PokerStars is ramping up live and online poker opportunities in North America, including Ontario online poker players. The company recently announced the launch of a major online series as well as the revival of the North American Poker Tour (NAPT), with a major new live event also coming to Las Vegas.
Stars is expanding the Championship of Online Poker (COOP) brand with the first edition of the North America COOP (NACOOP), which is running Sept. 15 to Oct. 2. Players will find more than 80 events in each market, a total guaranteed prize pool of $7 million, and 24-karat gold-plated trophies for Main Event winners.
Additionally, Stars has also announced the return of PokerStars Live events. Poker players at Ontario online casinos will soon find online qualifiers available for a chance to win a tournament package.
More About NACOOP in Ontario
Online poker players across U.S. and Canadian regulated markets will find plenty of action over the next month as part of NACOOP. Buy-ins range from $10 to $2,500; plenty of satellites are available as well, starting at just $1. Look for numerous game formats including No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, mixed games and more.
The Ontario series, known as ONCOOP, guarantees $1.5 million (about $2 million in Canadian dollars) to players at the PokerStars Ontario app. Players in the shared player pool of Michigan and New Jersey will find a total guarantee of $3 million with Pennsylvania featuring at least $2.5 million up for grabs. NACOOP highlights in each market include:
- $300 Main Event
- $2,500 Super High Roller Championship
- 20 trophy events
- $10,000 leaderboards
PokerStars Live Heads to Resorts World Las Vegas
It has been more than a decade since PokerStars Live officially ran a live event in North America. That looks to be changing. The company is gearing up for the return of the NAPT in November with the first stop heading to Resorts World Las Vegas from Nov. 4–12.
The NAPT ran in 2010-11 before Black Friday led Stars to leave the U.S. market. Now platforms are established in the U.S. market and for players who can get practice (and play for real money) at some of the best Ontario casino apps. So PokerStars has revived the tour. Some past NAPT main event champions included some major names in the poker world such as Vanessa Selbst (twice), Harrison Gimbel, Tom Marchese, Ashton Griffin, Jason Mercier and Galen Hall.
The series kicks off with the $1,650 Main Event from Nov. 6-11 and features six starting flights. A $5,300 High Roller is also set for Nov. 10-12 with the $550 PokerStars Cup running Nov. 9–12.
“We are delighted to announce the return of this iconic series and once again hold the NAPT for poker players in North America,” PokerStars North America Vice President Steve Preiss said. “We’re working hard to ensure that this is a spectacular series and can’t wait to head to Las Vegas to get the show on the road.”
NACOOP Qualifiers Feature NAPT Packages
Players from across the globe are expected to be able to qualify online for NACOOP events, including in Ontario. Main Event winners also score a Vegas Gold Pass, a $20,000 package that includes:
- $5,300 NAPT Las Vegas High Roller seat
- Three-day pass for two (Nov. 16-18) for the Oracle Red Bull Racing fan experience as part of the Las Vegas Grand Prix
- Nine nights hotel accommodation for two (Nov. 10-19) at Resorts World
- $4,000 toward flights and expenses
The Vegas Gold Pass is in conjunction with PokerStars’ partnership with the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. Winners can expect a first-hand experience at the Formula One race in Sin City.
The market in Canada’s most populous province, in addition to online poker, also has slots and other card games such as Ontario online blackjack available.
