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PokerStars COOP Series Kicks Off This Weekend in Ontario, Canada; $2M Guaranteed

The inaugural Ontario Championship of Online Poker runs Oct. 1-17 at PokerStars with 132 tournaments and an overall guarantee of $2 million.

The Championship of Online Poker has become one of the most recognized tournament brands in online poker. PokerStars is now bringing a COOP series to players in the Canadian province of Ontario this fall.

The inaugural Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP) kicks off on Saturday with 17 days of action. The entire series runs from Oct. 1-17 with 132 tournaments and an overall guarantee of $2 million. ONCOOP becomes the largest and richest PokerStars series in Ontario yet.

What to expect from PokerStars ONCOOP

The series brings some major online tournament action to Ontario, which underwent provincial regulation earlier this year. PokerStars launched in June and is now ramping up a COOP festival for Ontario players.

The series offers something for every bankroll and interest. ONCOOP features  a range of Low and High buy-in options, allowing players of all types to get involved. Players will find two main events running on Oct. 16.

The $500 No Limit Hold’em High Main Event features a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool. The $50 Low Main Event comes with $40,000 guaranteed.

Other series highlights include:

  • $200 NLHE Kickoff (Oct. 1) – $20,000 guaranteed
  • $1,000 Sunday Special High Roller (Oct. 2) – $70,000 guaranteed
  • $300 Thursday Thrill PKO (Oct. 6) – $32,000 guaranteed
  • $100 NLHE PKO (Oct. 14) – $18,000 guaranteed

Growing the Ontario platform 

Following the launch of PokerStars in Ontario, players in the Canadian province have already found some nice series.  The first of those was the Ontario Platinum Series, which featured $1 million awarded to players.

The Bounty Builder Series next ran from Sept. 4-19 with another $1 million guaranteed. Since then, Stars officials have focused on planning an even bigger series with ONCOOP. The festival now doubles the guarantee of the first two series.

Here’s a look at the complete series.

PokerStars OCOOP 2022

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PartyPoker Launches First Series in Ontario With Poker Championships Starting Sunday

The first tournament series at PartyPoker Ontario was unveiled Thursday with Ontario Poker Championships running Sept. 11-26 with 74 events.

The first official tournament series at PartyPoker Ontario was unveiled for the Canadian market on Thursday. The Ontario Poker Championships kick off Sunday and run Sept. 11-26 with 74 events and three buy-in levels.

Players will find numerous tournament formats including six-max, seven-max, eight-max, progressive knockout (PKO), hyper, turbo, and deepstack.

“It gives us great pleasure to bring the excitement of a PartyPoker series to players in Ontario with the Ontario Poker Championships,” PartyPoker Canada regional manager Steve Spindler said in a news release.

“With at least 16 starting flights for all versions of the Main Event, chances to qualify from $0.01, and a mix of formats on the schedule, this should be the perfect opening series for players to enjoy. I look forward to seeing our Ontario players at the tables.”

Where to play?

Ontario completely regulated the province’s online gaming and poker market earlier this year. Several operators launched in the province with PartyPoker going live in April.

Players looking to get in the Ontario Poker Championships can not only play on PartyPoker, but also on BetMGM Poker and bwin in Ontario.

All three share player pools as a result of the brands’ relationship with Entain. The company owns the international PartyPoker and bwin platforms. Entertain also partners with MGM Resorts for the BetMGM online poker brand in North America.

What to expect in the PartyPoker Ontario Poker Championships

Players getting in the action have numerous events to check out and a few stand out. The Opener, featuring buy-ins ranging from $2.20 to $55, kicks off the series with guaranteed prize pools from $250 to $5,000. For those seeking bigger action, $320 and $530 high roller events run throughout the series. 

The high version of the Main Event also highlights the series, featuring a $109 buy-in and a guarantee of $50,000. The tournament offers at least 16 starting flights before Day 2 plays out on the final day of the series. Qualifiers start at just $0.01, with centrolls available throughout the festival.

The $22 medium version of the Main Event brings a guarantee of $10,000. The $5.50 low Main Event promises a $5,000 guarantee. All three Main Events run concurrently.

