Toronto High-Stakes Poker Player Daniel Kwon Charged With Sexual Assault, Drug Trafficking

• Toronto police charged poker player Daniel Kwon after investigation
• Charges include sexual assault with choking, confinement, and trafficking counts
• Kwon is known as “Action Dan” from high-stakes livestream cash games.

Toronto police have charged a 39-year-old “professional poker player” with sexual assault and multiple drug-related offenses after an investigation into an alleged incident in the city’s entertainment district.

Daniel Kwon of Toronto was arrested and faces charges including forcible confinement, sexual assault, and sexual assault with choking, according to a Toronto Police Service news release. Police also charged him with three counts of possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a Schedule III substance for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of proceeds of crime over $5,000.

Additional Victims?

The investigation began after officers responded to a report of a sexual assault on January 15 in the area of Wellington Street West and Simcoe Street in the city, police said. Investigators allege the victim met Kwon at an event he hosted and that he sexually assaulted the victim.

Police executed a search warrant at a Toronto residence on January 19, then arrested Kwon, the release said. He was scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on January 19, according to police.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims and have released an image of the accused, urging anyone with information to contact police.

‘Action Dan’

Kwon is known in poker circles by the nickname “Action Dan,” and he has appeared in high-stakes, livestreamed cash games that are widely followed online.

Highroll Poker, which tracks results from televised and streamed cash-game broadcasts, describes Kwon as a Toronto-based entrepreneur and poker player who has played on shows such as Hustler Casino Live, Bally Live Poker, and Poker at The Lodge.

PokerNews reported that Kwon drew attention after playing in Hustler Casino Live’s “Million Dollar Game” in May 2024, an event built around seven-figure buy-ins. The outlet said he lost big – $404K in one session and $1,004,000 in a second session for a combined loss of $1.408 million.

Police haven’t released further details about the alleged assault, and court records detailing the allegations were not included in the police news release.

Toronto police asked anyone with information to contact investigators or Crime Stoppers anonymously.