Poker is a big deal in Canada. Although most people believe gambling is exclusively reserved for Las Vegas, the fact is that the USA’s northern neighbor is another casino powerhouse with amazing offers across all industry verticals.
After all, Canada currently hosts some of the biggest events in the business. Elite Canadian poker players also happen to be some of the finest in this unique sport. Rough estimations say that more than three million people in the country play casino games. And with so many of them out there, it is natural to see a huge number of poker events taking place in all of the provinces. This post will only point out the most notable poker gatherings.
Overview of Poker in Canada
The casino business in Canada is so massive that it constantly delivers exclusive events with top-performing players. For instance, Daniel Negreanu alone won 6 WSOP titles while collecting more than $42 million to date. We should also mention names such as Timothy Adams or Daniel Dvoress, but we are only scratching the surface here.
The point is that the Great White North has a fruitful history of poker – it reportedly dates back to the 19th century. However, the full regulation of the business happened in the late 1960s when the country adopted special gambling-related codes to better control the market. After that, there was no stopping for the overall gambling industry as it kept developing at a steady rate.
The Biggest Live Poker Events in Canada
We already mentioned that it’s possible to visit many tournaments in Canada, but it would be pointless to elaborate on all of them because they are as frequent as beer events in Washington. Instead, we ought to mention the top three events that we personally appreciate the most.
For one, there is the World Poker Tour (WPT) Montreal as the country’s most prestigious tournament. The WPT has a strong international reputation, which means it easily attracts pro players from all over the place. It’s an annual tournament in a multi-day format: This year, the WPT hosted as many as 882 participants. As such, the tournament obviously features a hefty prize pool that consistently draws large crowds. WPT Montreal’s Main Event is a high-stakes competition with buy-ins in the thousands.
Another biggie on the list is the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit. This one makes several stops in Canada to get local players acquainted with the unmatched excitement of the most famous poker tournament. These events are mainly booked for major casinos such as Casino Montreal. The idea is to make pro poker more inclusive: Participants can compete across different skill levels so as to maximize entertainment whilst also watching elite players in live action.
Our third favorite is a bit of a cheat since Punta Cana Poker Classic is not hosted on Canadian soil. However, this tournament has always been attractive for Canadian gamblers who wish to travel abroad and partake in an international event. To be more specific, PCPC takes place in the Dominican Republic, which makes it somewhat more enticing than your average poker event in the neighborhood. Many players actually describe Punta Cana Poker Classic as a combo of gambling, sun, and fun.
Online Poker Events for Canadian Players
Traditional events have always been a big deal in the country, but the trend got much more exciting thanks to online poker tournaments. These made the gambling business more competitive as they did not force players to be physically present in order to participate. As long as you have the right poker mindset, you are free to register and try your luck (and skills).
In such circumstances, the casino industry had an easy task launching phenomenal poker tournaments online. For instance, Daily Legend Tournaments feature more than $3.2 million in combined guarantees every single week! That’s a mind-bending figure that goes to show how huge online events have become.
MGM Exclusive Tables serve a slightly different purpose – they bring the standard Las Vegas gambling style right to your home (or any other location whatsoever). The idea is to feel the overall notion of visiting one of the legendary MGM casino resorts without having to spend a small fortune on it.
How to Qualify for Major Poker Tournaments in Canada
Each of the main poker events in the country has its own unique qualification requirements, so make sure to understand them before trying to register.
Generally speaking, you can grow your chances of qualifying through gradual improvement. For example, it’s highly recommended to pick tournaments that fit your skill level and bankroll – it’s a nice way to build confidence whilst practicing tournament strategy without high risks.
At the same time, our second piece of advice is to practice multi-table tournament (MTT) skills because these often mimic larger tournaments. These skills are multifaceted because they encompass:
– Patience
– Fast decision-making
– Well-timed aggression
– Intuition
Of course, you ought to do everything mentioned above in a way that does not interfere with your overall discipline. This means avoiding unnecessary risks early in the tournament and preserving your stack in a clever manner.
Tips for Participating in Poker Events
This is a tough section because our tips depend on your (and your opponents’) skills, but let us suggest a few must-know tips. Firstly, take good care of your energy levels since tournaments tend to last for many hours or even days. Secondly, do not fall victim to distractions – keep all of your attention on the game without looking around. Of course, remember to recalibrate your strategy as the tournament progresses because you’ll have more information about your competitors’ styles as well as stacks.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that Canadian poker tournaments are a true treat for every gambler in the country. Even if you are a casual player with no serious aspirations, we still encourage you to partake in one of these events – you are highly likely to have an amazing time doing the thing you like with other likeminded people.