World Poker Tour’s sweepstakes poker platform, ClubWPT Gold, is gearing up for a major standalone event this Sunday, March 1.
Branded the “Gold Million,” the tournament is a one-day event carrying a guarantee of 1 million Chips, equivalent to $1 million, as the operator’s sweepstakes currency converts at a rate of 1 Chip to $1 in real cash redemptions.
The buy-in for this special edition tournament is set at 218 Chips, meaning the event requires 4,588 entries to cover the guarantee. It will run in a mystery bounty format.
Online satellites have been running steadily, and the event has been heavily promoted across social media channels. A short video clip featuring Phil Ivey, WPT’s primary ambassador, has been circulating online, alongside promotional pushes from other ambassadors such as Doug Polk.
- Generous Welcome Offer
- Daily freerolls & free SC offers
- Hold’em, Omaha and Mixed Games
ClubWPT Gold has quickly established itself as the leading sweepstakes poker platform in the US market. Despite launching only last year, it took just a few months for the site to climb to the top position among sweepstakes poker operators.
The platform has already hosted several tournaments with seven-figure guarantees, most of them tied to tournament series. One such event even ran as a freeroll during the site’s launch period. The Gold Million, however, stands apart as an independent event rather than part of a festival schedule.
Daily feeder tournaments for the Gold Million have been running since February 9. Players can begin their qualification journey for as little as 2 Chips, progressing to 22-Chip feeders and ultimately earning a seat worth 218 Chips. At least 10 tickets have been guaranteed each day, while Sunday editions on February 15 and 22 featured boosted guarantees of 20 tickets.
While the majority of satellites have already taken place, one major opportunity remains. A Mega Feeder scheduled for Sunday ahead of the main event will award 100 Gold Million tickets, representing a total value of 21,800 Chips.
In addition to multi-table feeders, players can attempt to qualify through Sit & Go Steps, which run continuously. The entry point starts at 0.5 Chips for Level 1. Advancing from there moves players to Level 2 with a 1.70-Chip buy-in, followed by Level 3 at 9 Chips, then Level 4 at 44 Chips, and finally to the 218-Chip Gold Million ticket.
Reaching Level 4 also brings added incentives. The winner receives the standard 218-Chip Gold Million ticket plus an additional 218-Chip ticket for a second entry. Players finishing between 2nd and 4th place earn a 9-Chip ticket instead.
Beyond in-client qualifiers, the operator has also distributed seats through various social media promotions, further expanding access to the event.
From Dual Currency to Training Model
ClubWPT Gold’s rapid ascent to the top of the sweepstakes poker segment is largely driven by its wide availability across the United States, with access in nearly 40 states. Its tournament guarantees now rival those seen on international dot-com platforms.
Notably, the operator has found a way to continue operating in California, widely regarded as the largest poker market in the US. To do so, it revised its business structure, moving away from its previous dual-currency system of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins and rebranding itself as a poker training platform.
Under the updated model, players purchase Hand Analysis (HA) credits that unlock training services and an integrated GTO coaching tool. Alongside these credits, users receive Chips that can be used to participate in tournaments and cash games.
ClubWPT Gold maintains that this structure enables it to operate within California’s regulatory framework.
At the same time, the platform has drawn attention for monetizing certain optional features. For example, it charges players to activate the Rabbit Hunt function, a feature typically offered free on other sweepstakes sites such as Clubs Poker, which is known for its extensive mixed-game lineup. Fees also apply to extending the time bank and to using the “Reveal Hands” option, which displays all hole cards at showdown. None of these add-ons is mandatory, however.
Despite those paid features, ClubWPT Gold is widely regarded as having a relatively soft player pool. While its software offering remains more limited compared to some competitors, ongoing improvements continue to enhance the overall user experience.
