Tournament poker makes triumphant return to Macau after six years

With Sands China holding the city’s first official event in six years at The Venetian Macao starting today, tournament poker makes a triumphant return to Macau.

The four-day “Macao Masters” competition costs HK$3,000 (US$384). It includes three consecutive Day 1 flights, with unlimited rebooking available throughout the registration window. According to the tournament regulations, the top 30 chip stacks from these flights advance to the final day on Thursday.

Although cash game poker is available at Sands China, MGM China, and Wynn Macau, this tournament is believed to be the first formal poker event in Macau since the PokerStars Live room at City of Dreams closed in 2018. 2,499 players started in the main tournament of the 2018 Macau Millions, the final major event held at City of Dreams.

Sands China’s Senior Vice President of Casino Operations, Andy Kobel, emphasized the event as a way to grow the market and enhance the customer experience. He saw that the local market responded well to The Venetian’s poker offerings.

In response to a question on potential future larger-scale events, Kobel said that Sands China is always searching for fresh ideas, including tournaments of various shapes and sizes.

The CEO of the World Poker Tour (WPT), Adam Pliska, expressed hope despite structural obstacles, particularly with dealers, indicating the organization’s intention in expanding its brand to Macau. Sands China, however, won’t comment on any recent discussions with the WPT.

Original story by: IAG