Oh and here’s my general thoughts.

The casino looks nice. It is no longer a barn. It’s modern. Organization is sloppy as usual. For example only one person working at the Cashier on a Saturday night.

I called ahead and went on the waiting list. After driving there I waited 90 minutes which isn’t terrible for that place. Guy beside me said he waited 3 hours for a seat. At midnight there was still a waiting list 20 names deep. This is unacceptable. They had 3 1-2 tables going but need at least 1 more table open. And remember not everyone even knows about poker returning yet.

I didn’t see any extra space for poker. It’s not a room, it’s just a sectioned off area for poker. I think someone from outside could see a players hole cards and do some signalling.

Yes there is a rule that if you change tables you need to limit yourself to just 200. I expect this rule will be gone shortly.

Earlier at night there were tight tables and terrible dealers. But as the night progressed the table loosened up and got ultra loose and the dealers were professional.

I just spoke with a few Casino Niagara 2/5 regulars who were also regs on the GBH 5/5 1k max game before they temporarily closed the room. They either don't plan on returning to GBH, or won't try back again until after the new year. Niagara is even much greater drive for them than GBH, but there is always a 2/5 1k max game with little to no wait. Have they started offering 5/5NL yet?

There was no 5/5 game there, just 1/2 and 2/5 NL.

The only big problem is the waiting. But I expect that this changes soon. They seem to have a new focus on poker. I just don't know where this magical "back room" is for space for 20 tables. They can't run more than 3 NL 1/2 tables right now it seems.

Anyone know when "late shift" starts. I was there yesterday and overheard one of the room managers say they were waiting for the late shift to come in to see if they would have more dealers to open up tables. Im assuming 8pm?

Wrt wait times - they let you call up to 90 minutes in advance. Was seated today (Saturday) at the 2/5 game almost immediately and then offered a spot at the 20/40 Omaha 10 minutes later. It was a good but not great game I’d say, at least by Saturday night standards. The kill is on more than half the time though so it really is closer to 30/60 than 20/40 which is nice. Would love to see them do a 50/100 at some point.

The poker room told me after new years , they are gonna let the games go as long as they want. Not this 12 to 4 crap.............

Is the room full daily? How is it that they do not spread the 5/5 No Limit game?

Interesting. I went to play yesterday called in at 12:20 and got there around 1:30 and had to wait an hour and a half to play. However, by 6 pm a 2nd table opened and there was absolutely no wait. We even had to play 7 handed for a while.

I suppose there aren't too many players that have the bankroll for 5/5. The Eastern part of the GTA is not a rich area. Oakvlle maybe.

This makes no sense whatsoever.

The Niagara area is incredibly economically depressed. The whole area. Way more than Oshawa. Markham and Richmond Hill are not, and they're a heck of a lot closer to Port Perry than they are to Niagara. And Niagara has no problem running 25/50, and all the players who take that game are from the Toronto area.

The reason Port Perry doesn't have 55+ is cause they do not yet have any kind of positive reputation among the players and sufficient room size that would warrant it.

In ran daily prior to originally closing the poker room.

Ya eastern gta is broke. That's why Durham Live will have 225 hotel rooms and over 300,000 square feet of gaming. Along with almost everything else except f*****g poker

Everyone is broke. Even the rich are broke. Can't keep up with all the taxes. I hope GBH adds enough dealers to begin offering 5/5 again. Not worth the trip otherwise for many. Also they need to change that ridiculous table change rule.

5/10 ran alot too last summer before it closed, I guess not enough demand for 5/5 or 5/10 yet?

It was that until about 2001 or so. As far as multiple hour waits, it was also pretty much always like that. I worked poker there until I left and a 3-4 hour wait on T/F/S was the norm. Less on Thursdays but weekends always.

Even when I was there two years ago, I waited 2 hours on a Thursday afternoon.

Great blue heron casino really stepped up their game with the poker room, the hotel and the renavations....

Its a great place to play now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went today and played, had a 2 hour wait in the afternoon.

By 8 pm they opened 3 1-2 NL tables.

Yesterday they only had 1 of each game running until 8pm. Aparently a number of dealers called in sick. Waited 2.5 hours (including call in) to get on 10/20 and that was the shortest list. The other games were easily 4+ hours after 4pm.

Besides the wait the game was great and the dealers are getting much better. They are working on hiring and training more delaers.

No dealer issues whatsoever.

How do you guys put up with multiple hours wait? I'd rather just play online if I had to wait that long, as bad as online is.

Was wondering the same. I don't care how good the room is or the dealers if I have to wait 3 hours. Hard pass.

Appreciate all the info tho!

People don't play at GBH because they like the place. They play at GBH because Toronto has no other legal poker rooms within an hour's drive.

Toronto might be the worst major city in North America to live in, if you are a live poker player.

Yeah Ontario poker is just so ****ing bad

This isn't completely accurate. For example, Niagara falls has mutliple 1-3 NL tables and there's almost never any wait. The waiting happens more at GBH, Rama and Elements Brantford. Niagara has a session fee. People hate session fee. I know it's not good poker but people just hate it.

Yep. Brantford had the problem with not having enough dealers to open games. And that problem has been around for a long time and last time I went in October it was still a problem. So unless that's an isolated case of poor management, I doubt the waiting at GBH will be gone in the near future.

The amount of people willing to wait hours to play a 100bb capped $8+1 rake game speaks volumes about our options near the GTA.