Canada is an important market for poker. Its cultural connection with the U.S. is such that it was caught up in the same 2003-era poker boom as its southern neighbor. However, its more liberal stance on online gambling meant that it remained open to international sites even as the U.S. cracked down on internet poker in 2011.
Many online professionals moved to Canada (or Mexico) in the wake of Black Friday in order to continue playing on sites like PokerStars. Canada has also produced many home-grown poker heroes, including Daniel Negreanu, arguably the most widely-recognized living poker player.
In 2022, Ontario — Canada’s most populous province — launched a regulated online gambling market. Although a boon for U.S. iGaming sites looking to operate there, the move resulted in Ontario poker players being cut off from the global pool. It’s now a ring-fenced market similar to regulated U.S. states like New Jersey.
A respected senior city manager in Toronto has pleaded guilty to laundering money for an illegal sports betting ring, the… Continue reading A Toronto City Official Undone by Wiretaps While Laundering $200K for an Illegal Betting Ring
When Alberta launches its privatized online gambling market on July 13, it will make a major change to the province’s… Continue reading Alberta First Nations Question Revenue-Share Proposal Ahead of Private iGaming Market Launch
Ontario poker players may soon get to return to the international liquidity pool, but it’s not a done deal quite… Continue reading Is International Online Poker Returning to Ontario? — Provincial Court Offers Tentative Support for the Possibility
Global Poker, one of the sweepstakes brands owned by VGW Holdings, announced it will exit Canada by Oct. 23. Play… Continue reading Global Poker To Exit Canadian Market, Upsetting Local Users
When PokerStars Canada ambassador Arlie Shaban decided he wanted to stream his play, just setting up a Twitch channel wouldn’t… Continue reading Locked in an Apartment: Arlie Shaban Talks Streaming, PSPC, and Ontario Online Poker
After announcing the launch of the GGPoker World Series of Poker Winter Circuit earlier this week, the site is also… Continue reading GGPoker/WSOP.ca Launches Winter Circuit Ontario; $5M Guaranteed, 18 Championship Rings
Two World Series of Poker Online events wrapped up at WSOP.ca over the weekend in Ontario with David Cowling taking… Continue reading WSOP Online: Action Concludes in Ontario with Toronto Player Scoring Championship Finale
The first champion emerged in the World Series of Poker Online on Sunday, held exclusively for players in Ontario, Canada.… Continue reading WSOP Online: First Bracelet Winner Crowned at Ontario GGPoker Platform, More Action to Come
Online poker players can now qualify at GGPoker for the upcoming United Kingdom Poker Championships (UKPC). The site is partnering… Continue reading GGPoker Launches WSOP Online in Ontario, Partners With Dusk Till Dawn for UK Poker Championships
With the Main Event now in the rearview mirror, most of the World Series of Poker has come to a… Continue reading WSOP Roundup: Series Wraps Up With Big Wins from French, Canadian Players; TOC Continues
