The Five Biggest Online Poker Tournaments

By Jane Shaw Senior Editor Updated: 08/23/2023

Jane Shaw Senior Editor See Full Bio

We count on Jane to inform our readers about the latest slot games in the US market. With her passion for video games and a degree in engineering, she’s our gambling tech expert. Jane’s also active in our blog section, where she tackles the curiosities and changes in the industry.

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Online Poker Tournaments

• Biggest Online Poker Tournaments
• Online Poker Events
• WSOP Online Spring Circuit Main Event
• World Poker Tour Online Championship
• European Poker Tour Online Series
• PokerStars No Limit Hold’em Players Championship
• The PokerStars Sunday Millions
• Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to today’s comprehensive guide to online poker tournaments in the US. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newbie looking to dip your toes into the thrilling world of online poker, this guide is your one-stop resource.

We’ll take you through the biggest online poker tournaments and most exciting events, and provide detailed insights into some of the most prestigious online poker tournaments around, like the WSOP Online Spring Circuit Main Event and the World Poker Tour Online Championship.

Biggest Online Poker Tournaments

Online poker tournaments have revolutionized the poker world, bringing the thrill of high-stakes games right to your fingertips. These tournaments, which can be accessed even at the best poker sites, offer players from the US and other countries the opportunity to test their skills against the best in the world, all from the comfort of their homes. This guide will delve into the biggest online poker tournaments in the world, showing you what they’re all about!

First: if you’re looking for the best legal online poker sites, make sure you check out our recommended poker sites, all of which are available to US players and have been hand-picked by our team of experts.

What Are Online Poker Events?

Online poker events are the lifeblood of the poker world, offering players of all skill levels the chance to compete for huge prize pools. These events range from small buy-in tournaments to high-stakes games that attract the world’s top players. They offer a variety of poker games, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud, ensuring there’s something for everyone.

One of the most exciting aspects of online poker events is their accessibility. Unlike traditional poker tournaments, which require you to physically travel to land-based casinos and poker rooms, online events can be played from anywhere with an internet connection. This has opened up the world of competitive poker to a much wider audience, allowing players from all corners of the globe to compete against each other.

What’s more, online poker events often offer innovative formats and features that aren’t available in traditional poker games. For instance, some tournaments feature an unlimited rebuy option, allowing players to buy back into the game an indefinite number of times after they’ve been eliminated. Others offer bounty tournaments, where players can earn extra cash for every opponent they knock out.

In addition, online poker events often feature satellite tournaments, which offer players the chance to win entry into larger, more expensive tournaments for a fraction of the usual buy-in. This means that even players with smaller bankrolls have the opportunity to enter events that, for many, would be once-in-a-lifetime events.

WSOP Online Spring Circuit Main Event

The World Series of Poker Online Spring Circuit Main Event is a major highlight of the online poker calendar. This prestigious event is part of the larger WSOP Circuit, which features a series of tournaments leading up to the Main Event. The WSOP Online offers the same high-stakes excitement and competitive play as its land-based counterpart, but with the added convenience of being online.

The WSOP Online Spring Circuit is open to players of all skill levels, from amateurs to seasoned pros. It features a variety of poker games, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and Seven-Card Stud, although the Main Event is a No Limit Hold ’em tournament.

Despite being an online event, the WSOP Online festival allows players to win a coveted WSOP gold bracelet – something many players can’t do as it would involve traveling to distant destinations. A WSOP bracelet is highly sought after in the poker world, and it’s pretty much the ultimate achievement outside of winning the actual Main Event.

The WSOP Online also offers a range of satellite tournaments, giving players the chance to secure a spot in the Main Event for a fraction of the usual buy-in. These satellites add an extra layer of excitement to the tournament, as players battle it out for the chance to compete on the biggest stage in online poker.

World Poker Tour Online Championship

The World Poker Tour Online Championship is one of the biggest events on the online poker calendar. This prestigious tournament attracts top players from around the world with its massive $3,200 buy-in and juicy $1 million guaranteed prize pool.

