Players at PokerStars Ontario and PokerStars US have reason to be excited as the operator has lined up some major online poker events to close out the year.
First up, the highly popular Power Path qualification route has made its way to PokerStars’ North American market. This qualification system, which was launched in the global dot-com market last year, allows players to qualify for PokerStars’ marquee live and online tournaments at a minimal cost. Now, PokerStars US and PokerStars Ontario players will have that same opportunity.
Next, the Fall Fest Series is making its return, running from November 22 to December 2. The series guarantees $750,000 in prize money in each network, spread over dozens of tournaments.
- Play one hand & get $150 in bonus play funds
- Top-quality mobile app
- Best online MTT schedule
- Excellent tournament schedule
- The best variety of game types
- #1 Rated online poker room in Ontario by pokerfuse.com
Lastly, PokerStars is capping off the year by hosting a special Red Spade Sunday on December 29. This one-day event features three tournaments with a combined $350,000 in guaranteed prizes.
All these new offerings are available to players in the US states of New Jersey and Michigan (which share a combined player pool), Pennsylvania, and Ontario, Canada’s most populated province.
Power Path Debut in Ontario and US
For those unfamiliar with Power Path, it’s PokerStars’ innovative qualification route designed to help casual players win seats in prestigious events like the North American Poker Tour (NAPT), European Poker Tour (EPT), and COOP at a highly affordable cost.
The format has already achieved great success in PokerStars’ international markets, making its expansion to the US and Ontario online poker markets a natural and logical next step.
The system is a flexible, progression-based satellite structure with four buy-in levels, starting at just $0.50. The ultimate goal is to reach the final stage, where players can earn either a Bronze Pass (valued at $100) or a Silver Pass (valued at $1000). These passes can be redeemed for event packages, including the upcoming Red Spade Sundays, Fall Fest Series, or major live tournaments like the NAPT, EPT, and Irish Poker Open.
How Power Path Works:
- Step 1: A $0.50 buy-in Spin & Go offering prizes up to $500,000. Winners advance to Step 2.
- Step 2: A $1.50 Sit & Go awarding $10 tickets for Step 3.
- Step 3: A $10 buy-in tournament with a top prize of a Bronze Pass ($100 value), which can also be used to enter Step 4.
- Step 4: A $100 buy-in tournament where the grand prize is a Silver Pass worth $1000 in event packages (also called Step 5)
A standout feature of Power Path is that every player who places a real money wager at the poker tables or at PokerStars Casino receives a free Step 1 ticket upon their first login each day. This adds up to $15 in free value every month.
“What makes our PokerStars events so special are all of the players themselves, the moments of drama, big wins, incredible prize pools and those extraordinary moments when everyday people get to experience something they’ve never done before”, said Steve Preiss, Director of PokerStars North America. “Power Path will create more of these incredible moments and give our players the chance to experience the best poker on the world’s biggest stages.”
Fall Fest Series 2024
PokerStars’ signature Fall Fest is back, continuing its tradition of celebrating the holiday season in North America for the fourth consecutive year.
Kicking off this Friday and running through December 2, the eleven-day series takes place simultaneously at PokerStars Michigan, PokerStars New Jersey, PokerStars Pennsylvania, and PokerStars Ontario. Together, the events offer a combined prize pool exceeding $2.25 million in guaranteed prize money.
Each series features 45 tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $5 to $1000. As in previous years, bounty formats dominate, including Progressive Knockouts (PKOs) and, for the first time, mystery bounty tournaments.
The Main Event on the PokerStars US shared liquidity network, comprising Michigan and New Jersey, boasts a $100,000 guarantee with a $200 buy-in. In Pennsylvania, players can compete for the same $100,000 guarantee at a more affordable $100 buy-in. Meanwhile, the Ontario edition offers a CAD $200 buy-in with a guaranteed prize pool of CAD $100,000.
As in previous years, the series includes several highlight tournaments leading up to Thanksgiving. Among them are the Fall Brawls, a lineup of PKO and mystery bounty events with a $50 entry fee. The Thanksgiving Thrill, a special $100 buy-in tournament exclusive to US players, will take place on Thanksgiving Thursday, November 28. On the final day of the series, players can enjoy Cyber Monday Stars, a $10 buy-in event designed for smaller bankrolls or those aiming for a big win to close out the festival.
Red Spade Sunday
And finally to end the year on a high note, PokerStars will be hosting Red Spade Sunday on December 29. In each of the markets, over $350,000 is guaranteed across just three major events.
The lineup includes the $100 Red Spade Special, offering a $175,000 guarantee; the $10 Red Spade Rumble, with $50,000 in prize money; and the $1,000 Red Spade High Roller, promising a $125,000 guarantee.
With a combined $350,000 in guarantees, this marks the operator’s biggest Sunday of the year.
- $10 Red Spade Rumble – $50K GTD
- $100 Red Spade Special – $175K GTD
- $1,000 Red Spade High Roller – $125K GTD
Players can buy in directly or qualify through the newly launched Power Path. Step 3 tickets grant entry to the Rumble, Step 4 tickets can be used for the Red Spade Special, and Step 5 tickets allow access to the Red Spade High Roller.
