We’re now excited to bring players our first multi-state online series and our largest online series to date in the US.
PokerStars US real money players — the wait is over. The operator has finally announced its first multi-state online tournament series for the newly launched shared player pool between New Jersey and Michigan.
And it’s a big one. Called PSPC Online, the series guarantees a massive $2.5 million over 85 tournaments — making it PokerStars’ largest guaranteed tournament series to date. The operator will also host the series for PA online poker players with total guarantees of $1.5 million over 75 tournaments.
Scheduled to run from January 13 until the end of the month, it takes inspiration from the esteemed PSPC event, returning for its second iteration in the Bahamas starting January 30.
PSPC Online 2023 Highlights:
- PokerStars’ biggest-ever tournament series in the US
- First tournament series for the newly launched NJ + MI multi-state poker network
- $2.5 million guaranteed for the shared series
- $1.5 million guaranteed for the standalone Pennsylvania series
- Inspired by the upcoming PSPC event
- Buy-ins start at $10
- $300K Main Event in NJ + MI series — the second-largest tournament in PokerStars’ US history
- Play one hand & get $150 in bonus play funds
- Top-quality mobile app
- Best online MTT schedule
“We’re now excited to bring players our first multi-state online series and our largest online series to date in the US, where players have the chance to join in the Bahamian fun of the PSPC and play alongside their favourite players as they battle it out on the online tables,” said PokerStars US Managing Director, Severin Rasset, in the press release.
PokerStars’ Largest Series in the Regulated US Online Poker Market
Across the two series, the PSPC Online series puts up $4 million in combined guarantees spread over 157 tournaments.
The operator is touting PSPC Online 2023 as “largest-ever online tournament series in the United States.” Indeed, the shared series for NJ & MI players guarantees $2.5 million, which is the operator’s largest series in the regulated market for online poker for real money in the USA.
It beats the record of the counterpart PASCOOP series held in April 2021, which guaranteed $2 million. However, that series finished with $3.1 million in prize pool generated — so it would be interesting to see whether the first shared liquidity series will beat that record.
It might not be quite the largest ever in the US market when it comes to total guaranteed. That crown goes to WSOP’s $4 million Online Championships Series held in April 2020 at the peak of Covid-19 lockdowns.
But the PSPC Online still marks a highlight on this year’s calendar and is the largest for the PokerStars US brand, and the largest ever available on Michigan online poker apps.
$500K Guaranteed for Three Main Events in NJ + MI Series
The shared liquidity series will have a headlining $250 buy-in Main Event with a $300,000 guarantee — the second-largest tournament in PokerStars’ US history. It will be a 2-day affair event starting on January 29. The event will be accompanied by a $50 buy-in Mini Main Event boasting $75,000.
For those with deep pockets, a $2500 buy-in Super High Roller event will take place on the same day, promising $125,000 in guaranteed prize money. The three Mains will have a combined guaranteed prize pool of $500,000.
The Pennsylvania leg will have also three Mains with total guarantees of $275,000. The $250 buy-in will have $150,000 in guaranteed prize money; the $50 buy-in Main will come with $25,000 while the Super High Roller will promise $100,000.
The rest of the series features events catering to all types of bankrolls. Buy-ins start at $10 and satellites will be available for just $1. The series will feature a variety of formats including Mixed events including 8-Game, Horse, Razz, Draw Games and more.
PokerStars US Shared Liquidity Network Off to a Soaring Start
PokerStars successfully connected the player pools of its New Jersey online poker network and the Michigan network on January 1. It marks the operator’s first shared liquidity pool in the US and the first to involve Michigan — a historic development for US regulated online poker
“It was brilliant to see our communities in Michigan and New Jersey come out in force on January 1st to celebrate the combining of our player pool and enjoy our special New Year’s Day events and smash the guarantees,” Rasset said.
To celebrate the launch of shared liquidity, PokerStars US deployed three New Year’s Day special NJ+MI tournaments with guarantees of almost $200,000. The turnout far exceeded expectations as the guarantees doubled for nearly all the events.
The New Year’s $100K Special drew 2189 entrants to double its $100k prize pool, ending with just over $200k. The $10 buy-in, New Year’s Day Mini Special attracted 6378 runners to eclipse its $50k guarantee by $8000. And the $500 High Roller Special pulled 206 entrants, crushing its $40,000 guarantee by 132%.
“There’s plenty more to come for the MI and NJ community and we look forward to exciting and awarding our players in 2023 and beyond,” Rasset added.
The PSPC Online 2023 Series starts on January 13 and runs through to January 30.
