PokerStars to Hold First-Ever Live US Tournament in April
PokerStars has officially announced its first-ever live poker tournament in the US, scheduled to take place at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia from April 21 to April 27. This marks a significant milestone for the globally recognized poker brand as it launches the PokerStars Open series in North America.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The event will offer both professional and amateur players an opportunity to compete in a high-profile live setting, with multiple events planned across the week-long schedule. Players in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and Ontario will have the opportunity to qualify for the PokerStars Open Philadelphia by participating in online satellite tournaments.
Related: PokerStars Set New Record for Largest Female EventThese satellite qualifiers began on Wednesday, March 26, and are designed to make the tournament accessible, with buy-ins starting as low as $10. This online-to-live transition is expected to draw players from across the region, fostering strong competition and offering significant prize pools for successful entrants.
Live! Casino Philadelphia, located in the South Philadelphia Stadium District, will serve as the host venue. Anne Tran, the Director of Poker at the casino, expressed pride in hosting the inaugural PokerStars Open event of the year.
According to Tran, the poker room and staff are fully prepared to welcome players from various jurisdictions, aiming to deliver a memorable experience during the highly anticipated series. The casino's facilities, combined with PokerStars' international reputation, are expected to create a premier environment for live tournament poker.
Steve Priess, VP of PokerStars North America, emphasized that Philadelphia is a fitting location for the launch of the PokerStars Open. He noted the city's strong competitive spirit and deep cultural connection to perseverance and strategy.
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Multiple Events and Guarantees
The PokerStars Open Philadelphia will feature a slate of events throughout the week. The Main Event, scheduled from April 23 to April 27, comes with a $1,100 buy-in and a guaranteed prize pool of $500,000.
Preceding the Main Event is a $2,200 High Roller tournament on April 22 and 23. Additional events include the $400 PokerStars Cup on April 27 with a $40,000 guarantee, a $300 Women's Event on April 24 offering a $10,000 prize pool, and the $300 NHL Bounty on April 23. The NHL Bounty does not have a guaranteed prize pool but includes the unique opportunity to win bounty prizes by eliminating PokerStars Team Pros from the event.
In a broader development for online poker in the US, PokerStars is also preparing for expanded player pooling across state lines. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) confirmed earlier this month that the state anticipates joining the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) in April 2025.
This agreement would enable shared liquidity between states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey, allowing operators like PokerStars to offer larger online tournaments with increased prize pools and more competitive fields. The PGCB initially accepted the invitation to join the MSIGA in January and indicated an early second-quarter launch timeline, which aligns with the anticipated rollout date.
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