PokerStars vs BetMGM Poker Ontario: Which Is Better?

By Alex Drummond, Editor-in-Chief · Last updated May 06, 2026 · Fact-checked by Maya Chen

PokerStars Ontario and BetMGM Poker Ontario are two of the six licensed poker rooms available to players physically located in Ontario. This head-to-head breaks down how they compare on rake, tournaments, mobile software, banking, rewards, and overall value, and recommends which is the better pick depending on your playing style.

Quick verdict

• PokerStars Ontario is the better choice if: Deepest tournament schedule, ONCOOP and ONSCOOP flagship series.
• BetMGM Poker Ontario is the better choice if: Unified wallet across BetMGM Casino and BetMGM Sportsbook Ontario.

Software and Game Selection

PokerStars Ontario runs on PokerStars 7 client and offers No-Limit Hold'em cash games and tournaments, Pot-Limit Omaha, and additional format variants. BetMGM Poker Ontario runs on partypoker software (shared network). The two clients differ materially in feature set: PokerStars tends to emphasise unique formats and software features, while BetMGM Poker focuses on the core cash-game and tournament experience.

Rake and Rewards

PokerStars Ontario runs the PokerStars Rewards (Chests) loyalty programme with an effective cashback range of 15% to 60% depending on Chest level. BetMGM Poker Ontario runs the BetMGM Rewards programme, paying tier-based via BetMGM Rewards with MGM Resorts crossover. The high end of each scheme favours volume players, while the floor is closer at lower tiers.

Rake itself is comparable between the two rooms, both capped at roughly five per cent per pot. The better question for most Ontario players is which programme delivers more value for their specific volume, which depends on tier thresholds.

Tournament Schedules

PokerStars Ontario and BetMGM Poker Ontario both run daily tournaments in the Ontario ring-fenced pool. The weekly flagship events and series guarantees differ, and the ratio of tournament volume to cash-game volume is not the same. Readers comparing the two should check the Ontario tournament schedule before committing to either.

Mobile Apps

PokerStars Ontario offers iOS, Android native apps with full tournament support. BetMGM Poker Ontario offers iOS, Android native apps with fastforward and multi-tabling up to four tables. Both apps enforce the same Ontario geolocation check on every login and run inside iGO's regulatory perimeter.

Banking

Both rooms support Interac, Visa and Mastercard debit and credit, PayPal, and a handful of alternative e-wallets. The minimum deposit on PokerStars Ontario is C$10 and on BetMGM Poker Ontario is C$10. Withdrawal processing times are similar, with Interac e-Transfer clearing fastest on both.

Verdict

For most Ontario players choosing between the two, the deciding factor is game-format preference. Tournament players who want WSOP-branded qualifiers will find the choice clearer than cash-game players, who can happily play at either.

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