PartyPoker’s Weekender events are also planned for both the middle and final weekend. Guarantees range from $3,000 to $15,000 with buy-ins priced at $11 to $55. At least four starting flights run Friday to Sunday with Day 2 action on Sunday nights.

The Closer PKO Turbo closes out the series on the final day with buy-ins from $5.50 to $109. Look for guarantees of $750 to $5,000. Here’s a schedule of the complete series.

PartyPoker Ontario Poker Championships

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Big Tournaments on Tap: Bounty Builder, COOP Coming to PokerStars Players in Ontario

WSOP.ca and GGPoker are hosting the WSOP Winter Circuit Ontario from Dec. 4 – Jan. 9 with $5 million guaranteed.

PokerStars continues offering plenty of poker action for players in the Canadian market of Ontario. The platform launched in the province in June and announced two upcoming major series for the next few months on Tuesday.

Online poker players in Ontario can check out the Bounty Builder Series from Sept. 4-19 with $1 million guaranteed. The festival features a plethora of bounty events with low buy-ins ranging from $10 to $500. The action offers nice guarantees across more than 100 tournaments.

In addition to details on the Bounty Builder, Stars also released dates for the upcoming PokerStars Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP).

PokerStars Bounty Builder highlights

The Bounty Builder offers numerous tournament styles and game variants. Players will find No Limit Hold’em, Omaha, Five-Card Draw, HORSE, Badugi, and more. Tournament styles include turbo, hyper turbo, heads-up, and more.

Several events highlight the series. On the first day of action, players will find a $500 Sunday Super High Roller Special Edition with a $30,000 guarantee.

Another $200 Sunday Special Edition is set for Sept. 11 with $45,000 guaranteed, the largest of the series. The $500 Daily High Roller on Sept. 15 offers players a shot at a share of the $18,000 guarantee.

The $50 Hyper-Turbo Wrap-Up concludes the series on Sept 19 with $4,000 guaranteed.

The $200 Main Event highlights the Bounty Builder and runs on Sept. 18 with $100,000 guaranteed. Plenty of Ontario rounders should be out to chase the championship. Here’s a look at the complete schedule.

PokerStars Ontario Bounty Builder Series 2022

COOP coming to Ontario

With a new platform in Ontario, PokerStars is also bringing the company’s popular Championship of Online Poker (COOP) brand to the market.

The Ontario Championship of Online Poker (ONCOOP) becomes the first major online championship series for Stars players in the state. The series is set for Oct. 1-17 with more details coming soon.

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OH, CANADA: PokerStars Officially Goes Live in Ontario, $1M Series Welcomes Players to Platform

Ontario regulators have approved for PokerStars to operate and the platform officially went live in the Canadian province on Tuesday.

It’s go time for PokerStars players in Ontario, Canada. After reverting to a provincially-regulated market earlier this year, Stars became the latest operator to launch in Ontario on Tuesday.

The company announced that the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) granted the company a full registration to operate.

“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,” PokerStars managing director of marketing Tom Warren said in a news release.

“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.”

Details on PokerStars’ Ontario launch

Since regulating the market, Ontario players will now find a “ringed-in” environment as seen in most legalized US states. Players will play only against others within that province.

The new legal registration provides for a regulated PokerStars-branded offering for Ontario players. This is a similar setup for Stars players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The legal registration also authorizes PokerStars’ three verticals of online poker, casino gaming, and sports betting. The new platform features a localized schedule as well.

Online gamers will find more than 5,000 games, poker, blackjack and more. Players will find a seamless in-app and online experience.

Tournament series in the works

Players heading to PokerStars Ontario can already expect some major tournament action with the launch of the new platform. To mark the occasion, the site will host the Ontario Platinum Series from July 10-18 with a $1 million guaranteed prize pool.

“There is much more ahead in Ontario this summer with epic events and experiences in the works for players who join the PokerStars family,” the company noted in announcing the launch. Some of that includes:

  • a new rewards program giving players double rewards throughout July and August
  • a new weekly flagship event known as the New Sunday Major with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool
  • exclusive with promotions with its gaming partner Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment

For Canadian players outside Ontario, PokerStars will continue to serve these players with the international platform.

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BetMGM Expands $1M Poker Championship Qualifying to Online Players in Ontario, Canada

After recently announcing the BetMGM Poker Championship this in Las Vegas, on Thursday the company expanded online qualifying opportunities Ontario.

