In the fall of 2023, Resorts World Las Vegas hosted the first PokerStars North American Poker Tour stop held in more than a decade. The debut series of the reborn NAPT attracted just shy of 3,200 entries across 17 events, with $4,264,665 in total prize money paid out along the way.
The well-received stop invited a return for 2024, with 10 days of tournament action between Nov. 1-10.
“Resorts World Las Vegas was thrilled to announce the highly-anticipated return of PokerStars and the NAPT this November. After last year’s tremendous success, we are eager to capitalize on that momentum and host an even more spectacular festival in 2024,” said Leon Wheeler, Director of Poker Operations for Resorts World Las Vegas.
The main event last fall featured a $1,650 buy-in that attracted 1,095 total entries, surpassing the $1.5 million guarantee to create a final prize pool of $1,609,650. Poker dealer turned pro Sami Bechahed came out on top, securing the trophy and the top prize of $268,945.
This year the NAPT main event will feature a larger $5,300 buy-in, with a massive $3 million guarantee. Players can win their seat with numerous qualifiers in the week leading up to the main event, including a unique satellite format that awards a tournament ticket once the player has reached 100,000 in chips.
There will be three starting flights for the main event, kicking off at 11 a.m. Nov. 5, 6, and 7. Players will start with 30,000 in chips and enjoy 60-minute levels. Players are allowed one re-entry per flight, and can even register up until the start of day 2 on Nov. 8. A shot clock will be implemented on day 3, along with time banks, and play will continue until a winner is crowned on Nov. 10.
Tournaments on the schedule include the $550 buy-in, $300,000 guaranteed mystery bounty kickoff, an $1,100 buy-in no-limit hold’em event with a $400,000 guarantee, and a $300,000 guaranteed no-limit freezeout. There is also a $330 ladies event, and a $550 event for seniors.
For those who like other games, there is a $5,300 eight-game mix, a $550 H.E.R.O.S. event, and two pot-limit Omaha events with buy-ins of $1,100 and $5,300. Overall buy-ins during the series range from $250 all the way up to $25,000.
“Last year, the NAPT smashed all expectations, so this year, we’re going even bigger. With a premier partner like Resorts World Las Vegas, we’re stepping up our game: bigger tournaments, buy-ins, and player-focused events,” said Steve Preiss, Vice President of PokerStars North America.
About Resorts World
Resorts World added some major energy to the north end of the Las Vegas Strip when the $4.3 billion property debuted in 2021. It marked the first new resort on the Strip in over a decade, developed on the site of the Stardust, which was demolished in 2007.
The property features a 117,000 square foot casino, and a 59-story hotel with three distinct Hotels. Las Vegas Hilton, Conrad Las Vegas, and Crockfords Las Vegas combine for nearly 3,500 total rooms. The casino floor features 1,400 slot machines, 117 table games, and of course, the poker room.
The Resorts World poker room features 29 tables, including a glass-enclosed area that hosts regular high-stakes mixed games. With an easy-to-use game tracking system from PokerAtlas, a robust daily tournament schedule, and some of the most comfortable chairs in the city, it’s no wonder why the poker room has become a player-favorite destination.
In addition to gaming, the property offers plenty of other world-class entertainment options, including the 5,000-person Resorts World Theater, the Zouk Nightclub, and the Ayu Beach House. There are also more than 50 dining and drinking establishments on site.
For more information on Resorts World Las Vegas, check out the official website.
Director Of Poker Operations Leon Wheeler
Card Player: What has been the feedback you have received about the upcoming PokerStars series?
Leon Wheeler: We are hearing a lot of excitement about the event – our high-stakes players asking about the bigger mixed events. And we have been giving away packages so the buzz is high.
CP: How have things changed from the first year?
LW: The main event has increased to $5,300 this year and with that comes bigger expectations. We have also added a couple of partners like RunGood and CardPlayer Lifestyle to host some events.
My favorite is the $550 PokerStars NAPT Cup. It’s an affordable event that a lot of our regulars will be playing. Also, the main event increase gives the festival some prestige and is in line with the high NAPT and EPT standards.
CP: What kind of experience can players expect?
LW: Players can expect some big crowds and a smooth transition from player sign ups to registration, and a fun professional event we have grown accustomed to from PokerStars.
CP: How has it been to partner with one of the biggest online poker operators in the world?
LW: I can’t express enough how proud I am to be doing my part in bringing PokerStars back to the Las Vegas Strip. They are a great partner, and I am very familiar with them as I have worked at PokerStars events around the world for many years, so it was a perfect fit. This has played out to be such a fun event and we are looking forward to its growth for many years to come, along with our partnership with PokerStars.
