http://https://pokerindustrypro.com/news/article/217139-ontario-launch-regulated-igaming-market-april

Anyone have any insight into what this will mean for Ontario players in terms of the unregulated sites like Bodog, BOL, WPN, etc?

Also confirmation that Ontario players will no longer be able to access sites like Pokerstars, Pokerparty, GG/Natural8, etc?

Hoping someone has more clarity on the situation?



Seems article was posted Jan 31 but only just hearing about it today

Based on that article and a couple of pages it links to, I have to think Ontario players will only be able to reach those sites if the site operators are licensed to run:

Not only that, it seems like all sites – old and new – would be ring-fenced. i.e. if you're on PokerStars, it would be an Ontario-specific player pool. You know better than I do how many people that entails, but I guess you can be thankful it's not the AGCPEI.

Also just found out about this today

Looked in to it a bit, didn't find many answers.

- Operators were supposed to submit applications Fall '21 looking for approval to enter the market, there does not appear to be a list of approved operators on the iGaming Ontario website (or anywhere else, for that matter)
- My buddy with iGaming Ontario ties says they are 'all over the map' re: segregated pools vs unsegregated and suspects that while they will launch w/ Ontario-only pools that likely changes at some point (whether that be allowing cross-province play or play w/ ROW, TBD)
- I think it's fairly safe to assume Pokerstars (assuming they did not submit an application/get approved for one) would withdraw based on precedent in other countries. Not overly familiar w/ the policies for sites like Party and GG in these situations. I'd be pretty shocked to see WPN pull out.

what do u think will this be good for the games?

BC has had playnow as a segregated pool for years now right? Without impacting the other sites ? But ontario might be coming in with a more greedy POV trying to claw money out of the pool in guise of regulation / safety?


I assume party instantly pulls out since they don't fight for any countries licenses anymore , Pokerstars if given a chance probably still operates ? But maybe with ontario only site? Pretty sure their home office in canada is in Toronto.

If it goes how the article describes of ontario cutting out access to playing in rest of world pools its a pretty big blow to online poker in general considering how big ontario is / how many players presumably live there rec and pro alike

As a recreational grinder in ontario, here are my thoughts

****
**** EVERYTHING
YOU ****ING GARBAGE ASS HEALTHCARE KILLING ****ING CONSERVATIVES WHO FAILED TO INVEST IN HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, OR ANYTHING TO ACTUALLY STOP COVID OTHER THAN POINTLESS LOCCKDOWNS ARE ****ING EVERYTHING UP AGAIN


****


****KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKÈ

IM SO ****ING ANGRY

OH MY ****ING GOD

ANOTHER ****ING SOLUTION IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM

YOU WHAT WE SHOULD DO NEXT, REDESIGN LICENSE PLATES AGAIN, EVEN THO THE CURRENT ONES ARE FINE, BUT NOPE, SPEND 30 MILLION ON NEW PLATES, THAT THE TOLL HIGHWAY YOU GAVE AWAY CANT EVEN READ, OR POLICE SEE AT NIGHT.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW

Maybe he teamed up with Justin "kill the free internet in Canada" Trudeau to do this?

I always wondered if Stars, a TSX listed company getting sold would lead to the end of online poker.

Anyway, mods dont threadban me I will behave now.

There is a reason weazel has a "mega canadian" whale tag. So the solution is to ban the countries biggest province. I don't even care if I can play in this pool, I want the world in zoom games, not to ****ing table select against some fish who will never make me think.

Opinion: Ontario’s Private Gaming Landscape Faces First Nation Challenge, Likely One Of Many

Who should Ontario residents contact to express their support for a unsegregated pool?

Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation Vows To Challenge Ontario Online Gambling

Oh ****ing thank you!

Probably Queens park? They have been in hiding cause of the convoy though.

I made a discord server for Ontario poker players: https://discord.gg/4Xr2GmFn

To follow any updates to this and support any legal efforts to maintain global pool access.

Poker players take another blow. Ontario is Canada's wealthiest and most populous province — a big loss for ROW pool.

For other Canadians, one must wonder if their provinces will attempt to mimic this. Quebec tried ring-fencing its market before, but failed. Sites like PokerStars, partypoker and 888 might pull out of Canada altogether out of fear of operating in a black market — a big no-no for potential access to the US market.

It actually gets worse, if the Trudeau government's new proposed Bill C-11, which some have described as giving the government significant more control over the internet and online content in Canada, akin to The Great Firewall in China, passes, it could easily spell the end for court decisions like quebecs. We could see this in the Supreme Court of Canada soon.

https://www.michaelgeist.ca/2022/02/...sual-services/

Msged pokerstars


"Hello there, thanks for your message. At this point we are not able to disclose any information as we still do not have an official communication. Once we have an update on this, we will surely let you know. Thanks and take care!"




Id like to imagine out of those sites at least pokerstars has the most $ to lose and financial gains to fight for , partypoker instantly leaves every market the second there is issues due to USA issues but pokerstars has money to fight and gain licensing etc (see: partypoker pulling out of russia feb 14 - pokerstars just adjusted their client to not allow casino games for russians)

Someone on Reddit suggested that maybe GG might be willing to just ignore this and let Canadians continue to play even if they're from Ontario. Thoughts on that idea?

Possible. We will probably lose most of the deposit and withdrawal options except for crypto tho.

Or maybe some agents will pop up to cater us.

This part is worrisome, however this article suggests Entain (parent company of PartyPoker) intends to continue operating in rest of Canada. They've recently made large investments to offer gaming here, despite Ontario's new licensing scheme.

Dude screw this garbage, just leave it alone you fricken tools! I'm so embarassed by my country lately

If iGO is all over the map, it could be worth letting them know what we think about it.

I've sent them this e-mail, let's see what happens.

Ontario not in the global pool is really bad for poker and really bad for me

This is not good.