Pennsylvania poker players suddenly have online options now that more sites are up and running. PokerStars PA continues to attract players while the new World Series of Poker PA site gears up to start awarding bracelets next week.
Meanwhile the partypoker US network has an August tournament series scheduled in PA as well on the BetMGM Poker PA and Borgata Poker PA sites.
The partypoker US Network Online Series will run from August 15-22, a 10-tournament series with guarantees totaling $220,000.
10 events, 8 days, buy-ins from $20 to $535
Buy-ins for the series range from a $20 “Mini” event with a $5,000 guarantee to the $535 finale with a series-high $50,000 guarantee.
All events are no-limit hold’em, aside from one pot-limit Omaha event. Among the NLH events, there is a progressive knockout bounty tournament and one turbo tournament with five-minute levels.
Here is the complete schedule:
| No. | Date | Time (ET) | Event (Gtd.) | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug. 15 (Su) | 5:00 p.m. | $35K Gtd. NLH 8-Max | $215 |
| 2 | Aug. 15 (Su) | 5:00 p.m. | $5K Gtd. Mini NLH 8-Max | $20 |
| 3 | Aug. 16 (M) | 8:00 p.m. | $20K Gtd. NLH 8-Max | $215 |
| 4 | Aug. 17 (T) | 8:00 p.m. | $20K Gtd. NLH 6-Max | $215 |
| 5 | Aug. 18 (W) | 8:00 p.m. | $10K Gtd. PLO 8-Max | $109 |
| 6 | Aug. 19 (Th) | 8:00 p.m. | $20K Gtd. NLH 8-Max Progressive KO Bounty | $320 |
| 7 | Aug. 20 (F) | 8:00 p.m. | $10K Gtd. NLH 6-Max Turbo | $109 |
| 8 | Aug. 21 (Sa) | 8:00 p.m. | $20K Gtd. NLH 8-Max | $215 |
| 9 | Aug. 22 (Su) | 5:00 p.m. | $30K Gtd. NLH 1/2 Price 8-Max | $109 |
| 10 | Aug. 22 (Su) | 5:00 p.m. | $50K Gtd. NLH 8-Max | $535 |
PA series parallels similar series in Michigan, New Jersey
This marks the third running of the partypoker US Network Online Series in Pennsylvania on BetMGM Poker PA and Borgata Poker PA. The two sites combine player pools although are otherwise ring-fenced meaning only players in Pennsylvania can play.
So far the series has featured 10 tournaments across eight days each time. The first iteration of the series came in late June with $270,000 in total guarantees. Small fields and significant overlays meant the second try in July scaled back guarantees to $195,000. Turnouts last month then encouraged the increase to $220,000 guarantees in August.
The partypoker US Network Online Series will mirror the BetMGM Online Series running in Michigan over the same August dates. The series on BetMGM Poker MI features 11 events with $330,000 in total guarantees.
There is also a partypoker US Network Online Series in New Jersey running a week earlier from August 8-15. That series similarly has 11 events while sporting $240,000 in guarantees. In NJ, the partypoker US network includes three sites, BetMGM Poker NJ, Borgata Poker NJ, and partypoker NJ.
As in PA, the sites and series in MI and NJ are also only for players located in the respective states.
New Pennsylvania online poker sites continue to trail PokerStars
The partypoker US Network Online Series will begin just as WSOP PA will conclude its first-ever WSOP Online Bracelet series for Pennsylvania players. After launching in July, WSOP PA will award eight bracelets during the week of August 8-15. Buy-ins range from $400 to a $3,200 high roller.
Meanwhile PokerStars PA has announced no special tournament series for August as yet. That said, PokerStars continues to dominate Pennsylvania as the newer sites work to get established.
According the online poker traffic tracking site PokerScout, PokerStars PA’s seven-day average of 160 players and most recent 24-hour peak of 638 is about six or seven times the current traffic on the other PA sites.
Lead image via Dreamstime.
