Will Ontario Poker Players Rejoin the Global Market? Ontario’s online poker market is at a pivotal crossroads as of 2025, with significant discussions around whether its players will rejoin the global poker scene. Since Ontario launched a regulated, ring-fenced online poker market in April 2022, players have only been allowed to compete against others physically located within the province. This closed liquidity approach has created a mixed landscape where the market enjoys some benefits but also faces clear limitations. Ontario poker operators generated C$6.3 million in revenue in May 2025, marking a 19% year-over-year growth, suggesting healthy local activity despite market limitations. However, poker accounts for only 1.8% of the overall C$7.5 billion gamblers wagered in Ontario’s online casino and sportsbook sectors in July 2025, signaling room for growth if liquidity expands.

Playing the World Poker Tour (WPT) in Canada is currently possible but with specific limitations and evolving legal considerations. ClubWPT Gold, a sweepstakes-style poker platform affiliated with WPT, has been preparing to launch officially in Canada in 2025, aimed at replacing the void left by Global Poker’s recent exit from the Canadian market. Initially, ClubWPT Gold was open for pre-registration to Canadians (excluding Quebec), but legal advice delayed their full participation in games or tournaments. However, recent developments and statements from the platform hint at a rollout “later this year,” potentially filling the gap for Canadian players who seek legal online poker options. This platform uses a subscription-based, sweepstakes model which is legal under Canadian law and allows players to win cash and prizes without gambling with real money directly. This approach differentiates ClubWPT from traditional online gambling and positions it as a compliant option for Canadian residents intending to play WPT-style poker online.

Playing in the World Poker Tour (WPT) in 2025 involves varying costs depending on the specific tournament and level of competition. The flagship event for the WPT is the highly prestigious WPT World Championship held at Wynn Las Vegas, which features a buy-in of $10,400. This event typically runs from mid-December for about a week and attracts thousands of players globally. To enter, players pay this buy-in which covers their seat in the tournament. For instance, in the previous year, the tournament had 2,392 entries with a total prize pool of over $23 million, and the winner, Scott Stewart, took home over $2.5 million. Besides the main event, the WPT World Championship festival features 78 tournaments spread across three weeks, with buy-ins ranging from a minimum of $600 for lower-tier events to as high as $25,800 for high roller tournaments. These tournaments include various formats like No Limit Hold’em, PLO Mystery Bounty, Mixed Games, and Seniors events, providing options for all kinds of players from amateurs to professionals.

WPT Global poker is available across much of Canada, but due to Ontario’s provincial legislation, players from Ontario are blocked from accessing the platform. Ontario has a regulated online poker market that requires operators to obtain a local license and comply with strict rules, such as ring-fencing player pools so that Ontario residents compete only against other Ontario-located players. Since WPT Global operates under an international license from Curaçao and does not have an Ontario-specific license, Ontario players cannot legally use WPT Global to play poker. Instead, Ontario residents must use provincially licensed platforms like GGPoker Ontario or 888poker Ontario to participate in online poker, including the WPT World Championship events.