The Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) of Ontario has approved licensing for TSG Interactive Canada Inc., a subsidiary of Flutter. This decision allows the PokerStars brand to enter the province and offer online poker and casino gaming, along with sports betting.

The license allows the brand to operate via the on.pokerstars.ca link, but there is still one more step to complete before services can go live. PokerStars must now complete an operating agreement with the iGO. Once this step is completed, services can begin.

When Will PokerStars Launch?

It is unclear as to when the final step will be completed and PokerStars will get the green light to launch in Ontario. It is expected that the process will be completed by the end of this month or into July. Other brands have already started offering online poker in the province including 888 and BetMGM, plus partypoker and Bwin. PokerStars will be a bit behind once they go live, but it won’t take long for the major brand to catch up.

PokerStars will bring a lot to the table when it comes to Ontario online poker gaming. The brand provides premium cash game options and tournaments, plus access to major online and land-based poker events. It is expected that the brand’s biggest competition in Ontario will be GGPoker, which tends to pull in heavy traffic due to its cash games and major tournament offerings.

For players of PokerStars in Ontario, we expect the site will offer its regular options like the Spring Championship of Online Poker, World Championship of Online Poker, Micro Millions, etc. It will be interesting to see what PokerStars offers in Ontario once the brand is fully operational.

Along with PokerStars, the AGCO also approved Casumo for licensing. The online casino and sports betting operator is based in Malta and is owned by Pret Play. The license for Casumo is good through June 2023.

Set to Join Other Gaming Brands

PokerStars will soon join many other gaming brands taking advantage of the newly regulated online gaming market of Ontario. Just last month, NorthStar Gaming Incorporated announced its launch into the province via NorthStarBets.ca.

The Toronto-based company is using its custom online gaming platform to offer services to players 19 years of age or older. Players have access to a wide range of gaming options including slots, blackjack, roulette, and baccarat.

The sportsbook of the brand covers several markets including the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL. Players can easily utilize both service options when logging online.