CanadaPokerStars Casino Review
We enjoyed our time with PokerStars Casino but found the platform lacking in a few areas during our review. Where it fell short, it made up for in other categories, such as providing app support. Read our full review and discover why we gave this casino 4/5 stars.
What is good?
- Canadian-preferred payment methods
- Reputable providers
- Large number of games
- Supports CAD
- Decent online reputation
What is bad?
- Limited options for customer support
- No cryptocurrency support
- Live chat is a chatbot, so it’s not always truly helpful
FAQ
Yes, PokerStars Casino operates legally in Canada and Ontario. This casino operates using a Malta Gaming Authority License. Ontario has the necessary license with the AGCO.
You can download the PokerStars Casino app from the website. This casino does not offer official App Store or Play Store apps, so you must download the APK from the ‘Mobile’ tab.
No, you cannot. PokerStars Casino does not offer no-deposit bonuses but provides first-deposit bonuses.
Yes, you can play using CAD. PokerStars Casino supports the Canadian Dollar, among other currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP.
PokerStars Casino Review Details - How we conducted the test
Our review of PokerStars Casino occurred on 24 October 2023. During this review, our writers spent time with the platform to investigate every part. We then compile notes and compare them to the appraisals of our expert gamblers - a separate team. We compare these reviews to ensure we do not miss any details and provide the most comprehensive result possible. We base our appraisals on real-player experiences to guarantee authenticity.
These reviews are a deep dive into eight categories ranging from account creation to withdrawals and deposits and even overall platform uniqueness. You can find the complete list of categories and their respective scores out of five below.
| Details | Data |
| Date and time: | 24 October 2023 |
| Devices used: | Desktop, Laptop, Mobile, Tablet |
| Currency used: | CAD |
| Number of test persons: | 2 |
| Total time spent on the testing: | 15 hours |
Rating summarized per category
| Decision-making factors | Rating |
| Trustworthiness | 4 / 5 Stars |
| Creating an Account | 5 / 5 Stars |
| Withdrawals and Deposits | 4 / 5 Stars |
| Bonuses and Campaigns | 3 / 5 Stars |
| Game/Product selection | 5 / 5 Stars |
| Usability | 4 / 5 Stars |
| Customer Support | 3 / 5 Stars |
| Uniqueness & Features | 4 / 5 Stars |
PokerStars Casino Canada Trustworthiness Rating
We gave PokerStars Casino a trustworthiness rating of 4/5 stars. The casino has all the necessary legal licenses, and you can explore further information through the parent company. Additionally, this casino provides good, responsible gambling tools, which is always a pleasant surprise.
However, some online reviews have concerns about unfair terms and conditions. The community also seems somewhat divided on the quality of the platform. These concerns mean we cannot give this category full marks.
Is PokerStars Licensed and Certified in Canada?
Yes, this platform has the relevant license to operate legally within Canada. It utilizes a Malta Gaming Authority License and can lawfully function in other countries worldwide.
Does PokerStars also have a license in Ontario?
Yes, it does. PokerStars Casino has been able to operate in Ontario for some time. It has undergone the relevant registration with the AGCO and has an Ontario iGaming License.
When Was PokerStars Canada Launched?
This platform launched back in 2015. It has since operated without too many changes to its platform but has increased its reach to other countries.
Does PokerStars Have a Good Reputation?
PokerStars Casino has a decent online reputation. Most reviews have an above-average rating, and clients don’t have many concerns. However, the community seems divided on withdrawal times, customer service, and even the quality of the mobile app.
How Popular Is PokerStars?
PokerStars Casino is not one of the world’s biggest casinos, but has a steady player base. It likely sits at an average number of players compared to other Canadian online casinos.
Is PokerStars a Listed Company?
This casino is not a listed company and is privately owned by Rational Intellectual Holdings Limited.
Brands Associated With PokerStars
The only brand we could find associated with this casino is its parent company, Rational Intellectual Holdings Limited.
PokerStars’ Responsible Gambling Policies
This site provides a good range of responsible gambling policies for all players. You can find the full list of features below:
Responsible Gambling Measures in place
| ❌ Self Exclusion (Non-reversible) | Yes |
| ⏲️ Time out possibilities (Reversible) | Yes |
| ⌛Time Limits on sessions | Yes |
| ⏰Reality check on set times | Yes |
| 💳Deposit limits | Yes |
| 💸 Wager limits | Yes |
| 🚮 Permanent deletion of account | Yes |
| 📝 Self Assessment Test | Yes |
PokerStars Casino Creating an Account Rating
We gave PokerStars Casino an account creation rating of 5/5 stars. Creating an account is as straightforward as you’d expect, with only basic information required. The casino also has a good KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure when relevant.
