![Australian poker players can look forward to a few upcoming World Poker Tour events and the tour recently announced dates for those stops. The company hosts two upcoming series at The Star Gold Coast. The first is a AUD$1,500 WPT Prime event, as part of a complete festival running June 9-20. The main event also runs June 16-20. Australia’s first Main Tour event then heads to the same casino in September. The complete WPT festival runs Sept. 15-27 with the inaugural AUD$5,400 Main Tour stop planned for Sept. 23-27. "With interstate and international travelers returning to our shores in search of incredible experiences and entertainment, we’re excited to announce The Star Gold Coast will welcome not one, but two, major poker events later this year,” Star Gold Coast COO Jessica Mellor said in a news release. [cta id=975 type=geo] “In a real coup for the city, the WPT Main Tour event will make its way to the Gold Coast for the very first time in September, bringing all the prestige of the best poker players in the world. Meanwhile, WPT Prime Gold Coast in June is expected to attract interest from thousands of poker fans across Australia and the Asia Pacific after our 2021 event set a new record with over 1,000 entries.” More details on the Australia events WPT Prime brings a new brand to the company. Prime is the company’s newly branded mid-stakes tournament. The series replaces the WPTDeepStacks tour later this year. The tour is promising an enhanced player experience at Prime events including: live streaming coverage on the WPT website as well the tour’s YouTube and Twitch channels the use of Action Clocks a Player of the Festival leaderboard Players earning points toward WPT Player of the Year “With the introduction of WPT Prime at The Star Gold Coast,” WPT Vice President of global tour management Angelica Hael said, “we are thrilled to have the opportunity to further elevate our global players’ experience.” The WPT announced official dates recently for the tour's upcoming stops in Australia. (photo courtesy WPT) Adding to WPT Australia events The two new tour events follow up on a couple other recent events in the region. The WPTDeepStacks festival at The Star Sydney boasted an all-time high for most main event entries at 2,023. The new WPT Asia-Pacific also recently saw records for: total festival entries – 6,392) total festival prize pool – $6.6 million main event prize pool – $2.7 million Along with the Australian events, the tour also announced this week that the WPT Venetian is heading back to Las Vegas beginning on July 12. The tour also announced an additional stop heading to the Seminole Hard Rock Tampa in Florida.](https://www.pokerscout.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/wpt-announces-three-eventd-in-australia.jpg)
The World Poker Tour announced a major deal with The Star Entertainment Group on Monday that will see three events heading to Australia in 2022.
Details include the first Main Tour stop in the country later this year as well as the first WPT event in Sydney.
“Poker players in Australia have always been passionate about the game and the partnership with The Star Entertainment Group allows us to expand our presence there,” WPT CEO Adam Pliska said in a news release.
“Hosting the first WPT event at The Star Sydney puts us front and center in the largest poker market in Australia, one of the most iconic cities of the world, adding another element to our 20th anniversary celebration.”
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WPT heading to Sydney
Players down under can expect a trio of events heading their way this year. The first is a WPTDeepStacks (WPTDS) series at The Star Sydney from March 30 to April 11.
The WPTDS AUD$1,500 Main Event headlines the 12-tournament schedule from April 7-11. The tournament offers three starting flights and unlimited re-entry.
A few highlights from the schedule include a $750 opening event, a two-day $2,000 event, and the $5,000 Challenge. In May, the WPTDS Gold Coast produced 1,113 entries for a AUD$1.5 million prize pool.
Star Sydney features five-star accommodations with excellent dining and entertainment options. Property management is pleased to host the WPT for the first time in Sydney and has big expectations for the event.
“The Star has hosted some of the biggest names in sport, music, and entertainment, and we look forward to welcoming the world’s best poker players,” Star Sydney COO Damian Quayle said. “The Star is the home of poker in Australia, and we are thrilled with our partnership with WPT to host this globally-recognized tournament for the first time ever in Sydney.
“With the WPT celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2022, this event will be the first time that WPT sets a footprint in Sydney. This looks set to be the biggest ever staged in Asia Pacific and with the world’s best players here to compete, Sydney and The Star will be showcased as one of the best vacation playgrounds in the world.”
The tour recently announced that both Main Tour and WPTDS championship events will count toward the WPT Player of the Year race.
More highlights from the deal
After Sydney, two more Australian stops will head to The Star Gold Coast. The WPT hasn’t released dates and details on those events yet, but one will be a Main Tour stop.
WPT officials will announce complete details for the series upon regulatory approval.
“I could not be more excited to be bringing a Main Tour stop to my home country,” WPT Vice President Angelica Hael said. “I look forward to greeting every single one of my fellow Aussies at the event and welcoming the world to an amazing host property, The Star.”
All Australian events will be streamed live at WPT.com as well as the WPT’s official YouTube and Twitch channels.