The three online poker sites operating under one network in Ontario – BetMGM Ontario, Partypoker Ontario, and bwin – are currently running a new online tournament series designed for low-stakes players. The “Ontario Micro Series” kicked off on June 11 and features more than CAD 200,000 in guarantees. The schedule is headlined by two No-Limit Hold’em Main Events. 

Ontario Micro Series

Running until June 26, the Ontario Micro Series features over 200 tournaments, including 88 numbered events. The buy-ins are split into three levels – Low, Medium, and High.

Players can join in on the action for as low as CAD 0.11, with the highest buy-in set at CAD 265. The series culminates in not just one, but two Main Events with a combined guarantee of CAD 28,000.

The Low version has a buy-in of CAD 5.50 and a guarantee of CAD 3,000, while the higher edition costs CAD 55 to enter and guarantees CAD 25,000. Both events have multiple Day 1 flights and will be played in PKO format.

First Low-Stakes Series Hosted by BetMGM Ontario Network

The Ontario Micro Series is the fourth tournament series hosted by the BetMGM Ontario Network and the first series dedicated to low-stakes players. It follows the successful third edition of the CAD 500K GTD Ontario Championships which took place in April.

Svenska Spel has expanded its online poker services, offering more tournaments, bigger prize pools, and additional features to Swedish players, thanks to its new partnership with gambling software development company Playtech. 

Swedish Players To Get Better Experience 

Svenska Spel recently launched Playtech’s poker product, allowing the state-run operator to become part of the international iPoker network.

The partnership will modernize Svenska Spel’s poker offering and improve player experience for the operator’s large customer base, according to Frederik Hard, the company’s Head of Poker & Bingo. 

Likewise, the alliance will also bring huge benefits for Playtech, enabling it to expand its presence across Sweden. The company recently acquired a B2B license in the country and its continued partnership with Svenska Spel will further strengthen its poker product, helping it attain its strategic and financial goals for 2023.

Playtech stated that its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for FY2023 is likely to exceed expectations as its B2B and B2C business continues to grow.

Playtech Welcomes Expansion of Partnership with Svenska Spel

Playtech initially secured a deal with Svenska Spel in 2019 for the operator’s online casino and live games. Marat Koss, Playtech vice president of interactive gaming, said they’re delighted to expand their partnership with the state-owned gambling firm, as they strive to increase their global footprint.

The Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC) believes that a regulated iGaming market that allows the participation of private operators would bring massive benefits to the province, especially in terms of maximizing the province’s iGaming potential and generating revenues that can be used to fund important economic programs. 

Quebec is home to an estimated 8.7 million people, making it Canada’s second-most populous province. With such a huge market, Quebec is sure to attract some of the biggest operators, just like Ontario.

Major Online Poker Operators Eyeing Quebec Expansion 

When it comes to online poker, Ontarians currently have five networks to choose from: PokerStars, GGPoker/WSOP, 888poker, and the BetMGM/partypoker/bwin network. These sites are likely to expand to Quebec if the province launches its own regulated online poker market.

There is no timeline yet for when regulated online poker could go live in Quebec, but the QOGC is now coordinating with the government and will be working with authorities in developing a regulatory system using the Ontario model. 

The province should have been the first in Canada to open a regulated iGaming market if only the previous government followed recommendations from a group of academics back in 2014 for a licensing framework for private operators. Should the QOGC succeed with its plans, Quebec will become just the second province in the country to welcome private operators.

The 2023 WSOP Player of the Year (PoY) race covers all of the open bracelet events of the 2023 WSOP live festival which runs from May 30 to July 18 at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas. The online bracelet events on WSOP.com in Nevada and New Jersey also count towards the race. 

Five events are excluded from the leaderboard, namely, the $1,000 Ladies Event, $1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em, $1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold’em, $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em, and $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em.

The WSOP uses an established point system to calculate the points, taking into account the buy-in amount and the field size or number of participants for each bracelet event. There’s a PoY calculator available on the WSOP website for anyone who wishes to estimate points for any particular event. The site also displays the PoY standings with the names of the players and their respective points as the series progresses.

Whoever takes the PoY crown at the end of the festival secures a 2024 Main Event seat along with a trophy and a PoY banner at Paris and Horseshoe. 

Potential 2023 WSOP PoY Frontrunners

We can never predict who will emerge as the top WSOP player this year, but some familiar names have always made it their goal to finish at the top, including Daniel Negreanu who won the PoY title twice in 2004 and 2013, as well as Shaun Deeb who claimed the top honors in 2018.

Phil Hellmuth, who holds the record for most bracelet wins with 16, is also on the frontrunners’ list, and so is 2022 WSOP Main Event champion Espen Jorstad who previously indicated he would play a full schedule this year.

Ali Imsirovic made the headlines last year following reports he was banned by GGPoker alongside fellow poker pro Jake Schindler for using real-time assistance (RTA).

Imsirovic Still Cheating 

Imsirovic and Schindler were subsequently barred from joining PokerGO Tour (PGT) events, and there have been rumors the pair is also not welcome at other major tournaments. 

But Imsirovic isn’t ready to give up his old ways, according to several pros who believe the Bosnian-American poker pro is still at. His dirty tricks have allegedly now made their way to other online poker platforms, particularly unregulated sites such as Americas Cardroom (ACR). 

Imsirovic is accused of recruiting other players to join him in his illegal practices, with Matt Berkey saying the alleged poker cheat operates a cheating stable.

Phil Nagy Steps Up to the Plate 

The reports have come to the attention of ACR CEO Phil Nagy and he is offering a $100,000 bounty to anyone who can provide evidence that the high-stakes pro is running an online poker cheating ring. Nagy earned praise from the poker community for offering the reward.

Since the allegations against him broke out, Imsirovic has stayed silent and has not publicly admitted or denied the cheating claims.