Several provinces promise to stand in the way of online poker expansion
Plans to reconnect Ontario’s online poker market with international player pools have hit a new roadblock. Several Canadian gambling operators are pushing back against the idea, slowing the momentum that briefly built after a favorable court ruling earlier this year.
Three provincial lottery groups have filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada, challenging a decision from the Ontario Court of Appeal. That earlier ruling found Ontario could legally allow players to compete with opponents outside the country, provided the province maintains control through iGaming Ontario.
The appeal was submitted by members of the Canadian Lottery Coalition, including British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, and the Atlantic Lottery Corporation. They argue that federal law requires online gambling activity to take place entirely within provincial borders, not partially outside them.
This legal challenge puts any progress toward shared liquidity on pause. Even after the Ontario ruling, regulators had not begun drafting rules to support cross-border poker. The appeal adds further uncertainty, making it unlikely the province will move forward while the case remains unresolved.
For players, the situation means no immediate changes. Ontario’s online poker market will stay ring-fenced, with platforms like PokerStars, GGPoker, and BetMGM Poker limited to local competition.
The Supreme Court is not required to hear the case, but if it does, the process could stretch well into 2026. Until then, hopes of larger player pools and new market entrants remain firmly on hold.
