Step 3: Create your PokerStars Account

Once the software is installed, it’s time to double-click on it to access the PokerStars platform. It is there that you will begin to create your PokerStars account by clicking on the ‘Create your Stars Account’ banner.

Step 4: Create a PokerStars Username and Share Personal Details

Once that banner is clicked, a pop-up will appear asking you to fill out the information necessary to create your account.

This will begin with you creating a unique username and password and finish with you sharing personal details such as your name, date of birth, email address, address, and mobile number.

Fill in all the required fields and click the ‘Create Account’ button.

Step 5: Log in and start playing!

With that, your new PokerStars login has been created, and you may use it to log on to the platform and begin betting once the account is funded.

PokerStars Payment Methods for Canadian Players

With 10 different payment methods available for deposits and slightly fewer than that for withdrawals, PokerStars players have plenty of comfortable online banking options to choose from.

Interac e-Transfers and popular e-wallets such as Skrill, PayPal, Instadebit, and MuchBetter are methods that move money on and off the PokerStars platform with fantastic speed.

Deposits are done immediately, while withdrawals through those methods are typically processed within the hour.

Deposit Options

Ten different deposit methods are among the larger lists of banking methods available for platforms in Ontario, as the PokerStars platform understands how important offering various banking methods truly is to gamblers.

Once a player knows which deposit method they’d like to use, they can fund their PokerStars account in seconds by:

1. Logging in to your PokerStars Ontario account.
2. Going to the ‘Cashier’ and tapping the ‘Deposit’ button.
3. Selecting the deposit method and entering the required details.
4. Enter the deposit amount and hit the green arrow to complete.

That’s it. There is nothing left to do but put those funds to work on the betting board after that.

The full details on each deposit method available can be found below:

Withdrawal Options

There are slightly fewer withdrawal options available to PokerStars players, as a few of the deposit methods aren’t set up to take withdrawals from the platform. These methods are Apple Pay, Visa, and Mastercard.

The good news is that the vast majority of the withdrawal methods available are processed within an hour of making the withdrawal request, putting winnings back in the player’s hands as quickly as possible.

It’s that speedy withdrawal processing time that’s garnered plenty of respect from Canadian bettors who use PokerStars, as it is an extremely bright feather in the cap for the platform.

Here is the list of withdrawal methods (and their details) available on PokerStars Ontario:

PokerStars App

Desktop users aren’t the only ones who have to go through the PokerStars download process to get access to the platform’s sportsbook.

Bettors who prefer to use their mobile device(s) for their sports betting action can download the PokerStars app directly from the applicable app store.

The PokerStars Sports Ontario app functions in the same capacity as the platform through a traditional browser, and works anywhere in Ontario as long as you are currently located within the province.

Here are the steps to get the PokerStars app on your iOS or Android devices.

How to Download the PokerStars iOS App

To start your PokerStars app download, open up the Apple App Store on your mobile device and search for “PokerStars Ontario”.  With poker, sports betting, and casino play all available on PokerStars to Ontario players, three separate results will show up as an individual mobile app was created for each gaming avenue.

From there, you must:

1. Ensure to select the PokerStars Sports ON search result for PokerStars Sports Betting
2. Click on it and hit the ‘Get’ button to begin downloading
3. Once done, the PokerStars app will be installed on your iOS device.

How to Download the PokerStars Android App

Android users go through virtually the same process, as there are three separate PokerStars apps once again in the Google Play Store search, and it’s the PokerStars Sports ON that needs to be selected.

Once the sports betting app has been found, the user simply has to click on it and wait for the download to finish. The PokerStars app will then be officially installed on the Android device.

PokerStars Desktop and Mobile Web Version

In terms of functionality of the platform, there is no concerning difference between using the PokerStars Sportsbook through a desktop or mobile browser. Players can access all the same betting markets, features, and promos they would be able to otherwise.

The primary difference is the use of geolocation software on a mobile device to verify that the player is physically located in the province of Ontario while playing on the site. This is a legal necessity by the province and something that is fluid when mobile devices are being used.

