Best Online Poker Tournaments in Ontario

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Sep 25, 2025 20 min read Last updated Nov 25, 2025

With all the tournament options available across the sites that have opened in Ontario the it can be difficult to find the right online poker site that is perfect for what you are looking for. Fortunately, PokerNews is here to help you.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know as an Ontarian poker player. We'll explain the different types of poker tournaments available in the province, winning strategies and the best online poker tournaments in Ontario to play on each operator.

Best Ontario Sites for Online Poker Tournaments

What Are Online Poker Tournaments?

Let’s get started! Firstly, what makes a good online poker tournament and what's the difference between cash games and tournaments? We'll explain more so you know what to look for and can find the best tournaments suited for you.

What Makes a Good Poker Tournament?

When it comes to poker, there are two main formats – cash games and tournaments.

In cash games, play is restricted to a single table where players buy in and the chip denominations directly match the dollar value of that buy-in. Stakes are fixed (i.e. blinds in a $1/$2 No-limit Hold’em game remain constant throughout the session). Players compete to win chips from one another, can join or leave at any time, and may top up their stacks whenever they wish.

In tournaments, however, players pay a single entry fee and receive a set amount of chips that usually don’t correspond to the buy-in. For example, in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, the $10,000 buy-in gives players 60,000 starting chips. The aim is simple: outlast the field and be the last player standing. Unlike cash games, once entered, you’re committed to playing until you bust or take it down - you can’t just leave mid-event.

With Ontario’s regulated online poker market, major sites like PokerStars Ontario, GGPoker Ontario, BetMGM Ontario, and 888poker Ontario all offer a wide variety of multi-table tournaments (MTTs). While Ontario is a closed liquidity market (meaning players compete only against others in the province), the sites still run regular series, big guarantees, and plenty of daily events - ensuring action around the clock. What's more, while there is no cross-province connectivity, BetMGM Ontario and PartyPoker Ontario do share player pools.

What Online Poker Tournaments Can I Play in Ontario?

Poker tournaments are fun, and in Ontario you have many different variations and formats that you can play which all offer a unique style of entertainment. From mystery bounties to hyper Sit & Gos, there’s a variety of options across the Heartland Province's licensed poker sites. Explore all the options we'll go through below.

Bounty Builder Poker Tournaments in Ontario

In bounty poker tournaments, part of the buy-in goes toward each player’s bounty. Knock someone out, and you instantly earn their bounty as cash - so you don't have to play for hours to win some money! Progressive Knockout (PKO) tournaments go a step further. Regular 'knockout' tournaments offer fixed bounties, but every time a player eliminates another in a PKO, their own bounty gets bigger. You still win a portion of your opponents' bounties when knocking them out, but the other portion gets added to your own bounty.

Ontario poker sites run bounty builders and PKOs daily, making them some of the most action-packed events you can join.

Mystery Bounty Poker Tournaments in Ontario

Mystery Bounty tournaments are a new and thrilling twist on knockouts. Bounties don’t kick in until players reach the money. Sounds boring? Well think again. Once you reach the money the real fun starts, as every knockout comes with a random reward. The biggest prize can sometimes dwarf the standard first-place payout, which makes these some of the most exciting events running in Ontario.

High Roller Poker Tournaments in Ontario

If you're more experienced in the game (or just have a huge bankroll and want to pit yourself against the very best players in poker), high rollers might be the tournaments for you. High rollers are tournaments with larger buy-ins, usually starting from around $250 and stretching well into the thousands. They’re designed mainly for professionals or players with deeper bankrolls. While lower-stakes MTTs run more frequently, Ontario’s regulated poker sites still host regular high roller events - particularly during major online series.

It's worth noting that the stakes determining whether or not a tournament is considered a high roller vary depending on if it's an online or live tournament. For instance, a $250 online tournament is generally considered a high roller, while a live tournament with the same buy-in is typically not a high roller. This is down to online tournaments being quicker and more easily accessible, as well as the operational and logistical costs involved in a live poker tournament.

