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ALL THE ACTION, ALL THE DATES, POKERSTARS OPEN PHILADELPHIA SCHEDULE RELEASED

Published

3 weeks ago

on

January 23, 2026

By

GamingAmericas.com

all-the-action,-all-the-dates,-pokerstars-open-philadelphia-schedule-released

PokerStars has announced the full schedule for PokerStars Open Philadelphia, with an eight-day long live poker festival taking place at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, headlined by a $500,000 guaranteed Main Event running March 16 – 23, 2026.

Players will be able to qualify online via PokerStars, from just $10 starting January 20, with satellites offering pathways into the $1,100 Main Event and other headline tournaments. Online satellites are available to eligible players in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, and Ontario.

Following the huge success of last year’s event, which more than doubled its guarantee, PokerStars Open Philadelphia 2026 will feature seven trophy events, exclusive merchandise giveaways, and appearances from PokerStars ambassadors Joe Stapleton, Arlie Shaban and Jen Shahade.

The 2025 Main Event attracted 1,154 entries, generating a massive $1,107,840 prize pool, firmly establishing Philadelphia as a must-stop destination on the PokerStars Open calendar.

The headline $1,100 buy-in Main Event will feature four starting flights, giving players multiple opportunities to build a stack and compete for a share of one of the largest prize pools in the region this spring.

“PokerStars Open Philadelphia has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting live stops on our North American calendar,” said RJ Peterson, Senior Director of Marketing, PokerStars. “After seeing the Main Event more than double its guarantee last year, we’re proud to return to Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia with bigger momentum and multiple ways for players to qualify and compete. Philly has proven it’s a fantastic poker city, and we’re excited to bring the Open back in March.”

POKERSTARS OPEN PHILADELPHIA – KEY EVENTS

$1,100 Main Event – March 18 – 22 – $500,000 guarantee (four starting flights)
Women’s Event – March 20 – $10,000 guarantee
PokerStars Cup – March 22 – $40,000 guarantee
Seven trophy events in total across the full schedule

In addition to the core festival, PokerStars and Live! Poker sister brands in Philadelphia and Maryland are teaming up to deliver a special edition satellite event on Monday, March 23^rd at Live! Philadelphia, sending players to the Live! Poker Classic Main Event in Maryland (March 26-30). PokerStars is adding twenty seats to the $220 buy-in satellite tournament, valued at $22,000, creating a tremendous opportunity for players to qualify for the $1,100 Live! Poker Classic Main Event in Maryland from Philadelphia while strengthening the growing partnership between PokerStars and Live! Poker brands.

Anne Tran, Director of Poker Operations at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, said “Live! Casino and Hotel is excited to reconnect with PokerStars and create unforgettable memories with our players as this unique tournament returns to the vibrant atmosphere of the Live! Poker Room,” said Anne Tran, Director of Poker Operations at Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. “The cards are ready, the tables are set, and the excitement is palpable. Welcome back to where the real magic happens!”

With major guarantees, a proven track record of smashing expectations, and a packed schedule both on and off the felt, PokerStars Open Philadelphia 2026 promises to be one of the standout live poker events of the spring.

The post ALL THE ACTION, ALL THE DATES, POKERSTARS OPEN PHILADELPHIA SCHEDULE RELEASED appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Related Topics:latest-news Philadelphia poker PokerStars Press Releases

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When LATAM gambles: Blask reveals seasonality patterns across six countries

Published

5 hours ago

on

February 12, 2026

By

Wladimir P.

when-latam-gambles:-blask-reveals-seasonality-patterns-across-six-countries

Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia represent six distinct iGaming markets — each with its own regulatory framework, player base and cultural rhythms. Yet beneath these differences lie powerful shared drivers: domestic football seasons concluding in Q4, mandatory year-end bonuses injecting billions into local economies, and national holidays that stretch into multi-day celebrations.

Using Blask’s Seasonality feature, player activity across all six countries was analyzed to map engagement peaks by month, day and hour. While regional trends are visible, the execution varies sharply at the local level.

Here’s what the data reveals.

Brazil: The Q4 Convergence Effect

In Brazil, November and December form a clear peak driven by three converging factors.

