PokerStars Revives North American Poker Tour
More than a decade ago, PokerStars was the king of all poker tours. It had its popular European Poker Tour (EPT), of course, but it had other regional tours around the world – UK & Ireland Poker Tour (UKIPT), PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA), Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT), Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT), Brazil Series of Poker (BSOP), and more. And in 2010, they added the North American Poker Tour (NAPT) to the schedule.
The shutdown of the largest poker sites in America on Black Friday (including PokerStars) put a glitch in every aspect of PokerStars but especially the NAPT. When the operator was forced out of the US market, the NAPT departed with it.
And now it’s back. Someone kept the logo, the trademarks, and the swag. PokerStars always intended to make a return to the USA, but the timetable depended on everything from indictments, arrests, fines, and penance. PokerStars did those things. And more than a decade after the shutdown in April 2011, the company is ready.
The NAPT is returning in 2023.
NAPT Relaunch Set for Vegas
PokerStars chose the gambling capital of the world for its relaunch of the North American Poker Tour (NAPT). The series will happen over the course of nine days in the first half of November. It will happen at Resorts World in Las Vegas.
The full schedule has yet to be announced, but there are several events listed on the Hendon Mob so far:
- 5-6 Nov: $10K buy-in NLHE Super High Roller
- 6-11 Nov: $1,650 buy-in NLHE NAPT Main Event
- 9-12 Nov: $550 buy-in NLHE NAPT Cup
- 10-12 Nov: $5,300 buy-in NLHE High Roller
- 11-12 Nov: $1,100 buy-in NLHE Mystery Bounty
Why Las Vegas?
One might wonder why Las Vegas is the location of the NAPT relaunch, especially when PokerStars does not have an online poker license to operate in Nevada. PokerStars USA only operates in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
First of all, it’s Las Vegas, a place where poker players can feel comfortable in their natural habitat.
Second, the scheduling puts the NAPT in the city that will host the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix November 16-18. It is a highly-anticipated event and a part of the 2023 Formula One World Championship. And it just so happens that PokerStars is a partner of Oracle Red Bull Racing, which will have a car in the race. Those in town for the NAPT, such as PokerStars executives who can afford to watch the very expensive race, can stay for said race.
Third, the first iteration of the NAPT hosted a first season, and the second was just getting started when Black Friday put an end to the tour. For both seasons, the year began with the NAPT Main Event in the Bahamas, which also served as the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event. Outside of that, the most well-attended NAPT event in Season 1 was the one in Vegas at the Venetian. The $5K buy-in Main Event at NAPT Venetian had 872 entries for a prize pool that exceeded $4M.
This second iteration of the NAPT will be different than the first, with lower buy-ins across the series, a lower profile in the US market, and new venues. Mohegan Sun in Connecticut no longer hosts poker tournaments, nor does the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles host high-profile events, and the PCA is a different beast. This time, PokerStars will have new casino partners, the first of which is Resorts World in Las Vegas. It will be the casino’s first foray into the world of large live series.
Online Poker Connection
As mentioned, PokerStars doesn’t operate in Nevada, as it is currently only licensed by the state governments of New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. And via the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), New Jersey and Michigan players share the same player pool.
As of yet, there is no widespread list of satellites for NAPT Main Event entries. There is time, though, for that promotion to launch PokerStars wants to do it.
Meanwhile, there are three Red Spade Passes on the table. They will be awarded at random, though, one for a New Jersey player, one for Michigan, and one for a Pennsylvania player. Players need only deposit to their PokerStars account to earn entries:
- Sign up for a PokerStars account in NJ, PA, or MI. (1 entry)
- Make an initial deposit into that account. (10 entries)
- Existing players can deposit at least $10. (1 entry)
This sweepstakes started on August 30 and will run through September 30. Each winner of a Red Spade Pass will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas November 14-19 for the F1 race. Each package is worth $35K.