Poker Satellites in Ontario

Satellites allow players to win seats into higher buy-in tournaments for a fraction of the cost. Instead of playing for cash prizes, the top finishers earn tickets into these bigger events. For Ontario players, satellites are one of the best ways to qualify for major online series, festival highlights, or even live events like the WSOP.

That said, some sites (PokerStars Ontario in particular) run hundreds of daily satellites even for micro-stakes tournaments, so they're not exclusive to higher buy-ins. This adds a new dynamic to bankroll management, as part of a players' strategy to being profitable could include winning entry to regular, daily tournaments via satellites - which if successful, will significantly decrease the amount you spend on buy-ins.

Of course, it's worth noting that entry via satellites is never guaranteed. They run just like normal tournaments, so you might end up spending buy-ins on satellites and not earning entry to the target tournament. However, if you research satellite strategy and use them effectively, they can be a great tool to help you maximize profits.

Why Play Online Poker Tournaments?

There are several different factors to online poker tournaments that make them appealing for Ontarian players. We've outlined the main ones below.

• Fixed Amount
• Potential for Massive ROI
• Unique Dynamics
• Different Formats

Fixed Amount
Many players enjoy online poker tournaments because they get a lot of play for a single buy-in. In cash games, for instance, you play with your own money but in tournaments once you pay your buy-in, you get a set amount of chips and that's it. Disregarding rebuys or add-ons, at worse, you'll only ever lose that initial buy-in amount.

Potential for Massive ROI
The return on investment (ROI) in poker tournaments can be massive for those who run deep - especially for those who win outright. This is especially true when it comes to special tournaments or series events, where literally thousands of players compete. Some only cost a few dollars to enter and yet can award five-figure scores to winning players.

Unique Dynamics
Tournaments also create unique situations that don’t arise in cash games, such as ICM pressure, bubble play and stack-size strategy. Each of these spots requires different approaches and makes tournament poker a constantly evolving challenge.

Different Formats
While cash games game include specific rules to make things more interesting, tournament poker can offer entirely different gameplay depending on which type you play. For instance, you can win instant cash prizes in bounty tournaments. Another example is hypers where the blind levels are quick, making it tougher to play passively and adopt a survival strategy to try to reach the money. This only adds more chaotic to the action!

The Best Online Poker Tournaments from Ontario Operators

Now that you understand the basics of poker tournaments, let’s take a look at some of the top options offered by Ontario’s leading poker sites.

PokerStars Ontario Tournaments

PokerStars Ontario is one of the most established tournament platforms in the province. With its trusted software, deep schedule and wide range of formats, it’s a go-to choice for players of every bankroll level and our pick for the best Ontario poker site for tournaments.

Stars' daily tournament schedule is absolutely packed! It includes Progressive Knockouts (PKOs), bounty builders and turbo/hypers at many different stakes. PokerStars also runs frequent Ontario-exclusive online series such as ONCOOP, featuring some of the largest prize pools available in the market. As we've mentioned, players also have access to an extensive satellite system, meaning you can win your way into bigger events for a fraction of the buy-in.

Another standout feature of PokerStars Ontario is its variety. Beyond the ever-popular NLH and PLO, you’ll also find mixed-game tournaments like Razz, Stud and PLO8 - a rare offering in the Ontario market.

Top 5 Regular PokerStars Ontario Tournaments

• Sunday Special (Sunday 18:00) – $100 buy-in with $25K+ guaranteed
• Super Tuesday (Tuesdays 20:00) – $250 buy-in, $15K GTD; one of the toughest weekly lineups
• Bounty Builder $10 (Daily) – Popular low-stakes PKO running multiple times per day
• Thursday Thrill (Thursdays 19:00) – $100 buy-in PKO, guarantees around $10K–$15K
• Daily $11 PKO (Multiple times each day) – A recreational favorite with soft fields

GGPoker Ontario Tournaments

GGPoker Ontario is the busiest tournament platform in the province, known for its huge player pool, slick software and innovative formats. Whether you’re a casual player or a high-stakes grinder, there’s always action on the schedule.

