BetMGM Ontario MGM Resorts International, which operates online sports betting and casino games, is set to host a significant poker championship in Las Vegas this June. This event will allow Ontario online poker enthusiasts, along with players from select U.S. states where online poker is legal and offered by MGM, to qualify online for the live tournament in Vegas.
The highlight of the Vegas poker scene will be the BetMGM Poker Championship taking place from June 23-26 at the ARIA Resort & Casino. This championship is a part of the larger ARIA Poker Classic, which runs from June 1 until July 17 and features an impressive lineup of over 40 different events.
The entry fee for the championship is set at $3,500, with a guaranteed prize pool of $1 million. However, players from Ontario have the opportunity to secure their spot in the next few weeks through satellite tournaments. BetMGM will be hosting these satellite events on three Sundays starting May 29, followed by events on June 5 and June 12.
On the evenings of May 28, June 5, and June 12, BetMGM in Ontario will conduct one satellite tournament each night, commencing at 8 p.m. ET. Two or more seats will be awarded for the BetMGM Poker Championship from each of these tournaments, with a buy-in cost of $500.
Leading up to the Sunday tournaments, players can earn 'tickets' with buy-ins of $20 and $100 respectively, which BetMGM refers to as their 'journey' toward the Poker Championship at ARIA, allowing them to progress at their own speed. There are ongoing events; for instance, players can earn 'tickets' at three different events on May 24.
Players from BetMGM's regulated markets, including New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and now Ontario, have opportunities to win their place in Vegas for this event. For players who do not win any prize packages, the entry fee remains at $3,500.
According to Luke Staudenmaier, the director of poker at BetMGM, 'The inaugural BetMGM Poker Championship arrives in Las Vegas during a thrilling period in the poker calendar. The ARIA is a renowned name in poker, and we are excited that this championship is a key addition to the Poker Classic this year.'
Ontario online casinos Moreover, sportsbooks officially launched in the fully regulated market on April 4.
Mostly $400 & $600 Buy-Ins
The majority of events within the BetMGM Poker Classic schedule feature buy-in amounts of $400 and $600. Most events are focused on no-limit hold 'em, with a few variations such as Omaha and at least one HORSE tournament. There are specific events designated for women and seniors as well. Notably, on June 25, a $600 buy-in BetMGM Poker Mystery Bounty event is planned, which will be ARIA's first attempt at this contemporary format of a live poker knockout tournament, as mentioned in a press release from BetMGM.
Poker enthusiasts will notice that the BetMGM event is scheduled to coincide withWSOP Ontario and will extend over more than six weeks (from late May to mid-July) at the Bally’s-Paris hotel and casino complex located on the opposite side of Las Vegas Boulevard.
The overlap of these poker events provides players with the chance to seek out the action that best suits their preferences.
