PokerStars Casino review | Canada | In-depth review for online casino

Copy to a new draft

PokerStars have been around since 2001 and are well-known for top-tier poker games. This site though has plenty of other casino games to offer, and lots of other ways to have fun. 

To get a proper feel for what PokerStars Casino brings to Canadian players, I’ve put together the guide below. It’s the ideal way to find out more about this online casino and just why it’s one of my favorites.

PokerStars Casino factsheet

1. License: Malta Gaming Authority, UKGC and more 
2. Year established: 2001 
3. Best bonus: 100% up to $2000 CAD and 300 free spins
4. Customer support: Yes (live chat, email and FAQ)
5. Number of games: 1000+
6. Payment methods: 12 (inc Visa, Interac and Instadebit) 
7. Withdrawal speed: 1-7 days
8. Minimum deposit: $10 CAD
9. Mobile app: Yes
10. Highest RTP slot: Bloodsuckers 98% 
11. Live casino: Yes
12. Company owner: The Stars Group 

PokerStars Casino bonuses

Overall, I think that the new player offer at this casino is one of the best I’ve seen. I did spot a lack of ongoing promo’s though when I looked around the site a little more. Here’s what you need to know! 

Welcome bonus 

The welcome bonus I claimed at this casino was a 100% up to $2000 CAD deposit match plus 300 free spins. Upon reading the bonus terms, I noticed it was structured as below: 

• 1st deposit – Up to $500 CAD + 150 free spins
• 2nd deposit – Up to $500 CAD + 50 free spins
• 3rd deposit – Up to $500 CAD + 50 free spins
• 4th deposit – Up to $500 CAD + 50 free spins

To get it, I created an account as a new player and then made my first qualifying deposit of $500 CAD. After this, I got my bonus cash and free spins to use instantly! I got the full benefit of this bonus by depositing $500 CAD on my next three deposits.

Whilst I think this is a generous welcome bonus, the complex points based wagering rules are a drawback. I noticed that only Visa, Mastercard and Interac deposits are eligible for this bonus as well. 

Casino races 

This is the only ongoing promo for existing players I spotted but is a very interesting one. It’s basically a type of casino tournament, something I love to get involved with. 

To begin, I logged into my account and registered to take part in one of the races shown on the ‘Races’ tab. I then played eligible games to win points and move up the leaderboard. Although I didn’t quite manage it, there are prizes to take home everyday for lucky players.

PokerStars Casino loyalty program

I’m happy to report that this casino has a loyalty program and it’s one I found simple to understand. 

Known as ‘Stars Rewards’, it allows me to earn points as I play games to win prize filled chests. There are six levels for me to move through and I started at the lowest (Blue Chest) level. To move up to the Bronze chest, I need to get 10 chests within 28 days. Once I make it to the highest (Black Chest) level, I get a chance to win cash prizes worth hundreds of dollars! 

Mobile play at PokerStars Casino

I love playing games on mobile and was thrilled to see this casino has its own app for iOS/Android. Before downloading it, I checked out the app ratings as below:

• App Store: 4.4 stars out of 5 from 7060 reviews
• Google Play: 4.2 stars out of 5 from 1880 reviews 

After installing the app on my iPhone, I tapped to open it. I like how the design of the app mirrors the design of the desktop site. I find that the app has lots of games to try and is responsive to use. 

What games can you expect at PokerStars Casino?

To check what games this casino offers, I logged in and had a look around their game’s library. I found around 1000 casino titles, which is a little on the low side compared to a site like VideoSlots (which has 9000+ games).

Having spent more time looking around PokerStars Casino, I found the below sorts of games to play:

• Online slots
• Table games
• Live games (inc gameshows, live sic bo, live baccarat, live blackjack and live roulette) 
• Instant win games

I think this is a good range of casino games to try and always keeps me entertained when playing here. The choice of slots is especially appealing and I love playing classics like Starburst. 

I found the range of table games easy to access by clicking the ‘Table Games’ tab on the homepage. Whilst the types of table games offer real choice, I think more games are needed.

PokerStars Casino works with some of the most iconic developers around and I like how this means their games are full of innovative features. The studios I spotted here include:

• NetEnt
• Pragmatic Play
• Playtech
• Play’n GO
• Yggdrasil Gaming

3 highest RTP slots at PokerStars Casino

I found this casino has a good selection of slots and their high RTP games particularly caught my eye. Bloodsuckers is the highest RTP game I found, with a figure of 98%. I like the vampire theme and the sharply drawn visuals.

Pragmatic Play’s ‘Big Bass’ series of slots are personal favorites, so I was excited to see Big Bass Splash here. The 96.71% RTP stood out right away and I was able to bag some free spins to use. 

Rich Wilde and Book of Dead has a 96.21% RTP and is another game I get a kick from playing. The mysterious Egyptian theme never gets old and the chance to win a 5,000x payout on each spin is thrilling. 