Daily and weekly guarantees run across all buy-in levels, while special series like the GGMasters Ontario, Bounty Hunters Series and WSOP-branded festivals regularly bring six-figure prize pools. Mystery Bounty tournaments are a standout feature. With some of the largest in the market, including thier weekly $100K+ GTDs, we love that GG are offering these types of tournaments more regularly.

One of GGPoker Ontario’s biggest selling points is its direct link to the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Players can win their way into WSOP Online bracelet events and even live WSOP tournaments via Ontario-only qualifiers, something no other site offers in the same way. So, if you want a taste of Vegas, GGPoker Ontario is the site to go for.

Top 5 Regular GGPoker Ontario Tournaments

• Sunday GGMasters $150 – $150 buy-in, $25K+ GTD, one of the most popular regular events
• Bounty Hunters Sunday Main – $105 buy-in PKO with big prize pools weekly
• Daily $50 Deepstack – Balanced structure with solid guarantees
• Mystery Bounty $210 (Weekly) – Ontario’s premier MBT with $100K+ guarantees
• Omaholic Bounty $25 – A staple for PLO fans with knockout action

PartyPoker Ontario Tournaments

PartyPoker Ontario is another established name in the province. While it's a standalone site, Party does share its player pool and tournament schedule with BetMGM Ontario. Known for its clean software and approachable structures, PartyPoker is a favorite for players who want a steady mix of daily events and festival action.

The platform’s flagship Daily Legends schedule features tournaments for every bankroll, from micro-stakes to higher buy-ins. PartyPoker also runs Ontario-exclusive festivals, including the Ontario Poker Championships, where guarantees stretch into six figures. PKOs and bounty formats are heavily featured, along with occasional Mystery Bounty tournaments during major series.

A big plus on PartyPoker Ontario is the balanced structure of its events - blind levels, starting stacks, and payouts are designed to give players plenty of play without dragging on for too long. PartyPoker is a solid choice for Ontario players.

Top 5 Regular PartyPoker Ontario Tournaments

• Daily Legends $55 – Flagship daily event with solid guarantees
• Sunday Party $109 – Weekend highlight with $15K+ GTD
• Bounty Hunter $33 – Popular knockout running multiple times weekly
• Ontario Poker Championship High Roller – $1,050 buy-in with big festival guarantees
• Daily Mini $11 – Accessible entry point for recreational players

888poker Ontario Tournaments

888poker Ontario offers a more casual-friendly tournament experience compared to PokerStars Ontario or GGPoker Ontario. The site focuses on lower buy-ins, softer fields and straightforward structures, making it a great choice for recreational players and beginners. The 'softer fields' aspect is huge, as if you're less experienced in poker, playing against weaker opponents will help maximize your chances of being profitable.

The highlight of the schedule is the XL Series, 888poker’s flagship tournament festival, which features affordable buy-ins but still boasts attractive guarantees. Alongside this, you’ll find daily freerolls, bounty tournaments, and smaller buy-in high rollers that appeal to grinders who prefer less variance-heavy fields.

What we think sets 888poker Ontario apart is its accessibility. The tournaments generally last shorter than those on competing sites, and the fields are less intimidating - perfect if you want competitive MTT play without the ultra-deep schedules.

Top 5 Regular 888poker Ontario Tournaments

• Sunday Big Shot $109 – Weekly highlight with $15K+ GTD
• XL Series Main Event – Festival flagship with $50K+ prize pools
• Daily $16.50 PKO – Low buy-in knockout with good value
• Sunday Big Shot $22 – A softer-field alternative for casual players
• Daily Freerolls – Free entry tournaments with real-money prizes

Ontario Poker Tournament Formats and Structures

By now, you'll have read the range of different tournament types you can play in ON. From Bounty Builders to Satellites, there's lots to love if you're an MTT grinder. But each one of these types can still have different structures and formats. Here, we will explain more about what we mean so you have an even greater understanding on which tournament is right for you!

• Freezeouts
• Re-entries
• Rebuys
• Add-ons
• Turbos & Hypers

Freezeout Poker Tournaments

'Freezeouts' are online or live poker tournaments where once you're out, you're out! No second chances. No extra bullets. When the chip stack reaches zero, you're gone and cannot re-enter or rebuy into the tournament.

