by Mario Alfonsi | Published on Mar 20, 2020 | Updated on Mar 20, 2020
The live poker tournament scene has been significantly affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but all is well online, with a number of operators announcing huge online tournaments for players and fans at home. PokerStars, the biggest online poker operator in the world is leading from the front.
The world’s largest online poker room is gearing up for the Pennsylvania debut of its popular flagship series Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP). Accordingly, the Pennsylvanian edition is named Pennsylvania Spring Championship of Online Poker (PASCOOP).
The complete details of the online festival have not been released yet, but initial info from the President of PokerStars USA Matt Premeax indicates that a massive $2 million in guaranteed prize money will be up for grabs throughout the tournament. The target kick off will be on April 4, assuming everything goes well. PASCOOP will run simultaneously with NJSCOOP (New Jersey).
The inaugural PASCOOP is set to become the largest tournament series to be hosted by PokerStars in the US regulated market, surpassing the April 2018 edition of NJSCOOP, which featured $1.3 million in total guarantees.
The 2019 WSOP Online Championships Series still holds the record for the biggest online tournament series in the US. Organized through a partnership between WSOP and 888, the festival awarded $3.5 million in total prize money to winners. It took place in conjunction with the land-based WSOP series in June-July 2019.
While the WSOP/888 network is yet to enter the Keystone State, it currently has an edge in terms of player base in the US, as it serves multiple states – Nevada, Delaware and New Jersey, which are all under an interstate gaming compact, allowing players from three states to compete against each other in a single network. PokerStars meanwhile is only live in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in separate pools.
What’s In Store For Pennsylvanians
PASCOOP marks PokerStars’ fourth tournament series in Pennsylvania since it went live there back in November last year. The $2 million guarantees gives us hints as to how big the upcoming festival will be. What could be in store for online poker players in Pennsylvania?
The festival is expected to be at least a two-week affair, kicking off on April 4. The Main Event could feature a guarantee of up to $175,000, with a possible buy-in of $300. The entire series could include up to 85 tournaments, with buy-ins ranging from $30 to $1000. The festival is also expected to feature a mix of formats, including an 8-Game variant, as well as Omaha. Freerolls are also expected to run throughout the series.
