Most Prestigious Poker Tournaments in New York

Poker is a popular game worldwide, and whether you are an eager player yourself, or you just want to enjoy the spectacle of top contenders pitting their wits against one another, New York is the place to be.

While gambling activities are largely illegal in the state, things are beginning to change, and in addition to the huge amounts wagered via online sports betting, there are tribal casinos where legal poker games and tournaments are hosted.

Anyone who is over 21 can visit these casinos and play a casual hand or two, but what about the high profile face-offs, where some of the best poker players of all time have battled for supremacy? With that in mind, let’s look at some of the most significant poker tournaments hosted in New York.

WSOP Events

It should be no surprise that the World Series of Poker visits significant venues in New York as it rumbles around the country each year, with the Turning Stone Casino in Verona being just one of the places that is frequently turned over to flagship events.

On the poker scene, nothing is more prestigious than winning a WSOP bracelet, and anyone who wants to eventually stand alongside the greats of the game will need to attend events like this and enter feeder tournaments to build up their credibility, as well as their bankroll.

While the final is still hosted in Las Vegas, the combination of regional tournaments as well as online equivalents means that it is more accessible than ever. In addition, the TV and streaming coverage means you don’t even need to go in person if you want to get a taste of what world class play looks like.

Empire State Hold’em Championships

Like a lot of land-based poker experiences, this tournament was disrupted by the pandemic, but is likely to come back bigger and better than ever in the near future.

Once again it is the Turning Stone Casino which hosts this annual tournament, and an appealing aspect is the relatively low buy-in, which in the most recent case was just $500.

Over 200 players participate on average, and the prize pool sits at around $120,000 depending on the number of entrants. So while the winner may not become a millionaire overnight, they can still enjoy a sizable payday if they are skilled and lucky enough.

The tournament runs for a total of three days to accommodate the number of players involved, and lots of pros have cut their teeth at this event.

No Limit Texas Hold’em Mega Stack Tournament

Over at Resort World Catskills, there are poker events almost every hour of the day, with different entry requirements and different payout potential.

The most interesting of the bunch are the Mega Stack tournaments which are scheduled for every Thursday. Here the game is traditional Texas Hold’em, and there is no limit on the size of the pot or the amount you can wager on each hand.

Likewise there is a $125 buy-in, and you’ll need to turn up by 10.15AM if you want to get your foot in the door of this tournament.

While it might not have the glitz and glamor of some events, the frequency of this tournament means it is ideal for the purposes of practicing and perfecting your skills. Of course with the buy-in being relatively steep compared with the standard tables at this casino, it’s also not for first-timers.

World Poker Tour

Like the WSOP, the WPT Championships have done a lot to bring public attention to poker in recent years, and New York is often used for various regional events and tournaments which contribute to the global league that this organization represents.

Most recently the WPT DeepStacks tour has graced New York’s handful of casinos, and since then it has moved on to as far afield as Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Sydney in Australia.

Some of these events are live streamed, which also helps to open this out to as many people as possible who are interested in watching the masters work their magic at the poker table. And with steeper buy-ins of $1000 or more, there is a reason that these tournaments are taken seriously whenever they roll into town.

Finally, it’s worth noting that New York City itself does have poker tournaments from time to time, but these are hosted privately by organizations which do not profit from the gambling itself, in order to stay on the right side of the law.