While that might seem intense, it ensure freezeouts have a different style of gameplay to other MTTs. For instance, players will play much looser if they know they have the safety net of re-entering when they bust. Also, you tend to see the field rise during late registration periods with regular MTTs. However, in freezeouts, even when registration is open you can see the field grow smaller as players get knocked out. Once the registration period is over, the field narrows even faster and you find yourself reaching the money far quicker. In this sense, freezeouts are like turbos in that they typically won't take as long as a standard tournament.

Re-entry Poker Tournaments

Re-entry is what is sounds like. When you bust a tournament, you can re-enter it at the same buy-in price. Despite having played in the tournament before, you're essentially treated as a new player. You'll get the same starting stack and be seated on a new, random table.

The number of times you can re-enter a tournament varies on the site and MTT you're playing. Some will allow unlimited re-entries, while others will set a fixed amount of times you can re-enter.

Rebuy Poker Tournaments

'Rebuys' are very similar to re-entries, in that when you bust, you have another chance to buy back into the tournament and start over. However, there is one crucial difference. When you rebuy, you buy back in and play at the exact same seat and table you were on before.

This might seem inconsequential, but if you were on a soft table with weak opponents before, it might be worth rebuying if you have an edge over the field. Alternatively, if your table was full of crushers, it's worth re-entering the tournament rather than rebuying. In this instance, you'll then be allocated a new seat and table.

To rebuy, you usually get a countdown when you bust a tournament and a popup will ask if you want to rebuy. Say 'Yes,' and your chip stack gets topped up to starting stack levels and play continues as it did on the table. Say 'No,' and the table is closed. However, you should still be able to re-enter via the tournament lobby.

Another thing to note about rebuys, is that some tournaments will have rules where you can rebuy if your chip stack falls below a certain level. So, you don't necessarily need to bust to rebuy, but it depends on the operator and tournament type.

Add-on Poker Tournaments

An add-on is an optional chance to top up your chip stack at a certain point. Add-on tournaments were once very common in online poker, but have since become more rare. The add-on part usually comes after the late registration period is over, and will offer a set amount of chips for a set price.

You don't have to buy the add-on, but in saving the money it would cost, you might put yourself at a disadvantage to your opponents if they've all added chips. On the other hand, if nobody else is buying the add-on, it might be worthwhile as you'll gain that additional chip edge over your opponents.

To determine whether or not you should add-on, you should evaluate your chip stack compared to opponents and decide whether or not the extra cost is worth the advantage you will get. You should also consider how it will impact your chances of finishing in the money. It might sound like add-ons are an additional tax in tournaments, but the money from them goes into the prizepool and means payouts are often far greater than a similar-sized regular tournament.

Turbo and Hyper Poker Tournaments

One big negative people have about playing poker tournaments is the time it takes to finish them. Well, step up turbo tournaments.

Turbos can fit any type of tournament (E.g. Turbo bounty builders), with the difference to standard tournaments being the blind level duration. In a typical online tournament, blinds might increase every 10 minutes. But it turbos, blind levels are going to be 5 minutes. Might not sound too drastic of a fall, but as you get deeper into a turbo tournament those quicker blind levels will seriously eat up your chip stack!

Going one step further, you can also play hyper poker tournaments in Ontario. These follow the same quick structure, but will typically have two or three-minute blind levels. The result? All-out chaos and action-packed hands. You have no option but to play aggressively. Play passive and your chip stack will simply dwindle, forcing you to go all-in. So, if you want intense, fast-paced action and a chance to reach the money in a flash, turbos might be the MTTs for you!

How to Play in Online Poker Tournaments

Getting started with online poker tournaments is simple. Just follow these quick steps and you'll be up and running, playing Ontario's most exciting tournaments in no time.

1. Pick one of our recommended sites and create an account
2. Verify your identity and make your first deposit
3. Head to the 'Tournament Lobby' and browse the MTTs on offer
4. Register for a tournament, compete through the blind levels and start winning real money!

Get started by clicking one of the links below.

