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When Black Friday hit on April 15, 2011, Kristin Wilson sprang into action, using her unique skill set to start helping online poker pros in the US relocate to countries more hospitable to poker, like Canada and Costa Rica. Several years later, she is still at it, having relocated thousands of players. Her company Poker. Q&A with an American expat who moved to Mexico to play online poker after Black Friday – focusing on two popular destinations for poker players, Playa Del Carmen (above) & Rosarito. Online Poker in Mexico – Why move to Mexico? Well you will have obviously access to sites like PokerStars that are currently blocked in the US. There’s also.

We interviewed Dubnjoy000 on PokerStars for advice on moving to Canada to play poker. He writes a popular TwoPlusTwo blog on grinding in the Yukon and around the world under the same name.

Online Poker in Canada

– Could you tell us a little about your poker history?

I play low stakes, mainly 1-2 and 2-5 live and some tournament events, 2k buy-ins. Online I grind 50-100nl 6max speed games on PokerStars and PartyPoker, and some midstakes MTTs.

Traveling has been an integral part of my life since the age of 19, so 2 decades. I had the pleasure of both playing poker in Canada and internationally (mainly Vegas, Florida, Paris, Cambodia and the Philippines).

– Is online poker legal in Canada?

Everything poker wise is legal. Even provincial governments have opened some poker sites, e.g. Espacejeux in Quebec and PlayNow in British Colombia.

– Any problems accessing poker sites in Canada?

No problems. iPoker did close most of its doors to Canadians, and there was some rumors of Loto Quebec blocking out PokerStars legally after the Amaya purchase, but nothing ever came out of it.

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Canada remains a great choice for post Black Friday grinders, pretty much all the online poker sites are open.

– How do you deposit onto / cash out from poker sites in Canada?

Many options, but the I prefer to do bank transfers. They have no fees (except 888), are fast and convenient.

There are some Canadian banks that are more online gambling-friendly then others (notably CIBC). This will also prevent third party fees.

– Best times of day to play online poker in Canada?

If grinding on multiple sites and table selecting on each one, there are always enough good games running. That said, the ideal hours are afternoon (1-7pm) and the wee hours of the morning (1-6am).

– Do Canadians pay taxes on poker winnings?

As a foreigner, you will not have to. As a Canadian pro, yes.

In my case I last paid my taxes in 2012 and then applied for a non-residency status (which waives me from all taxes), as I spent the majority of the years ongoing in Asia.

The World Poker Tour visits Canada for WPT Montreal and the Canadian Spring Championship

Internet & Banking

– How is internet speed in Canada?

Good for the vast majority of the country (especially urban areas).

That said I have had the unfortunate experience of having to quit my online sessions on rare occasions in northern Canada, due to speed fluctuating from 0.1Mbs – 0.6Mbs. I wouldn’t worry about that though.

– Options for mobile internet in Canada?

Rogers and Bell are the 2 main competitors.

– Any advice on opening a Canadian bank account / banking in general?

It seems to be an easy enough process for non-Canadians.

That said, if you were to move to Canada to play poker, I would try opening beforehand an account in an international bank that has a branch in Vancouver (HSBC, for instance).

Kevin ‘WizardOfAhhs’ Thurman made a number of video blogs after relocating to Canada for online poker

Moving to Canada

– What to say to border agents if you’re moving for poker? Be honest?

There are different testimonies on this issue, some people say honesty is the best bet. Personally, whenever I travel to a foreign country, I present myself as being a chef (my previous trade).

I think that if you can get away with a small lie, then avoid the complications.

Nonetheless, it is not illegal to play poker for a living, so whenever I get pulled aside by Canadian customs, I do not lie about my livelihood.

– What’s needed to enter Canada? On forums some had no issues at all with just their passport, others e.g. Daniel Cates were refused entry.

A passport is all you need, especially coming from the USA.

But I guess it might depend on how long you plan on staying…

Poker in Vancouver

I snapped this pic dancing on the street in downtown Vancouver

– How would you rate the quality of life in Vancouver, things to do, safety etc.?

