PokerStars is a leading online poker brand that has been in operation for over 20 years. Established in 2001, it quickly became one of the top online poker sites globally, with a strong reputation for fairness, reliability, and security. 

PokerStars accepts players across Canada, holding a Malta Gaming Authority to ensure all players have a safe and transparent gaming experience. The site also has a license with iGaming Ontario to operate in the Heartland Province. 

PokerStars is a significant player in the online poker world, offering a wide range of games and tournaments to players from all over the globe. The site is top-rated among Canadian players, with high traffic throughout the day and a range of features designed to meet the needs of Canadian players. 

This review will discuss PokerStars and provide information on its availability, licenses, games, tournaments, bonuses, VIP program, and unique features. We also highlight the pros and cons of using PokerStars, including its high-traffic site, generous loyalty program, and exciting new features.

New players can claim a deposit match welcome casino bonus upon registering at PokerStars. The poker network will equal a percentage of your first deposit with bonus funds you can use to play. Additionally, players can receive tournament tickets based on the value of their first deposit.

The terms of this offer require players to engage in real money poker games within a time limit following the qualifying deposit to collect redemption points and release the bonus funds as withdrawable cash. For every redemption point earned, an amount of the bonus is released to the player’s real money account.

However, there are some potential drawbacks. The time-sensitive nature of this offer, including time limits for making qualifying deposits, redeeming the tournament tickets, and using tournament tickets, may pose a challenge for some players. The wagering requirements are also pretty high compared to competitors. We’d also like to see a PokerStars no deposit bonus offered as well.

In summary, while the bonus offer is competitive, the associated terms demand a level of active engagement from the players to fully benefit from the offer.

PokerStars Rewards is a loyalty program that provides perks for loyal Canadian players. By earning weekly chests, players can unlock bonus bets, play and tournament tickets, and virtual currency called StarsCoins. Users can then redeem these coins for various items in the PokerStars Rewards Store, ranging from poker gear to luxury items.

The loyalty program is tiered, with Blue being the lowest tier and Black being the highest. The value of the chests increases as players progress through the tiers. Additionally, the program offers weekly bonuses and challenges, including entries to live events. Players of all levels can benefit from the rewards program, making it an attractive choice for both die-hard poker fans and casual players alike.

High Traffic

PokerStars is an established worldwide poker network. The network is exceptionally popular with Canadian players, with plenty of daily traffic. Being a high-traffic poker site means more players are active on the platform, which leads to more games and tournaments available at any given time. This also increases the chances of finding a game at your preferred stakes and ensures a higher level of competition, making it more challenging and potentially more rewarding for skilled players.

Twitch Channel

Another unique feature of PokerStars is its broadcasts on Twitch. While this doesn’t affect the running and operation of the software, it’s an exciting extra. On the Twitch channel, you can watch tournaments, including the Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP) and competitions from some of the best international players. Links to the PokerStars Twitch channel are available in the app, and our review team thinks if you’re interested in online poker, it’s well worth a watch. 

New Features

The site is also constantly rolling out new and exciting features for players. We were really impressed by Zoom poker, a variant that allows you to continually play without waiting for folded hands to finish. With this variant, each time you fold, you are reconnected to a new table. Many poker variants are available in Zoom formats, although liquidity varies considerably between popular variants like Texas Hold’em and less common games like Badugi.

We also really liked the PokerStars reward program and found some serious value in the chests awarded to us through our play. We received tournament tickets, free play, and access to exclusive freeroll tournaments as loyalty rewards. 

If you want to play on the go, PokerStars offers dedicated iOS and Android smartphone and tablet apps for both platforms. PokerStars does not provide access to its poker network through its mobile site, so to play, you have to download the native app for your device. While this is pretty common at Canadian online poker sites, we would like to see PokerStars explore mobile browser play in the future. Below, we’ve gone into more detail about the performance of the PokerStars poker app. 

PokerStars Poker App

Players have been relatively impressed with the PokerStars app, rating it 3.9/5 on the iOS App Store. Real money online casino apps are unavailable on the Google Play Store in Canada, so you must head to the PokerStars website for a link to download its native Android app. 

We were pretty impressed with the mobile app’s performance, and we found that searching through the various features was seamless and intuitive. That being said, some players have reported issues with the app locking on autofold during play, rendering the tables inaccessible. Some players also complained about the app not making you aware when it is your turn while playing multiple games. This is a standard feature with other poker apps, so we were surprised not to see it available through the PokerStars ON app. 

