Image by Dewald Van Rensburg from Pixabay
In November 2025 Ontario's Court of Appeal ruled that Ontario's online regulated gambling platforms will be allowed to offer peer-to-peer gambling games between players in Ontario and users located in other countries. This will apply to games like poker and daily fantasy sports, opening up a whole new world (quite literally and figuratively) for competitors and platforms alike.
We sat down with Elsa Fliott from review site Casino.org to find out what is going on and how it could impact players. Elsa is a specialist in online gambling in Ontario, so she seemed like the perfect person for us to get a view from.
Hi Elsa – thank you for taking the time to answer our questions today. Can you please explain exactly what has happened and how it might benefit players who enjoy peer-to-peer gaming?
“Sure. Some of the lottery and gaming agencies from other provinces opposed the idea, but the legal opinion could let Ontarians play against players from outside the country.
Ironically, no one really knows what this means for the immediate future. It appears there could be an appeal to the Supreme Court, as British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the four Atlantic provinces are concerned that it could "lead to the further proliferation of illegal online gambling in the jurisdictions in which they operate."
"We are waiting with bated breath to see what happens next. It could be really exciting as it expands the market and could lead to some great global interplay. A key part of the ruling was that there must be appropriate oversight, which means that this can only happen where there is proper market regulation and legalized gambling."
"We specialize in offering advice for those looking for an Ontario online casino and have been reviewing operators since 1995. All of our recommended online poker sites are hand-picked by our experts. We prefer larger player pools, as they mean more choice and competition, so this ruling could be excellent news for players, as long as it is implemented wisely. "
Ok, so it seems as though there is still everything to play for! What do you think is at stake now, and how will it affect business?
“Industry insiders believe that this could really revive interest in online poker and Daily Fantasy Sports. There are hundreds of millions of dollars in potential online wagers which could be freed up. We know that the other provinces are concerned about a rise in interest in their territories, but this is not what this is about. Paul Burns of the Canadian Gaming Association believes there could be a significant rise in the poker business in Ontario. A ruling that allows players to mix with non-Canadians would increase the pool and encourage players in regulated markets to play against each other.
While more than 80% of Ontarians play at regulated sites, a small minority are skipping them and opting for international sites, particularly when looking for higher-stakes games. Not only would this ruling ensure their safety by helping them stay within the regulated system, but it would also bring more revenue to the province. The model that Ontario has put forward would prohibit players from other provinces from participating, and offshore gambling platforms would also be excluded.
As ever, Ontario has been brave and pragmatic. People like to play poker. There is a relatively small pool of players compared to online slots players, for example. While Ontario iGaming continues to post new monthly highs, there are still opportunities being missed. Online poker players tend to be younger and used to global interactions. The Ontario regulatory body is reacting to what is happening in the market rather than trying to hold back the tides or bury its head in the sand. The gambling industry's experience is that banning something does not stop it; it just makes things riskier for players. Players need a safe, regulated market in which to enjoy their chosen entertainment.”
How will Casino.org evaluate platforms, and do affiliate sites expect to see more traffic and interest?
“Things will be pretty much the same for our expert reviewers. We already cover global markets and have a rigorous, data-driven approach to reviewing and rating. We will continue to carry out all our usual checks and only recommend sites that we genuinely think operate in the players' interests.
We think it will be important for players to check what review sites are offering, but we would warn them to steer clear of any affiliate sites or influencers who are only in it for the money. We have a twenty-five-step process that covers everything to ensure players are not putting themselves at undue risk.
Our checks cover everything from licensing and site security to customer service, banking options, game libraries, and bonuses. We have already checked out the top poker sites in Canada and will highlight options for safe worldwide play.
We understand that poker is very different from online slots. Poker is not just a game of luck; it requires a high level of skill. We will continue to offer tips on how to play and feature free poker sites so that customers can hone their skills before playing with real money.”
Yogonet Poker is a classic gambling game, what do you think makes it so popular?
“Poker might take just a few minutes to learn (well, some basic rules anyway), but it can take much longer than that to master. Becoming a master poker player is a journey – we hope that this new ruling means the journey can happen legally across country borders.”
So there you have it. If there is no successful appeal, Ontarians will soon be able to travel the world from the comfort of their own home in search of the perfect game. Royal Flush and poker face at the ready!