After recently announcing the new BetMGM Poker Championship this summer in Las Vegas, on Thursday expanded qualifying opportunities to online poker players in Ontario.

The $3,500 championship is set for June 23-26 as part of the Aria Poker Classic and comes with a $1 million guarantee. Players in Ontario can now qualify for the event beginning this weekend. Qualifiers and satellites will run on a rolling basis and BetMGM is awarding six complete tournament packages.

“The first-ever BetMGM Poker Championship descends on Las Vegas during one of the most exciting times of the poker season,” BetMGM director of poker Luke Staudenmaier said in a news release.

“Aria is a legendary poker brand and we’re thrilled that the championship has become an integral part of this year’s Poker Classic. Through our relationship with MGM Resorts and its world-class US properties, we’ll continue to leverage event programming and connect with players both online and in their favorite poker rooms.”

 

Qualifying via BetMGM

Ontario is the fourth online poker market for BetMGM, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan in the US. The province began regulating the market this year, creating a ringed-in environment as seen in the US.

BetMGM also shares player pools with partypoker in Ontario, but players only compete against others within the province.

The platform is operated by Roar Digital, owned by MGM Resorts and Entain (owner of the international partypoker brand). Roar officials are now planning more utilization of MGM’s popular casino resorts and poker rooms in coordination with the online product.

Ontario players looking to grab a seat in the BetMGM Poker Championship now have several opportunities. There are numerous satellites running with two qualifiers planned for three upcoming Sundays: May 29, June 5 and 12. Winners receive a prize package that include:

  • tournament buy-in
  • travel expenses
  • five-night stay at Aria

More on tap for Vegas satellite winners

In the US, online poker is legal on a state-by-state basis and BetMGM has become one of the country’s major operators. The brand is a skin of the partypoker US Network, along with Borgata Poker. All three skins share player pools in each state as BetMGM and party do in Ontario.

Winners can expect a fun few days of action in Las Vegas. Beyond the championship, the company is promising sportsbook watching parties and other activities.

A $600 BetMGM Poker Mystery Bounty is also planned for June 25. This is the first time Aria has run this popular version of a traditional bounty tournament.

The BetMGM Poker Championship is the second opportunity for online players to qualify online for a live event at an MGM property. In the US, players in the March Poker Mania series could also qualify for a tournament at the Borgata in Atlantic City.

Those efforts now expand to Canadian players in Ontario. Four-time World Poker Tour champion and BetMGM ambassador Darren Elias is excited to see expansion of online- and live event cross-promotions.

“BetMGM is particularly well-equipped to offer these sorts of events as our online platforms can qualify players to events at any of our MGM properties,” he recently told USPoker. “Whether that be Aria and Bellagio in Las Vegas or Borgata and MGM National Harbor on the East Coast, players can expect to play at some of the premier poker destinations in the country.

“This recent Borgata event we ran and the upcoming BetMGM Aria event should only be the beginning. I’m expecting to see more integration between the live and online arenas and even larger events in the future.”

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Partypoker Becomes Latest Option for Canadian Players in Ontario; Platform Now Live

WSOP.ca and GGPoker are hosting the WSOP Winter Circuit Ontario from Dec. 4 – Jan. 9 with $5 million guaranteed.

As the Canadian province of Ontario continues transitioning to a regulated market, another operator jumped in the market on Tuesday. Partypoker announced its fully-licensed online poker room was open for business in the province.

The company also outlined how players will transition from the international site to the Ontario platform. Party now offers online sports betting and casino gaming in Ontario as well.

“I am truly excited that all three of our Party brands are entering the Ontario market,” party brands managing director Vic Walia said in a news release.

“Both recreational and professional players living in Ontario will be able to experience a world-class gaming product across poker, casino and sports. As a Canadian and Toronto native myself, I am particularly proud of this moment in our company’s history.”

Changes come to Ontario

The party launch is the latest move into the province by online poker companies. Regulators have transitioned Ontario from a market open to international online poker sites to a regional approach.

Players will now be part of a “ringed-in” environment as seen in states in the US. Players compete only against others within Ontario.

