The poker room at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto (GC Toronto) opened in August 2022, marking the first casino poker room in the city.
The much-anticipated WSOP Toronto returns this week to Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, marking the second consecutive year that WSOP and GGPoker ON bring the prestigious series to Canada’s most populous province, Ontario.
After a strong debut last year, the festival is back — with a few lessons learned. The 2024 edition drew large crowds and high praise but also saw long lines, capped entries, and frustration over registration cutoffs.
This time around, the GC Casino has made several changes to improve the experience, including expanding tournament capacity and introducing online registration.
Online registration kicked off on April 1, and seats are already filling up. The casino has also continued its partnership with GGPoker, which is hosting online satellites for the Main Event once again. Hundreds of players have already locked up their seats online on GGPoker Ontario.
However, the addition of a 5.5% fee for those who register online has not been well received by some in the community.
We spoke with the casino about what’s changed since last year, how they’re preparing for a potentially larger turnout, and what players can expect both this year and going forward.
Looking back at last year’s WSOP-C Toronto, how pleased were you with the turnout and overall execution of the event?
The poker room at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto (GC Toronto) opened in August 2022, marking the first casino poker room in the city. As live poker was a new concept for many of our team members, we were especially proud to host the largest poker tournament in Ontario after just seven months of operation. While there were a few challenges, we were overall very pleased with the turnout, especially considering it was our first time hosting an event of this magnitude.
What were the biggest challenges from last year, and what lessons did you take away from them?
Being the first WSOP event in Ontario, there were several approvals and discussions with various stakeholders that required time and coordination. One of the key challenges last year was not being able to offer online registration for out-of-province players or those from more distant areas of Ontario. While we successfully managed in-person registrations, we believe that online registration would have allowed for a greater turnout. This feedback has been a key takeaway for future events.
[O]ne of the key operational improvements is the introduction of online registration this year
Have there been any major structural or operational changes this year to improve the player experience?
Yes, one of the key operational improvements is the introduction of online registration this year, which will allow us to reach a wider group of players.
Additionally, we’ve incorporated the Great Canadian Rewards membership as part of the participation requirements.
From a tournament perspective, we’ve added a more diverse lineup, including events like the Ladies, Seniors, and Pot Limit Omaha tournaments, to offer something for every type of player.
Moreover, we’ve also expanded the number of tournament tables this year, which will help accommodate more participants.
Now that GGPoker owns the poker room, has this had any impact on how the event is being run? If so, in what ways?
GGPoker does not own the poker room at GC Toronto. Instead, we have an exclusive partnership with them, making GC Toronto the sole destination in Ontario for hosting WSOP events, including Circuit Rings and Bracelet events.
The partnership enhances the player experience with upgrades such as high-definition TVs, modern furniture, and a dedicated player lounge. However, the day-to-day operation of the poker room remains under the management of GC Toronto and Great Canadian Entertainment, as GGPoker does not operate land-based gaming services.
Last year, long queues and late registration cutoffs were major issues. What steps have been taken to improve registration and avoid turning players away?
To accommodate more players this year, we are adding more tournament tables, increasing the number from 45 to 60. As mentioned earlier, online registration will also streamline the process, reducing long queues when in-person registration opens on April 1st.
There is now a 5.5% registration fee for players who register online. Why was this introduced, and is there any plan to remove or reduce it?
The 5.5% fee covers service and processing costs, ensuring a secure and efficient online ticket-buying experience. For context, similar service fees on other ticketing platforms typically range between 10% to 20% of the ticket price. This fee structure is standard across many online purchase platforms and helps us maintain a smooth registration process.
Are there any exclusive promotions, cash game offerings, or special incentives for players who qualify online through GGPoker?
Players can qualify for Main Event flights through online satellites on GGPoker.
What are your long-term plans for growing WSOP-C Toronto further?
We are actively in discussions with GGPoker about future plans for WSOP-C Toronto. While we don’t have specific details to share at this moment, our goal remains to provide premier poker experiences in Toronto and continue growing the event in the years to come.
Beyond WSOP-C, are there plans to host more major poker festivals at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto?
As mentioned, we are in ongoing discussions about the future of WSOP-C Toronto. While we don’t have details to announce at this time, we are committed to bringing more world-class poker events to GC Toronto in the future.