As far as North American cities go, Vancouver has a great quality of life, especially when pertaining to safety, cleanliness and cultural diversity.

While your budget will influence somewhat the extent of your entertainment, there is an ample selection of outdoor activities (the Rocky Mountains and the coast are close by), nightlife or art events (movie festivals, music scene etc.) to choose from.

Furthermore, the mayor of Vancouver plans on having the greenest city by 2020.

– What’s the cost of living in Vancouver?

The city can be very pricey, especially the downtown core area.

For your typical 20s-30s poker player planning on dipping into the social scene/nightlife, I would budget in the vicinity of 3-4k/month (all figures in CAD).

Edgewater Casino, Vancouver

– Any advice for rentals in Vancouver?

I would recommend Gastown and Commercial Drive area.

A shared room starts at $400/month for a student type of household, but expect 600-1200 CAD for a 1 bedroom apartment (depending on comfort level).

– How are the options for live poker in Vancouver?

There is a good selection of casinos in Vancouver like EdgeWater, River Rock, and many other venues extending out into the different suburbs.

The action can at times be nittier than one would like, yet you can still find good action games, especially during the tournament series.

– How large is the poker community in Vancouver? I understand a number of pros moved there, Brian Hastings and others.

The poker community in Vancouver is fairly big.

That said, I suspect that the majority of the highstakes online grinders (especially the big names like Galfond or Ben Tollerene) rarely – if ever – go to the local casinos, as even a game like 25-50-100 PLO (that runs during tournament series) would barely justify their presence from a win/rate perspective.

You do see the likes of Greg Mueller, Maria Ho, Jason Koon etc. show up for the tournaments/cash games.

Poker in the Yukon

The Yukon countryside in Winter

– What’s life like out in the Yukon?

The Yukon offers quite a unique experience: if you are looking for outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, hunting etc., you name it, and the Yukon will deliver!

For anyone that wants a break from the mayhem of civilization, this remains one of the last frontiers where a 19th century way of living is not rare nor frowned upon.

– What would someone’s living costs out in the Yukon be?

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This really depends on your lifestyle of choice: you could live like the famous Caveman Bill, and spend little to no money – he was featured in the news here.

But I comfortably live off 2k/month, which includes eating out everyday.

– Tips for finding a place to stay in the Yukon?

If you were to spend a summer grinding the live games in Dawson City, you could try camping out in a van at a minimal cost, rent a log cabin or a room at about $600/month.

Winter would be a different story all together, as you would have to immerse yourself into a completely different lifestyle in one of the coldest and darkest places in the world (casino is only opened on weekends in the wintertime).

Poutine, perfect poker food, probably worth leaving the US for

– Much live poker in the Yukon?

The sole Yukon casino is located in Dawson City, in a small town of 1500 habitants. We are therefore lucky to even have 3 poker tables, let alone a casino.

Nevertheless, there are lots of resources (mainly gold) and money in the Yukon, so the action is definitely not lacking at the tables.

– Lastly, how about the poker community in the Yukon?

A few hundred souls. We all know each other up in northern Canada, and even the Alaskans or our neighbors from the Northwest Territories remain familiar faces.

Brad Booth has been the most notable one to rise to fame (even though he is originally from Vancouver…). Both places have a rake capped at $5 (like the USA, yet 25% cheaper because of the exchange rate).

– Anything else you’d like to mention in general on relocating to Canada for poker?

If I was strictly going to play online poker (and the WPT), I would also recommend Montreal, which is a vibrant city with a very intriguing cultural life and cheaper apartment rentals ($500 will get you a comfortable bachelor pad, more basic rooms start at $300).

If live poker is equally important then Vancouver would be my suggestion as the rake in Montreal is higher.

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Last week marked the six-month anniversary of Black Friday. A lot has changed in the industry in that relatively short time, not least of all the mass exodus of former online poker pros. Over the past couple of months, we’ve taken a look at some of the more popular destinations that have attracted players, including Malta, London, Tijuana, and Vancouver.

