The World Poker Tour’s sweepstakes platform, ClubWPT Gold, appears to be gearing up to enter the Canadian market as it overhauls the way it operates in the U.S.
Recent reply posts from the site’s X account suggested to users that a Canadian launch is on the cards later this year. Brand ambassador and pro poker player Doug Polk also referenced a potential Canadian launch in a recent promotional video, stating that, “we’ll have Canada, hopefully, at some point within a little bit here.”
When asked by Canadian Gaming Business, the brand told us to expect Canadian entry “later this fall.” CGB reached out to WPT communications personnel seeking more details, but has not received responses.
WPT announced plans for ClubWPT Gold almost exactly one year ago in September 2024 and it went live south of the border in early 2025. It is currently only available to U.S. players in 44 states. When it was first announced, the website teased launches both north and south of the border (except Québec) and Canadian residents were able to pre-register, but Canada ultimately was not included in the actual launch.
“Canadian players were allowed to register so that they could participate in pre-launch promotional giveaways, but due to legal advice a decision was made to only allow U.S. residents (except those in Idaho, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Louisiana or Washington) to play games or tournaments on our platform at this time,” reads an FAQ on its website that was last updated on Sept. 24, 2025. “We hope that the situation changes in the future.”
Would Ontario be included?
It is not certain whether Québec or the regulated iGaming province of Ontario would be included when the site goes live in Canada.
WPT offers its real-money WPT Global site across Canada except for Ontario, which has strict regulations on online poker platforms. Several real-money poker sites are licensed to operate in Ontario, including BetMGM Poker, PartyPoker, GGPoker, PokerStars and 888 Poker, but those platforms cannot pool players with users in other jurisdictions, something that has been queried in court by the province of Ontario and other parties.
In other provinces, WPT Global allows Canadian players to compete against a player pool spanning more than 100 countries.
ClubWPT, a more traditional subscription-based platform than ClubWPT Gold, is also available across Canada. The ClubWPT site says that product is not a real-money poker site but does offer real-money prizes under the sweepstakes gaming model in eligible jurisdictions, including Canada.
ClubWPT Gold shifts in US amid scrutiny
Until this week, ClubWPT Gold site followed a similar pattern in the U.S. as many sweepstakes gaming sites, operating a dual-currency system wherein Gold Coins can be used in free-to-play social games while Sweeps Coins allow users to participate in tournaments for the chance of winning prizes with real-money value.
On Sept. 24, it announced a shift; instead of buying Gold Coins to use on free-play tables, users can now buy the ability for a poker training tool to analyze hands the user has played on the site. For every dollar spent on hand analysis, users earn a dollar in chips that can be used in ring games and poker tournaments, where users can win real-value prizes.
That move came amid intense scrutiny on sweeps in the U.S. Several states have signed bans on dual-currency gaming into effect already this year (including Montana and New Jersey, where ClubWPT Gold has gone dark), and similar approved bills in California and New York are awaiting the respective governors’ signatures.
ClubWPT Gold would fill Global Poker gap
Should ClubWPT Gold launch sweeps-style poker in Canada this fall, as teased, it would step right into the shoes left empty by Global Poker, the VGW-owned brand that is in the process of shutting down its Canadian operations to focus on the U.S.
VGW told Canadian Gaming Business late last month that it is phasing out Canadian operations of its Global Poker and Chumba Casino platforms starting Aug. 28 and will completely withdraw from Canada by Oct. 23. Global Poker previously accepted players from across Canada except Québec.
