PokerStars and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) have brought their partnership to life with a PokerStars Casino takeover of Union Station.

The duo officially launched their partnership earlier this year via a strategic partnership between Flutter Entertainment and MLSE, which saw Flutter brands PokerStars and FanDuel become the official sports betting and gaming partners of MLSE teams.

The Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs both started their respective seasons earlier this month, coinciding with the newly regulated Ontario market, and PokerStars has now jumped on this opportunity to bring fans closer to the action.

To celebrate the opening home games, PokerStars initiated a takeover of Union Station, with giveaways, team mascot appearances and fan interaction high on the agenda.

“We are always looking for ways to make the experience for our customers better, and as a leading gaming brand in the newly regulated Ontario market, we couldn’t think of a better way to do this than by partnering with the Toronto teams,” said Tom Warren, PokerStars Marketing Director.

“Our aim is for this partnership to be a win-win for our players and fans alike – making the experience of playing with PokerStars more epic thanks to the partnership, and finding ways to make the fan experience of watching their teams better too.

“There’s much to come in the next few weeks and months but for now we want to wish the teams good luck for the new season – we are excited to be on board!”

Jordan Vader, Senior Vice President, Global Partnerships, MLSE, added: “We are thrilled to partner with Flutter Entertainment, a global leader and one of the most trusted operators in the sports betting industry.

“As the online gaming markets open in Ontario, we have worked hard to find partners who aligned with both our vision for innovation, and our values including a shared commitment to responsible gaming.

“We look forward to working with Flutter and providing a platform for them to engage with the millions of 19+ Ontario residents who are fans of our teams.”