PokerStars App Ratings - iOS and Android Reviews

Geolocation software hasn’t had the smoothest of rides in the early years of the legal Ontario online gaming market, but bumps in the road were to be expected. Even to this day, no matter how quality a mobile betting platform or app may be, complaints about geolocation routinely show up in app reviews, including ones for PokerStars Ontario.

Overall, the app grades out well in reviews on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, as users who have gone through with a PokerStars Ontario download and used the platform on a mobile device generally have positive things to say.

App Store Reviews

Over on the Apple App Store side of things, a rating of 4.5 stars from almost 200 reviews is what the PokerStars app currently has, with the vast majority of reviews praising many of the good things we’ve already outlined about it.

The ease-of-use is usually at the forefront of those positive reviews, while geolocation issues dominate the negative responses.

Here is a summary of the recurring thoughts on both sides of the coin that we found in the PokerStars app reviews:

Google Play Reviews

The rating for the PokerStars app at the Google Play Store isn’t quite as high (3.9) as it is for iOS users, but there are only slightly more than 70 reviews from Android users.

The consensus on the good and bad things about the PokerStars app is similar as well, with geolocation complaints – not always a fault of the app – dominating the thoughts of disgruntled users, and a host of positives voiced from enthusiastic players.

A summary of those reviews is below:

Customer Support Options

There are multiple ways that players can get in contact with PokerStars support, and all of them are available 24/7.

On the platform, there is a live chat function that players can access at any time, and an in-house contact form found on the Help page works in the same fashion as email support would.

The exact PokerStars support channels are:

Email: Contact form on the platform

Live Chat: 24/7 on the platform

PokerStars VIP Program

The PokerStars VIP program is known as PokerStars Rewards, and is a six-level system that rewards cash prizes to loyal players.

Working off a reward points system, players can collect Reward Points through any of the PokerStars gaming platforms (Sportsbook, Casino, Poker) to boost or maintain their current level. Players who do not win a Chest in 28 days will be moved down a level.

Collecting Reward Points through sports betting specifically works like this:

• Single bets are awarded 1.1 Reward Points for every $1 wagered
• Multiple bets/accumulators/parlays are awarded 3.1 Reward Points for every $1 wagered

Cash rewards are awarded for each Chest a player wishes to redeem, and the higher the level they are currently at, the higher the cash reward. Players are earning betting units back with every bet made at PokerStars Ontario. How can you not appreciate that?

The levels and rewards in the PokerStars Rewards Program are:

Responsible Gambling on PokerStars

As PokerStars is a real-money online gaming platform, understanding one’s limits is just as important as racking up winning bets. There are solid bettors everywhere around the world who get bankrolls wiped out by not keeping responsible gambling behaviours in play.

The emotional nature of winning and losing in sports betting can lend itself to compromised decision-making, and that’s where things can start to spiral if players aren’t careful. That’s why many of the best operators around these days aren’t shy about offering plenty of responsible gaming tools to help keep those decisions in check for players.

For PokerStars Ontario, it starts with a detailed Responsible Gaming page that touches on how to identify problematic gaming behaviours and who to contact about them should they arise.

The page also outlines the various Responsible Gambling tools that PokerStars provides to its players. Tools like setting deposit limits, blocking games, and sitting out or self-exclusion periods are all available to help ensure each gaming session for every player on PokerStars stays within their limits.

Sign Up at PokerStars in Canada Now!

Gaming on PokerStars online may not be a household thought for sports bettors in Ontario who have only ever associated the brand with online poker. Since 2022, that’s changed quickly, though, as PokerStars Ontario has catapulted itself into a great legal online sportsbook and casino in the region.

While competitive odds across a wide range of sports markets and leagues are great, there are plenty of Ontario operators that can boast the same thing. What separates PokerStars Ontario from the pack is the quick payouts and VIP cash rewards that continually enable bettors to get their money in their hands when they want it.

Fast-paying operators are still few and far between, but PokerStars aims to change that with its dedication to the craft.

Get PokerStars Ontario in your rotation of betting platforms you use today. Sign up today!

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