I think you mean the Ontario Place grounds(next door), I remember some city councilors were behind it and one even wanted a red light district on the grounds too, both were shot down by city council.

Their compromise was the expansion of Woodbine into a full casino. But as you stated the provincial government view casinos as a big fat sow that needs to milked. Ontario has the worst slot percentage hold for high rollers at 10 percent, I remember reading Vegas used to have 2 percent.

I remember years ago Niagara had 1 green roulette on low roller machines and that was taken away with new management. Everything is about making money and screwing the players these days.

Reminds me of Bellagio. They have a European Roulette table right next to the American one. You want to guess which table has all the players on it? Utterly ridiculous. Players often do it to themselves. Even when you try explaining to them that the house edge is double on the latter...smh

Some interesting things..

Spoke to my friend at PP and he said there were 30 new dealers being trained. How many for poker he couldn’t say. They will lose dealers once Pickering opens.

Another thing, Woodbine is expanding. There are construction cranes and some yak that with all the extra square footage there’s a chance for a poker room.

We got a 5/5 running tonight

Finally

Good game with soft spots that should be nowhere near a 1/2 table let along a 5/5.

They had 3 1-2 tables going today. Waiting wasn’t too bad.

120+ dealers leaving, ~60 newbies being trained

There is no mandatory poker training. And the poker dealers that you might have felt competent aren't required to take it (or continue to deal the game). Some will because of the money but many won't because dealing poker (in a room where you're not a poker dealers, you deal everything) is stressful for a lot of people.

Only one 2/5 though

That’s true, I called in early and played 2-5 when it opened up. No desire to. But my wait on 1-2 was 30 people ahead of me.

First time here ever. The complaints abt the wait lists aren't exaggerated. On 2/5 and 1/2 just in case, and I'm pretty sure I could drive to niagara and arrive there before being called for this list
On the bright side at least people aren't hiding at home bc of virus hysteria unlike some of the local toronto games

2/5 here pretty soft. If you can beat Niagara's 2/5 or break even there then I recommend this place

PP will be increasing the number of tables they have shortly. 95% of the dealers and floors will be inexperienced/unexperienced. Expect it to be like the EX for a while. They'll push poker because woodbine (and possibly Pickering, no one knows for sure yet) won't have it.

given everything gotta be honest.. asking me to go back to that place after everything that happened. i dont think i will till next year.
I would have expected that casino to be the center of a massive outbreak.
the type of people that go there, half of them struggle with washing their hands as it is or taking a shower let alone wearing Some sort of cologne or Deodorant

Or showering.

I really never encountered this. Players about as smelly as anywhere else. Meanwhile, it's the best 1-2 action, with looser players and lower rake than any other Ontario casino. If they fix the issue of delaer/table shortage, I'm there every weekend.

Good troll bro.

Oddly enough was thinking about this place again. No idea why but i was.

That is odd. Maybe it was their prime rib and crab leg buffet. Last time I was there I ate an entire Prime Rib roast myself and a little over 200 crabs legs. Towards the end of my dinner the manager came to my table and asked if I was enjoying myself. I replied if my server could bring me food from the buffet I would really enjoy myself. Very classy people over there.

I enjoyed the new bar that they put in last time i was there. good feel to it actually.

If anyone needed any further evidence that Great Canadian was run by a scumball, here you go:
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/26/ameri...rnd/index.html

Their fearless leader, until two days ago, and his much younger wife.

He's famous!

The illustrious Thurston Howell the 3rd didn't even have a much younger wife, and he was know as The Millionaire.

Any trip reports as to what the card room is like (or if it’s even open)?

She wasn't even hot anyways. She was the 70's equivalent of Jennifer Aniston. Mary-Anne was the hot one.