The Brasileirão season concludes in early December, with title races and relegation battles intensifying betting activity. At the same time, the Copa Libertadores semifinals and final fall in October and November — and Brazilian clubs’ recent dominance has kept engagement high.

The economic boost comes from the décimo terceiro, Brazil’s mandatory 13th salary paid in two instalments by November 30 and December 20. In 2024 alone, it injected R$321 billion into the economy, increasing disposable income during football’s decisive phase.

Saturday edges out Sunday as the top-performing day, reflecting the league’s fixture concentration. Weekends dominate overall, with a pronounced spike between 1 AM and 5 AM on Friday-to-Saturday nights — a sign that late-night casino sessions complement live sports betting.

Argentina: Aguinaldo and League Finals

December leads the calendar in Argentina, driven by the Liga Profesional’s mid-December conclusion and the aguinaldo, the country’s mandatory 13th salary paid by June 30 and December 18.

Sunday ranks highest for engagement, closely followed by Saturday, aligning with concentrated weekend fixtures. The peak activity window — midnight to 3 AM on Saturday-to-Sunday nights — reflects pre-match anticipation and late-night casino play following the workweek.

The pattern closely mirrors Brazil’s Q4 surge, but with a stronger Sunday bias.

Mexico: Liguilla and Late-Night Culture

December again stands out, coinciding with the Liga MX Apertura playoffs (Liguilla) and the championship final in mid-December. The aguinaldo — at least 15 days’ salary, paid by December 20 — provides additional liquidity at the same time.

Sunday leads weekly activity, with Saturday close behind. However, Mexico’s most distinctive feature is its consistent 2–3 AM activity peak across all days, amplified on weekends.

This pattern suggests a strong late-night gambling culture, where casino verticals such as slots, crash games and live dealer experiences drive engagement alongside sports betting.

Chile: September Over December

Unlike its regional peers, Chile’s biggest month is September — not December.

The surge is powered by Fiestas Patrias (September 18–19), the country’s most significant national celebration. When calendar alignment allows, festivities can stretch into a full week, with fondas, music and social gatherings creating a nationwide party atmosphere that extends into online gambling.

Saturday is the dominant day, with activity elevated throughout. Peaks occur around midnight on Friday-to-Saturday nights and again during Saturday afternoon (3–5 PM), indicating a blend of late-night casino play and daytime sports betting.

Peru: The Purple Month Effect

October and November represent Peru’s peak period, with November slightly ahead.

The Clausura tournament reaches its decisive stretch in early November, while October is dominated by Señor de los Milagros — the country’s largest religious festival. Celebrations extend into All Saints’ Day (November 1) and Day of the Dead (November 2), creating a sustained festive period.

Unlike Brazil and Mexico, Peru’s engagement is concentrated during daytime weekend hours, particularly morning and afternoon. This suggests a stronger alignment with live Liga 1 fixtures rather than late-night casino sessions.

Colombia: Primetime Precision

In Colombia, November leads, with October close behind.

The Torneo Finalización enters its cuadrangulares (semifinal group stage) during this period, building toward a December final. Anticipation around the prima de servicios — a mandatory half-month salary bonus due by December 20 — also supports late-year liquidity.

Sunday is the clear weekly leader, with evening primetime activity standing out. Engagement closely mirrors Liga BetPlay broadcast schedules, indicating sports betting is the primary driver rather than late-night casino behaviour.

The Bigger Picture: Regional Liquidity, Local Execution

Across LATAM, the Q4 bonus cycle — décimo terceiro, aguinaldo, prima de servicios and similar payouts — represents a predictable liquidity event spanning six major markets within an eight-week window. Crucially, it coincides with domestic football seasons reaching their climax.

However, peak timing differs significantly:

Mexico’s engagement spikes at 2 AM, while Peru’s is daytime-focused.
September outperforms December in Chile.
Colombia revolves around Sunday primetime broadcasts.
Brazil peaks on Saturday nights.

The takeaway is clear: while seasonality patterns are regional, execution must be hyper-local. Campaigns, product pushes and marketing spend need to align not just with the right month — but the right day and even the right hour in each individual market.

The post When LATAM gambles: Blask reveals seasonality patterns across six countries appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.