PokerStars NAPT 2024: Excitement on the Cards

PokerStars Live returns to the U.S. Nov. 1-10 with the second running of the North American Poker Tour (NAPT) Las Vegas stop at Resorts World Casino. Players can expect an even bigger series than last year with tournament buy-ins ranging from $250 to $25,000.

The action is highlighted by a $5,300 Main Event that features a $3 million guaranteed prize pool, a significant increase from last year’s $1,650 entry fee. That should likely bring an even larger field.

Players can also expect a few other marquee events including: a $550 Mystery Bounty (Nov. 1-4); $25,000 Super High Roller (Nov. 4-6); $10,300 High Roller (Nov. 8-10) and the $550 PokerStars NAPT Cup (Nov. 8-10).

Here’s a look at everything planned for this year’s series as well as a look back at last year’s winner.

Looking Back At The 2023 PokerStars NAPT

The 2023 series brought about the revival of the PokerStars NAPT after the series was shut down in 2011 following the federal government’s crackdown on wide-open online poker in the U.S. The brand has now returned and has found a nice niche in the poker schedule in November.

In 2023, Sami Bechahed, a former poker dealer from Costa Mesa, California, came out on top in the Main Event. He topped a field of 1,095 players for $268,945 and the second-largest win of his career.

“It was by far the highlight of my young professional career,” Bechahed tells Casino.org. “Being able to win it against top players like the ones I faced on the final table and prior, felt like a huge accomplishment. I will be attending this year, despite the fact that I now live in Paris. I still had to book my flight to Vegas and come defend my title!”

The winnings came in handy for Bechahed, whose wife was expecting a baby at the time. He says the extra cash helped in welcoming the baby boy into the world a month later. Those heading to Sin City for this year’s NAPT can expect a great experience, Bechahed says.

Image Credit: T. Schneider/Shutterstock

“Pokerstars really knows how to put together the best poker events,” he says. “I drove the morning of the last day one without booking any hotel and thinking about driving back home as soon as I busted but I never did. So it was a very last minute and disorganized organization (on my part).”

The NAPT champion saw much of his poker tournament a little up and down as well, but was able to overcome some setbacks on his way to the title.

“It was really a roller coaster tournament,” says Bechahed, who now has $1.5 million in live tournament winnings. “On Day 1, it took me four bullets (re-entries) to make it to Day 2, and I was contemplating giving up and driving home on the third one.

“Day 2 started amazingly, but toward the end of the day, I found myself with four big blinds left and came back from it. And then definitely won the most important flips, lost the not so important ones. I took the chip lead with eight players left and almost never lost it with three-fourths key hands going my way.”

Online Qualifiers Abound

The U.S. now has a state-by-state approach to online poker and PokerStars operates a shared liquidity platform in Michigan and New Jersey as well as a ringed-in platform in Pennsylvania. Additionally, Stars also operates a ringed-in platform in the Canadian province of Ontario.

This has meant PokerStars being able to offer online qualifiers, bringing in a wide range of players. That should continue this year and Resorts World director of poker operations Leon Wheeler is pleased to see the synergy that comes with working with one of the world’s biggest poker operators.

“I think this year we will have about 100 online qualifications,” he says. “I’m very excited to be hosting them, players that wouldn’t normally get a chance to play an event of this buy-in range – nice to see.”

Image Credit: Lev Radin/Shutterstock

Gronk’s Cash Game, Added Events, & More

Along with the regular tournament action, PokerStars will also be filming The Big Game cash game for television as part of the festivities, with NFL great Rob Gronkowski and sports media personality Nick Wright getting in on the action.

There is even more on tap, including several co-branded events. That includes an $1,100 event with the RunGood Poker Series on Nov. 4 with a $400,000 guarantee, the second largest of the festival.

The casino is also hosting the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival IX, which includes three tournaments along with the cash game action. Two of those come with $550 buy-ins and one with a $5,300 entry.

As at most PokerStars Liveseries, several events are on tap away from the table. That includes a visit to the Sphere, a players party, go karting, karaoke, visits to the Strat Tower, and more. Players have plenty to look forward to – win or lose.

Title Image Credit: PokerStars