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Canadian Lottery Coalition asks Supreme Court to block Ontarians' access to online poker pools
The Supreme Court of Canada could overrule an appeals court decision enabling Ontario to enter into agreements concering liquidity with other jurisdictions.
The Supreme Court of Canada could weigh in on whether Ontario can establish shared liquidity pools for residents in online poker pools, potentially enabling people living in the province to take part in games with players across other parts of North America. The Canadian Lottery Coalition has asked the court to overturn an appellate decision in favor of Ontario's plan to expand online gaming in the province.
Canadian Lottery Coalition decries Ontario's poker plans in filing
The Canadian Lottery Coalition filed its brief in Atlantic Lottery Corporation, et al v. Attorney General of Ontario on Feb. 13, arguing that Ontario's move to allow citizens to enter into international poker pools violated Canadian law and could spur illegal gaming in other provinces. The Court of Appeal for Ontario found in favor of Ontario's attorney general, Doug Downey, in November 2025.
While online poker is part of the landscape for some of the licensed fastest payout online casino brands in Ontario, pools are limited to residents of the province currently. Ontario wants to enter into agreements with other North American jurisdictions to enable Ontarians to take part in shared pools.
Ontario is currently the only province with an active regulated system for non-government best odds casino game options online. Alberta has enacted legislation toward the same end but has yet to issue licenses or authorize platforms to go live in the province.
That lack of uniformity of regulation across the provinces is one of the primary issues behind the appeal of Atlantic Lottery Corporation, et al v. Attorney General of Ontario. With the Supreme Court potentially weighing in on the matter, more clarity may be ahead.
Lotteries taking issue with operators activities outside Ontario
When Ontario launched its regulated market for playing baccarat online and other games in 2022, many online gaming brands that had been operating in the province in a "grey area" obtained licensure. However, some of these companies licensed in Ontario have continued to offer their games to players in other provinces under the same model.
Other provinces like British Columbia and Manitoba have province-controlled online gaming portals that the appellate brief in Atlantic Lottery Corporation, et al v. Attorney General of Ontario argues have lost revenue to these gray-market brands. In expanding the parameters of its regulated system, the Canadian Lottery Coalition claims, Ontario is giving those companies more incentive to take action from the licensed channels in other provinces.
However, Downey argued in the trial before the Court of Appeal for Ontario that people from other provinces would not be able to take part in Ontario's poker pools. Downey's office has yet to file its response to the Canadian Lottery Coalition's appeal.
The Canadian Supreme Court will determine whether Ontario's attempt to initiate shared liquidity pools across borders will move forward. An affirmation of the lower court's ruling could give other provinces further incentive to follow Ontario's lead in expanding their legal gaming options.
