PokerStars Canada Review & Sign-up Guide

PokerStars Canada sign-up code 2024

You do not need to enter any special PokerStars code when you create a new account with the online poker site in Ontario.

How to sign up at Poker Stars Canada

When you’re ready to give PokerStars a try, signing up is exceedingly simple, and you can complete the registration on either your mobile device or computer. Just follow these directions:

• Head to the PokerStars homepage and click on the green button labeled “Join” in the top right corner.
• This will bring up a form where you enter pertinent information to create your new account, such as email address and username.
• Once you confirm your email address, your account is ready and you can go ahead make your initial deposit whenever you wish.

PokerStars poker software

Although PokerStars is one of the oldest presences in the online poker scene, its software does not feel like it. The company has invested time and money into developing a sleek and modern platform. Although certainly not the most beautiful interface out there, it is extremely easy to use and very fast to drop into the games if you are just learning to play poker. The way it lays out the games is intuitive, and it takes only seconds to find a tournament or cash game after launching the software.

Once you’re on the table, the information all appears very legibly, and there are not a lot of graphical or other distractions. One distinct feature that PokerStars has is the ability to alter the look and feel of the table, such as the pattern on the deck of cards or the colour of the felt. You can even select your preferred seat position if you are tired of seeing your avatar automatically in the centre of the screen. The interface’s combination of playability and visual appeal make it one of the best options for live poker currently available.

Downloading PokerStars Canada app

When you are ready to give PokerStars shot, follow these instructions to download it to your computer or mobile device:

Desktop version

• In the centre of the PokerStars landing page, you will see a green “Download Now” button.
• Click on that button, and the installation file will automatically download.
• Run the file to complete the installation onto your machine.
• Once the software is installed, launch it and log in using your previously created account.

Android and iOS versions

If you like the ability to be untethered, the good news is that PokerStars is available on both iOS and Android devices. We recommend playing on a dedicated tablet so that you can take advantage of a larger screen, especially if you plan on multi-tabling.

• Head to the PokerStars website via mobile browser.
• Click on the green download button in the centre of the page, which should take you to the appropriate download for your device, either Apple or Android.

Follow the prompts to download the app from there, and once you have the app on your phone or tablet, just log in to your account (or create a new one) and you’re ready to hit the felt.

Poker games at PokerStars

PokerStars runs some of the most reliable cash games and the most frequented tournaments of any online poker site. It sponsors a variety of games, although its most trafficked games are, of course, Texas Hold’em.

Cash games

PokerStars touts itself as one of the global poker room leaders for cash game players. Although the site’s specialty is tournaments, it does spread a good number of ring games, with a range of stakes and varieties. You will find the most action at the Texas Hold’em and Omaha tables, but PokerStars does run some of the rarer games you won’t find elsewhere, such as Razz. Blinds range from a low of $0.01/$0.02 up to $25/$50 (although it may be tough to find consistent games at the higher stake levels). Here is a list of the cash games currently available at PokerStars:

• Texas Hold’em (limit and no limit)
• Omaha and Omaha Hi-Lo (limit and no limit)
• Stud and Stud Hi-Lo
• Razz
• Badugi
• Various mixed games

Tournaments

If you talk to most of the PokerStars players who play in the US, you will hear that the tournament options are the No. 1 reason they chose PokerStars as their online poker platform. It’s true that the site runs one of the best tournament scenes in the States, and there’s little reason to think that will change if PokerStars launches in Canada. It has a consistently large and active player pool, and enough tournament varieties to keep players entertained all year long. Here is what you can expect: 

Spin and go poker tournaments

PokerStars runs its own distinct form of sit and go tourneys called spin and go’s. These are super-turbo tournaments with just three players. What sets them apart is their randomly assigned prize pool that you don’t know the amount of until you buy in. The prize pool will always at least equal the amount of money the players put in the middle, but the first place prize can soar as high as 1,000x your buy-in. Buy in for just $1, and you could walk away with $1,000. To be fair, however, the odds of the 1,000x prize pool are a scant 1 in 100,000.

Other tournament options

Beside the spin and go tourneys, PokerStars offers a variety of other tournament options. Here are a few of the regular options:

• Bounty tournaments: Win a prize for every player that you knock out.
• Multi-table tournaments: Massive affairs with equally huge prize pools. Available regularly throughout the month.
• Hyper turbo: Large, rapid tournaments with blinds that increase every three minutes. These tournaments frequently run as satellites to large buy-in multi-table events.
• Sunday Special: The busiest day for tournament action, and PokerStars is no exception. Join the Sunday Special with the highest guaranteed prize pool of any tourney on the site’s slate.
• Moonlight Express: Calling all night owls. Play in this nightly hyper turbo tournament, starting at midnight Eastern.

This is just a small sample of the regular tournaments at PokerStars. Visit the PokerStars website for the entire listing.

Multi-tabling

PokerStars’ software in the US supports multi-tabling, and we are confident that the Canadian version will as well. If you are playing on a mobile device, you can have up to four cash games open at a time. Additionally, you can play in up to five tournaments at once, depending on what device you are using.

And, of course, you would be able to grind out some cash on the side while playing in a large multi-table tournament. The PokerStars software makes it very simple to keep track of all the action and easily switch between active hands. Our last bit of advice: The bigger the screen the better when it comes to multi-tabling. Try to play on a desktop or laptop computer if you are sitting down for a long session.

Banking at PokerStars

As a result of its veteran presence in the online gambling scene, Poker Stars is able to partner with many banking and financial institutions. This means that it provides a wealth of banking options when it comes to handling your money.

Depositing funds at PokerStars

The minimum that you can deposit is $10, and PokerStars permits you to fund your account using the following methods:

• ACH bank transfer
• Skrill
• PayPal
• Visa
• Mastercard
• Play+
• PayNearMe

Withdrawing at PokerStars

Just like depositing, withdrawing your funds from PokerStars is fast and reliable. Be mindful that there is a 24- to 48-hour waiting period (which is standard among gambling sites), which allows PokerStars time to confirm and verify your withdrawal. After that, you should receive your money promptly via the withdrawal method of your choice. Here are the current ways to withdraw funds:

• Play+
• ACH bank transfer
• PayPal
• Skrill

Customer support at PokerStars

One area where PokerStars can seek to improve is by shoring up its customer support options. Players have reported being unable to contact a representative immediately when they need one. Currently, the  PokerStars website does not offer a customer service phone number or live chat option. The only way to get assistance is by filling out a form in the help section. Then, you must await an email response. This is certainly not an ideal situation, and hopefully in the future PokerStars can address this by at least adding a support hotline for players who need their questions answered right away.

Is PokerStars safe?

PokerStars has built a reputation for itself as one of the top destinations for online poker. Its long history and expansive player base are a testament to the safety and security on the site. In the United States, PokerStars is subject to all of the applicable security measures and governmental oversight that all gambling operators fall under. If it launches in Canada, the oversight will be equally strict.

History of PokerStars

After launching in 2001, PokerStars quickly gained traction and became one of the top destinations for online poker in the United States. In 2006, it officially took the title of the largest online poker room in the world. It has consistently been one of the most trafficked sites in the industry, gaining the trust of players and financial institutions alike.