This week, we travel across the “Great White North” to Ontario, where we turn our gaze toward Canada’s financial center and popular choice for online players, Toronto. Home to perhaps the most popular poker player in the world, Daniel Negreanu, the city appeals to online players in the northern United States, such as Michigan and New York. In fact, two players from those very states have already moved to Toronto: Jordon Young and Nick Mitchell, who actually opted to room together.

If you’re looking for a new place to set up shop and play online, we’ll tell you why Toronto is an excellent option. In addition, we spoke with Mitchell, who was kind enough to shed some light on his big move to Canada.

Quick Overview

• Population as of 2006: 2,503,281
• Time Zone: EST (UTC-5)
• Area: 243.2 sq mi
• Incorporated: March 6, 1834 (as Toronto)
• Weather: 23 °C (73 °F) to 31 °C (88 °F) in the summer;
• Language: English
• Currency: Canadian dollar
• Website: www.toronto.ca

Why Toronto?

Move To Canada To Play Online Poker In Florida

Mitchell hit the nail on the head when he gave his reason: “Well, I'm originally from Rochester, New York, so Toronto is just about a three-and-a-half hour drive from my parents’ home, and I wanted to be close to them.” Indeed, Toronto’s proximity to the East Coast and northern states seems to be what appeals to U.S. players the most. In essence, it is the Vancouver of the east, and if you read our Packing Up to Play piece on that city, you already know that players love the city and the convenience of being close to home.

However, location is not everything. “The language and the culture isn't that much different from in the U.S.,” Mitchell adds. While language constraints might prohibit one from relocating to places like Mexico or South America, English is prevalent in Canada (there is a lot of French in Quebec), and especially in Toronto. Likewise, the culture is pretty much the same as that in the U.S., which includes everything from day-to-day living, to the nightlife.

Finding a Place to Stay

Throughout our “Packing Up to Play” series, we have explored many different options for those looking for a place to stay. They included visiting the city and simply walking around, scouring the Internet for rental agencies, exploring online forums, and even rooming with friends.

The latter is exactly what Mitchell did, and he wasn’t shy to admit that the living situation pretty much took care of itself, or should we say, someone took care of it for him: “My roommate, Jordan Young, did all the work. He just used a few websites he found on Google, I think.” While you might not have a patsy to do all the dirty work of finding a place, you should be able to find plenty of options by following Young’s example and logging onto the Web.

Visa Issues

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As we mentioned in our piece on Vancouver, if you’re from the United States and just looking to visit a Canadian city, you do not need a visa, and you can stay up to six months out of the year without one. Realistically, most of the players who have moved to Canada are more than willing to take advantage of this, since they are not moving there full time.

Mitchell is part of this camp. “We found a house with a six month lease because if we wanted to stay for longer, we would need to get a visa,” he explained. “I believe the law is 180 days of a 365 day cycle you are allowed to be in Canada without one.”

Now, if you’re looking to move to Canada permanently, then things can get a bit more complicated, but you can learn all about that on the Citizen and Immigration Canada website.

Regardless if you’re going there for six months or for good, you still need to do your homework. For instance, you’ll need to know that you’ll be required to have a passport, satisfy immigration (what is your reason for visiting Canada?), have enough money for your stay, and proper travel documents.

Beware!

Like any city in the world, Toronto presents some challenges and dangers, though Mitchell suggests you think about getting across the Canadian border first before you start thinking of Toronto:

“I know some people have had hard times getting through the boarder,” Mitchell said. “They seem to be pretty thorough with their questioning, so if you come off a bit nervous and if they just don't believe what you're saying is true, you may have trouble getting in.”

When you’re actually in Toronto, you’ll likely notice homelessness in some areas, a problem that has progressed over the last decade. Furthermore, the winter months can be harsh, especially for someone not used to snow. Finally, you may want to heed the warning of one user on VirtualTourist.com:

“Queen's Park is small and does have some lighting, but it can be a bit seedy after dark. No, its not quite what your thinking — men are more likely to be harassed than are women, although rapes/assaults in the park are quite rare. Nonetheless, it may be slightly upsetting to pass beside semi-nude men pleasuring themselves in the park at night, so its advisable not to cut through it after midnight.”