With a population of 14.6 million and large cities like Toronto and Ottawa, most online poker operators have adapted to the changes.

888poker and BetMGM are both live in the province as well. GGPoker also plans to launch a World Series of Poker-branded site soon.

Partypoker players can transfer their accounts

Those in Ontario who are already party players will see their accounts transferred to the new platform. Once on the site, players will find a seamless experience for poker, casino games, and sports betting.

Canadian dollars are also now in use for partypoker Ontario. Players’ cash balances will be transferred and converted into the new currency after a few steps including:

  • consenting to the new Ontario-specific terms, conditions, and privacy policy
  • reviewing personal information
  • verifying player identity

Players will find the new tournament schedule features partypoker favorites like Daily Legends and Super Sunday events. Players can play cash games, fastforward quick-play cash games, SPINS events, and sit and gos.

Party also launches casino, sports betting

The partypoker site is only part of the offerings from the company in Ontario. Party Casino and Party Sports offer players even more options.

Casino players can check out a suite of exclusive slot games such as Bison Fury and Big Banker Pots.

Casino classics like Premium Roulette or Vegas Blackjack are also available. There are even new game shows like Sweet Bonanza Candyland.

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BetMGM Plants Flag in Ontario as First Regulated Online Poker Operator Under New Rules

Ontario regulators have approved for PokerStars to operate and the platform officially went live in the Canadian province on Tuesday.

After recent regulatory changes, BetMGM became the first online poker platform to launch in the Canadian province of Ontario on Wednesday.

Ontario, home to major cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton, has shifted away from a “grey” market to a regulated environment. That’s had online gaming companies lining up to get in the action in the province.

MGM now becomes the first new operator in the province with a platform for the new regulated environment (and not previously available in the “grey” market). More operators are expected to follow suit in the coming weeks.

“BetMGM Poker brings an agile, diverse, and player-centric platform to Canadian players,” BetMGM director of poker Luke Staudenmaier said in a news release. “Through high-visibility partnerships, the brand will also connect players with world-class omni-channel experiences and poker legends, like brand ambassador Darren Elias.

“We look forward to building our community in Ontario, welcoming players to our tables, and providing safe, accessible, and entertaining options.”

 

BetMGM becomes first in regulated Ontario

Ontario becomes the fourth market for BetMGM, which is a skin of the Partypoker US Network. In the US, the company operates in:

The company also operates the Borgata Poker skin as well in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Like in the US states, the Ontario market will function as a “ringed-in” market.

That has players competing only against others within Ontario. The move means players will transition from the grey market to a more regulated environment. Ontario offers a nice market for online poker with almost 14.6 million people.

There is potential to share liquidity with other provinces eventually as Quebec, British Columbia, and Manitoba all host officially government-sanctioned sites. Those in Quebec and British Columbia currently operate a shared network and liquidity.

For BetMGM, adding poker in Ontario brings a full betting experience to the province. The company launched online sportsbook and casino operations on April 4.

Growing the brand

Not only does Ontario present a fourth market for the company, but MGM’s first outside the US. The company is part of ROAR Digital, a partnership between MGM and Entain, owner of the international partypoker brand.

 BetMGM poker offers players a number of poker variants, signature poker tournaments, and cash games of all buy-in levels. The platform also operates the Fast Forward quick-play poker option and also features the Grind Rewards program.

In the US, the operator has ramped its tournament offerings in recent months. The company has run synchronized tournament series in each of the three legal US states. The site has also given each series a more distinct name than previously seen with monthly online festivals.

“We want to make our players … excited about the game of poker and we’ve found that variety in our month-to-month offers helps to pique their interest,” Staudenmaier told USPoker recently. “We want our players to recognize us as thoughtful and innovative, just like players themselves when making decisions at the table.”

The company also regularly partners with the Borgata casino, MGM property, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The casino’s poker room is one of the most popular poker rooms in the Northeast and offers partypoker/BetMGM some synergy in marketing online and live events.

While exact details aren’t yet known, poker players can probably expect similar tournament series and promotions as seen in the US. To celebrate the launch in Ontario, BetMGM is hosting daily Welcome Freeroll tournaments through April 30.

The BetMGM Poker apps are accessible in Canada on both Apple iOS and Android, as well as via desktop and laptop computers.