PokerStars Details Plans for American Players to Win a Platinum Pass; COOP Coming in September
The race for a PokerStars Platinum Pass is on and that now includes opportunities for US players. The company announced details Friday, offering American players numerous opportunities to win one of the coveted prizes by playing online and through other promotions as well.
A Platinum Pass is valued at more than $30,000 and offers a complete travel package and tournament buy-in for the $25,000 PokerStars Players No Limit Hold’em Championship (PSPC).
That event is set for the Bahamas in January. The new online qualifiers offer players of all levels a chance to win a seat into the event for a fraction of the cost.
Here’s how to win a PokerStars Platinum Pass in US markets
American players looking to get in the action in the Bahamas will have several opportunities playing online. In the US, PokerStars is available in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
New online leaderboards are a key opportunity for players to earn a shot at Platinum Pass. The leaderboards run from Aug. 30 – Dec. 10. Players earn points through a wide variety of methods including:
- deposits
- tournament play
- cash games
The top players in the leaderboards each month are eligible for invitational freerolls. Those run at the end of each month for a chance at a Platinum Pass and to lock in a trip to the Bahamas.
Leaderboard winners each month include 500 players in Pennsylvania, 300 in Michigan, and 200 in New Jersey.
Stars will award the first six passes via leaderboards in the Championship of Online Poker (COOP). That series is coming to the three states Sept. 9-26 with more details coming soon. The top 1,000 players leaderboards earn an entry to the freeroll set for Sept. 27.
Other ways to win
The first PSPC was held in 2019 and produced a field of 1,039 entries for a $26.5 million prize pool. Spain’s Ramon Colillas, who won a pass to enter the event, took the title for $5.1 million.
For that event , PokerStars awarded numerous passes through smaller buy-in live tournaments, online events, and social media contests.
Those efforts created a tournament with a unique mix of recreational players and pros. Several pass winners cashed in the PSPC and also enjoyed a nice trip to the Caribbean.
The Platinum Pass became one of the hottest topics in poker in the lead up to the event. Once again PokerStars is promising additional ways to win a PSPC. Road to PSPC tournaments are running in several countries already.
On Friday, the company also promised additional ways to win for American players. Some of those include community giveaways, promotions, and live events.
“At the PokerStars Players Championship, anything is possible, but you have to get there first,” PokerStars US managing director Severin Rasset said in a news release.
“We want to give players as many opportunities as we can to be a part of this epic event and our leader boards are a great way to reward our community in the US for being a part of the everyday action. We’ll have even more news to come on further ways to win soon.”
Each Platinum Pass includes:
- $25,000 buy-in
- six nights’ hotel accommodation for winner and a guest
- airport transfers
- $1,900 in expenses
- exclusive winner experiences
American players already bagging a Platinum Pass
So far, six US-based players have already won a Platinum Pass through differing routes. Three players scored their passes last month via an invitational freeroll. Here’s a look at a few of the winners so far:
- Greg Raymer – The 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event winner grabbed a pass by winning a CardPlayer Lifestyle Mixed Games Festival tournament in Las Vegas in October 2021.
- Justin Buxman – This 38-year-old player from Hemlock, Michigan, is a high school government and economics teacher. He won his pass via a PokerStars Michigan VIP freeroll.
- Richard Milburn – This 31-year-old financial analyst from Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, snagged a Platinum Pass as part of the Bounty Builder Series.
- Ryan Flynn – This Irish player lives in Secaucus, New Jersey, and won a pass in an online freeroll. The 28-year-old electrician and a college student is thrilled with his good fortune. “I am beyond excited,” he says. “My family and friends are so excited for me as well. I cannot wait for this experience.”