Of course, all of these issues are relatively minor compared to many other cities across the world. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find a more well-rounded and safe city than Toronto.

How's the Internet?

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We already said that Toronto is pretty much like any U.S. city, which implies Internet access and reliability is on par with what online poker players have come to expect. “Yeah, the Internet is comparable to the US for sure,” Mitchell said, adding that there are plenty of providers to choose from.

Re-establishing Your PokerStars Account

If you’re a U.S. player and relocate to play online poker on PokerStars, you’ll need to reestablish your account by showing that you have relocated. All the players who’ve went through this process claim it wasn’t much of a problem, including Mitchell, though he offers a suggestion for PokerStars support:

“Fairly easy. Just need to set up a bank account and a utility bill,” he explains. “One thing I'd say though is that PokerStars really needs some sort of telephone number or something though because the email exchanges back and forth between different time zones make the process much, much more frustrating and dragged out than it should be. But overall it wasn't hard. A bank account was very easy to get.”

If you’re serious about moving, be sure to visit PokerStars and contact their support to learn all the details of reestablishing you account.

Sites to See and Places to Go

“There are lots of concerts, festivals, etc., so I'm looking forward to checking out some of those in the near future,” Mitchell explained. Sure enough, there are plenty of options to choose from if you decide you want to go out and about.

When it comes to tourist attractions, there are really two that stand out in Toronto. The first is the Eaton Center, a massive, four-level shopping mall with over 250 stores. The domed Eaton Centre appeals to shopaholics of all sorts, but don’t forget to check out Flight Stop, a huge Canadian goose mobile designed by artist Michael Snow.

The second thing you’ll probably want to do is check out the CN Tower, which dominates the Toronto skyline. The 1,815-foot tower attracts millions of tourists each year, each making the 1,122 foot ascent to the observation deck. While the CN Tower is no longer the tallest freestanding structure in the world, it is still popular with Toronto tourists.

GoCanada.com has put together a list of the 'Top 10 Toronto Tourist Attractions and Highlights,' that you might find helpful:

• The Eaton Center
• The CN Tower
• Casa Loma
• Royal Ontario Museum
• Centre Island
• The Distillery District
• Yorkville
• Hockey Hall of Fame
• Art Gallery of Ontario
• Chinatown

Nightlife

“I haven’t really experienced it much yet but it appears to be great,” Mitchell admits. We’ve taken the liberty of researching some of the most popular party spots in Toronto, information we hope both you and Mitchell find handy. Here is a list of the Top Nine Nightlife Spots in Toronto according to 10best.com (We’re not quite sure why they didn’t live up to their namesake and list the top ten):

• Second City
• Roof Lounge
• Academy of Spherical Arts
• Beerbistro
• Charlotte Room
• Crush Wine Bar
• Sky Yard
• Smokeless Joe’s
• Sweaty Betty’s

Move To Canada To Play Online Poker In New York

On the other hand, the site did list the Top 10 Bars/Clubs in Toronto:

• Annex Wreck Room
• C’est What
• Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar
• Roof Lounge
• Byzantium
• Horseshoe Tavern
• Academy of Spherical Arts
• Guvernment/Kool Haus Entertainment Complex
• Trane Studio
• Devil’s Martini

Hockey Hall of Fame

If you're a fan of hockey, then Toronto is the perfect place for you since it's home to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

'Home of the Stanley Cup and the best of hockey, you can DO IT ALL...AT THE HALL. Guests can take shots at real-time goalies; stop the shots of Gretzky and Messier; call the play-by-play of some of hockey's greatest goals; view hockey flicks in one of our two theaters; get up close and personal with the Stanley Cup; explore the largest collection of hockey memorabilia in the world — all of this plus so much more!'

Interestingly, no sport has done more alongside poker for charitable causes than hockey. This was evidenced in September when both former and current NHL stars joined forced with poker pros at the Playground Poker Club’s “NHL Faceoff” event, which helped raise more than $50,000 for charity.

Simply put, if you're in Toronto, do yourself a favor and check out the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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_{Photo courtesy of TorontoHotelSearch.com}

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