PokerStars is owned by Flutter Entertainment, a well-established online betting company. The platform is licensed and regulated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and holds RG Check accreditation for responsible gambling practices.
Founded by Mark and Isai Scheinberg, PokerStars launched in Ontario in June 2022. It also was certified by the Gaming Laboratories International after passing the Random Number Generator (RNG) test, ensuring fairness.
PokerStars sister sites under Flutter Entertainment include FanDuel, Full Tilt Poker, Betfair, Paddy Power, Sky Betting & Gaming, FOX Bet, Adjarabet, Sportsbet, Timeform, TVG, tombola, and BetEasy. Oddschecker was also a sister site until it was sold by Flutter in 2021.
PokerStars delivers three worlds of gaming for Canadian players: slots, card games, and poker, alongside a diverse range of sports betting markets. This attribute is also found across PokerStars sister sites.
In my opinion, the platform excels with its fast deposits and withdrawals. The Fast Deposit feature provides an easy and quick way for players to top up their Stars Account.
Most importantly, the wagering site distinguishes itself by securing player funds in segregated accounts managed by a top European bank. This setup ensures speedy withdrawals and also guarantees the platform can meet its financial obligations to its players.
Furthermore, PokerStars offers a mobile app, optimized for both Android and iOS devices. This adds to the convenience of wagering here, offering a seamless experience whether I was playing poker, spinning slots, or betting on sports.
The award-winning PokerStars software lets players tailor their poker experience with handy features like All-in Cashout and Quick Seat. It also offers live poker and dedicated rooms for enthusiasts.
These features make PokerStars an ideal choice for players who want to enjoy poker, casino games, and sports betting without hopping between different sites.
When it comes to online gambling in Canada, not all Flutter Entertainment brands like PokerStars are available to Canadian users.
FanDuel is the only PokerStars sister site accessible to Canadians for casino and sports betting. However, the latter is primarily for punters in Ontario. Due to this, we will focus on FanDuel Casino in this guide.
FanDuel Casino provides a comprehensive gambling experience, offering sports betting, casino gaming, and daily fantasy sports to punters. Like PokerStars, it caters to Canadian players with a variety of betting options.
In terms of sports betting, FanDuel covers both mainstream and niche sports. Popular options include football, basketball, golf, cycling, and darts.
FanDuel also offers betting on non-sport events, providing a diverse range of options for Canadian players. Like PokerStars, FanDuel's live betting markets are extensive.
The wagering site offers an app experience optimized for both iOS and Android users, ensuring seamless access to all of its offerings, whether you’re interested in the casino or sportsbook.
Operating with an Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario license, FanDuel is available to users who are at least 19 years old. It also prioritizes player security with SSL encryption to protect personal data.
On the casino side, FanDuel offers Canadian players an impressive selection of slots, jackpots, table games, and live dealer games from top providers like NetEnt, Microgaming, and Evolution.
I enjoyed playing poker variants such as Texas Hold’em Plus and Casino Hold’em Poker, alongside live options like Three Card Poker at the site.
FanDuel's slot games feature high RTPs, with some reaching up to 96.59%, offering sufficient potential returns for players.
Navigating the platform is smooth and user-friendly. Sports and games are well-organized, and I had no trouble accessing all sports leagues, my account information, the FAQ section, and resources like responsible gaming tools.
My live betting experience was seamless, with no lag, and FanDuel provided competitive odds and odds boosts, enhancing my gameplay. The cash-out option is another valuable feature for punters.
FanDuel offers customer support via live chat and email. Unlike PokerStars, it doesn't have 24/7 service. However, the support team is still responsive and helpful with inquiries.
Looking for PokerStars sister sites in regions like the US, UK, or Australia? Here’s a list of recommended wagering platforms operated by Flutter Entertainment:
Full Tilt Poker
Betfair
Paddy Power
Sky Betting & Gaming
FOX Bet
Adjarabet
Sportsbet
Timeform
TVG
Tombola
BetEasy
Oddschecker
When comparing FanDuel and PokerStars payment methods, I found notable differences. FanDuel offers a decent selection of options, including Interac, PayPal, and credit/debit cards like American Express, Visa, and Mastercard. Users can also connect to their preferred bank through Trustly for online banking transactions.
Deposits on FanDuel are processed instantly, while withdrawals take between 24-72 hours. Also, transactions, including deposits and withdrawals, are free, with a C$10 minimum deposit threshold.
However, PokerStars outshines FanDuel in terms of payment method variety. Transaction channels on the site include PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Skrill. There’s also Direct Bank Transfer, INSTADEBIT, Instant eChecks, MuchBetter, and Paysafecard.
This wider selection provides more flexibility for users to choose the method that best suits their needs. Like FanDuel, PokerStars also has a C$10 minimum deposit requirement.
While all available payment methods on both platforms are reliable, I found PayPal to be the most efficient, offering the fastest deposits and withdrawals. For users who prefer a broader range of payment options, PokerStars has the upper hand, since it's more versatile.
Payment method | Min limit | Max limit | Exchange fee | Proccessing time |
---|---|---|---|---|
PayPal | C$10 | N/A | Free | Instant |
VISA | C$10 | N/A | Free | Instant |
Mastercard | C$10 | N/A | Free | Instant |
Payment method | Min limit | Max limit | Exchange fee | Proccessing time |
---|---|---|---|---|
PayPal | C$10 | C$10,000 | Free | 1 hour to up to 5 days (depending on the bank) |
VISA | C$10 | C$10,000 | Free | From 1 hour to up to 5 days (depending on the bank) |
Mastercard | C$10 | C$10,000 | Free | From 1 hour to up to 5 days (depending on the bank) |
PokerStars and its sister site, FanDuel, offer generous welcome bonuses. Although they differ in structure, both platforms aim to give new players a competitive start, through bonus credits or deposit match bonus.
Additionally, both sites provide ongoing promotions that allow players to get rewards over time. With promos such as the refer-a-friend bonus and a multi-tiered loyalty scheme on FanDuel, players can enjoy added benefits as they engage more with the platform.
While their welcome offers vary, both PokerStars and FanDuel deliver value to Canadian players with their poker, casino, and sports betting products.
Ijeoma Esther is an iGaming content writer and editor with over a decade of experience in the mobile casino industry. While initially diving into online casino gaming as a hobby, she soon found herself immersed in the enthralling world of mobile slot and live casino games. Through the years, she discovered that writing about her favourite slots was just as fun as playing them.
As an iGaming content writer, Ijeoma combines expert writing and research skills with her encompassing love for slots and live casino games to put together some of the best and most in-depth reviews in the CA mobile casino scene. When she’s not writing top-notch content about iGaming, she’s immersing herself in the thrills of her favourite slots or researching the latest CA latest online casinos to try out.