We have no complaints about this category.
Information That Canadian Players Need to Sign Up
When you create an account with PokerStars, you will need the following information:
- Password
- Country of Residence
- Mobile Phone Number
- Name and Surname
How Easy Is It For Canadians to Create an Account?
Canadians can create accounts with PokerStars as easily as anyone else. Simply click on Sign Up and fill in the relevant information.
How PokerStars Verifies Your Documents
When the KYC process occurs, you must provide relevant documents such as certified ID, bank statements, and proof of residence. The casino uses these documents to verify your identity and improve its security against money laundering attempts.
When the KYC process occurs, you must provide relevant documents such as certified ID and bank statements, and proof of residence. The casino uses these documents to verify your identity and improve its security against money laundering attempts.
How Quickly Can I Start Playing with Real Cash?
You can start playing with and for real cash as soon as your account activates – which should only take a few minutes after signing up. Simply head to your account and deposit funds into your wallet. Once the funds are reflected, you can start playing. Deposits may take varying amounts of time to reflect, which brings us to our next category.
PokerStars Casino Withdrawals and Deposits Rating
We gave PokerStars Casino a withdrawals and deposits rating of 4/5 stars. The platform offers more than enough options for payments. The site also supports Canadian-preferred payment methods such as Interac, Instadebit, iDebit, and MuchBetter.
However, it does not support cryptocurrency payments, so we cannot give this category full marks.
Deposit Methods for Canadian Players
When depositing money into your PokerStars Casino account, you can use the following methods:
| Deposit method | Processing time | Minimum deposit | Maximum deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neteller | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Skrill | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Paysafecard | Instant | C$10 | - |
| ecoPayz | Instant | C$10 | - |
| MasterCard | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Visa | Instant | C$10 | - |
| InstaDebit | Instant | C$10 | - |
| WebMoney | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Trustly | Instant | C$10 | - |
| PayPal | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Maestro | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Neosurf | Instant | C$10 | - |
| eCheck | Instant | C$10 | - |
| AstroPay Direct | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Bank Transfer | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Interac | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Google Pay | Instant | C$10 | - |
| MuchBetter | Instant | C$10 | - |
| Apple Pay | Instant | C$10 | - |
How to Withdraw Your Earnings
When withdrawing money from your PokerStars Casino account, you can use the following methods:
| Withdrawal method | Processing time | Minimum withdrawal | Maximum withdrawal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neteller | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| Skrill | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| Paysafecard | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| ecoPayz | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| MasterCard | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| Visa | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| InstaDebit | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| WebMoney | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| Trustly | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| PayPal | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| Maestro | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| Neosurf | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| AstroPay Direct | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| Interac | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
| MuchBetter | Up to five business days | C$20 | - |
Can I play and deposit using CAD?
Yes, you can play games at PokerStars Casino using Canadian Dollars. CAD is a supported currency alongside USD, EUR, and GBP.
Do I Need to Provide Any Documents to Withdraw Earnings?
Whether you need to provide KYC documents during withdrawals is entirely at the discretion of the casino. In most cases, you must make these documents available during your first withdrawal. You might also need to provide them when you deposit or withdraw a suspiciously large amount.
KYC checks on large withdrawals or deposits to help the platform combat money laundering, so it is entirely normal.
PokerStars Casino Bonuses & Campaigns Rating
We gave PokerStars Casino a bonus and campaign rating of 3/5 stars. This casino offers little variety for bonuses and campaigns. The few bonuses and campaigns it does offer are fairly generic. However, some of these apply to its unique poker client, so we felt we could give an average score for this category.
Introducing Bonuses
You can expect the following welcome bonuses from PokerStars Casino:
- 100% First Deposit Bonus up to C$600.
To claim the bonus, you need to deposit a minimum of $10.
Ongoing Campaigns for Canadian users at PokerStars
PokerStars Casino has the following ongoing campaigns:
- Play Money Tournament
- Neymar Jr Kick-Off
- PokerStars x Neymar Jr
- Sunday Billion
- KO Poker
- Zoom
PokerStars Casino Canada Game & Products Rating
We gave this casino a games and products rating of 5/5 stars. It offers many games, supports sports betting, and provides a unique Poker Client you won’t find anywhere else. We believe that the exclusive Poker Client more than makes up for some small categories of games or products this casino doesn’t have available.
Which Games Can I Play at PokerStars Canada?
You can play the following games at PokerStars Casino:
Slots, Roulette, Blackjack, Betting, Video Poker, Bingo, Baccarat, Jackpot Games, Live Games, Poker, Scratch Cards, Crash Games.
