skacle

Hey all,

New poster here! I used to be very plugged into the toronto poker scene but after a few too many
Close calls (w robbers) I said casinos only.But now I just want to play w/o having to make a day
Of it.

Does anyone know any good (safe) clubs in the gta? Please provide the major intersections, games
Spead and the contact info for the host.

Thanks!

djgolfcan

Ya, 'cause robbers wouldn't check a poker forum for a listing of underground games, and neither would the police.

PM is the best route and most clubs (for security reasons) need to have you referred by someone.

ReefAquarium

Welcome to the forum!!!

What happened with the robbers?

__________________
Not smarter than a grade 5 or Kristy Sea

pokerJAH

see various meetup groups on this website. Most do not charge any rake or minimal. Lots of cash games/tournaments to choose from. VIP Poker, Orangeville, York Region, etc.

__________________
Vegas June 15 -19

skacle

Thanks for the welcome!

Well when I said close call... It was more like I got robbed at gunpoint. They got the whole club.

I can laugh about it now but it was scary at the time.

And yes I know robbers are cabable of using the internet. So PM away plz.

pokerJAH

Cops don't care about clubs anymore.

__________________
Vegas June 15 -19

altruist

where were you robbed?

Scotty12

I wouldnt trust any poker 'clubs' in the GTA with my own $ and I would recommend the same to others. This goes double if they rake. There have been many horror stories over the years and there is pretty limited upside compared to the risk

I would imagine it only takes a couple complaints to change this.

Milo

Please PM location of a rake-free "club".

__________________
I don't gamble . . . but I will bet.

pokerJAH

You really have to be selective with the clubs you play at. Two of the clubs I have played at in the past have got robbed at gun point. It typically happens late in the morning when there are not a lot of players/dealers around (and more cash). I was never there during the robberies as I usually leave fairly early.

Some clubs are smart and they have people come by throughout the night to pick up the cash (kind of like a Brinks service for underground clubs).

__________________
Vegas June 15 -19

Scotty12

In my head that said 'rake ridiculously' , but it appears I hit 'submit' and my post didnt get that far haha. Obviously clubs need to cover rent/staff etc but at the end of the day almost no players have a positive expectation with the enormouse amounts of money being taken out of each pot ... Its no coincidence that many of the clubs are staffed by and populated with criminals/shady people and thats why I have chosen to stay away.

blackmagicz

I guess I am one who goes rake vs pot size. I mean yes private clubs do rake more and they have overhead to cover. You are treated really well, food, smokes, alcohol (if you need any of those while you play) are covered.

The average pot size for a fully raked pot at a 5/5 game in the underground is usually 500-1K and they have "action" players.

I have never really complained too much about the rake for the 10 years I have been playing underground as I usually consider it a convenience cost. Now obviously if you are playing online at home there is no comparison.

As for the characters that run these locations, once again you learn which ones to goto and which ones to stay away from. But all in all I have been to about 25 clubs in the GTA over the years and maybe was worried about my safety 1 or 2 times but I was also playing in a bad part of town.

For the most part any game I have been to have been run by friendly owners and the players although rude at times, are upset about the game and not upset with you.

Once you know one club you know the rest of them

pokerJAH

Thought this would be fun to count...I'm up to 31 (and counting) in the last five years. Although I count multiple locations for the same club, and exclude home games (rake free). Anyone else come close?

__________________
Vegas June 15 -19