LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Hosted at the wonderful ARIA Resort & Casino, the 2023 BetMGM Poker Championship was a wonderful showcase of the beautiful game.

Fascinating, thrilling and high stakes, a hot summer of poker has begun. After the overriding success of BetMGM’s inaugural 2022 Poker Championship at ARIA’s stunning casino, a second event was inevitable. This time, it’s the same venue with bigger prizes. Read on for five things you need to know about BetMGM’s coveted event.

1. When Is the Tournament?

Poker tournaments don’t get much bigger than the one which opened its door in 2009 at the ARIA Resort & Casino. Stretching over five days (June 9–13,) the 2023 BetMGM Poker Championship headlined the ARIA Poker Classic. In exhilarating fashion, the final table was live-streamed via PokerGo Studio, showcasing its rising popularity.

2. Buy-Ins and Prizes

Although the buy-ins remained at $3,500, the guarantee doubled to a mouth-watering $2 million. Last year’s winner, Joey Weissman, managed to outwit 342 contestants to take home $224,236. This year’s event winner, Leo Taffe, won $560,442.

The high-value nature of this tournament attracts some of the game’s biggest players, setting the stage for an electrifying few days of poker.

3. Registration Process

Another great addition to this year’s event was its merger with online poker. Having initiated the process on May 1, 2023, a total of 100 players qualified through an online poker game.

Online winners were awarded a $3,500 buy-in for the Championship event, a $800 buy-in for the Mystery Bounty event and a luxurious six-night stay (June 7–13) at ARIA’s resort with travel expenses covered.

The rest of the field was made up of the different winners of the ARIA Poker Classic. The result? A fascinating contest of strategy, precise play and large pots. Before the championship game, BetMGM awarded as many seats as possible, 1 for every 10 entries.

4. Dress Code

If the last two years are anything to go by, you can wear whatever you please. For instance, Joey Weissman won the headline tournament in 2022 wearing a full-gray tracksuit, while other players opted for funky shirts and baseball caps.

That said, one has to remain mindful of neatness. Yes, you can wear your comfiest outfit, but make sure your clothes aren’t overused or dirty. So, as long as they’re fresh and ironed, you’re good to go.

5. Conduct at the Poker Table

Whether you’re playing poker online or in a land-based casino, being respectful at the table is an unwritten rule. This means being quiet while someone is betting, avoiding cuss words and not agitating your opponents.

Playing high-stakes poker means there’s more to lose, often leading to increased tension around the table. So, don’t make distasteful remarks and keep yourself to yourself.