What’s New at PokerStars: NAPT Returns, Loose Cannons Revealed, and a $55 Satellite Dream Run

NAPT Las Vegas Will Light Up November Again

After the success of last year’s North American Poker Tour (NAPT) stop in Las Vegas, PokerStars is bringing the tour back to the strip for a third year running. From November 3 to 12, Resorts World Las Vegas will host 10 days of poker, including a $5,300 Main Event with a $3 million guarantee.

The 2024 edition saw Nick Marchington win $765,200 in a field of 895 entries, and PokerStars is aiming to recreate that electric atmosphere in 2025—with a few new additions. Among the scheduled highlights:

• PokerStars Open: $1,100 (Nov 3–6) – $500K GTD
• NAPT Super High Roller: $50,000 (Nov 5–7)
• NAPT Women’s Event: $330 (Nov 9–10) – $50K GTD
• NAPT High Roller: $10,300 (Nov 10–12)
• NAPT Mystery Bounty: $550 (Nov 10–12) – $200K GTD

Qualification paths will open soon on PokerStars, with freerolls, satellites, and second-chance entries giving players multiple ways to secure a seat. PokerStars Ambassador Maria Konnikova, fresh off her first spade win at EPT Monte Carlo, has already confirmed she’ll be in the field—and eager for more silverware.

The Big Game on Tour Reveals Three New Loose Cannons

Fans of PokerStars’ The Big Game on Tour were treated to a special episode last weekend as the three new Loose Cannons were revealed ahead of the show’s May 24 premiere. For Season Two, PokerStars upped the stakes — choosing three amateur hopefuls instead of two, and giving us five more episodes in the process.

The selection process, which aired on the PokerStars YouTube channel, offered a behind-the-scenes look at auditions judged by James Hartigan, Joe Stapleton, and former Loose Cannon Nadya Magnus. Contestants were put through several creative tests — from “two truths and a lie” to hand analysis scenarios — and the final three chosen represent a wide mix of poker backgrounds and personal stories:

1. Luke Moy: A UK-based pub manager whose people skills may prove key at the table.
2. Jordan Handrich: A former lawyer who pivoted to poker after a serious injury.
3. Luke Wakelin: An ambitious wildcard whose gamble in the audition room paid off.

With such a colorful lineup and five extra episodes promised this season, the new Loose Cannons will likely bring both action and drama to this classic format’s latest chapter.

SCOOP Cinderella Story: “benmiller500” Spins $55 into $63K

While some poker dreams play out under the lights in Las Vegas, others start in the quiet of a satellite lobby. That was the case for UK-based player “benmiller500,” who qualified for SCOOP 2025 Event 36-H — a $1,050 buy-in bounty event — for just $55, and ended up walking away with $63,636.

The tournament was packed with big names. Three prominent SCOOP League contenders made the final table: Spraggy (9th), RunGodlike (8th), and C. Darwin2 (6th), making “benmiller500”’s victory all the more impressive.

Here’s a look at the top results from that event:

The SCOOP League standings also continue to evolve:

• Team Spraggy still leads the League for a fifth consecutive day.
• Team easywithaces is climbing again, now just 25 points behind Team Kelvin_FP:AR.
• Ole “wizowizo” Schemion tops the chip counts in Event 42-H’s final table, chasing a $117,521 payday.

With the $5,200 SCOOP Main Event-H set for May 25 and the Lucky Dip promo offering $500K+ in added tickets, SCOOP 2025 is still far from over — and “benmiller500” just proved that anyone can still get their fairy tale ending.