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PokerStars Open Philadelphia Debuts as First US Stop in 2025

PokerStars Open Philadelphia Debuts as First US Stop in 2025
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Iva Dozet News Editor
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: March 25, 2025 · 2 minutes to read

PokerStars has decided to bring its particular brand of live poker back to the States this April with the launch of a new series — PokerStars Open Philadelphia. Running from April 21–27, 2025, at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, the festival marks the North American debut of the PokerStars Open brand.

This is a fresh start for PokerStars’ live events in the U.S., and Philly gets the honor of hosting the opener. The venue? A 30-table poker room in the middle of South Philadelphia’s Stadium District. The vibe? Plenty of regional players, a few familiar faces from Team Pro, and a schedule packed to the brim with action.

Let’s take a look at what’s in store.

The PokerStars Open Philadelphia Main Event: $500K Guaranteed

The headline event of PokerStars Open Philadelphia is, of course, a $1,100 buy-in Main Event that runs from April 23 to 27. It comes with a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool, which should be enough to pull in a strong field from across the region — and likely beyond.

Five days of play, plenty of qualifiers (more on that below), and a mid-range buy-in that hits the sweet spot between accessibility and prestige. It’s the kind of setup that works for both weekend warriors and more seasoned grinders.

Schedule Highlights

Here’s a quick look at the rest of the notable events on the schedule so far:

EventBuy-inDateNotes
High Roller$2,200April 22–23Likely to draw a tighter, tougher field
PokerStars Cup$400April 27$40K guaranteed; good value, single-day format
Women’s Event$300April 24$10K guaranteed
NHL Bounty$300April 23Bounty prizes on PokerStars Team Pros

Expect more tournaments to be added once the full schedule drops, but these give a good sense of the mix PokerStars is aiming for—variety in both format and buy-in level.

Qualify Online From March 19

Just because Philly snatched the honor of hosting the US debut of the PokerStars Open, doesn’t mean the playing field is limited to one state alone. Players in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ontario can win seats into PokerStars Open Philadelphia online.

Satellites start at $10 and begin running on March 19 in the PokerStars client. If you’re in a regulated market, this is your shot to play a live PokerStars event without breaking the bankroll.

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia

The festival will be held at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, right in the thick of South Philly’s Stadium District. The casino’s poker room has 30 tables and hosts regular Hold’em, Omaha, and mixed games. So even if you’re not in the Main, there should be plenty of side action throughout the week.

PokerStars Open Philadelphia Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia

Anne Tran, Director of Poker at the venue, said the team is “ready to welcome poker enthusiasts from across the region to deliver an unforgettable experience”—and while we’ll skip the marketing buzz, it’s clear the casino is taking the event seriously.

What Is the PokerStars Open?

In case the name’s new to you, PokerStars Open is a recently launched live series that made its debut in Europe. The idea is to make live events more accessible while still keeping that polished, PokerStars-style tournament experience.

Philadelphia is the first North American stop, but probably not the last. The company has hinted that more announcements are coming for U.S. events later in 2025. Steve Priess, VP of North America, put it like this: “Poker is about heart, strategy, and knowing when to take your shot, and there’s no better place to showcase that spirit than in Philly.”

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