After recently shifting the PokerStars US platform to FanDuel, parent company of both brands, Flutter Entertainment, is now making the same move in Canada.
The current PokerStars platform in Ontario is shutting down on Thursday and will be added to FanDuel Ontario. The new addition will be known as “PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel.” It will also affect PokerStars’ online casino and sports betting offerings.
Player accounts will remain accessible on the PokerStars platforms through June 4. Players who haven’t withdrawn by that time will be mailed a check for the remaining funds. An exact date for the switch to FanDuel wasn’t yet available, but it’s expected in the next few weeks.
“We’re transitioning to a new home in Ontario: PokerStars on FanDuel,” the company posted on Twitter/X.
“This requires a short period where the PokerStars tables will close down ahead of relaunch and to ensure we’re fulfilling regulatory requirements. We’re working with regulators on the final launch date.”
Launch Also Expected On FanDuel Alberta
After the transition, PokerStars on FanDuel will include a dedicated app and desktop site. Access is only available via current or new FanDuel accounts, according to Canadian Gaming Business. The company is expected to reveal welcome offers for new players and those transitioning to FanDuel soon.
A similar move appears to be taking shape in Alberta as well. Online gaming, poker, and sports betting are expected to launch in July. FanDuel has already been approved for a license in that province.
Alberta has a population of just 5 million people, so creating a robust online poker market would require a shared pool. Ontario has pushed to allow shared liquidity with other regulated markets.
The province’s Court of Appeal ruled in Ontario’s favor in November regarding this issue, but that was appealed by a group of provincial lottery groups to the Canadian Supreme Court.
US Move Hasn’t Led To Spike In Online Poker Revenue
In the US, PokerStars launched on FanDuel in March and added Pennsylvania to the Michigan-New Jersey shared liquidity pool for the first time. The move to FanDuel allows the company to harness the large player base, now offering these players poker in addition to sports betting and online casino gaming.
However, the move hasn’t resulted in boosted US online poker numbers. Poker revenue was down in the country’s three major online poker markets in March.
In related news, New Zealand legalized online gaming in April in an effort to bring players into a regulated environment. The government isn’t expected to award licenses until 2027.
