The Most Exciting Upcoming Poker Events to Look Forward to in Early 2022

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A close-up shot of a man’s hands at a poker table lifting cards to look at them.
BetMGM Feb 22, 2022, 11:12 AM

After the disruption and uncertainty caused by the pandemic and the subsequent safety measures, it’s been a frustrating couple of years for players who love to get out to the many poker tournaments held around the country. But things are starting to look up for those who want to compete at live venues, and the scene is recovering in earnest. This year has the potential to be one of the most exciting competition calendars yet, with a host of establishments reopening their doors in addition to the many online poker tournaments that run throughout the year. 

Whether you’re keen to sit across a real table and take in the action at land-based events or prefer to do your gaming online, there’s a whole raft of upcoming poker events on the way. 

The beauty of these events is that everyone starts as equals (providing they can afford the buy-in, of course,) and many players have leaped out of relative obscurity to claim glory. The cards have a habit of creating destinies that exceed even the greatest expectations of those who take their seat on the first day. All it takes is a couple of good hands and the Texas Hold’em poker gods to smile upon you, and you could easily find yourself going deep in any tournament you enter. So what’s coming up?

Escalator Series VI

Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Dates: February 9 to March 6

The Escalator Series is one of Florida’s biggest drawcards and receives entries from all over the world. The series’ name refers to the “escalating” prize pools over the tournament’s runtime of four weeks, with each weekend offering a chance to win big. All games are No Limit Hold’em, and buy-ins start at $150 for the first week, $200 for the following week, and $400 in the final week of the tournament (so think carefully whether you have sufficient bankroll to enter.) The stakes start high and finish in orbit, creating a tense but enjoyable atmosphere that makes this one of our favorite upcoming poker events. 

EPT Prague 2022

Location: King’s Casino, Prague, Czech Republic

Dates: March 5 to 16

If you want some of the finest action Europe has to offer, you needn’t look any further than this year’s EPT, in historic Prague. Following 2021’s postponement due to Covid-19, it’ll now be held in March, and as always, the King’s Casino will play host to some of the best players in the world. Buy-ins range anywhere from $380 to $12,000, depending on which tournament you want to enter. The Eureka Series is perfect for a lower bankroll, with the main event setting you back just over $1,200 to take your seat. If you’ve never been, now is the time to get a taste for one of the best live poker events on the international calendar.

WPTDeepstacks Thunder Valley

Location: Thunder Valley, California

Dates: April 28 to May 1

Thunder Valley’s new state-of-the-art yet elegantly designed Poker Room is the proud host of one of the tour’s biggest events. With a 27-table capacity, excellent atmosphere and prize pool that’s worth every penny of the $1,500 buy-in, this year’s WPTDeepstacks promises to live up to its stellar reputation. The 2022 prize pool hasn’t been announced officially yet, but Michael Rossito took home around $250,000 last year, which proves that you don’t need to hit the Vegas poker events to catch the high-quality, high-stakes hold’em tournaments. 

Super High Roller Bowl VII

Location: ARIA, Las Vegas

Dates: From May 27

The PGT 2022 season is already off to a flying start, and the Super High Roller Bowl is the jewel in its star-studded crown. Scheduled to start May 27 in the ARIA’s ultra-modern PokerGO Studio, the Super High Roller Bowl is one of the most exclusive events on tour, and if you can stump up the $300,000 buy-in, you’ll have bought yourself a ticket to one of the biggest paydays around, with a multimillion-dollar prize for the winner. Vegas poker events don’t come much bigger and more prestigious than this one.

World Series of Poker 2022

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

Dates: May 31 to July 19

The big daddy of them all, the WSOP returns to Vegas this year and, barring any last-minute schedule changes, is set to go ahead as planned. The major difference is the move from the Rio to Bally’s and Paris Casino following a 17-year stay at the iconic venue. But it still holds all the magic you would expect from one of the world’s premier poker tournaments with Vince Vaughn, this year’s high-profile host. As always, the buy-in is set at $10,000 for the main event with various satellites for those with smaller bankrolls. Either way, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the business.

Gear up for this year’s major live poker events and visit our online casino

There’s no better way to prepare for glory than to play poker online with BetMGM or join us in person at one of our many exquisite MGM venues. Whether you’re serious about going deep, just want to experience the thrill of going head-to-head with some of the world’s best, or are happy to stand on the sidelines and take it all in, nothing gets you in better shape to compete than lots of playing time. Online poker is an excellent way to start getting into a rhythm and reading hands, and many pros have cut their teeth at our virtual tables. 

We have ample space at our online tables for you to enjoy Texas Hold’em poker and all your other favorite casino games. Sign up for a world of possibility to take your game to the next level, and who knows, you could be crowned the next Vegas legend!

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Our BetMGM editors and authors are sports experts with a wealth of knowledge of the sports industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news, previews and predictions, fun facts, and betting.

Our BetMGM editors and authors are sports experts with a wealth of knowledge of the sports industry at all levels. Their coverage includes sports news, previews and predictions, fun facts, and betting.