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Poker tournaments start up again in Macau, including the WPT in June
Asia's Las Vegas, as Macau is called, experienced huge losses during the pandemic and has been slow to recover. However, casino profits are currently on the rise and so it is time for new collaborations.
First tournament in six years
The first interesting thing is the relaunch of live poker tournaments. While poker is regularly played here, it is cash game only and the last tournament held here was in April 2018 when the PS Live Macau Millions took place, with the Main Event attracting 2,499 entries.
Tournament poker is picking up again here these days. The first tournament in six years is taking place right now at Sands China more specifically at the Venetian Macau casino. The Macau Masters lasts for 4 days and the buy-in is $384. The tournament started just a few days after the Macau Gaming Control and Coordination Bureau granted formal approval for the tournament.
WPT coming to Macau
The latest information is from the Wynn Macau casino environment. This casino has teamed up with the WPT and Allied Gaming & Entertainment (AGAE), and together they have signed a contract to host the WPT Macau earlier this year. AGAE will be responsible for marketing, production and event management.
Yinghua Chen, CEO of AGAE, said: "We are thrilled to join forces with two esteemed global partners to bring the World Poker Tour to Macau. With a shared commitment to improving offerings in this rapidly expanding entertainment market, we are poised to make a significant impact. This is the WPT's inaugural physical presence in Macau after more than two decades of operation."
When will it all kick off?
WPT Macau will take place at the Wynn Macau Casino on the dates of June 18 to 24. The schedule, of course, also includes the Main Event known as the WPT Championship with a buy-in of HK$40,000 ($5,126), which will take place from June 20 to 24. There will also be a WPT High Roller with a buy-in of HK$200,000 ($25,630), which will take place on June 19 and 20.
"Macau has long been a sought-after destination for us as we want to bring the WPT experience to the region," said Adam Pliska, CEO of the WPT. "Thank you to AGAE and Wynn Macau for helping us expand our global footprint. We look forward to an incredible event."
Wynn Macau President, Vice Chairman and CEO Linda Chen also commented, " We are thrilled to partner with AGAE to bring one of the most prestigious global poker competitions to Macau, making its debut in this vibrant city. The World Poker Tour invites legendary poker players from around the world, which will enhance Macau's global appeal and cement its position as a world centre for tourism and leisure. This exciting mega-event further demonstrates our commitment to bringing world-class international entertainment events to Macau and is set to captivate a new wave of global visitors eager to experience the dynamism of our city."
WPT Macau marks the first ever WPT event to be held in an Asian gaming hub. On a final note, Macau's report for fiscal year 2023 shows a 433% year-on-year increase in December alone as the industry continues to recover.
Source - news.worldcasinodirectory.com, gamblinginsider.com, asgam.com, poker.org, wpt.com