SOMUCHPOKER

MGM Poker Classic 2026 Returns to MGM Cotai Later This Month

Callum Jury
Callum JuryLive Content & Social Media Specialist
MGM Poker Classic
MGM Poker Classic

The MGM Poker Classic 2026 gets underway this Friday, June 26, at MGM Cotai in Macau. The 11-day festival runs through July 6 and carries a HKD 13,000,000 total guaranteed prize pool, headlined by an HKD 8,000,000 Main Event off a HKD 12,000 buy-in. Somuchpoker will be reporting live from MGM Cotai for the Main Event, covering chip counts, eliminations, and the full final table.

Tournament Highlights

The Main Event runs five starting flights across July 3 to 5, with Day 2 on July 6. Beyond the flagship event, the schedule covers the full range of modern tournament formats, with guaranteed prize pools attached to nine events across the series.

Event

Date

Buy-In (HKD)

GTD

NLH Mystery Bounty (×2)

Jun 27 & Jul 1

8,800

800,000 each

MGM Poker Classic Main Event

Jul 3–6

12,000

8,000,000

MPT High Roller – King of Glory

Jul 6

55,000

Fast Pass

Last Chance Freezeout / Deepstack Turbo

Jul 6

5,000

500,000

The supporting schedule includes PLO, Big O, PKO, HORSE, Short Deck, and Double Board Bomb Pot events throughout, giving players plenty of action beyond the Main Event across the full 11 days.

Format & Structure

All events run under standard MGM poker rules and current TDA guidelines, with Big Blind Ante as the standard structure. An Action Clock activates immediately after each deal — 15 seconds preflop, 30 seconds for each subsequent action after voluntarily entering the pot — with time-extension chips available when needed. Membership of the Alpha, Golden Lion Club, or Masters Club is required to participate, and smart casual dress is enforced throughout.

The Venue: MGM Cotai

MGM Cotai
MGM Cotai

MGM Cotai sits minutes from both Macau International Airport and the Taipa Ferry Terminal, with high-speed ferry services connecting directly from Hong Kong. All buy-ins, cash games, and payouts operate in Hong Kong Dollars (HKD), and entry fees must be paid strictly in cash or MGM Cotai live casino chips. Players should also note that filming or streaming live action is strictly prohibited under Macau gaming law. For a full overview of the local poker scene, our Macau poker guide has everything you need to plan the trip.

For the full schedule, event structures, and all the details on the MGM Poker Classic 2026, see our original preview:

About the Editor

Callum Jury

Callum Jury is Somuchpoker's Live Content and Social Media Specialist, reporting live from WSOP and Asia Pacific poker festivals including the APT and PokerStars LIVE series. Originally from the Lake District in the UK, he has covered the Southeast Asian poker circuit since 2025, combining day-by-day tournament reporting with the social and digital content that brings the action to fans.