Gambling Weekly News Summary in Canada – 2026/06/13
PokerStars Returns to Ontario Under FanDuel Brand
Online poker brand PokerStars has returned to Ontario by integrating with sportsbook operator FanDuel after a monthlong transition.
PokerStars had been offline since May 7, when its previous Ontario platform was shut down ahead of the move to the new site. According to PokerStars, the new platform, PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel, uses Playtech’s online poker technology and runs through a FanDuel-run app and desktop site.
PokerStars had previously operated in Ontario as a standalone operator, offering online poker, casino games, and sports betting. It was removed from iGaming Ontario’s list of contracted operators in May and is now part of FanDuel’s product lineup.
Players can access the PokerStars brand, as well as FanDuel Sportsbook and FanDuel Casino, through the same account and wallet. The platform will compete with other regulated poker operators in Ontario, including GGPoker, BetMGM Poker, and 888poker.
Ontario’s player-pooling rules stop local players from competing against players in other provinces and states, but that situation could change after the outcome of an ongoing Supreme Court of Canada appeal about the legality of international peer-to-peer online poker.
St8 Expands Ontario Content with RubyPlay
Online casino game company St8 has extended its agreement with game supplier RubyPlay, which will see RubyPlay’s portfolio of slot titles available to operators in Ontario through St8’s aggregation platform.
The arrangement extends an existing relationship between the companies and covers content from studios within the RubyPlay network, including RubyPlay Studio, Koala Games, Mad Hat Games, and Firerose. Additional content from Xslots is also expected to be added.
Among the St8 games now available to operators in Ontario are J Mania Lucky Pyggs, Mad Hit Mr. Coin, and Diamond Explosion 7s SE.
“Partnering with RubyPlay in Ontario is an exciting addition to our growing content offering in North America. The supplier has built strong momentum across regulated markets through its engaging portfolio and player-focused approach, and we are delighted to bring its high-performing content from across its studio ecosystem to operators in Ontario through the St8 platform,” said David Fall, Business Development Manager at St8.
Canadian Survey Finds Gambling Ads Influence Bettors
As the FIFA World Cup gets underway, a new survey has found that gambling ads can influence betting activity among some Canadians.
According to the study, which was commissioned by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA Canada), 69% of Canadians have seen gambling or sports betting ads in everyday media. Among those who had gambled online in the past year, 27% said ads had influenced their decision to bet.
The survey found that 13% of Canadians are likely to place a wager on the World Cup, rising to 49% among regular sports bettors. Younger adults appeared more likely to be influenced by ads, with 37% of those aged 18 to 34 who gambled online saying ads prompted them to bet.
The research also found that men were more likely than women to gamble online, with 43% of men reporting online gambling activity compared with 28% of women. Overall sports betting participation was 20% for men and 8% for women.
In addition, 26% of online gamblers said that they spent over $500 on bets over the past year, including 16% who spent at least $1,000. The release of the survey, which included 1,532 Canadians, comes less than a month before Alberta launches its regulated online gambling sector.
Ziv (Steve) Chen
CEO at Major League Content
Ziv has been working in the iGaming industry for more than two decades, serving in senior roles in software developers like Playtech and Microgaming. He then followed his lifelong passion of writing and became a fulltime journalist, covering casinos, sports betting, legislation and other gambling topics and news with a specialty in North America.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziv-steve-chen-94b01b5/
