This isn’t your dad’s basement card game. It’s anyone’s game. Poker is entering a new era in Canada, and at the forefront of that evolution is GGPoker’s Game of Gold, a unique series that reimagines poker as an inclusive competition that blends poker tournament play with reality TV.
Oh, and did we mention the first-ever winner was a woman? In a game traditionally dominated by men, that’s a pretty big deal, pointing to a change in the future of poker.
Poker meets reality TV
Game of Gold combines the high-stakes gameplay and team-based strategy inherent to poker with the personality dynamics and elimination-style drama found at the pinnacle of your favourite unscripted TV shows.
The result? 16 elite international players competing in a variety of game formats across 13 episodes, giving viewers a look into the unique personalities and mindsets of these professional competitors.
Meet Maria
At the culmination of its first season, Game of Gold: Poker All-Stars crowned Maria Ho as the winner and awarded her a prize of $456,000 USD (that’s over $588,000 in CAD, FYI). It was an incredible moment for women in elite competitive poker!
“More than any single move, it was about mindset,” Maria explains to Daily Hive. “At the highest level, poker is as much about psychological control as it is about technical skill, and I leaned heavily on both throughout the show.”
Maria beat out some of the biggest names in the game worldwide, including Canadians Daniel Negreanu and Kevin Martin, proving that strategic mastery, mental discipline, and competitive excellence transcend gender when it comes to succeeding in traditionally male-dominated sports.
“There’s growing recognition that skill speaks for itself, and while there’s work to be done, each success helps focus the conversation on individual performance and away from gender.”
To young women aspiring to enter the world of poker, Maria says, “Believe you belong and have the confidence to take your seat at the table. Poker is evolving, and it’s becoming more visible as a social, strategic form of entertainment, so there’s more opportunity than ever to find your place in it.”
Where to watch
Game of Gold was originally on GGPoker’s YouTube channel before expanding its reach with a Canadian broadcast TV debut last fall, airing nationally on Sportsnet. This move allowed Canadians to watch poker like never before – on accessible, non-age-restricted television.
By introducing poker to a wider mainstream audience through storytelling, personality-driven competition, and high-production reality television, Game of Gold brings what was once an underground or online game to everyone. And why not? Everyone can find a way to excel at the game, regardless of age, gender, or background.
Ready to get in on the action? Whether you’re an experienced watcher, player, or complete novice, Game of Gold is sure to entertain and entice as you get immersed in the world of all-star poker. The complete season of Game of Gold: Poker All-Stars is available to stream now on GGPoker.tv.
And if you’re a poker fan interested in competing in season two, register for a GGPoker account and enable in-app notifications to receive casting updates and application details.
Kendall Bistretzan
Branded Content Writer
Kendall Bistretzan is a Calgary-based writer, reporter, and coffee enthusiast. In her spare time, she loves to read, have dinner with friends, and sing in her car. She is currently querying her debut fiction novel. You can find her on Instagram @kendallbistwrites.
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