Game of Gold: Poker All-Stars Scores Strong Canadian TV Debut, Crowns Maria Ho Champion
TORONTO, Feb. 10, 2026 – GGPoker, the world's largest online poker room, has successfully expanded the reach of its Game of Gold: Poker All-Stars reality series with a strong Canadian broadcast television debut. Originally released on YouTube, the series made its primetime television appearance last fall, capturing significant national viewership and marking a new chapter for poker entertainment in Canada.
Reality TV Meets High-Stakes Poker
Game of Gold represents a groundbreaking approach to poker programming, transforming the traditional card game into a dynamic reality competition. The 13-episode series features 16 elite international poker players divided into teams, competing in various poker formats ranging from classic tournaments to unconventional games like Indian poker.
The show masterfully blends high-stakes gameplay with team-based strategy, personality dynamics, and elimination-style drama. Viewers gain unprecedented access to the professional competitors' mindsets and interactions as teams watch games together behind the scenes, revealing how each player navigates both strong hands and complex team dynamics.
Maria Ho's Championship Victory
During the season finale, internationally renowned poker professional Maria Ho emerged as champion, securing a prize of $456,000 USD (approximately $588,000 CAD). Her victory is particularly significant as she triumphed over notable international poker all-stars, including Canadian players Daniel Negreanu and Kevin Martin.
"I play to win, and my track record shows that, but competing in Game of Gold adds a whole new level of complexity to consider when you not only have to play for yourself, but also for your team," Ho explained. "To succeed, I had to stay disciplined, focused and mentally tough, even when going up against some of the biggest personalities of the poker world."
Ho's performance demonstrated that strategic mastery, psychological discipline, and adaptability remain crucial for success at poker's highest competitive levels. Her win also represents a meaningful moment for gender representation in a traditionally male-dominated sport, showcasing how competitive excellence transcends gender boundaries.
Expanding Poker's Cultural Reach
GGPoker's initiative reflects a broader mission to revitalize poker's appeal and showcase it as a social, skill-based form of entertainment to wider audiences. Sarne Lightman, Managing Director of GGPoker, emphasized this vision: "GGPoker is on an ongoing mission to bring fun back into the game of poker and find angles to showcase poker as a social, skill-based and internationally popular form of entertainment to a broader audience."
"The continued popularity of reality TV gave us an opportunity to demonstrate that poker is more than just a game," Lightman continued. "It allows us to see into the minds and personalities behind poker masters when they are forced to interact and play together."
The successful Canadian broadcast debut demonstrates how poker can evolve beyond traditional formats, reaching new audiences through compelling storytelling, personality-driven competition, and high-production reality television. This innovative approach helps reshape perceptions of poker while expanding its cultural footprint in the entertainment landscape.
