The dot com market had their field day with the PokerStars Winter Poker Series and it is now moved to another market. The event will now be available for poker players who love to flaunt their poker skills within their respective jurisdictions. Scheduled to take place over a period of only ten days, this will be the last event happening in January.
Members of PokerStars in the three US states where the betting operator has set up business will get a chance to take part in this annual flagship series. MI, PA and NJ poker players who will participate in the various tournaments will be playing simultaneously as per the schedule laid out for each of the three locations.
The total prize guarantee that players will be battling for is $2 million allocated as $1 million in Pennsylvania, $650,000 in Michigan and $500,000 New Jersey. Having a larger guarantee allocation in the PA market follows the trend that was established last year.
What we cover
PokerStars Winter Poker Series layout
Each of the 3 states hosting the tournaments will host more than 40 events with a diverse buy-in budget. The price-points for registering into the events have been set at between $10 and $1000. Owing to the fact that New Jersey will have a larger demand, the buy-ins here are slightly higher compared to the other two states. On average, poker players in the Garden State will have to part with an average of $121 to be part of a single event. Keystone State players will pay an average of $108 while their counterparts in the Wolverine State budget for $100.
The peak of the PokerStars Winter Series will be the event’s two Main Events which will be held on January 30 as per the schedule. Like it was in the previous year’s event, Pennsylvania had the highest guarantee of $150,000, followed by Michigan at $100,000 and then New Jersey with $75,000 up for grabs. Entry to the main events in PA and MI will be $200 while New Jersey poker players will pay $300 to participate in a similar event.
Before you sign up for the main event, you better make sure that you are up for the challenge. There are Main Event Trainers and Warm-Ups which players can take part in as they wait for the date of the event. While these mini games have the same structure as the Main Event, they are cheaper and offer faster blind levels. If you want to train on the actual day of the Main Event, you can sign up for a mini version of main for $30 in PA and MI and $50 in NJ.
Even though the Main Event is one of the major attractions that will drive traffic into the PokerStars gaming platform, there are more attractions to look out for.
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Marathons
Levels running for 15 minutes and which comprise of deep structures whose purpose are to test players for endurance and patience. Those who wish to take part in marathons need to set aside between $50 and $200 for buy-ins. The costs will vary depending on which state site one is playing on.
High Rollers
This is designed to cater to players who have a large spending ability. The buy-ins here range from $500 to $1000. Poker players in Michigan and Pennsylvania will have access to a $1000 High Roller freeze-out.
Sunday Special Winter Editions
Sunday Special editions are for those who want to experience boosted guarantees but are piggybacking on the schedule of the week. Players do not need to pay extra to participate in the Sunday Special editions.
Mixed Games
Many poker players are fond of trying out different kinds of games depending on the mood. The organizers definitely had this in mind when they featured a combination of 5-Card Draw, PL Omaha Hi/Lo, and Hold’em in the PokerStars Winter Series. These mixes are however only available to players from Michigan and Pennsylvania.
$10 daily Freezeouts
There are freezeouts throughout the entire schedule of the tournament and some are priced as low as $10. In any tournament where freezeouts are incorporated, a player gets a single low cost shot in a game but the downside is that they cannot re-enter an event they have been kicked out of.
How do players qualify for the Winter Series?
In the weeks leading up to the start of the tournament, there were live satellites launched on the gaming platform. The lowest buy-in to these satellites is $5 – this is for players who have a low play budget. What about players that do not have any money at all? By taking part in the Depositor FREEZErolls promotion, there is a chance that a player will gain free entry into the series. To try ones luck in the Depositor Freeroll tournament, a player only needs to make a deposit of $30 or more, then make use of the code, ‘WINTER30’ when confirming the transaction.
Another option that players have if they are looking for ways to access the tournament’s Main Event is to deposit at least $100. This bigger Freezeroll is unlocked using the bonus code, ‘WINTER100’.
Winter Series on PokerStars MI for the first time
While the poker players in New Jersey and Pennsylvania have been treated to the PokerStars Winter Series on several occasions before, this will be the first time that the series comes to Michigan. In 2021, when PA and NJ markets were running the Winter Series, MI was holding their first tournament series dubbed MICOOP. This debut Winter Series for the poker players of Michigan is expected to be exciting since the average prize guarantee per tournament is $15,000 based on the total guarantee of $650,000 spread over 42 events.
Final Thoughts
New Jersey poker players have had a few runs with the Winter Series; it is taking place in Pa for the third round. The guarantee win amount continues to grow for Pennsylvania, especially this time when there are fewer events.
Are you a New Jersey resident interested in playing online in our state and taking advantage of the best offers? Check out our curated list of NJ casinos, NJ sportsbooks and online bonuses. And if you are a poker player, please check our list of Best Poker Sites in New Jersey.
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Welcome Package
$25 free bonus + deposit match, first deposit up to $500.
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Welcome Package
* New customers only. 100% match bonus based
on first deposit of up yo $600.
$500
Welcome Package
* New customers only. 100% match bonus based
on first deposit of up to $500.
