Dec 2 2011
Macau $100 Million Poker Tournament is Likely Fake
written by: James under News Comments: Comments Off
If you’ve already started liquidating your assets in order to afford a buy-in for the rumored $100 million poker tournament allegedly scheduled for Spring of 2013 in Macau, China, now might be a good time to think twice. According to industry experts, the rumors were nothing more than a publicity grab that hoped to take advantage of the recent hype surrounding the high stakes poker scene in Macau.
The specifics of the event were indeed ludicrous: $100 million up for grabs, with $25 million reserved for the winner, based on just 500 entrants paying tremendous buy-ins of $200k each. The Aussie Millions and the PCA have hosted Super High Roller events with $100k or higher buy-ins in the past, but each of those tournaments attracted less than 40 entrants each.
Other sketchy details of the rumor included a registration deadline of December 15, 2011 (as if anyone would tie up $200k for 1.5 years) and speculation that up to 150 “rich Asian businessmen” had already pre-registered.
Now, Asia Logic CEO Tom Hall, the operator of the Asia Poker Tour, has come forward on popular poker forum TwoPlusTwo to give his thoughts about the rumors:
“This to me seems to be utter garbage. Nobody sensible I know in Macau knows anything about it. None of the casinos, poker room managers, big game players, junket room operators or media guys has heard anything credible. You also have to get any poker event approved by the DICJ (Macau regulator) in conjunction with the hosting casino. Also, as gambling on TV is highly restricted in China and promotion of gaming generally frowned upon, why would Chinese institutions support it. Publicity grab[.]”
Although Hall’s statement isn’t definitive either, it seems to make a lot more sense than the rumor itself. The full thread can be read here.
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