WSOP Circuit thrives at Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto once again played host to the World Series of Poker Circuit Event in partnership with GGPoker and this year’s event shattered expectations, setting new records across the board. Great Canadian Toronto is the only destination in Ontario for hosting World Series of Poker tournaments including prestigious ring and bracelet events.

Running from 10-22 April 2025, the event saw 8,203 total entries across 11 WSOP Circuit Ring Events, marking a 35.9% increase from 2024. The total prize pool soared to an astonishing $7.56 million, up 35.4% year-over-year, as 3,150 unique players brought energy and excitement to Toronto’s premier casino resort. 11 WSOP rings were awarded at the event.

This year, Great Canadian Rewards members had exclusive access to purchase tickets online – a new offering for 2025 – resulting in 2,123 entries registered through the online platform. Last year, online registration was not available.

A highlight of the series was the prestigious $2,000 Main Event, which drew an incredible 2,139 entries and generated a record-setting $3.74 million prize pool, up from $2.8 million last year. With 413 Main Event online qualifiers from GGPoker (another sharp increase from 2024) the buzz around this year’s WSOP Circuit was palpable.

In a storybook moment, Pengxiang Ruan, a Great Canadian Rewards member and restaurant worker from Thornhill, Ontario captured the Main Event title and a life-changing $510,245 first-place prize. A passionate poker player for 10 years, Ruan plans to use his winnings to fulfill a lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant.

“This event proves once again that Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is the home for world-class poker in Canada,” said Michael Kim, Executive Vice President, Great Canadian Entertainment. “The record-breaking turnout, amazing competition, and incredible stories like Pengxiang Ruan’s are exactly what make the WSOP Circuit such a special experience. We are proud to exclusively bring the magic of the WSOP to Toronto and look forward to building on this incredible momentum.”

The various tournament events included the $3,500 High Roller Event which attracted 291 entries and built a prize pool of $906,465, and the $1,000 No Limit Hold’em drew a total of 847 entries, with a prize pool of $719,950. New events this year included the Ladies, Seniors, and Mystery Bounty, generating prize pools of $59,280, $172,800, and $585,420, respectively.

Great Canadian Rewards members enjoy exclusive perks, enhancing their loyalty experience at Toronto’s premier entertainment destination, and across all Great Canadian properties in Ontario. Great Canadian Rewards membership is free.