From Where Does PokerStars Source Its Games?
PokerStars Casino obtains its games from a range of providers, including:
NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, Playtech, Microgaming, ELK Studios, Big Time Gaming, Quickspin, Push Gaming, NYX Gaming Group, Evolution Gaming, Red Tiger Gaming, Play’n GO, Blueprint Gaming, iSoftBet, Playson, Thunderkick, Spinomenal, Leander Games, Rabcat, 1X2 Gaming, 2By2 Gaming, High 5 Games, Games Warehouse, Relax Gaming, edict, Snowborn Games, Reel Kingdom, Origins (Playtech), Reel Play, Stakelogic, Spin Play Games, Skywind Group, Vikings (Playtech), Foxium, Fortune Factory, Stormcraft Studios, Reflex Gaming, Triple Edge Studios, Northern Lights Gaming, Just For The Win, Gameburger Studios, The Stars Group, Instant Win Gaming (IWG).
PokerStars Online Casino
The lobby experience at PokerStars Casino is not bad. The UI could certainly use some improvements for better navigation, but overall, we’ve seen worse. This site offers casino and live games, slots and races.
PokerStars Sportsbook
This casino provides a comprehensive sportsbook experience to players who love betting on their favorite sports. You can expect the following types of sports to bet on:
- Football
- Tennis
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Live Sports Betting
If you want more sports betting options, we have an article on the best sports betting Casinos for Canadians.
PokerStars Casino Usability Rating
We gave PokerStars Casino a usability rating of 4/5 stars. The platform isn’t too complicated to use – although, as mentioned, the UI can improve. We also like the addition of a mobile app. Even though it is only for Android, it still elevates this category to an above-average score.
PokerStars Canada – Compatible Devices
If you want to play games at PokerStars Casino, you can use the following devices:
- Desktop
- Laptop
- Mobile
- Tablet
What We Think About the Feel of PokerStars
The overall feel of PokerStars is somewhat generic. It has nothing special in the UI or navigation for games, making it feel like an above-average online casino. However, the Poker Client software allowing them to launch fully branded, customizable poker rooms supporting multiple languages and currencies. This feature is unique to PokerStars, which makes up for the other areas.
Updates, releases and improvements to the product
This casino launched in 2015 and has changed over time, accumulating navigational changes, new providers, campaigns and bonuses, and better infrastructure.
PokerStars Casino Canada: Customer Support Rating
We gave PokerStars Casino a customer support rating of 3/5 stars. The avenues of support are average, with the same options available as you would expect from any other online casino.
How Can I Reach Out to PokerStars as a Canadian Player?
You can reach out to PokerStars Casino using the following methods:
- Live Chatbot
You can also use the FAQ page for answers. However, note that the FAQ page requires you to log in first, so you cannot view FAQs on the website without an account.
PokerStars Casino Features & Uniqueness Rating
We gave PokerStars Casino a features and uniqueness rating of 4/5 stars. While there are some generic-feeling parts of the platform, it does offer a unique poker client. It has most of the features you would expect an online casino to have, including games and sports betting.
Adding an app for desktop and Android is decent enough to keep this category’s score above average. We feel that having an iOS app would have secured the 5/5 score for this category.
How Is PokerStars Different From Other Online Casino Sites?
This casino offers Poker Client software you won’t find anywhere else, making the platform worth trying.
What type of Player is PokerStars best suited for?
We believe this casino is best suited for players who:
- Want an Android or Desktop app.
- Players who love poker and want a dedicated poker client..
Why should a Canadian user choose PokerStars?
There is no specific reason to choose this casino over other Canadian options. The main reason you would consider this casino is its support of CAD and Canadian-preferred payment methods, but every Canadian casino should offer the same. You might also want to try the poker client, but that is not a feature specific to Canadians.
PokerStars Casino – Our Verdict
Our final verdict for PokerStars Casino is that it does enough to get an above-average score. We believe this casino can improve tremendously with small changes, but whether that happens remains to be seen.
What We Love about PokerStars Canada
We enjoyed the following features of this casino:
- Canadian-preferred payment support
- Android and Desktop app
Drawbacks - How PokerStars Could Improve
We believe this casino can improve in the following ways:
- Better campaigns and bonuses
- an iOS app for iPhone users
Our Final PokerStars Casino Review Rating
Our final score for this website is 4/5 stars. This casino provides ample reason to try it out, from having all preferred games to its unique Poker Client. The casino requires small changes such as official App Store and Play Store apps, cryptocurrency support, and improved bonuses and promotions.
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