It is time for a big online poker summer tournament series – the biggest one of its kind. BetMGM Poker combines its players’ love of poker with America’s pastime of baseball to create the BetMGM Poker Summer Classic online, and it’s going to break all records with its $1,000,000 guarantee.
Let’s get into the details. We’ll be sure to cover all the bases.
2025 Summer Classic at BetMGM Poker
Last year, the BetMGM Poker Summer Classic consisted of 26 tournaments and more than $750,000 in prize pool guarantees. Players loved it. This year, however, it will be different.
Instead of separate tournaments for players in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, all of those players will now compete in the same tournaments at the same time. Thanks to BetMGM Poker combining their New Jersey and Michigan players in November 2024 and then adding Pennsylvania to the mix in April 2025, there is a single BetMGM player pool now. That means this month’s Summer Classic will be a singular event…and a massive one with a million dollars up for grabs.
- Total tournaments: 36
- Total guarantee: $1,000,000
- Dates: July 13-20
- Buy-ins: $25 to $1,000
As with every BetMGM Poker online series, there is something for everyone with buy-ins starting at just $25 and satellites for as little as $2.
Summer Classic Highlights
The majority of the tournaments will be No Limit Hold’em, but there are eight Omaha variants mixed in as well. And there are few standard tournaments, as there will be some turbo action, a number of six-max tournaments, quite a few bounty options in the form of progressive knockouts (PKOs), and even some rebuy/add-on flavor.
A schedule for the first day – Sunday, July 13 – gives an idea of the range of action that will be available in the Summer Classic:
- Event 1: $250 buy-in First Pitch (100,000 starting chips / $85,000 guarantee)
- Event 2: $500 buy-in Leadoff PKO (50,000 starting chips / $70,000 guarantee)
- Event 3: $100 buy-in Sunday RBI C-Note (50,000 starting chips / $40,000 guarantee)
- Event 4: $50 buy-in 40-Stack Bunt (40,000 starting chips / $10,000 guarantee)
- Event 5: $25 buy-in Bases Loaded PLO PKO (25,000 starting chips / $5,000 guarantee)
One week later, on Sunday, July 20, there will be another five tournaments to round out the action, featuring the Main Event:
- Event 33: $1,000 buy-in Grand Slam (100,000 starting chips / $300,000 guarantee)
That Main Event will also play out over two days, with Day 1 playing down to just 18 finalists and Day 2 playing to and through the final table.
Custom Baseball Jerseys For Winners
Poker tournament winners love a commemorative gift of some kind, but there are only so many places in one’s home to showcase physical trophies. Perhaps that is why BetMGM Poker players love their customized jerseys so much. The Summer Classic will be awarding customized BetMGM baseball-themed jerseys to the winners of select tournaments in the series as follows:
- July 13: Events 1-5
- July 15: Events 11 & 14
- July 16: Event 16
- July 17: Events 20 & 23
- July 18: Event 25
- July 19: Event 29
- July 20: Events 32-36
The Summer Classic will award special baseball jerseys, but as a little peek into the world of BetMGM jersey winnings, let’s recall a couple of months ago when Anthony “Hoagie” Cicali unboxed his basketball jersey.
And in a true nod to the baseball season, all of the Summer Classic tournaments use baseball terminology, from the First Pitch to the Slider, Strikeout, Bat Flip, and Walkoff and Post-Game. If there’s anything missing from the list of terms, let us know and maybe we’ll use your suggestion in next year’s series!
Satellites All Day, Every Day
There are players with bankrolls that can support direct buy-ins to tournaments they want to play. But the majority of poker players – with varying bankroll abilities – choose the satellite path. It gives you the chance to earn your seat at a fraction of the buy-in cost. And they are so popular that they are available at multiple times every single day leading up to the Summer Classic events.
Summer Classic Satellites
There are traditional SC (Summer Classic) satellites every day. They are straightforward satellites with a guaranteed number of tickets in each. The buy-ins range depending on the Summer Classic events on tap, but the most common ones are $5 satellites with four $50 tickets guaranteed and $50 satellites with three $500 tickets guaranteed. Check the Summer Classic category in the poker lobby or click on the satellites tab in any given Summer Classic event box.
Grand Slam Steps
These are special satellites to help players win their seats into the Grand Slam Main Event. And they follow the step satellite system. Players can start at the first step or buy in at any of the three levels. The number of tickets guaranteed in each satellite varies, but there is always at least one winner walking away with a ticket to the next step or the Grand Slam itself.
- Grand Slam Step 1: $2 to win $10 tickets
- Grand Slam Step 2: $10 to win $100 tickets
- Grand Slam Step 3: $100 to win $1,000 tickets
There are set times on the daily schedule for some of the satellites, but some play on demand, as soon as the required number of players sit in. The tournament lobby shows all that are currently registering.
Swing for the Fences at BetMGM Online
The only thing required to participate in the BetMGM Poker Summer Classic online tournament series is an account. And that part is free! Simply choose BetMGM for legal online poker and set up your new account. To make a little bonus money while getting started, you can also choose a poker welcome bonus to go with your new account. Then get into the poker lobby, check out the offerings, and get ready for online poker as it’s supposed to be.
