Pickering first
Pickering Casino Resort is the verified east-GTA poker room, and for most Markham players it's the natural first check. Here's what it publishes:
- Poker 24/7
- No-Limit Hold'em from $1/$3 through $10/$20
- $25/$50 by request
- Omaha
- Recurring weekly tournaments
That covers almost every kind of player, from someone buying in for $300 at $1/$3 to a regular looking for a bigger game.
When Great Canadian Toronto is the better call
Great Canadian Toronto also runs 24/7, so hours don't separate these two rooms. What does:
- Omaha variety. Toronto publishes multiple Omaha and PLO formats. If you're after a specific PLO game and Pickering's list doesn't show it, Toronto is the next look.
- Where you're already headed. If your evening is already moving west or toward Pearson, Toronto can make more sense than doubling back east.
- What's running. If the stake you want isn't on Pickering's list tonight, Toronto's might have it.
Quick picker
| Your priority | Start here |
|---|---|
| East-GTA convenience | Pickering |
| A weekly tournament | Pickering's weekly tournaments |
| The broadest published PLO menu | Great Canadian Toronto |
| A specific table tonight | The live list. No static page can answer that. |
Cash player or tournament player?
These are two different trips, and they can point you to different rooms.
If you want a cash game
Start with the room comparison and the live lists. Say you want $2/$5. Both rooms publish it, so the question is which one actually has a table going and how long the wait is. Our waitlist guide covers how lists work and when to call ahead.
If you want a tournament
Start with the tournament calendar. Pickering runs recurring weekly events, but schedules, buy-ins and registration windows change. Confirm the exact date with the venue before you go. The tournament cost calculator helps you see the real cost once re-entries are in the picture.
Timing your trip from Markham
Both rooms are open around the clock, which gives you a luxury west-GTA players don't have: you can skip rush hour. Leaving at 8 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. often means less time in the car and a fuller list when you arrive, since evening is when many cash games fill up.
Late sessions are an option at either room, but decide your stop time before you sit down. A 3 a.m. drive home after a long session is where bad decisions happen, at the table and on the road.
We don't mark a game as live unless a live source supports it. Published data narrows the field; the live list and current traffic make the final call.
Markham poker questions
What is the closest poker room to Markham?
Pickering Casino Resort is the natural east-GTA room to check from Markham. Great Canadian Toronto is the cross-city alternative, and both publish 24/7 poker.
Can I play PLO near Markham?
Pickering publishes Omaha, and Great Canadian Toronto publishes multiple Omaha and PLO formats. Check each room's live list to see what's running.
Are there poker tournaments near Markham?
Pickering Casino Resort runs recurring weekly tournaments. Confirm the date, buy-in and registration rules with the venue before you travel.
By the TorontoPoker.org editorial team · Updated September 2026 · 19+ · Play responsibly