The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has granted PokerStars full registration to operate in the Canadian province of Ontario. To celebrate, PokerStars is launching the Ontario Platinum Series offering some $1 million in guaranteed prize pools.
PokerStars' latest license to its portfolio allows it to offer regulated online poker, casino, and sports betting to Ontario residents. Everything that Ontarians loved about playing on PokerStars.com will be present and correct on the new Ontario-only platform.
Tom Warren, Managing Director of Marketing for PokerStars, considers Ontario to be PokerStars' home market with the company having strong Canadian roots.
"In many respects, Ontario is our home market, given the first-ever hand of PokerStars was played here over 20 years ago, so we are thrilled about the new regulated environment within which our players can play. A lot has changed in that time, but our commitment to offering our players the most epic and thrilling experience in the market hasn't – and we can't wait to get started."
CAD$1 Million Guaranteed Ontario Platinum Series Runs July 10-18
Marking the launch of PokerStars' CAON platform, PokerStars is hosting the inaugural Ontario Platinum Series, which is exclusively available to Ontario residents. The full schedule is yet-to-be-released, but PokerNews has learned that the Ontario Platinum Series runs from July 10-18 and offers $1 million in guaranteed prize pools.
PokerStars has big plans for its Ontario platform, including the creation of a New Sunday Major weekly event that boasts of a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool. In addition, PokerStars is putting together the finishing touches to its fantastic rewards program, and is doubling those rewards throughout July and August as a way to welcome Ontarians to the PokerStars world.
In addition to value-packed tournaments and a traditional rewards program, PokerStars is working closely with gaming partner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment to provide players with epic rewards, opportunities, and experiences; watch this space.
Once PokerStars Ontario goes live, players residing in Ontario will no longer be able to access the PokerStars.com client. PokerStars will automatically migrate Ontarians' accounts to the new platform, and it is business as usual for non-Ontario residents.
