When you’re a professional poker player, there are many things you have to consider to ensure you’re in the best spot you can be to advance your career. Where you live is certainly an important factor, as this determines what games you have access to, both live and online, what the quality of these games is, and more.
For these reasons, many poker players decide to relocate, looking for greener pastures. There are many countries around the globe where one could move for poker, but the one we’ll be looking at in this article is only starting to appear on the radar. Of course, we’re talking about Brazil.
In recent years, poker in Brazil has been on a kind of uptick that’s hard to ignore. If you’re a poker player looking at your relocation options or just looking to book a poker vacation that offers more than just on-the-felt excitement, Brazil has a lot to offer right now, and the way things have been going, the future of poker in the country looks very bright.
Live Poker Scene in Brazil
Let’s first look at live poker options in Brazil, as these vary greatly from one country to another, and for players who prefer to play their games in a real-life setting, this is often the deciding factor.
While there are no casinos in Brazil, as gambling is considered illegal in the country, poker is very much alive and not illegal. The game is regarded differently by lawmakers, which allows for many poker clubs to thrive around the country.
These clubs host cash games and tournaments alike, and the good news is that there are no annoying distractions like slots or table games around. You can focus on poker and just poker. You don’t have to worry about the action either, as Brazilians love poker, and they have become somewhat notorious for their fast and loose style of play.
When it comes to tournaments specifically, the situation is even better, thanks largely to PokerStars, which made it a point to put Brazil on the poker world map.
- Deposit $20 and get $30 worth of free play
- One of the best mobile apps
- Biggest MTT guarantees
The operator’s Brazilian Series of Poker (BSOP) features several stops every year, and the one that just kicked off, the BSOP Millions, takes these efforts to a new level. Taking place at Sao Paulo’s WTC Sheraton, the festival features $12,000,000 in guaranteed prizes, 90 individual events, and a $50,000 buy-in Legends event that aims to bring some of the biggest poker names to Brazil.
With PokerStars in the mix, the future of tournament poker in Brazil certainly looks very bright, and with the constant success of these festivals, it’s safe to assume other stakeholders will be looking to get in on the action. All this bodes well for the players, who’ll have access to more tournaments, better promotions, and bigger guarantees.
Online Poker in Brazil
Most poker players these days split their action between the actual and virtual felt, and they prefer to live in countries where they can do both. We are happy to say that Brazil is one such country.
When playing online poker in Brazil, you’ll have access to all major online poker platforms, including, of course, PokerStars, and GGPoker. Brazilian players are a part of the international pool, so there are no restrictions or limitations to worry about.
Players who combine live and online tournament action have it even better, as PokerStars offers numerous satellites to its live BSOP events, so you can qualify for desired tournaments and win event entries and even full-fledged packages to go and play the biggest tournaments in the country.
Beyond this, all you really need to play online poker is a stable internet connection, and you can certainly get one of those in Brazil.
Living Off the Felt in Brazil
The third consideration that comes into play is, of course, the overall quality of life one can expect. Poker is good in Brazil, but how is the life off the felt?
Your expectations will vary depending on where you’re from, but most people from western countries will find that things are cheaper in Brazil, which means that the cash you grind out on the felt will simply go further here.
In terms of entertainment options, Brazil is a large and very colorful country, so whatever your preference might be, you should have no problems finding a few good spots to relax and enjoy after a long day “at the office.” As is the case when moving to any new place, you’ll have to do some research and make some contacts, but that’s a part of the experience.
If you are staying in or around Sao Paolo, you’ll get to experience a sub-tropical climate with moderate temperatures, without extremes on either side of the spectrum. It’s fair to say that most people will find this an improvement.
Like any country, Brazil has its problems, and you’ll certainly get to experience some of these along the way as well. Overall though, it is a nice place to live with a good climate, affordable prices, warm people, and, most importantly, great poker action!
