How to read this page: Room hours, games and waitlist methods below come from current venue/operator pages. A published game is not a promise that a table is running right now. Methodology · Sources
Last checked: September 7, 2026. Use this as a shortlist, then verify the live list.
Published cash-game starting points
| Room | Lowest clearly published Hold'em | Other useful published options | Best reason to check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Canadian Toronto | $1/$3 NL | $2/$5, $5/$10, $10/$20 NL; PLO/Omaha | Broadest Toronto menu |
| Pickering | $1/$3 NL | $2/$5, $5/$10, $10/$20 NL; $25/$50 by request; Omaha | Cash + tournaments |
| Mohawk | $1/$3 NL | $2/$3 and $3/$5 match-the-stack; $2/$5 NL | West GTA + clear buy-ins |
| Brantford | $4/$8 Limit | $10/$20, $20/$40 Limit; NL/higher-limit menu | Limit poker / regional option |
| Casino Niagara | $1/$2 NL starts | Other Hold'em/Omaha formats on demand | Niagara + tournaments |
Blind size is not your real cost
A $1/$3 game can still require a much larger practical bankroll than the blind numbers suggest. Compare the room's minimum/maximum buy-in, rake, travel cost and the amount you are actually comfortable losing in one session.
Turn the stake into a real session decision
The right stake is the one that fits both your budget and the game that is actually running—not the largest blind level you can technically afford once.
| Question | Use this page or tool |
|---|---|
| What does $1/$3 or $2/$5 mean? | Use the published matrix below, then read the Toronto cash-game guide. |
| How much should I bring? | Use the buy-in calculator and check the room’s current minimum/maximum buy-in. |
| What does the room take from the pot? | Read the rake guide and verify the venue’s current rules. |
| Is that game running tonight? | Check the live list or waitlist; a published stake is not a guarantee of a seated game. |
What changes the decision?
- Want Omaha? Check Toronto or Pickering first.
- Want match-the-stack? Mohawk publishes those structures.
- Want limit Hold'em? Brantford publishes a clear limit menu.
- Want a tournament too? Pickering and Casino Niagara publish active tournament programs.
Same-day rule: a listed stake means the room supports or advertises it. It does not mean that table is running when you arrive.