Ontario Poker Market: 2025 Year in Review

By Alex Drummond, Editor-in-Chief · March 1, 2026

Ontario's regulated poker market completed its third full calendar year in 2025 with steady growth in both wager volume and player activity. Here is a summary of the key numbers and developments from the year.

Market Size

According to iGaming Ontario reporting data, poker wagers in Ontario reached approximately C$1.678 billion in fiscal 2025, representing roughly ~1.7% of the province's total regulated iGaming handle of C$82.7 billion. Net adjusted gross gaming revenue (NAGGR) from poker was approximately C$70.2 million, about ~1.74% of the total market revenue of C$2.9 billion.

The overall Ontario iGaming market now has 2.6 million+ active player accounts across 47 operators, 81 gaming websites. The channelization rate sits at 83.7%, meaning the large majority of Ontario online gambling takes place on regulated platforms rather than offshore alternatives.

Operator Landscape

The number of regulated poker brands remained at 6 throughout 2025: GGPoker (NSUS Limited), 888poker (VHL Ontario Limited), BetMGM Poker (BetMGM Canada Inc.), PokerStars Ontario (TSG Interactive Canada Inc.), PartyPoker Ontario (ElectraWorks Maple Limited), and Bwin Ontario (ElectraWorks Maple Limited). No new poker operators entered the market during the year.

GGPoker continued to run the largest tournament festivals, including WSOP Super Circuit Ontario events and recurring microFestival series. 888poker maintained its position as the most accessible room for beginners with its freeroll schedule and no-deposit tournament tickets. BetMGM offered the most transparent bonus terms. PokerStars leaned on its tournament heritage and brand recognition.

Regulatory Developments

The biggest regulatory story was the November 2025 Court of Appeal ruling on shared liquidity, which opened the legal door for Ontario to allow cross-border play. The subsequent Supreme Court appeal means no practical changes occurred before year-end, but the ruling set the stage for potential future developments.

AGCO also continued refining its marketing standards throughout 2025, with particular attention to how operators and affiliates communicate bonus offers. The regulator emphasized that advertising gambling inducements is prohibited except on an operator's own site, reinforcing the compliance requirements for the affiliate industry.

Looking Ahead to 2026

The key storylines for 2026 include the Supreme Court decision on shared liquidity, Alberta's planned entry into regulated iGaming, and continued growth in Ontario's overall iGaming market. For poker specifically, the shared liquidity outcome will determine whether Ontario's ring-fenced model remains in place or whether players can look forward to larger player pools in the coming years.

For room-by-room analysis, see our full comparison page or visit individual reviews for each of the six regulated rooms.

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