Season 12 WSOP Circuit Schedule Released; Canada Absent Again

The World Series of Poker Circuit is entering Season 12 and there are some major changes in store for the new season, including a shift to a global scale. Unfortunately, that does not include a return to Canada.

This year, instead of a season-ending National Championship, the event will become the Global Casino Championship to bring the international competitors under the name. Also, all Season 12 WSOP Circuit ring winners will be invited to participate.

The WSOP released the Season 12 schedule on Thursday, and on it are an estimated 25 stops — 19 in the United States and six abroad — with buy-ins ranging from $365 to $1,675 (equivalent price range internationally).

For those who don't travel to Las Vegas for the annual WSOP, the WSOP Circuit brings the WSOP experience to you. Well, not you, because you're likely Canadian if you're reading this, but to American players and a select few international locations.

“We know not everyone can make it out to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker, and this is our way of bringing the flavor and feel of the WSOP to regional markets,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. “The WSOP Circuit continues to be a great success, both at getting new players to the game and creating tomorrow’s stars and we’re excited to kick off the twelfth season August 6.”

It has been a couple of years since the WSOP Circuit was in Canada. They first crossed the border for a stop in Richmond, B.C. at River Rock Casino Resort in 2012. The event was well-received and the following season saw two Canadian events on the schedule — one back at River Rock and a new one at Lac-Leamy Casino in Gatineau, Quebec.

Then, with Canadian growth seeming to be in WSOP Circuit's future, suddenly there were no Canadian events on the schedule the following year. We spoke to Seth Palansky from Caesars Entertainment at the time, and he explained that the absence was "just scheduling conflicts, other events at facilities we needed to use, etc.," and stated, "we will be back in Canada, if not adding a stop this season, perhaps by next year."

No stop was added last year and the new season has nothing on our side of the border either. This may be due to a lack of suitable venues, as properties like River Rock Casino Resort are actively reducing their poker operations. River Rock was once the host of the immensely popular B.C. Poker Championships prior to their adopting the WSOP Circuit in it's place. When there was no WSOP Circuit event planned for the casino in 2014, locals were hopeful the B.C. Poker Championships would return, but with their poker room shrinking, the popular event was dropped as well.

You'll see below that there are two international events that have still yet to be announced, which leaves a glimmer of hope that one or both of them might be in Canada.

Here's a look at what's in store for Season 12 of the WSOP Circuit:

2015-16 WSOP Circuit Domestic Tour Schedule

Like the domestic circuit, the international track will feature two qualifiers per stop for the WSOP Global Casino Championship.

2015-16 WSOP Circuit International Tour Schedule

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