Poker players have flocked to Las Vegas in December for a poker tournament extravaganza, and chief among the action is the ARIA Poker Open. Dozens of tournaments comprise the 2025 APO schedule, but the special BetMGM Poker Championship event days have been a big highlight of the series so far.
The excitement brought big numbers to the tables and big money to the winners. And Poker.org was there to capture the highlights.
Behgam and Ruelas Split BetMGM Mystery Bounty
The ARIA Poker Open began on December 3, and just over one week later, the BetMGM Mystery Bounty upped the ante with a $1,100 buy-in and $250,000 guarantee. The response from players left the guarantee in the dust.
- Total entries: 564
- Total prize pool: $338,400 plus $208,680 for bounties
As a one-day tournament, the day turned into night while bounty pulls kept the enthusiasm level high. There were two bounties in the mix worth $25,000 each, one worth $15,000, four worth $10,000, and many more. Ultimately the final table played out in the early morning hours and stopped after 18 hours of total play. The final two players were close in chip counts and agreed to a chip-chop, each taking a trophy and Michael Behgam declared the winner.
BetMGM Poker PLO Championship
Omaha players weren’t going to be left out in the cold. The PLO Championship offered a chance at a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool for a $1,100 buy-in. The two-day tournament began on Friday, December 12, and proved that PLO fever was in the air.
- Total entries: 264
- Total prize pool: $256,080
From that sizable field, only 29 players made it through to Day 2. And eventually, James Chen, who had taken the second-largest chip stack into that second day of play, went on to win the tournament for $60,225.
BetMGM Poker No Limit Hold’em Championship
Finally, the largest event of the series offered a weekend tournament for players with the $1,600 buy-in BetMGM No Limit Hold’em Championship. It was set to take place over the course of three days and promised a $500,000 prize pool. While it ended up being a two-day tournament, players had the benefit of an overlay.
- Total entries: 331
- Total prize pool: $500,000
The field thinned into the money on Day 1 and delivered only 42 players into Day 2 on Sunday, December 14. That action started with Daniel McClure in the chip lead and Harrison Dobin second in chips. Play slowed as the final table neared, but the table of nine ultimately began with Michael Bohmerwald in the lead and Scott Weinstein close behind.
McClure soon busted in eighth place in a big double-elimination hand, but his $13,650 prize money was the result of qualifying online at BetMGM Poker for just $10.
The final table played on, as Bohmerwald finished in fifth and Dobin dominated the action. By the time he and Scott Weinstein made it to heads-up play, they had nearly even stacks and agreed to an even chop.
Interestingly, Weinstein had predicted he’d make the final table just a few weeks prior.
The two finalists then flipped for the title and each took a trophy.
- 1st place: Harrison Dobin $91,353
- 2nd place: Scotty Weinstein $91,352
- 3rd place: Anthony Marquez $48,410
- 4th place: Peter Yang $31,025
- 5th place: Michael Bohmerwald $23,925
- 6th place: Sean Hoesing $19,800
- 7th place: Michael Hong $16,625
- 8th place: Daniel McClure $13,650
- 9th place: Gonzalo Lopez $10,740
More Poker!
ARIA Poker Open continues this week, looking to wrap up on Saturday, December 20. The live tournament scene then takes a break for a bit – barely two weeks – and then kicks into high gear for 2026. The Borgata Winter Poker Open powered by BetMGM Poker will begin on January 2.
Before then, the next few weeks present the perfect opportunity to jump on to the BetMGM Poker site to play in the daily satellites for Borgata Winter Poker Open prize packages. Why buy in when you can win your seat for as little as $2? There are many qualifying paths, so you can choose what suits your playing style best.
Get Started Online Today at BetMGM Poker
As the holidays often require time at home, commitments with family and friends, and rest from a long year, poker remains a low-key entertainment option. From your laptop, tablet, or phone, you can log on to BetMGM Poker from New Jersey, Michigan, or Pennsylvania and play some cash games, SNGs, or tournaments. If you’re new to this legal online poker option, make sure to check out the online poker welcome bonus when you get started, and you can take it from there.