Special features

In my view, the slick design of this casino is a standout feature. I especially like the easy to read text on the website and the classy color scheme. This helps it stand out from competitors like Duelz, who have a more casual, informal design. 

The ‘Stars Rewards’ loyalty program is another feature I like. For me, the ability to win high value cash prizes at the upper levels is a major plus. Not all casinos I play at offer loyalty schemes, this makes PokerStars Casino one of my top gaming choices in Canada.

The easy to use app for iOS/Android is something I think helps this casino stand out. Mr Vegas for example doesn’t have its own app when I checked, and this makes PokerStars Casino more appealing as a mobile player. 

Payment methods at PokerStars Casino

After clicking on ‘Deposits and Withdrawals’ at the bottom of the homepage, I counted 12 trusted payment options to use. I think this is a very good choice and appreciate the flexibility it brings to making deposits/withdrawals here. For me, the low minimum deposit of $10 stood out and is great for players who have smaller bankrolls. 

The full range of deposit options are: 

• Visa
• Mastercard
• Payz
• MuchBetter
• ApplePay
• Google Pay 
• NeoSurf
• Bank Transfer
• eCheck
• Instadebit
• Paysafecard
• Interac

I decided to deposit $500 CAD and selected Interac to do this via the ‘Cashier’ page. After confirming the deposit, I was happy to see the cash in my account right away. 

After playing for a while, I built up $1200 CAD in my account that I wanted to withdraw. I found this easy to do by going to the ‘Cashier’ page, selecting Interac as my banking method and confirming the $1200 CAD withdrawal. I found the payout times quick here, making it one of the fastest withdrawal casinos in Canada, and had my money within a few hours. 

PokerStars Casino customer support

During testing, I found customer support at this casino available via 24/7 live chat and email. 

When I had a query over bonus terms, I chose to get fast support via live chat. After clicking ‘Help’ at the top right of the homepage, I chose ‘Contact Us’. I did need to log in at this point and wouldn’t have been able to get support without an account. 

After selecting live chat and typing my question in, I got a reply within a few minutes that answered it fully. 

Whilst searching for live chat via the ‘Help’ link, I noticed a comprehensive FAQ page for more common queries. I spent some time looking around this and like how it’s split into various categories for easier navigation.

Is PokerStars Casino safe?

Before creating my account, I did a deep dive into this casino’s credentials. I can confirm that it holds multiple licenses to operate from respected industry bodies and is a safe place to game. PokerStars Casino uses 128-bit SSL data encryption tech to safeguard transactions and I like how this keeps my data secure at all times. 

Is PokerStars Casino committed to responsible gambling?

This casino is fully committed to safer gambling and has a good choice of tools for me to use. To find out more, I clicked ‘Responsible Gaming’ at the bottom of the homepage. 

This took me into the site’s page on responsible play and I like how the information there is clearly laid out to read. The tools I found to use for safer play include: 

• Deposit limit tool: Yes
• Wager limit tool: No
• Loss limit tool: No
• Time/session limit tool: Yes
• Self-exclusion tool: Yes
• Cool off/time-out tool: No
• Reality check tool: Yes
• Self-assessment test: No
• Withdrawal lock: No

PokerStars Casino compared to others

I think this casino compares well with competitors in a few crucial aspects. The generous 100% up to $2000 CAD and 300 bonus spins welcome promo for example is better in my view than Betway’s 100% up to $1000 CAD new player deal. 

The range of payment options is something else about this casino I must mention. Having checked on the site, I found 12 to use across a variety of trusted card, e-wallet and mobile providers. This is better in my opinion than the seven banking options at HotStreak Slots. 

My final verdict

For me, PokerStars Casino is one of the best casinos in Canada. It has a number of standout features which makes it one of the top iGaming sites I’ve played at in the country. To get a better idea of why I think this and where this site could get even better, read on. 

Why do I like PokerStars Casino?

I like the generous welcome bonus at this casino, which delivers bonus cash and free spins as a new customer. The vast range of trusted payment choices is another highlight and gives me lots of flexibility in how I make payments. As a keen mobile player, I think the slick casino mobile app stands out.

What PokerStars Casino could do better?

One area I think this casino needs to improve is the number of games in general and the number of table games in particular. Whilst the loyalty scheme and ‘Casino Races’ bonus are impressive, more bonuses for current users would be nice.

About the author

Daniel Smyth

Daniel Smyth has seen the online poker, casino, and betting industry from every angle. He previously played poker semi-professionally before working at WPT Magazine as a writer and editor. From there, he transitioned to online gaming where he’s been producing expert content for over 10 years.

Follow Daniel on Twitter @DanSmythThePoet

Commercial content notice: Taking one of the casino offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 19+. T&Cs apply. Responsible Gambling Council

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Responsible Gambling Council – https://www.responsiblegambling.org/

Gamblers Anonymous – Discover resources and support for individuals facing gambling addiction. This dedicated support group offers valuable advice and a safe space to share personal experiences. – Read More