PokerStars Launch Live Poker Room In Macau

Wednesday the 18th of March saw the cotinued expansion of leading online poker giants PokerStars.com as they launched Asia's largest live poker room. The 22 table poker room situated on the 2nd floor of the Grand Lisboa Casino in Macau is PokerStars first advance into what appears to be a highly profitable market.

The aptly named "PokerStars Macau at the Grand Lisbon" room will offer Texas Hold'em tournaments as well as cash games 24 hours a day. Upcoming tournaments include the return of the Macau Poker Cup beginning with the HKD 10,000 buy-in "Red Dragon" event during the opening weekend of the 19th-22nd March. The "Red Dragon" tournament will now include the added incentive of a guaranteed prize pool of HKD 500,000 for the first time in its history.

As well as playing host to the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) Macau Poker Festival scheduled for August 2009 there will be regular freeroll events to help expediate the expansion of Texas Hold'em in continetal Asia.

"PokerStars is committed to the development of poker across Asia, and this new room will be its heart," said Joe Hachem, Poker World Champion and member of Team PokerStars Pro. "It has been extraordinary for me to watch the growth of poker culture in the eighteen months since the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour first brought poker to Macau, and I’m so excited about playing in my third APPT there in August."

Macau Poker Cup Schedule

Thursday 19th March

14:10 - Macau Poker Cup Freeroll - Buyin: Free

16:00 - Phase 1 - Red Dragon Satellite - Buyin: $220

20:10 - Event No. 1: $500 Rebuy (40K Guarantee) - Buyin: $500*

Friday 20th March

12:30 - Phase 1 - Red Dragon Satellite - Buyin: $220

14:10 - Event No. 2: Charity Event + 2 Rebuys (50K Added Prizes) --> Buyin: $1,000*

17:00 - Phase 2 - Red Dragon Satellite - Buyin: $1,000

20:10 - Event No. 3: $3,000 NLH - Buyin: $3,000

Saturday 21st March

12:30 - Event No. 4: Deep Stack (60K Guarantee) - Buyin: $1,500

16:00 - Phase 2 - Red Dragon Satellite - Buyin: $1,000

19:00 - Event No. 5: Red Dragon (500K Guarantee) - Buyin: $10,000

Sunday 22nd March

14:10 - Red Dragon - Day 2 15:30 - Event No. 6: Rebuy Madness - Buyin:$100*

*These events are subject to change.