Poker in Quebec
- Poker in Quebec – The Heart of Canada’s Poker Scene
- Live Poker Rooms in Quebec
- Online Poker in Quebec
- Espace Jeux Monopoly
- Canadian Poker Network (CPN)
- Legal Status of Online Poker in Quebec
- Poker Laws in Quebec
- Major Poker Tournaments in Quebec
- Prominent Players from Quebec
- Poker Trends in Quebec
- Where to Play Next?
Poker in Quebec – The Heart of Canada’s Poker Scene
Poker in Quebec offers players a well-rounded experience through both land-based venues and a regulated online platform. The province is home to popular poker destinations like the Casino de Montréal and the Playground Poker Club in Kahnawà:ke, where players can enjoy a range of live games, especially Texas Hold’em. For online play, Espace Jeux, run by Loto-Québec, provides a legal and secure site with various poker formats. Quebec’s poker scene supports both casual and serious players alike.
Live Poker Rooms in Quebec
Quebec offers a dynamic live poker environment with a variety of games and tournament options catering to all skill levels. From low-stakes cash games to high-stakes competitive play, poker enthusiasts can find action throughout the province. The scene is known for its friendly atmosphere, diverse player base, and well-organized events. Whether you're a casual player or a seasoned pro, there's always a table waiting. Some of the poker rooms are:
Casino de Montréal
The largest poker room in the province, with high-stakes cash games and major tournaments.
Playground Poker Club, Kahnawake
One of the most famous poker rooms in Canada, home to huge tournament series.
Salon de Jeux de Quebec
A smaller poker room with a loyal local player base.
Online Poker in Quebec
Quebec has adopted a different approach to online poker compared to its neighboring province, Ontario. Rather than a competitive, regulated market that includes prominent poker platforms, Quebec established a monopoly led by Loto-Québec. This resulted in the launch of Espace Jeux (OKPoker) in December 2010.
Despite this set-up, player traffic on the site barely exceeds 500 players. This restricts the availability of low-limit tables and tournaments with lowest buy-ins.
Many players still use offshore sites, including GGPoker, CoinPoker, and Stake Poker.
Despite this set-up, player traffic on the site barely exceeds 500 players. This restricts the availability of low-limit tables and tournaments with lowest buy-ins.
Many players still use offshore sites, including GGPoker, CoinPoker, and Stake Poker.
Espacejeux.com
Espacejeux.com is Quebec’s official online gaming platform, operated by Loto-Québec. It offers a secure environment for various poker formats, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha, accessible via desktop and mobile devices. The platform provides features such as cash games, Sit & Go tournaments, and multi-table tournaments, catering to both novice and experienced players. Espacejeux.com emphasizes responsible gambling, offering tools like deposit limits and self-exclusion options. With 24/7 customer support and a user-friendly interface, it stands as the province's primary legal option for online poker.
GGPoker
GGPoker, a major force in the online poker industry has Canadian poker pro Daniel Negreanu as a brand ambassador. New players can benefit from a 100% deposit bonus up to $600.
Although GGPoker is legally available in Ontario and actively promotes the WSOP brand in Canada, it remains poised to launch a Quebec-specific version, if the province ever opens its market. This could potentially lead to local WSOP series events for Quebec-based players.
Stake Poker
Stake.com is a well-known crypto casino that has expanded its poker offerings. This move attracted players from across the globe, including those in Quebec.
Quebec-based players must purchase cryptocurrency through a third-party exchange (such as Binance or Kraken) and transfer it to their Stake.com wallet to grind in poker games.
Stake.com has been growing its poker product, offering a variety of poker games. Stake Poker offers poker tables between low and high stakes which means players across bankroll levels can participate. Stake Poker also offers tournaments with guaranteed prize pool across all buy-in levels.
Espace Jeux Monopoly
Since December 2010, Loto-Québec has maintained exclusive control over the online poker space in the province. Before this monopoly, Quebec residents had access to thousands of gambling sites, including those offering French-language services.
A commission created in 2014 compiled a list of brands providing illegal services to Quebec residents, but the situation has seen little improvement over the past decade. Despite Espace Jeux's monopoly, many players prefer offshore operators due to their superior promotions and rewards.
In response to widespread dissatisfaction, the Quebec Online Gaming Coalition (QOGC) was formed to advocate for a regulated market similar to Ontario's.
Supporters argue that regulation would lead to higher tax revenues and better player protection. Major sports organizations, including the NBA, MLS, and CFL, have voiced their support for the QOGC's efforts. However, despite meetings with provincial officials in 2023, there have been no significant changes.
Canadian Poker Network (CPN)
Espace Jeux players are part of the Canadian Poker Network (CPN), a system launched in February 2011. The network includes players from Quebec, Manitoba, and British Columbia, with Saskatchewan expected to join when PlayNow establishes its presence in the province.
In other regions, CPN operates under the PlayNow brand, managed by the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, while Quebec's operations are overseen by Espace Jeux.
In 2024, the network hosted a raffle for 150 WSOP tickets, with WSOP Millionaire Maker tournaments being the most popular events.
Legal Status of Online Poker in Quebec
Espace Jeux (OKPoker) is the sole legal poker platform with exclusive operating rights in Quebec. While offshore international poker sites are technically illegal, the provincial regulator does not actively block access to them.
This situation presents a potential challenge for Quebec residents, as offshore platforms do not guarantee player protection in cases of disputes or violations.
In contrast, Ontario permits global poker brands to operate legally by establishing offices within the province.
Poker Laws in Quebec
✅ Live poker is legal at licensed casinos.
✅ Online poker is legal on Espacejeux.com, but offshore sites still operate.
✅ Kahnawake Poker Rooms operate independently, offering unregulated games.
Major Poker Tournaments in Quebec
🎟️ WSOP Circuit Montreal at Playground Poker Club - A massive annual event with huge prize pools.
🎟️ Playground Power Weekend - A great mid-stakes poker series for locals and visiting pros.
Prominent Players from Quebec
Despite legal restrictions on online poker in Quebec, the province is home to several well-known poker players.
Jonathan Duhamel
Jonathan Duhamel, from Boucherville, is the province’s most successful player. He rose to fame in 2010 after winning the WSOP Main Event, taking home $8.9 million. Duhamel has also won two additional WSOP bracelets, including the 2015 High Roller for One Drop ($3,989,985) and a WSOP Europe event in 2015. His career earnings total over $18 million and he continues to reside in Boucherville.
Isabelle Mercier
Isabelle Mercier from Victoriaville has also made significant contributions to poker. With career earnings crossing the $1 million mark, Mercier initially studied law at Université de Montréal before moving to Paris for a master’s degree.
While in Paris, she worked at the Aviation Club poker club, and was awarded the Staff Person of the Year title twice from the European Poker Awards.
In 2002, the Canadian player went pro and won the Masters Classic of Poker in Amsterdam. Mercier has since participated in major tournaments, served as a PokerStars ambassador, and appeared in the film “That’s Poker.” She currently resides in Monaco and is involved in the development of CoinPoker.
Eliot Hudon
Eliot Hudon from Montreal rounds out Quebec’s top players. With career earnings of over $4.8 million, Hudon gained widespread recognition after winning the WPT World Championship in December 2022, where he claimed over $4.1 in prize money.
Poker Trends in Quebec
- Playground Poker Club continues to dominate the live poker scene.
- Quebec players are some of the strongest in Canada, often crushing online games and WSOP events.
- More young players are turning to online poker, with many choosing crypto-friendly sites.
Where to Play Next?
Quebec has one of the best live poker scenes in North America. Whether you want high-stakes cash games or online MTTs, Quebec has it all.
