Supreme Court of Canada hears the shared-liquidity appeal and reserves its decision
On 7 October 2026 the Supreme Court of Canada heard Atlantic Lottery Corporation v. Attorney General of Ontario (file 42141), the appeal that will decide whether Ontario may let players on its regulated sites join peer-to-peer games, such as poker, with players outside Canada. The court reserved its decision the same day, according to its online case docket. No date has been set for the decision.
How the case got here
Ontario asked its Court of Appeal in 2024 whether its plan to pool Ontario players with international players breaches the Criminal Code, which lets a province offer gambling only if it “conducts and manages” the scheme within its borders. On 12 November 2025 the Court of Appeal answered 4 to 1 in Ontario’s favour, holding that the Code does not require every player to be physically in the province as long as Ontario keeps operational control of the game. A group of provincial lottery corporations, led by Atlantic Lottery and joined by the Crown corporations of British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec, appealed to the Supreme Court. Ontario argued for the plan. Alberta, the Canadian Gaming Association, Flutter Entertainment and NSUS Group took part as interveners.
Why it matters
Online poker depends on how many players are at the tables at the same time. Regulated Ontario poker rooms can currently seat only players located in Ontario, which limits games and tournaments. If the Supreme Court upholds the Court of Appeal, Ontario operators could pool Ontario players with international ones under Ontario’s rules. Alberta took part in the appeal as an intervener. The Alberta iGaming Corporation’s own guidance for operators says that “at this time, all player liquidity pools and peer-to-peer network games must be strictly ring-fenced to players who are physically located within Alberta.” If the court reverses the decision, provincial pools stay closed, and the Crown lottery corporations keep the position that gambling conducted by a province must stay inside that province. Casino games against the house and ordinary sports bets against the operator are not affected.
What it means for players
Nothing changes until the judgment is released. Regulated poker in Ontario remains Ontario-only, and Alberta’s regulated sites remain Alberta-only. Our guide to online gambling law in Canada explains the conduct-and-manage rule that the case turns on. The minimum age is 19 in Ontario and 18 in Alberta. Our responsible gambling guide lists the free help lines in every province.
Gambling can be addictive. Please play responsibly and within your means.