Online Tournament Strategy Tips

Winning an online tournament takes more than just good cards (although that does help). Use these quick tips to improve your deep-run potential.

• Early stage: Play tight and conserve chips
• Middle stage: Steal blinds, build a stack before the bubble
• Bubble play: Use stack pressure and ICM awareness
• Final table: Adjust based on pay jumps and opponent tendencies
• Bankroll management: Never invest more than 1–2% of your roll per MTT

Early stage: Play tight and conserve chips

You can't win a poker tournament in the early stages, but you can definitely lose it. That's not to say don't play pots - at the start of a tournament chips are less valuable that in the latter stages - but pick your moments carefully. A 100 big blind stack might seem deep but a couple of levels later, that will drastically reduce.

Middle stage: Steal blinds, build a stack before the bubble

Later on in the tournament, opponents will tighten up. At this point, you can try to build a stack through stealing blinds. Be aggressive preflop in late position and try to steal where you can. Be careful, though, don't be overly aggressive with weak-medium hands or you might bloat the pot and be stuck defending from a point of weakness.

Bubble play: Use stack pressure and ICM awareness

ICM in poker is a crucial concept. Players will play very tight as they aim to make the money. This gives you the opportunity to exploit their passiveness and build your chip stack. If you're low on chips yourself, it might be the time to play tight. BUT, if you're one of the larger stacks, this is your chance to pressure smaller stacks and build a dominating stack.

Final table: Adjust based on pay jumps and opponent tendencies

ICM is even more of a factor when it comes to the final table. The most important thing to do is check your opponents' stacks. If you have a medium stack and there are a couple of very small stacks on the table, you should simply play super tight and wait for them to bust. If you have a large stack, this is once again your chance to apply maximum pressure and get yourself in the best possible position to take down the tournament later on.

Bankroll management: Never invest more than 1–2% of your roll per MTT

When learning poker strategy, many players focus on in-game, table play. However, bankroll management is a concept that's arguably even more important than anything you can learn on the table. The best player in the world could go broke with poor bankroll management. Make sure to never in vest too much of your bankroll on one tournament (play tournaments with buy-ins of 1% of your total bankroll).

Beginner's Tips to Online Poker Tournaments

As a beginner, it's tempting to just dive straight into the action. While this can be fun, we recommend a more measured approach to be successful in MTTs. Here are our top tips if you're new to online poker tournaments.

• Use HUDs
• Stick with micro-stakes
• Watch streamers
• Don't be results orientated

Use HUDs
HUDs (Heads-up Displays) are software that you can install to your poker client, that gives you stats and information on opponents' play. For instance, HUDs can tell you vital info like how often a player raises from a specific position. HUDs can be confusing at first, but once you get to grips with them they can help you easily identify patterns in opponents' play that you can exploit. If you're just getting started with HUDs, we recommend only focusing on one or two stats at first until you get to grips with the software.

Stick with micro-stakes
We get it, higher stakes equal higher potential prizes. But as you're learning how tournaments work, we strongly recommend starting off with mirco-stakes buy-ins. This gives you a chance to learn the game, develop strategies and become accustom with the software without spending a lot of money. What's more, the opposition will be far weaker and some of the larger micro-stakes tournaments still offer huge prize money up top (sometimes +1,000x your buy-in).

Watch streamers
Of course, we'd first recommend checking out our extensive content library full of tips and tournament strategies, but once you've exhausted that resource, streamers are another great way to learn poker. Many professional streamers talk through their decisions as they're making them, so you can understand the thought process of the very best players in the world. Ben 'Spraggy' Spragg is one of our top streamers to learn from - he has a regular schedule and streams in English.

Don't be results orientated
This may seem counter-intuitive. Of course, result matter! But poker is highly unique in the sense that you can play perfect poker and not win a cent over a year. Equally, you can be a complete newbie, just click buttons randomly and end up winning tournaments. Therefore, don't let the result impact how you play. All you can do is play well. Sometimes you just get unlucky - that's poker. If you consistently play well, the results will show in the long run.

Online Poker Tournaments in Ontario FAQs