Later this month, Ontario online poker players on GGPoker will be migrated to a new platform on WSOP Ontario. It will mark GG/WSOP’s entry into the regulated Ontario market some six months after the market first opened.
As of now, Ontario players can continue to play on GGPoker and compete with the rest of the world, but from next week that will all change. An email sent to Ontario players, first seen by pokerfuse, confirms that the migration will take place on September 30.
“With the introduction of provincial regulations for online gaming in Ontario, the World Series of Poker and GGPoker are joining forces to launch the first-ever WSOP.ca online poker room exclusively in Ontario on Friday, September 30,” the email sent to players on Monday stated.
The transition to the new client will be seamless and existing players can log in with their old GG login credentials. The bankroll balance, T$, C$ or any other unused tournament tickets will be automatically transferred to the new account, as per the FAQ published on the new site.
WSOP Ontario: What to Expect from the New Software
- Same GGPoker software will be in use but with WSOP branding
- Player pool will be restricted to Ontario players only
- All games will be played in Canadian (CAD) Currency
- Will feature similar promotions in the dot-com market but with minor modifications
- Nearly all of GGPoker’s features will be present including built-in HUD, tournament staking feature and EV Cashout
- Spin & Gold and Rush & Cash Hold’em will be available along with the standard cash game tables and MTTs
An early version of WSOP.ca’s new poker client spotted by Canada Gaming Review is now in closed testing.
Once the new site loads up, the most notable change is, of course, that the software will have WSOP’s branding instead of GGPoker. As previously announced, GGPoker will provide software support for the new room and Ontarians will have access to the same features, similar game offerings and promotions they had been enjoying on the global client.
The other major difference they will notice is that the player pool will be confined to Ontario only — meaning they will no longer have access to the global player pool.
This is because the regulations in the province require the player pool to be segregated from the rest of the world. Existing Ontario online poker apps — 888poker, BetMGM, partypoker, bwin and PokerStars — all operate in the ring-fenced environment.
Despite the player pool being restricted, the playing experience will be captivating. Ontarians won’t have access to big tournament prize pools and wider game offerings, but games should be soft, as seen on other regulated online poker rooms in the province.
What game offerings will be there on the new WSOP Ontario client?
As per the test client seen by Canada Gaming Review, the WSOP Ontario app will offer the standard cash games and tournaments in both Hold’em & Omaha variants. There will also be the popular lottery-style sit and go format which the network calls Spin & Gold. The fast-fold variant Rush & Cash will also be available.
The fan-favorite Progressive Knockouts (PKOs), which goes by the name Bounty Hunters on GGPoker, will also be available on the new client. However, it remains to be seen whether the site will offer the trending Mystery Bounty format.
WSOP Ontario Game Types Available:
- Cash — Hold’em & Omaha
- Tournaments — Hold’em & Omaha (including PKOs)
- Spin & Gold
- Rush & Cash Hold’em
But not all games will be available in the ring-fenced client initially. Games such as All-In or Fold, Short Deck, sit and go bounty special Battle Royale, and Flip & Go have been omitted based on the test client seen by CANGR.
WSOP Ontario Game Types Excluded from Launch
- All-In or Fold
- 6+ Hold’em aka Short Deck
- Battle Royale
- Flip & Go
Besides cash games, MTTs and games like Spin & Gold, WSOP.ca powered by GGPoker will also host the Ontario-exclusive Ontario Circuit Series, offering players to compete for coveted gold jewelry from the comforts of their homes. The series is expected to take place soon after launch.
Which features will be offered on WSOP.ca client?
Even though Ontario players will be segregated from the rest of the world, the new WSOP Ontario client will have most of the unique features offered by GGPoker on the global dot-com client. These include the popular tournament staking feature, built-in Smart HUD, tracking tool Pokercraft, insurance feature called EV Cashout, SnapCam and more.
The new WSOP.ca platform will include:
- SnapCam
- Tournament Staking
- Built-in HUD
- Smart Betting
- Pokercraft
- Final Table Features
- Splash
- EV Cashout
- Card Squeeze
- Bubble Protection/Eary Bird
- Social Media Sharing
- NFT Avatars
Features that will miss out:
- Final Table Betting
- Ask Fedor
- GGCares & GGCheers
