PokerStars parent The Stars Group announced Friday that it is investing $9 million to provide tournament packages in the inaugural $25,000 buy-in Pokerstars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship.
The event will be the culmination of all PokerStars online and live promotions and player rewards throughout 2018. The year-long journey to the tournament, which will take place in the Bahamas January 6-10, 2019, will see PokerStars give away an estimated $8 million worth of free tournament packages and contribute an additional $1 million to the prize pool generated by entrants for first prize.
The online poker provider says it intends to make the tournament the richest-ever $25,000 live event in poker history, and it expects the event to bring the poker world together in celebration of the game while providing a one-of-a-kind immersive live poker experience and the chance for players of all skill levels to win millions of dollars.
“We expect the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship will set the new global standard for live poker tournaments,” said TSG chief executive Rafi Ashkenazi.
“We want to demonstrate and reinforce our commitment to the game, and give something back to the players by investing in our live events in a meaningful way. Our objective is to create an event that brings professionals and amateurs together, creating many winning moments and unforgettable stories.”
Throughout 2018, PokerStars will give away more than 300 tournament packages, known as Platinum Passes, on PokerStars live tours around the world, and online in tournaments, cash games, promotions, and via the Stars Rewards loyalty program.
Each Platinum Pass is expected to be worth around $30,000 and includes the $25,000 tournament buy-in, accommodation at the Atlantis Hotel and Casino Resort in the Bahamas, and $2,000 in cash towards travel costs. Like most poker tournaments, players can also buy in directly for $25,000. Tournament participants can also expect potential additional rewards, surprises and experiences.
Following on from the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) earlier this year, PokerStars has also announced Friday the refocus of certain of its live tour brands, including the European Poker Tour (EPT), Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT), and Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT).
At least one Platinum Pass will be given away at each EPT, LAPT and APPT stop, as well as at each PokerStars Festival and PokerStars Megstack event.