GGPoker and WSOP.com enter Ontario's online gaming market

belizebum

belizebum

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Sep 21, 2018
Total posts
6,486
Awards
16
BZ
Chips
726
Sure hope this goes as seamlessly as they think it will...time will tell. I for one, am going to miss all the CC freerolls.
 
Shells

Shells

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Total posts
18,478
Awards
16
CA
Chips
658
Sure hope this goes as seamlessly as they think it will...time will tell. I for one, am going to miss all the CC Freerolls.


I hope the same, Nicole. Even though I don't play many freerolls, I too will miss them.
 
F

fatalic69

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
May 16, 2020
Total posts
18
Chips
21
Do you have to switch to the WSOP or can you stay with GG?
 
F

fundiver199

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Total posts
15,590
Awards
2
Chips
821
So canadian states now also demand segregated player pools? If this is the alternative to unregulated "offshore" sites, its really difficult to see it as anything but a huge step backwards :(
 
Shells

Shells

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Total posts
18,478
Awards
16
CA
Chips
658
So canadian states now also demand segregated player pools? If this is the alternative to unregulated "offshore" sites, its really difficult to see it as anything but a huge step backwards :(


In Canada, we have provinces :)

In the province of Ontario, come April 4, 2022, the way I see it, this is a HUGE step backwards for online poker players.
 
F

fundiver199

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Total posts
15,590
Awards
2
Chips
821
In Canada, we have provinces :)

Yeah sorry I know that :)

In the province of Ontario, come April 4, 2022, the way I see it, this is a HUGE step backwards for online poker players.

It is. Regulators making such rules completely fail to understand the nature of online poker. No small country, american state or canadian province has a player pool large enough to keep a site going and make it interesting for players. Here in sweden we have the state owned "svenska spel", and I have created an account there. But after checking it out I have never deposited, because its basically a desert. I mean, if the daily highlight is a tournament with 20 participants, then thats just not interesting at all compared to even small sites like 888 Poker.

Luckily our regulators have kind of understood this, because on the private sites, that have aquired a license to operate in Sweden, we are allowed to play with people from other countries. But regulators in places like the US, france, Italy, Spain, portugal and now also Canada just dont get the point, or they dont care. And since these are some of the markets, that could keep online poker alive, its also a huge blow to the industry globally. This move from Canada is basically another nail in a coffin, which is already about to be closed.
 
Shells

Shells

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Total posts
18,478
Awards
16
CA
Chips
658
Yeah sorry I know that :)



It is. Regulators making such rules completely fail to understand the nature of online poker. No small country, american state or canadian provinse has a player pool large enough to keep a site going and make it interesting for players. Here in Sweden we also have the state owned "svenska spel", and I have created an account there. But after checking it out I have never deposited, because its basically a desert. I mean, if the daily highlight is a tournament with, what, 20 participants, then thats just not interesting at all compared to even small sites like 888 Poker.

Luckily our regulators have kind of understood this, because on the private sites, that have aquired a license to operate in Sweden, we are allowed to play with people from other countries. But regulators in places like the US, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and now also Canada just dont get the point, or they dont care. And since these are some of the markets, that could keep online poker alive, its also a huge blow to the industry globally. This move from Canada is basically another nail in a coffin, which is already about to be closed.


The example that Ontario is making by regulating poker sites suggests to me that this same practice will take hold in other provinces in Canada. We will see how well the transition goes come April 4th.

Naturally, I am not a fan of this change, meaning Ontarians will be losing so much in the way of online poker. I don't think any other game really suffers as much as poker with regulation, especially in this case.
 
Ron112355

Ron112355

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Oct 27, 2020
Total posts
2,632
Awards
27
CA
Chips
869
In my opinion it wasn't poker they were after regulating, it was the sports book that they wanted, I think it is something like 16 companies that have applied for a license so far but only a few of them offer poker, we just got lumped in with the gamblers as usual and we will suffer the most.:(
 
Shells

Shells

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Total posts
18,478
Awards
16
CA
Chips
658
In my opinion it wasn't poker they were after regulating, it was the sports book that they wanted, I think it is something like 16 companies that have applied for a license so far but only a few of them offer poker, we just got lumped in with the gamblers as usual and we will suffer the most.:(


I'm with you on this, Ron.
 
flail1

flail1

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
May 6, 2021
Total posts
1,881
Awards
4
CA
Chips
338
Not good for us at all and not a fan of GG poker software that WSOP will run on. It looks like ACR will continue to be available as they are ignoring the Ontario regs...
 
F

fundiver199

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Total posts
15,590
Awards
2
Chips
821
In my opinion it wasn't poker they were after regulating, it was the sports book that they wanted, I think it is something like 16 companies that have applied for a license so far but only a few of them offer poker, we just got lumped in with the gamblers as usual and we will suffer the most.:(

But only poker players play against each other across borders. So when regulators wont allow this, they are specifically targeting poker and not for instance sportsbetting, where people are placing bets against the house.
 
chicopaw

chicopaw

Legend
Loyaler
Joined
Jan 15, 2017
Total posts
7,660
Awards
29
CA
Chips
1,156
In my opinion it wasn't poker they were after regulating, it was the sports book that they wanted, I think it is something like 16 companies that have applied for a license so far but only a few of them offer poker, we just got lumped in with the gamblers as usual and we will suffer the most.:(
gotta say i agree with you and as shell replies too
 
WSOP
Top