Below are some of the finalists for the $128,000 prize pool (who weren't afraid of having their photos taken), and suggestions submitted to the CNE Casino for next year.

Any word on if/when Woodbine will be getting "live" dealers? I know city council has approved a deal, but there's a long way to go and we need the provincial government's blessing as well.

I know this would hurt Fallsview and Rama a bit, but it would be great for us GTA people who love poker.

It could be next decade, literally. Unless Woodbine wants to build on the empty race track levels it could be that long. Supposedly Ontario was going to lobby Ottawa for legal one game sports betting and that hasn't gone anywhere. Gambling is a very low priority for the government.

- City council has approved the deal, and they are to choose a vendor on September 30th. (Fingers crossed for Live!)

- In August, OLG leased the third floor of the WB building and this is where the table games are slated to go.

- I also heard that in the last week, 10 underground poker games were raided (out of an estimated 100-150 that operate in the city), which could be a sign of good things to come.

I heard rumor that dealers from FV have already had the opportunity to apply for dealing jobs at WB -- but I haven't tried to confirm this.


In any case, it seems that a new operator & live tables could be in place sooner than I would have expected. As for the new building and entertainment complex, who knows. That said, the next local boom looks like it will take place well before the building is complete.

Local games being raided? WB and fallsview action might pick up. Do you know if any charges are laid? Is it just the host or do players get charged too?

I don't think I've ever heard of players getting charged in Toronto fwiw.

What about confiscation of their funds? (Or loss of any opportunity to cash in their chips?)

This could be what your talking about. Or is it other games too? It seemed like the police were going after games run by Asian gangs like the Big Circle Boys......http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video?binId=1.815892

You get a citation charge of being on the grounds of an illegal gaming house. It's a fine and the charge is similar to being at an illegal bordello or after hours bar.

I'd heard the cash on the table is also confiscated. Do you know?

As far as I know this is true. So if you play limit poker at an underground buy in for the minimum. It seemed like Asian underground games were raided as much for the associated crimes that happen with illegal criminal activity as the illegal gambling. The shooting in Woodbridge in the summer is probably the worst case scenario that the police officer was talking about.

But if you're up a bit, that's a hell of a rake ...

That link is about a Bautista boy fan. Has there been any news articles about the 10 illegal games that were supposedly raided?
Several of my friends have been charged in raids before and had to go to court. Here is story about a home game raid with a veteran OPP officer and other players charged. http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/06/13/...al-gaming-bust

This should work......http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/video?clip...1&binPageNum=4

If there's any software QA guys in here who have good poker knowledge and looking for a change of scenery in the GTA shoot me a PM.

Hey guys, been lurking around and didn't see a montreal thread, I'm I blind?

Wouldnt mind finding a 2/5 toronto room

The private games that I've been to all have ridiculously high rake. I've seen $20-$25 caps. At that much, its worth the drive to niagara or rama. Woodbine gets 2-3 tables a night of 2/5 or 5/5

Kinda dead, but there you go...

Hey everyone, been posting on this site for a while but I'm just coming across this part of the forum now.

I'm looking to branch out more into live cash games and was wondering which casinos/cardrooms are best to hit up. I've played live a few times before at Woodbine and Rama during random spontaneous 1AM casino trips with my friends but otherwise I'm still pretty clueless to the whole scene. I'm mainly looking for some good live experience, although if I can make a profit in the process that's obviously great too.

If anybody can help me out here that'd be appreciated haha.

Other than underground games, your options in the GTA are Woodbine, Niagara Falls, Port Perry, and Rama. Woodbine is the best if you dont like commutes, Port Perry is best for LHE. Niagara has highest stakes/PLO and Rama attracts people near that area.

I appreciate this post a lot, thanks

Which casino is generally better for $1/$2 - Woodbine or Casino Rama? Commuting is not a serious factor for me at all

Also where/how could I get into a few underground games?

IMO both games are reasonably soft. It'll be tough to ever find a difficult $1/$2 NL game. As far as underground games, your best bet is to be social at the casinos and get invited. Rake is generally really high in underground games, but they can be really comfortable places to play. It really just depends on what your motives are for playing poker.

That's a good point lol

What about 2/5? I'm assuming Fallsview/Niagara Fall's 2/5 game is the most profitable due to the tourism in the area

You forgot Brantford which is Port Perry west.

Note Brantford and Port Perry you will need a vehicle to get to the casino with any ease.