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The beautiful skyline of Toronto, Ontario.
Flutter Entertainment is bringing PokerStars Ontario under the FanDuel brand after making a similar change in the US earlier this year.
Good to Know
PokerStars players in Ontario are heading into a short shutdown before the brand returns through FanDuel.
Flutter Entertainment, the parent company of both PokerStars and FanDuel, will close the current PokerStars platform in Ontario on Thursday. The relaunch, which was announced earlier this year, will place poker, casino, and sports betting inside FanDuel Ontario under the name “PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel.”
The company has not given a final relaunch date yet. However, the new product should arrive within the next few weeks once regulatory steps are complete.
PokerStars said on Twitter/X: “We’re transitioning to a new home in Ontario: PokerStars on FanDuel. 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.”
Players can still access current PokerStars accounts through June 4. Anyone who leaves funds in an account after that date will receive a check by mail.
The Ontario change follows the US rollout in March, when PokerStars shifted to FanDuel and added Pennsylvania to the Michigan and New Jersey shared poker pool. Flutter wants to connect poker with the larger FanDuel audience, which already uses the brand for sports betting and online casino games.
Still, the US change has not lifted online poker revenue so far. Poker revenue fell in March across the three main US online poker markets.
Canada may bring a different set of market questions. FanDuel already has approval in Alberta, where online casino, poker, and sports betting are expected to launch in July. Alberta only has about 5 million people, so a stronger poker market may need shared player pools.
Ontario has already pushed for shared liquidity with other regulated markets. The Court of Appeal sided with Ontario in November, but provincial lottery groups appealed the case to the Canadian Supreme Court.
After the Ontario transition, PokerStars on FanDuel will offer a dedicated app and desktop site. Access will require either a current FanDuel account or a new one, according to Canadian Gaming Business. The company is also expected to confirm welcome offers for existing PokerStars players and new FanDuel users.