Press Releases
POKERGO® UNVEILS GROUNDBREAKING PROFESSIONAL POKER TOUR AND RANKING SYSTEM WITH POKERGO TOUR™
- Trailblazing PokerGO Tour™ Will Determine the Most Elite Players Across the Globe Based on Performances at Over 150 Qualifying Events,
- With Tens of Millions of Dollars at Stake Throughout the Year
- Top Performer in the PokerGO Tour™ Will Be Awarded $100,000 and Named the Player of the Year (POY), Incorporating Results From PokerGO®’s Esteemed Portfolio of High Stakes Events, Including the Poker Masters, U.S. Poker Open, Super High Roller Bowl and More
The first ever global professional poker ranking system, the PokerGO Tour™ was unveiled today by PokerGO®. This groundbreaking endeavor signifies a historic moment in the sport of poker, with tens of millions of dollars at stake across 150 tournaments spanning across the globe. The PokerGO Tour™ will mark the first time an official tour and ranking system of this magnitude has been seen in the poker industry, which will separate and celebrate the most elite professional poker players in a similar fashion to the ranking systems of the world’s most renowned professional sports.
Throughout the year, players will earn points on every in-the-money finish at each PokerGO Tour™ qualifying event and the top performer will be presented with the Player of the Year (POY) Award and a cash prize of $100,000. Cash prizes of $50,000 and $25,000 will also be awarded to the 2nd and 3rd place players, respectively. The PokerGO Tour™ Rankings showcase who holds the top spot in the world of high stakes poker players.
“The sport of poker is hundreds of years old and until now, there has not been a globally recognized tour and ranking system that establishes and celebrates the most elite players across the globe, so we started something we hope will evolve and grow,” said Mori Eskandani, President of PokerGO®. “The PokerGO Tour™ events will include the world’s most challenging high stakes events in the world, bringing poker front and center in the world of sports in a way that has never been done before.”
The PokerGO Tour™ will kick off with the 2021 U.S. Poker Open on June 3rd, 2021, at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas. The U.S. Poker Open will take place from June 3rd – June 14th and is one of PokerGO®’s elite tournament series with twelve unique events where poker’s best players battle it out to bring home the inaugural Eagle Trophy.
Other qualifying events in the PokerGO Tour™ originating from PokerGO®’s esteemed portfolio of events include:
- PokerGO® Cup – a brand new major featuring eight events of various formats including a $100,000 NLH Main Event, which will take place from July 1st – July 10th, taking July 4th off.
- PokerGO® Heads-Up Championship – another new major slated for July 12th with a $3.2 million dollar prize pool. In the PokerGO® Heads-Up Championship, 32 poker professionals will battle in a bracket-style format.
- Poker Masters – a twelve event tournament series from September 13th – September 24th that challenges the world’s best all-around players, giving them the opportunity to take home a coveted purple jacket.
- Super High Roller Bowl (SHRB) – a 3-day tournament with a $300K buy-in staring on September 26th that will bring out the world’s best poker players competing for millions of dollars as well as the SHRB ring.
The point system for the PokerGO Tour™ is as follows:
| Cash | 10K+ | 25K+ | 100K+ |
| 5,000,000 | 1,500 | 1,000 | 700 |
| 4,000,000 | 1,400 | 900 | 600 |
| 3,000,000 | 1,300 | 800 | 500 |
| 2,000,000 | 1,200 | 700 | 400 |
| 1,000,000 | 1,000 | 600 | 300 |
| 900,000 | 900 | 540 | 270 |
| 800,000 | 800 | 480 | 240 |
| 700,000 | 700 | 420 | 210 |
| 600,000 | 600 | 360 | 180 |
| 500,000 | 500 | 300 | 150 |
| 400,000 | 400 | 240 | 120 |
| 300,000 | 300 | 180 | 90 |
| 200,000 | 200 | 120 | 60 |
| 100,000 | 100 | 60 | 30 |
| 50,000 | 50 | 30 | |
| 25,000 | 25 | 15 | |
| 10,000 | 10 |
*The cash column is defaulted to the same major currency used for the buy-in (AUD, EUR, GBP, USD), HKD events will be divided by 10.
The PokerGO Tour™ will calculate all cashes $1M or less using three percentages based on buy-in amounts – .0010 for $10K to $24K events, .0006 for $25K to $99K events and .0003 for $100K+ events. Cashes over $1M default percentages to the higher cash, if a player cashes for $1.5M in a $10K event, points are determined using the $2M percentage.
Latest News
Reals Appoints Giorgia Kasat as New Head of HR, Strengthening Organizational Strategy in the Betting Industry
Leading Brazilian Betting Brand Reals Welcomes Former Itaú and Votorantim Executive to Drive Human Capital Development
Reals, one of Brazil’s leading regulated online betting and gaming platforms, has announced the appointment of Giorgia Kasat as its new Head of Human Resources. With over 20 years of experience in strategic people management, organizational transformation, and leadership development, Giorgia brings a wealth of expertise from her roles at major corporations such as Votorantim, Banco Itaú, Duratex, Capgemini, and Munksjö.
Recognized as a finalist in the 2024 “Most Admired CEOs and HR Leaders” awards by Grupo Gestão RH, Giorgia also holds an Executive Business degree from Fundação Dom Cabral, an MBA in Business Management from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), and certification in Group Psychodrama from PUC-SP.
