When does the December tournament calendar come out? I'm wondering when "power play weekend" will be.

We'll be making some announcements very soon that I think you'll be interested in.

Mike, is it true that Playground will now offer slot machines? Is this addition something that poker players have been asking for? Will rake in cash games be reduced now that there is a high-margin revenue stream to help absorb the fees?

The World Cup of Cards 2019 has been announced:

https://www.playgroundpoker.ca/world-cup-of-cards-2019

I'll have more to discuss about the new product offerings some time in the future - it's still to early for me to have all of the info to pass along.

The new cash game promotions are around 25% less than the old ones:

Old promotions: $32000/week

New promotions: $24000/week

Are there other new ways that money is being released to players, or is this a true 25% reduction in promotions?

No - it's just that the final announcements haven't been made yet!

The final number is going to be exactly the same. Hang in there!

Sorry! Jumped the gun there!

I have exactly the same transportation and usd to cad problem. I’m staying in villes st Laurent and only have a Citibank debit card. How to get 2k cash buy in without getting shafted on conversion and fee?

I am just about the biggest Montreal fan on the planet, yet, I have never been to Playground and I really want to change that. I've spent more time in Montreal then anywhere else in the world then where I was born, raised, and still live (NYC) then anywhere else.

I was thinking of maybe making a trip up there between when I go to Vegas for my birthday (late Feb) and the WSOP. Is there any particular time in March and April you expect to have a tournament series?

Would be really cool if you had some tables just for people who want to play poker without all the fluff of free food and bad beat jackpots. Some of us would rather just pay the standard rake, and if we're hungry then order food. The food isn't free anyways, you'll look like a real a-hole if you don't tip the server sufficiently. And if I want to pay into a lottery (bad beat jackpot), I'll just buy a 649 ticket.

lol

Looks like I may be in Montreal for an extended period in the summer. Is it possible to grind out a decent hourly at the live games at either here or the Montreal Casino? I'd be looking to play primarily 5/10+ NL hold em but I also jump in PLO from time to time. I've played at playground three times and absolutely loved it. They do everything right as a venue but my main concern is being able to sustain a livable winrate with tougher competition and much higher rake. I'm currently in LA and the games here are very soft to put it mildly. In the couple times I've been to playground the games were significantly tougher (though still beatable). This was years ago so I imagine it's even worse now. Not to mention the rake, but you do get what you pay for. Food, drinks, servers, everything at playground is world class. I just have some doubts about dollars and cents and if it's worth it to try and grind out 40+ hours a week.

How often do 5/10 games run? What's min and max buy in? What about 10/20? Action in general? I assume the higher stakes games aren't running 24/7 and have no issues playing 2/5 but given the rake is this even worth it? I'm an adequate live player not an online crusher if poker skill level is the main determining factor of making it worthwhile. I do very well in LA but I know there's nowhere on the planet quite like here for poker in this day and age.

I would stick to Casino Montreal, it has much looser players and a slightly lower rake (at least when I was in Montreal last year).

don't be suckered in by the free food/booze element in Playground. Montreal is a great city for food and nightlife anyhow.

I’m looking for a ride to Playground from Downtown today, tomorrow and Thursday.
Apr 29 to May 2, 2019.

I’m staying downtown at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel and have been taking taxis and it’s getting expensive.

Give me a text
587-645-6171

Thanks
Corey

@mikelbyl, by sheer curiosity:
In tournaments with a BB ante, if on the BB you don't have enough chips to both fully pay the BB and the BB ante, which one do you pay first?

Sorry I'm late to this...

Playground is ante first. As it should be, IMO as a player.

There's a thread where this is debated:
https://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/2...first-1741172/

I can definitely see both sides of the argument. And winning back your ante chips plus maybe a small side-pot created by your partial blind *does* seem like a kick in the teeth. However that is rewarded by a full orbit of play during which a player may fold until they get their shot at doubling up (or more) - once the small blind has passed, so instead of an "any-two-cards" situation on the very next hand, a player can have up to 8 hands to wait for their opportunity. That's a big added advantage!

Plus, I don't see the point of deforming the rules for a player that is so short, particularly because although sometimes it's due to a cooler, sometimes it's just due to the fact that the player has gotten him- or herself into this situation. Encouraging them to not allow things to get to this point is a net positive.

Anyhow, Playground's Tournament Director is participating, as always, in the TDA Summit in Las Vegas this weekend, and I expect this to be an important topic of discussion there.

Thanks for the answer.

Could you expand on this? Not sure I understand.

Isn't this true regardless of whether or not the Big Blind is posted first or the Ante is posted first? All that affects is what you can win that hand-the next hand you have to post the small blind either way, and then you pay nothing for the next 7 hands regardless of what comes first.

@mikelbyl
The "no more free food while playing poker" is effective when exactly?
Also, is there a link on the Playground website that indicates how many points are needed and for which food items exactly?

Thanks in advance!

no more food? RIP playground

Yup. I won't be back paying that ridiculous rake without food and drinks being covered. It sucks because I used to drive from Toronto 3-5 times a year to play.

Yeah, I'm 40 minutes from Playground and only 20 minutes from Montreal Casino. Despite that, I used to prefer Playground because of the general atmosphere and free food.

Now I think I'll switch to Montreal Casino. You can buy in for 250$ in 1$/2$ compared to 200$ at Playground.

If the "no more free food rumour" is true, has there been a drastic reduction in rake? Can anyone confirm the changes?