The competition level at the WPT Online Championship is fierce. You’ll find seasoned professionals like Daniel Negreanu, Bryn Kenney, and Fedor Holz battling online whizzes and qualifiers for six-figure payouts. The tournament utilizes a re-entry format, allowing players to re-enter upon elimination to build the monstrous prize pool.

To earn a seat, players can directly buy-in or win satellite qualifiers on sites like partypoker. Over 4,000 entries are expected, making the WPT Online a true arena for only the best. The tournament plays out over two starting flights before final tables commence using webcams and live cards.

Gameplay is No Limit Hold’em with 30-minute levels. Late registration is open for 12 levels, often leading to some surprising last-minute entries.

European Poker Tour Online Series

The European Poker Tour Online Series brings world-class poker action to players across the globe throughout the year. With affordable buy-ins starting at around $25, the EPT Online Series tournaments are accessible to almost any bankroll while offering legit chances at five-figure scores.

The EPT Online Series features popular formats like No Limit Hold ’em, PLO, mixed games, and more. Over 100 events run each year, from marathons like the $1 million guaranteed Main Event to unique formats like Win the Button and PLO Flipout.

The tournament variety keeps gameplay exciting across all skill levels. Daily events mean you can always find a new tournament to sharpen your skills in. Satellites with tiny buy-ins run daily, allowing anyone to parlay a small investment into a major EPT event seat for pennies on the dollar.

The EPT Online Series uses PokerStars’ industry-leading software for a seamless experience on PC or mobile. Stacks, bet sizes, time banks, and more are clearly displayed on the intuitive interface. Multi-tabling is easy, and game speed is fast even during peak hours.

Online leaderboards and promotions add extra incentives tied to cumulative tournament results. The series culminates with the €1,000 buy-in EPT Online Main Event, offering a €1 million guaranteed prize pool.

Here’s a quick look at some key features of the EPT Online Series:

PokerStars No Limit Hold’em Players Championship

The PokerStars Players No Limit Hold ’em Championship is consistently one of the biggest online poker tournaments year after year. With a $25,300 buy-in and $1 million added to the prize pool, it attracts poker’s elite aiming for the $2.5 million top prize.

The tournament is the crown jewel of the PokerStars online poker series. It features a unique copycat format mirroring live poker’s most prestigious events. The 8-game mix tests all skills, including No Limit Hold ’em, followed by Omaha Hi/Lo, 7-Card Stud, and more.

Players receive 60,000 chips to start and initially there are 90-minute blind levels. Rebuys are allowed for the first 8 levels to allow the prize pool to grow even more!

Qualifying is possible via affordable step satellites. PokerStars routinely offers free online poker tournaments awarding Players Championship seats to give amateurs this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Winners join the well-known pros for their shot at a gigantic win.

The Players Championship draws thousands of entries competing simultaneously across multiple starting days. Only the top 5% make the money, and just a dozen the final table.

The tournament tests every skill over its long, grueling days. Long gone are the days of needing to head to Vegas – or play at online poker sites in Nevada – to win massive prizes though! It’s great to see sites like PokerStars continuing to open up to the US market again.

The PokerStars Sunday Millions

The PokerStars Sunday Millions is the largest weekly online poker tournament, offering a $1 million guaranteed prize pool for just a $215 buy-in. The enormous tournament regularly exceeds 6,000 players, often growing the guarantee into a $2 million-plus prize pool.

The Sunday Millions has become an iconic event among poker pros and amateurs alike. Its affordable buy-in gives anyone a chance to play for life-changing money and prestige. The tournament has a deep 10,000 starting stack and 30-minute blinds. Players can re-enter upon elimination for a set period of time.

For over 15 years, the Sunday Millions has offered a little slice of the World Series of Poker experience to players who, in most cases, would not normally be able to experience the thrill of competing in such a high-class environment.

Want to play from Michigan? No problem! Michigan has now opened up to online gambling – and there are several legal poker sites operating in the state now.