Since 2016, PokerStars has expanded into Pennsylvania online poker as well as Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario. Live events from the company have been slim in the U.S. market, however. The last major in-person event was held at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City that same year.
A few Moneymaker Tour events have been held at casinos, but there hasn’t been another major PokerStars series since then. That looks to be changing, however, as this week the company announced an upcoming series playing out over three weekends at Live! Casino and Hotel in Philadelphia.
The inaugural PokerStars Summer Series kicks off Aug. 24 and runs through Sept. 10. The festival features an overall guarantee of $1 million, three entry levels, and online via satellites for Pennsylvania online casino players and those in other states where poker is legal and regulated.
“We are thrilled to welcome PokerStars to Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia and host the inaugural Summer Series,” Live! Philadelphia director of poker operations Anne Tran said. “With a guaranteed $1 million prize pool and three different buy-in levels, the Summer Series is sure to bring players in from all over the country and we look forward to hosting them at our world-class property.”
Schedule Preview And Online Qualifiers
Players will find several options. The weekend aspect of the series seems designed to appeal to recreational players who grab a seat online via the PokerStars PA bonus code. The qualifiers offer players a chance at a complete tournament package.
Here’s a look at some of the highlights from each weekend during the tournament:
- Weekend 1 (Aug. 24-27) – $550 buy-in, $200,000 guarantee
- Weekend 2 (Aug. 31 – Sept. 4) – $1,100 buy-in, $300,000 guarantee
- Weekend 3 (Sept. 7-10) – $2,200 buy-in, $500,000 guarantee
PokerStars launched a shared liquidity site between New Jersey and Michigan earlier this year and also operates a ringed-in market in Pennsylvania. Online grinders in any of those states can secure a Summer Series tournament package from the company that brought players the online PokerStars Summer Festival in Pennsylvania, running through July 31.
These tournament packages are valued at $1,700 and include:
- Tournament buy-in for the $550, $1,100, or $2,200 tournaments
- $700 toward expenses
- Hotel accommodations for winner and a guest in a five-star hotel
- Other unique experiences during the event
Six packages are up for grabs, but there will also be many qualifiers just awarding a seat without the extras running throughout August. Online satellites start at just $5 and here’s a look at the schedule for seat-only satellites:
- Aug. 1-21 – $550 tournament
- Aug. 7-28 – $1,100 tournament
- Aug. 14 – Sept. 7 – $2,200 tournament
USCOOP Qualifiers Part of Plan
During the Summer Series, players who like to use PA mobile casinos have some other opportunities as well. PokerStars will also run satellites for the upcoming U.S. Championship of Online Poker (US COOP), an offshoot of the company’s popular “COOP” brand of tournaments.
In 2022, US COOP awarded $4.5 million in prize money and six qualifiers will be available during the Summer Series in Philadelphia. The qualifiers will include 20 seats for the $300 Main Event seats and four spots in the $2,500 High Roller.
“I am super excited about PokerStars Summer Series in my hometown of Philadelphia,” PokerStars ambassador Jennifer Shahade said. “It's great to see that there are so many ways to (enter via stellite events) online at all buy-in levels and I look forward to meeting many of the qualifiers on the felt. See you in September.”
Players looking to sharpen their skills can use PA online casino promo codes, to warm up.
Complete Live Summer Series Schedule
Aug. 24 – 9 a.m., Turbo Satellite to $550 NLH, $80 buy-in; 11 a.m., $550 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1A, $550; 6 p.m., Turbo Satellite to $550 NLH, $80.
Aug. 25 – 9 a.m., Turbo Satellite to $550 NLH, $80; 11 a.m., $550 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1B, $550; 6 p.m., Turbo Satellite to $550 NLH, $80.
Aug. 26 – 9 a.m., Turbo Satellite to $550 NLH, $80; 11 a.m., $550 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1C, $550; 6 p.m., Satellite to US COOP Main Event, $80.
Aug. 27 – 11 a.m., $550 No-Limit Hold'em Final Table; noon, $330 NLH Turbo, $330; 6 p.m., Satellite to PokerStars USCOOP Main Event, $80.
Aug. 31 – 11 a.m., One and Done Satellites, $140.
Sept. 1– 9 a.m., Turbo Satellite to $1,100 NLH, $125; 11 a.m., $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1A, $1,100; 6 p.m., Turbo Satellite to $1,100 NLH, $125.
Sept. 2 – 9 a.m., Turbo Satellite to $1,100 NLH, $125; 11 a.m., $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1B, $1,100; 6 p.m., Turbo Satellite to $1,100 NLH, $125
Sept. 3 – 9 a.m., Turbo Satellite to $1,100 NLH, $125; 11 a.m., $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1C, $1,100; 6 p.m., Satellite to PokerStars US COOP Main Event, $80.
Sept. 4 – 11 a.m., $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em Final Table; noon, $330 NLH Turbo, $330; 6 p.m., Satellite to PokerStars US COOP Main Event, $80.
Sept. 7 – 9 a.m., Turbo Satellite to $2,200 NLH, $300; 11 a.m., One and Done Satellite, $300; 11 a.m., $2,200 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1A, $2,200; 6 p.m., Turbo Satellite to $2,200 NLH, $300.
Sept. 9 – 9 a.m., Turbo Satellite to $2,200 NLH, $300; 11 a.m., $2,200 No-Limit Hold'em Day 1B, $2,200; 6 p.m., Satellite to PokerStars US COOP High Roller, $300.
Sept. 10 – 11 a.m., $2,200 No-Limit Hold'em Final Table; noon, $330 NLH Turbo, $330; 6 p.m., Satellite to PokerStars- US COOP High Roller, $300.
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