Online poker players in U.S. consider relocating to Canada to continue careers

MONTREAL, Canada -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- Canadian-poker.ca reports that as a result of “Black Friday,” poker players in the United States are thinking about moving to Canada to keep earning a living. Canadian poker super star Daniel Negreanu is one of them; he’s considering splitting his time between his current residence in Las Vegas and his old hometown of Toronto to play online poker legally.

As a Canadian, Negreanu has the luxury of choosing which jurisdiction to live in, an option many pro poker players in the U.S. lack. As a result, an estimated 50,000 Americans who make a living playing online poker have been unemployed since three major sites were shut down in April. In addition, $400 million belonging to American poker players is tied up in red tape while these sites work with authorities.

Meanwhile, Canadian players can access online poker as usual, including Full Tilt Poker and Ultimate Bet. The only dilemma players face is whether to continue playing online poker at the sites under American investigation. Some players in Canada are looking for alternatives that provide more stability and pristine reputations like 888 Poker, which is operated by a public company that withdrew from the U.S. in 2006 in accordance with the law, ensuring that it’s here to stay.

If such a high-profile online poker pro like Negreanu follows through with relocation plans, even if only on a part-time basis, he may inspire other poker pros to follow in his footsteps. This could see Canadian players returning home if they’ve been abroad, or a flood of new poker talent.

Canada could stand to benefit from such attention and move into the spotlight of the poker industry. More interest translates into more revenue for Canada and more opportunities for Canadian poker fans – a definite win-win situation.