WSOP events are far from the only major poker tournaments in Las Vegas in the summer. Many casinos around town have released their schedules for what is sure to be an exciting two months in Sin City.
The usual suspects – Golden Nugget, Aria, Venetian, and also Planet Hollywood – have recently released series schedules beginning in May. We’re still waiting for the Wynn to follow suit. Dates and events for the Wynn Summer Classic should be finalized in the coming weeks.
Aria Poker Classic
Aria Resort and Casino, a center Strip MGM property, boasts one of the most popular poker rooms in the world. At this fine establishment, you’ll find daily low to mid-stakes poker tournaments that draw large crowds from June 2 to July 14. Tournament director Paul Campbell shared the complete schedule on Twitter.
2019 @ARIAPoker Classic Schedule….with GUARANTEES 😎
This IS the correct version@Kevmath @EricDanisPoker pic.twitter.com/S78QdUARzt
— Paul Campbell (@TDPaulCampbell) March 1, 2019
Not listed in that tweet are the biggest events the casino will host this year. On May 27, the final WPT open event of the season – $10,000 Aria Summer Championship – kicks off. Five days later, the season concludes at the Aria with the Tournament of Champions. Not a bad way to kickoff the summer.
Golden Nugget’s ‘The Grand’ Poker Series
Fremont Street is certainly the place to be over the summer if you’re a low-stakes poker tournament grinder. The party begins May 28 and doesn’t stop until July 8. Buy-ins range from $120 to $1,000. The most expensive event – Seniors High Roller (June 15) – is only open to the 55 and over crowd.
You’ll find a good mix of poker variants on the schedule. On the first day of the series, Golden Nugget hosts $120 and $150 no-limit hold’em tournaments, and also a $250 Omaha hi-low/8 or better event. The biggest event of the summer – $600 No-Limit Hold’em – kicks off June with the first of three Day One starting flights. That tournament features a $600,000 guarantee, the biggest of the series.
Golden Nugget also scheduled four $200 buy-in tournaments (May 30, June 6, June 20, July 4) that guarantee between $250,000 and $300,000 in prize money.
Venetian DeepStack Championship Series
Unless you’re so anti-Sheldon Adelson that you can’t stand the thought of stepping foot into one of his properties, Venetian offers a wide-range of low and mid-stakes poker tournaments starting on May 13 until July 28. More than $24 million in prize money will be awarded throughout this massive series.
The biggest event of the series – $5,000 Main Event – starts July 17 and has a $2 million guarantee. The Mid-States Poker Tour will be at the Venetian, a north central Strip casino, for a pair of $3 million guaranteed tournaments – $1,100 (June 3) and $1,600 (June 17).
Goliath Phamous Poker Series at Planet Hollywood
Last but not least, the popular Goliath Phamous Poker Series is back at Planet Hollywood beginning May 28. The “phamous” poker extravaganza concludes July 7 at the Caesars-owned Las Vegas Strip property.
This series features some different types of tournaments than you’ll find elsewhere such as the $50 All-in or Fold event on June 26. In that tournament, you can’t make a standard bet or raise. It’s either move all-in or muck your cards.
Starting May 29 with the first three of nine Day One starting flights, Planet Hollywood also plays host to the a $100 buy-in tournament with a $150,000 guarantee. There aren’t many six-figure guaranteed tournaments that cheap.
You won’t only find dirt cheap poker at Planet Hollywood this summer.
Key Goliath Phamous Poker Series Events
- Goliath Quarter Milly (June 4) $250 NLH ($250,000 guaranteed)
- Goliath Half Milly (June 5) $600 NLH ($500,000 guaranteed)
- Seniors No-Limit Hold’em (June 14) $600 ($100,000 guaranteed, $25,000 to winner)
- Pot-Limit Omaha (June 20) $1,100 ($75,000 guaranteed)
And what poker series would be complete without a Main Event? Certainly not the Goliath. The Main Event, a $1,700 buy-in tournament, begins July 2 and has a $1 million guarantee.
