ClubWPT Gold, the sweepstakes poker platform from the World Poker Tour (WPT), could soon be expanding into Canada, at least according to ambassador Doug Polk and recent social media posts from the site.
While no official statement has been made, Polk hinted at the development in a recent video. In that video, the poker content creator criticized the platform’s recently launched controversial “Hand Reveal” feature, calling it disappointing and noting that he is in discussions with the operator to have it removed—or at the very least ensure the associated fee benefits players.
He also revealed other updates in the pipeline, including the eventual addition of Pot-Limit Omaha to their game offerings and a potential Canadian launch.
At present, ClubWPT Gold is only available to US players in 44 states. It recently pulled out of New Jersey and does not accept players from Michigan, Montana, Idaho, or Washington.
When the platform was first announced last year, it was marketed as launching in both the US and Canada (with Quebec excluded). Pre-registration was open to residents of both countries, but when the preview version went live, only US players were admitted. The operator initially said Canadians would gain access once the full launch rolled out.
That official launch came in February of this year, but Canadian players were still left out.
In an FAQ, the site explained that although Canadians were allowed to pre-register and take part in promotional giveaways, “due to legal advice” it revised its policy to permit only US residents—excluding players in Idaho, Michigan, Montana, and Washington—to participate in games or tournaments. The operator did, however, add that it “hopes the situation changes in the future.”
Now, it appears that change may finally be coming.
Adding further weight to a potential Canadian launch, ClubWPT Gold responded to players’ queries on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting a rollout could happen “later this year,” even hinting at “fall” as a possible timeline. It is not yet clear whether Quebec and Ontario would be included if and when the site goes live.
The timing is noteworthy given that Global Poker, the pioneer of sweepstakes poker and one of the leading platforms in this space, has begun exiting the Canadian market to focus exclusively on the US.
Parent company VGW announced recently that it would phase out Canadian operations starting August 28, with a complete withdrawal scheduled for October 23. Global Poker, like ClubWPT Gold’s original plan, excluded Quebec but accepted players from the rest of Canada.
With Global Poker gone, Canadian players would be left without a modern sweepstakes poker option. Currently, the only available choice is the traditional subscription-based ClubWPT platform that has been in operation for 15 years.
But once ClubWPT Gold officially launches in Canada, that gap will be filled.
Headline-Grabbing Moves
Although ClubWPT Gold only launched earlier this year, the platform has already been aggressive with its promotions, rolling out massive freerolls, striking new partnerships, and running major tournament series boasting guarantees of 14 million SC – Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for real-money prizes at a rate of $1 per SC. These guarantees outstrip anything offered by other sweepstakes operators, US-regulated rooms, and even most global real-money poker sites.
The site has also shown a knack for grabbing headlines. Its $1 million prize during the WSOP 2025 was one of the biggest stories out of Las Vegas this summer, while more recent controversies, such as charging players to use a time bank or unveiling a feature that lets opponents’ hole cards be revealed for a fee, have kept it in the spotlight, for better or worse.
At the same time, the platform continues to invest heavily. It has signed big-name ambassadors like Doug Polk and content creator–turned-chess star Alexandra Botez to boost its profile. It also recently bought Upswing Poker, one of the leading poker training sites.
Yet despite the investment and momentum, the software itself still lags in several areas. While the platform has introduced a downloadable client and added multi-tabling support, it continues to miss key basics, including PLO, a Run It Twice option, and popular formats such as Bomb Pots—features already available on competing sweepstakes sites like Clubs Poker.
