PokerStars adjusts Open buy-ins at EPTs to enhance player experience
PokerStars Open buy-ins are changing at EPT Festivals. Find out how and why here.
If you’ve played live poker anywhere in Europe over the past two years, you’ve felt it. The game is thriving, and tournament fields are smashing records at nearly every PokerStars event, especially on the prestigious European Poker Tour (EPT).
But with booming attendance comes a challenge: long waitlists and crowded tables. At PokerStars Open events running alongside EPT festivals, surging demand has sometimes meant players waiting to be seated or being forced to play 10-handed. This can dampen the experience, particularly for first-timers, online qualifiers, Power Path winners, and recreational players chasing their dream.
That’s why PokerStars is introducing key updates to its PokerStars Open buy-in levels at EPT stops, all designed to improve the experience and cut down wait times.
CHANGES TO OPEN BUY-INS (IN A NUTSHELL)
- PokerStars Open buy-in now €1,650 from €1,100
- PokerStars Open Cup buy-in now €825 from €550
- PokerStars Open High Roller buy-in now €2,700 from €2,200
Buy-ins at standalone PokerStars Open events (Namur, Malaga, Manchester and Cannes) will remain unchanged.
“These updates are a direct result of player input and the evolving demands of large-scale live tournaments, when operating in restricted capacity,” said Toby Stone, EPT Tournament Director.
“It’s fantastic to see the success of PokerStars Open events and continued growth at EPTs. Our teams are committed to providing a world-class experience, and we believe these changes will help maintain that at our larger events with reduced waitlists and queueing time.”
Stone says the changes are a “direct result of player input”
NO MORE 10-HANDED
PokerStars has also guaranteed there will be no more 10-handed play. “These changes are also driven by player comfort, and we guarantee no more 10-handed play in any tournament,” said Stone. “Nine will be the maximum, as well as a maximum of 8-handed when in the money.”
The adjustments follow on from PokerStars’ recent live event rule changes designed to create a fairer and safer player experience, showcasing PokerStars’ commitment to continuous improvement and listening to player feedback.
PokerStars Open events provide players with huge €/£1 million GTD Main Event prizepools, a packed schedule, accessible buy-ins, and a whole host of fantastic off-felt activities in vibrant European locations.
WILL POWER PATH PACKAGES BE AFFECTED?
Yes. If players wish to use their Silver Passes for PokerStars Open events attached to EPT festivals, the $2,500 value will now be split differently from standalone Open events.
Silver Pass packages at PokerStars Open Barcelona, Malta and Prague will now offer the PokerStars Open Main Event buy-in (€1,650) and expenses, removing the Cup buy-in, but retaining the same $2,500 value to allow players a larger portion of expenses, as per player feedback.
Read ‘Open or EPT: Where should you use your Silver Pass?’
THE NEXT POKERSTARS OPEN
The next PokerStars Open stop gets underway next week in Namur, Belgium, running from May 28 to June 9 at Circus Casino Resort Namur.
It marks the latest stop in PokerStars Live League, where players can earn points to increase their ranking on the leaderboards, and knock current leaders Enrico Camosi (High), Luke Marsh (Medium), and Andreas Froehi (Low) off their first-place positions.
Players can qualify for PokerStars Open Namur, Malaga and Barcelona via online satellites from just €1.10 from Sunday, May 25th.
Here’s all you need to know about PokerStars Open Namur.
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