While we hope to see these bugs addressed in future updates, we still believe that the app is highly functional and efficient.

PokerStars is a highly-regarded online gambling platform that accepts Canadian players. It is owned by Flutter Entertainment, one of the world’s biggest gambling companies and owner of one of the leading US sportsbook and DFS providers, FanDuel. 

Alongside its license with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), PokerStars is regulated by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) to provide online gambling services. These are three of the strictest regulatory bodies in the world and require all gambling platforms to follow stringent regulations to protect players.

Verification

A KYC (Know Your Customer) process is in place, so players must provide copies of their photo ID and other documentation. This is to protect customers from fraud and underage gambling. Usually, gamblers will have to verify their identities before withdrawing. 

Security and Fairness

PokerStars’ Random Number Generator (RNG), an integral part of its poker software, is tested by an independent testing agency, GamingLabs, to ensure online gaming fairness. The platform adheres to data protection regulations, ensuring players’ privacy is upheld and personal information secured, and has SSL encryption on its payments. PokerStars also has responsible gambling features in place, such as deposit limits, self-exclusion, and time-outs.

Customer Support

PokerStars offers several easy-to-access options if you have a problem and require customer support. Players can contact the support team via live chat, email, and social media. The customer support team is available 24/7 to assist players with their queries. In the case of email, the expected response time is within 24 hours. The support agents are known to be friendly and helpful, providing players with prompt and practical solutions to their issues.

Responsible Gambling

In addition to the existing responsible gambling features, PokerStars also has several safe play measures in place. These include game history and financial transaction tracking. Overall, the platform is dedicated to providing its players with a safe and responsible gaming environment.

PokerStars develops its poker software internally, so it’s bespoke to the poker network. The software’s user-friendly interface and crisp graphics make it easy for players to navigate, while its advanced features and customization options allow for a personalized gaming experience. 

Additionally, PokerStars’ software supports multi-tabling, enabling players to play multiple tables simultaneously, making it an ideal choice for serious players looking to maximize their play. The company works with GamingLabs to ensure that its Random Number Generator (RNG) is fair and delivers a good experience to players.  

Additionally, PokerStars regularly updates its software to ensure it is secure and free from glitches. Overall, PokerStars’ in-house developed software is a standout feature that differentiates it from many other online poker sites. This dedication to providing a top-notch playing experience is one of the reasons why PokerStars is considered one of the best online poker sites in Canada. 

PokerStars has various games available for poker enthusiasts, enough to cater to most poker players’ wants and needs. All major varieties, like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, Five-Card Draw, and Badugi, are offered on the site. For each variety, you’ll also find various game types, including tournaments, ring games, and Spin & Go games. Below, we’ve summarized some of the main game types and varieties available at PokerStars.

PokerStars offers an array of poker tournaments for players. Below, we’ve taken a closer look at PokerStars’ Ring Games, Tournaments, and Spin & Go offerings. From freeroll tournaments to high-stakes buy-ins, PokerStars offers something for poker players of all budgets and abilities. 

PokerStars Poker Ring Games

Ring games feature players who buy in for an amount and can enter and leave tables at their discretion. With a ring game, if you buy in for 10,000 chips and have 15,000 by the end of your session, you can withdraw all your funds without waiting for the game to end. PokerStars offers Texas Hold ’em, Omaha, Seven Card Stud, Five Card Draw, and Badugi ring games. The poker network also provides a range of buy-ins to suit all players and budgets. 

PokerStars Poker Tournaments

PokerStars has a range of tournaments for all skill levels and budgets, which should satisfy most poker players. Tournaments are conducted throughout the week and are accessible from the tournament tab through the PokerStars poker app and desktop software. 

These tournaments range from freeroll tournaments to buy-ins worth thousands of dollars and feature different blinds and ante bets. All popular variants offered on the platform are covered in PokerStars’ tournament schedule, although liquidity may be an issue on less popular variants like Five Card Draw and Badugi.

PokerStars Poker Spin & Go

Spin & Go is an exciting and engaging tournament type offered by PokerStars on all its poker games, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven Card Stud. With this tournament type, your buy-in is multiplied by a randomly chosen factor, meaning you can multiply your stake by between 2x and 12,000x. Tournaments are conducted in three-hand groups, meaning the competition can get intense when it gets to the heads-up stage. 