“We believe that a company’s success is directly linked to its ability to foster the best in its people within a healthy, growth-oriented environment. Giorgia’s human-centered leadership style drives engagement and positive results. As a serious and regulated company, professionalism is a core value for us, and her arrival is a strategic step in our organizational growth,” said Hilton Andrade, CFO of Reals.
Giorgia expressed enthusiasm about joining Reals at a pivotal moment for the company and the industry: “I’m excited to take on this new challenge with a major player in the betting and online gaming industry. My passion lies in developing people who go on to inspire and empower others. Together, we’ll build a strong culture of growth, diversity, and performance in a sector that is rapidly consolidating in Brazil and globally.”
Reals Expands Workforce and Strengthens Market Presence
Amid rapid expansion, Reals is in the process of hiring approximately 1500 new employees and preparing to move into a new 6,000 m² headquarters in São Paulo. Already a standout in the market, Reals made headlines earlier this year by becoming the first Brazilian betting operator to sponsor a major European football club, AC Milan, as its Official Regional Betting Partner for Latin America.
Reals also holds a master sponsorship with Coritiba Foot Ball Club in Brazil and boasts an all-star ambassador roster led by TV personality Rodrigo Faro, alongside popular influencers Ítalo Sena, Edu Primitivo, and Gabi Nery.
With a 9.5 rating on Reclame Aqui, Reals is among the top-rated licensed betting operators in Brazil, reinforcing its reputation for reliability and customer trust.
Two proven game technology companies are joining forces in what promises to be a devilish collaboration that disrupts the iGaming industry.
Design Works Gaming (DWG) and Bluberi Gaming announced an exciting partnership that will bring together DWG’s chart-topping LuckyTap™ mechanic and Bluberi’s top-performing titles.
Fueled by a unique mix of creativity, innovation and undeniable player appeal, Bluberi has made waves with their iconic games, including their breakout hit Devil’s Lock™.
Enter DWG — the team behind the proprietary LuckyTap™ mechanic. Known for blending simplicity with explosiveness, DWG’s games consistently top the charts and deliver next-level engagement.
“Devil’s Lock has always topped our favorites list when we hit the casino floor as a team. And just a few months ago, as we were trying our luck with the Devil, inspiration struck. We knew we could turn up the heat and reimagine this fan-favorite as a high-voltage LuckyTap™,” said founder and CEO of DWG Troy Zurawski. “Bluberi brings the legendary IP, and we bring the power of LuckyTap™.”
This partnership kicks off a new era for both companies—one where creative chaos reigns and boundaries are pushed. Together, DWG and Bluberi are cooking up gameplay that’s bold, mischievous and unruly.
“Partnering with Design Works Gaming marks a new milestone in iGaming for Bluberi’s iGaming strategy,” said Scott Richards, VP of Commercial Strategy at Bluberi. “DWG’s LuckyTap™ is a proven game-changing technology that pushes boundaries and resonates with Bluberi’s approach to developing unique gaming experiences. Our teams share a passion for pushing boundaries and delivering unforgettable player experiences. We can’t wait to unveil what we’re creating together.”
Latest News
Defy the Odds and EDGE Markets Announce Strategic Partnership to Drive Innovation in Betting and Gaming Payments
The two companies will work together to continue to springboard newly funded EDGE Markets
Defy the Odds (DTO), a startup launchpad supporting entrepreneurs in the gaming and betting industry, announced a strategic partnership with EDGE Markets, the company behind EDGE Boost, one of the first debit card products designed specifically for responsible gaming. Together, the two companies aim to enhance financial accessibility and innovation within the gaming space while also promoting more responsible gaming. DTO will provide a host of advisory, consultative and partnership development services within the gaming sector to EDGE Markets.
“From our more than 80 collective years of experience in the betting industry, Sue Schneider, Kelly Kehn and I feel that EDGE Boost is exactly what the betting community needs right now,” said Paris Smith, Co-Founder of Defy the Odds. “Not only does it give players easy access to their own funds while promoting responsible gaming, but its built-in tools encourage smarter play. For operators, it identifies responsible players without adding extra costs or complexity. We’re excited to partner with Seni and the EDGE Markets team and help drive EDGE Boost to the next level.”
Defy the Odds will join EDGE Boost’s advisory network and also provide insights on how EDGE Boost can integrate itself further into the betting and gaming industry. Last month, EDGE Markets came out of stealth mode, announcing it had closed a $17.2 million funding round and that, since the start of 2024, the EDGE Boost debt card has already processed over $300 million in transactions.
“EDGE Boost is focused on providing bettors with financial tools that enhance their experience while keeping responsible gaming at the forefront,” said Seni Thomas, Founder and CEO of EDGE Markets. “Working with Defy the Odds will allow us to introduce our technology to many more eyes and innovators in the betting and iGaming space, giving them the financial flexibility they need to succeed while also promoting responsible gaming.”
The EDGE Boost bank account is FDIC-insured up to $250,000*, providing financial security, while all user data is safeguarded on a private, encrypted platform. EDGE Boost users are already using the card for transactions across all major digital gaming platforms, without any fees or integration required for operators.
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