Five US Series to Watch in May (Plus One in Canada)
May is the final chance for players to get some preparation work in before the big show in Las Vegas this summer, and there are lots of options to choose from. There are big live events running across the lower 48 states in May with big prizes, as well as a huge chance to put a ring on your finger in Calgary, Canada at the end of the month.
The list this month includes some of the most recognizable names in tournament poker. The Venetian begins its epic three-month Venetian Deepstack Championship series on May 2 while the California State Poker Championship at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles will already have a couple of tournaments in the books by the time May begins.
Other feature action this month comes from The Lodge in Round Rock, TX, Pearl River Resort in Choctaw, Miss, and the Hard Rock Casino, Cincinnati, as well as Deerfoot Inn & Casino in Calgary, AB, Canada for a month-end WSOP Circuit series.
| Venue | Series | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas | Venetian DeepStack Championship Series | May 2 - July 31 |
| Commerce Casino, Los Angeles | California State Poker Championship (CSPC) | April 29 - May 22 |
| The Lodge, Round Rock | The Lodge Championship Series | May 4-24 |
| Pearl River Resort, Choctaw | Gulf Coast Poker - Pearl River Poker Open Milly in Philly IV | May 5-16 |
| Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati | Hard Rock Cincinnati Warm Up Poker Series | May 11-22 |
| Deerfoot Inn & Casino, Calgary | World Series of Poker Circuit - WSOPC Calgary II | May 17-30 |
Series Details
Venetian DeepStack Championship Series
- Series: Venetian DeepStack Championship Series
- Venue: The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, Las Vegas
- Dates: May 2 - July 31, 2022
One of the most recognizable tournament series names is the Venetian Deepstack Championship Series. Beginning at the start of May, the 3-month series spans nearly all of May, June, and July, coinciding with the World Series of Poker running at Bally’s this year.
One of the biggest games this month is the $250,000 guaranteed Monster Bounty (Event #28) which begins starting day flights on Thursday, May 19. The unique format doesn’t pay bounties until players are in the money, but once the bounties start, they are huge at $1,000.
California State Poker Championship (CSPC)
- Series: California State Poker Championship (CSPC)
- Venue: Commerce Casino, Los Angeles, CA
- Dates: 29 April - 22 May 2022
The CPSC will already be ongoing when May gets underway, beginning on April 29. Running through May 22 at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles, CA, the series features a Mystery Bounty (Event #7) starting May 10, as well as the $1,100 Main Event beginning May 18.
The Lodge Championship Series
- Series: The Lodge Championship Series
- Venue: The Lodge, Round Rock, TX
- Dates: May 4-24, 2022
The Lodge bills itself as the largest poker club in central Texas with more than 60 tables in a fully-equipped poker room. The relatively new room is running The Lodge Championship Series from May 4 to 24 which includes 15 events.
Among the featured events will be a $1 million Mystery Bounty starting May 11 with a $1,600 price tag, as well as a smaller one for $600 with $300K guaranteed starting May 8. The highlight of the series will be the $2,000,000 guaranteed Main event, which costs $3,000 to enter and gets going on May 19.
Gulf Coast Poker - Pearl River Poker Open Milly in Philly IV
- Series: Gulf Coast Poker - Pearl River Poker Open Milly in Philly IV
- Venue: Pearl River Resort, Choctaw
- Dates: May 5-16, 2022
The Gulf Coast Poker - Pearl River Poker Open Milly in Philly IV gets underway on May 5th with a bang, featuring an opening event with a guarantee of $350,000. The $300 buy-in event has five starting flights through May 7 with Day 2 on Sunday, May 8.
The series also features a Ladies’ event on May 8, as well as a Seniors’ event on May 13. It closes things out with another $350k guaranteed event, the $600 Main Event with three starting days.
Hard Rock Cincinnati Warm Up Poker Series
- Series: Hard Rock Cincinnati Warm Up Poker Series
- Venue: Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati
- Dates: May 11-22, 2022
This series kicks off on May 11 with a $400K guaranteed opening event with four starting flights. The $500 Kickoff event plays Day 2 on May 15.
While the series also features a six-max game and a Seniors’ event, the big event to watch in this one will be the Main Event. The $1,500 Main Event guarantees a prize pool of at least $750K and has three starting days with Day 1a running on May 18 and Day 2 on May 22.
World Series of Poker Circuit - WSOPC Calgary II
- Series: World Series of Poker Circuit - WSOPC Calgary II
- Venue: Deerfoot Inn & Casino, Calgary
- Dates: May 17-30, 2022
The World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOP-C) returns to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for a second go-round in 2022 starting on May 17. The first-ever running of a WSOP-C event in Alberta in January this year drew records crowds from across Canada and posted the biggest prize pool ever recorded in Alberta for the C$1,700 Main Event.
The latest series, featuring perhaps the last chance to bag a ticket to the $1 million WSOP Tournament of Champions freeroll running at the end of the WSOP, has 13 events with both Ladies’ and Seniors’ games on deck. The first of three Main Event starting days (C$1,700) goes on May 26.