PokerStars Poker Tournaments

PokerStars also features the Zoom variant of poker, where players are relocated to a new table whenever they fold a hand. This quickfire poker variation means you’re never waiting for a hand to end to play. In addition, PokerStars has a range of freeroll tournaments, which don’t require you to purchase a tournament ticket or pay a buy-in fee but can still win you real money. We found that the frequency of freeroll tournaments was excellent at PokerStars. 

PokerStars offers a wide variety of poker, from the popular Texas Hold ’em and Omaha to classic Seven Card Stud and Five Card Draw games. Below, we’ve explored each game type in more detail to help you choose the right one for your skill level and preferences.

Texas Hold’Em

Texas Hold’em is the most popular game type on the PokerStars poker network and is the most popular type worldwide. In this game type, each player is dealt two cards face down, followed by five community cards dealt face up in the middle of the table. Players use their cards and the community cards to make the best possible five-card hand to win the pot.

Omaha

Omaha is a popular poker variation similar to Texas Hold ’em, where each player is dealt four hole cards instead of two. Players must use two of their hole cards and three of the five community cards dealt face up in the middle of the table to make the best possible five-card hand. Outside of Texas Hold’em, this poker variety usually has the best liquidity at the PokerStars poker network, so the wait for a table is less than Five-Card Draw, Seven-Card Stud, and Badugi. 

Seven Card Stud

Seven Card Stud is a classic poker game where players are dealt seven cards: three face down and four face up. Players must use their cards to make the best possible five-card hand. Unlike Hold ’em and Omaha, there are no community cards, and players must use their own cards to make their hand. This variety requires great memory and recollection, as to be successful, you must be able to track the movement of the cards across the table. 

Five Card Draw

In Five Card Draw, each player is dealt five cards face down. After the initial deal, players can discard any number of their cards and receive new ones in exchange. Players then use their final five cards to make the best possible hand and compete for the pot. While this poker variant is commonly played with in-person games, it is less common on poker networks - therefore, liquidity outside of peak times can be an issue. 

Badugi

Badugi is a lowball poker game that originated in Asia. Players are dealt four cards face down. The goal is to have the lowest possible hand with cards of different suits. The game also features a draw phase, where players can discard and replace unwanted cards to try and improve their hand.

If you’re convinced that PokerStars is your next Canada poker site, registering is easy and in a few simple steps, you’ll be playing your first poker game on the network. Click any link on this page and follow the below steps for desktop and mobile users to get started. 

For desktop users:

1. Click on any of the links on this page to be redirected to the PokerStars homepage.
2. Look for the “Join” button located in the top right corner of the page and click on it to initiate your registration process.
3. Enter your name, address, and email to verify your identity. Also, remember to use your PokerStars promo code to claim your welcome bonus if you have one.
4. Click on the download link on the desktop site to download the app.
5. Once the download is complete, install the app following the installation instructions.
6. Log in and proceed to the cashier to fund your account. Choose your deposit amount and preferred payment method, and follow the instructions to complete the transaction.
7. Head to the tournaments and games menu, select your preferred game or tournament, buy in, and start playing!

For mobile users:

1. Follow any of the links on this page to go to the PokerStars mobile site.
2. From there, select the option to download the PokerStars app from the iOS App Store or for Android devices.
3. Once the download is complete, launch the app from your home screen.
4. Click on the “Join” button located in the right-hand corner of the app to sign up.
5. Provide your personal details like name, email address, and address.
6. Once your registration is confirmed, fund your account by selecting the cashier in the top right corner of the app.
7. Select your deposit amount and payment method, and follow the instructions to complete your first deposit.
8. After confirming your deposit, head to the lobby to search through the options to find your desired game or tournament – good luck!

PokerStars is an established poker network offering a competitive bonus offer to new players through a deposit match and tournament tickets. The site also has a loyalty program called PokerStars Rewards that rewards players with virtual currency called StarsCoins, which users can redeem for a range of items in the PokerStars Rewards Store. 

One of the main unique selling points of PokerStars is its high traffic, meaning that plenty of games and tournaments are available at any given time for Canadian players. The site is also constantly rolling out new and exciting features. However, some poker variations have lower liquidity, and the lack of in-browser games may be a drawback. 

PokerStars offers mobile apps for iOS and Android and tablet apps for both platforms. While the connectivity and functionality of the iOS and Android apps are excellent, some players have pointed out bugs. 

Overall, PokerStars provides a competitive offering for new and experienced players with its bonus offers, loyalty program, and high traffic. Follow the links on this page to sign up and claim your welcome bonus today!