Throughout August, PokerStars US runs the Champions Preseason as a lead-up to the storied US Championship of Online Poker (USCOOP) series with more than $1 million guaranteed. There will be geo-locked action in all three of PokerStars’ US jurisdictions, letting players pit themselves against the best in their state for online poker supremacy.
A Championship of Online Poker (COOP) title is among the most coveted accolades an online player can earn. A COOP title represents the pinnacle of online poker achievement, whether in the more extensive global series or a geo-locked jurisdiction.
PokerStars is putting more than $1 million guaranteed on the tables across its United States jurisdictions in the Champions Preseason as a warm-up to the big Championships. The series kicked off on August 19 across the PokerStars US real money poker landscape with players competing against in-state player pools.
- $150 in free funds
- Great tournament schedule
- Excellent player traffic
Champions Preseason Series Guarantees by State
- Series Dates: Aug 19 – 29
- PA: $500,000 Guaranteed
- $100k Main Event
- MI: $360,000 Guaranteed
- $80k Main Event
- NJ: $195,000 Guaranteed
- $30k Main Event
Prepare for the Oncoming USCOOP with the Champions Preseason
With the “USCOOP”: looming large on the horizon in September, PokerStars has thrown together a warm-up series to whet the poker appetite and build hype for the upcoming Championships series. Not only will players get plenty of chances to practice their Hold’em and Omaha skills during the Champions Preseason, but there are even a few games to test the all-around skills of players in 8-game and HORSE.
There are 31 games in PA and MI, with 24 in NJ. Games in all states range from as little as $1 through to the $500 Big Game, so there is likely a game to fit every bankroll in this series, which makes it the perfect preparation for the multiple buy-in levels of the COOP series format.
There are multiple events daily across the three jurisdictions, with the Main Event starting on August 28 across three states. The series is a good fit for many bankrolls, with many games in the $20-$50 buy-in range.
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Last Chances to Compete for State Prizes?
While the Champions Preseason and the upcoming USCOOP series will run under the existing geo-locked player pools, there is compelling evidence that 2022 may be the last year of single-state events in the USA. Earlier in 2022, Michigan became the fourth state to sign the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).
While that still leaves PA out in the cold as far as shared liquidity goes, the decision by Michigan was a huge step forward for US multi-state online poker. There are still hurdles for Michigan operators to jump before the state can join the existing New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware pool. Still, the path looks clear for Michiganders to be able to play in multi-state player pools sometime before the end of 2022 or in early 2023.
The interstate poker path for PA is somewhat less clear. While the state has expressed interest in the MSIGA, the current term-limited governor of the state may well punt the decision to his successor. With Michigan joining the multi-state fray, however, the road ahead for PA looks a lot smoother are least.
Champions Preseason action gets going on August 19 and runs through August 29 in all three PokerStars markets. Whether you are in NJ, MI, or PA, log on to the PokerStars US app now to join the Champions Preseason and get in shape for the oncoming USCOOP. See below for a look at the schedules for each state.
PokerStars PA Champions Series Lobby
PokerStars NJ Champions Series Lobby
PokerStars MIChampions Series Lobby
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