In this column, we deliver you the latest and most interesting online poker industry news from across the world and all platforms.
PokerStars USA announces SCOOP 2022 coming this March
US-geolocated players are in for an earlier festival grind this 2022 as PokerStars’ annual Spring Championship of Online Poker hits the felt this coming March 25th through April 11th. The signature series will cover 18 days of thrilling action available exclusively for its New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan markets. While PokerStars NJ and PokerStars PA have hosted several previous editions, PokerStars MI will see another exciting tournament schedule across its virtual arena following last year’s inaugural success.
While the dates have been officially revealed, more details of its guarantees and tournament offerings are yet to be announced. Last year’s events covered over $6 million in combined prizes across the three markets with each having run more than 120 tournaments to surpass its respective festival guarantees. This 2022’s schedule and total prize pools will likely mirror its latest completed edition with the turnouts expected to see a slight increase suggesting even greater value for all participating players.
https://twitter.com/PokerStarsUSA/status/1498673170919927810?s=20&t=r6s3XAMQmHBps2ZPhhJROw
CoinPoker hosts Crypto Series of Online Poker
Just two weeks following the Crypto Series of Online Poker Mini, CoinPoker continues its budding momentum with an even bigger online poker festival in addition to its out of the world high roller cash games. This year’s first of two CSOP series will run ten days of action-packed events covering two tournaments a day from April 8th through the 17th. With the second festival scheduled for later this fall, next month’s events will feature buy-ins ranging from ₮10 – ₮200 with its largest guarantee listed at a sweet ₮7,500.
Aside from the juicy games, runners can compete in the festival’s own CSOP Leaderboard for greater rewards. The top three winners will receive tournament passports in addition to their bonus cash prizes while the rest will likewise be entitled to tournament tickets for the following series. There are two types of tournament passports players can vie for: Big Tournament Passport – consists free entries to all events in the next CSOP, valued at ₮1,790 and the regular Tournament Passport – consists free entries to the next CSOP except for the last day’s events, valued at ₮1,260.
2022 CSOP Events Schedule
| Event | Date (GMT) | Game | Format | Buy-in (₮) | Stack Size | GTD (₮) | Comment | |
| 1 | April 8, 6:00 PM | NLHE | R+A, Turbo | 10 | 5000 | 2500 | ||
| 2 | April 8, 8:00 PM | NLHE | 1R | 50 | 5000 | 2500 | ||
| 3 | April 9, 6:00 PM | PLO | R+A, Turbo | 10 | 5000 | 2000 | ||
| 4 | April 9, 8:00 PM | NLHE | PKO, Turbo | 50 | 5000 | 2000 | ||
| 5 | April 10, 6:00 PM | NLHE | Rebuy, No Addon | 100 | 5000 | 4000 | ||
| 6 | April 10, 8:00 PM | NLHE | Freezeout | 200 | 10000 | 7500 | ||
| 7 | April 11, 6:00 PM | 5PLO | R+A, Hyper | 10 | 3000 | 1500 | ||
| 8 | April 11, 8:00 PM | PLO | Freezeout | 100 | 10000 | 4000 | ||
| 9 | April 12, 6:00 PM | NLHE | PKO | 100 | 10000 | 3000 | ||
| 10 | April 12, 8:00 PM | NLHE | R+A | 20 | 5000 | 2500 | ||
| 11 | April 13, 6:00 PM | NLHE | Freezeout, Slow | 150 | 10000 | 4000 | ||
| 12 | April 13, 8:00 PM | NLHE | R+A, Hyper | 20 | 3000 | 2000 | ||
| 13 | April 14, 6:00 PM | PLO | 1R | 50 | 5000 | 2000 | ||
| 14 | April 14, 8:00 PM | 5PLO | 1R+A | 20 | 5000 | 1500 | ||
| 15 | April 15, 6:00 PM | NLHE | PKO | 100 | 10000 | 4000 | ||
| 16 | April 15, 8:00 PM | NLHE | R+A | 100 | 5000 | 5000 | ||
| 17 | April 16, 6:00 PM | PLO | R+A | 20 | 5000 | 2000 | ||
| 18 | April 16, 8:00 PM | NLHE | Freezeout | 150 | 10000 | 4000 | ||
| 19 | April 17, 6:00 PM | NLHE | R+A | 30 | 5000 | 4000 | NoMercy ₮200 Bounty | |
| 20 | April 17, 8:00 PM | NLHE | 1R, Deep Stack | 500 | 12000 | 30000 | TonyG 1K Bounty |
Rush Street Interactive acquires Run It Once Poker, set for US market entry
After Run It Once Poker ceased its international operations to start the year, the brand has now welcomed a major breakthrough and is working in preparation for its awaited entry to the US market. The announced move comes in the wake of major iGaming company Rush Street Interactive’s acquisition of the company for $5.8 million, $3.3 million in cash and $2.5 million in stock. A vehicle for growth, the completed sale is in the process of integrating Run It Once’s operations into the gaming operator’s vertical which runs two major online casinos and sportsbook platforms under brands SugarHouse and BetRivers.
“When I mentioned that Run It Once Poker was headed down a path towards the US market, I told you that I’d have more details to share with you in the near future,” Galfond posted on Twitter. “Today is the future!”
“We spoke with many potential partners over the last 18 months and are very excited to be on team RSI! They share our values: honesty, integrity, fairness, and transparency – and not only with their players. They stood out to me in the fair and honest way they dealt with us.”
Lacking an online poker option, Run It Once will have the opportunity to tap into RSI’s large customer base and utilize the parent company’s existing gaming license in states New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania where regulated online poker is allowed and operational. The early compact appears to be working well with RIO’s existing team which have been absorbed in their function as part of the agreement, including three-time bracelet winner Phil Galfond.
“We really were impressed by the management team, including the company’s Principle, Phil Galfond, who is one of the most respected poker players in the world,” said Richard Schwartz, CEO of RSI.
GGPoker lightens tax burden for German players
Lighter taxes for Germany’s online poker market looks to be a much needed adjustment as its player pool struggles with the country’s imposed regulations. The online gambling law which took effect mid last year, requires operators to charge a 5.3% turnover tax across tables, most especially affecting cash game grinders. Reported firstly by PRO, leading gaming giant GGPoker has since scrapped the tax rate whilst increasing the rake to keep up with the difference. Other games such as tournaments and sit & go’s also carry lower tax implications at 3%.
“GGPoker prides itself on listening to our community and making changes that benefit all players, regardless of how often they play or their preferred game types,” said Paul Burke, Head of PR at GGPoker told PRO.
“These changes will make GGPoker even more attractive to our German players, and we expect the improvements to keep coming.”
