PokerStars Pennsylvania Starts NACOOP Series with $7 Million Prize Pools

Pennsylvania's PokerStars, the largest of its kind, announces the inaugural North American Championship of Online Poker (NACOOP) with $7 million in guaranteed prizes.

NACOOP is an evolution of the annual COOP events, bringing together USCOOP, PACOOP, and ONCOOP under one expansive tournament umbrella.

PokerStars PA will host 89 events as part of PACOOP, offering mixed games, No-Limit Hold 'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and buy-ins from $10 to $2,500.

PokerStars expands to Ontario, Canada, and launches ONCOOP with $2 million CAD in guaranteed prize pools, embracing inclusivity and growth.

PokerStars Casino PA partners with White Hat Studios and the Bragg Gaming Group to enhance its online casino offerings and boost revenue.

As PokerStars continues to expand its gaming portfolio, it positions itself as a significant player in Pennsylvania's online poker and casino landscape.

In a testament to the thriving online poker scene in Pennsylvania, PokerStars PA, the largest of the state's three online poker sites, is set to host its inaugural North American Championship of Online Poker (NACOOP).

With $7 million in guaranteed prize pools across its North American platforms, this event marks a significant milestone in the region's poker calendar. The NACOOP series will run from September 15 through October 2, offering poker enthusiasts a chance to compete for substantial rewards.

The NACOOP is an evolution of the annual COOP events that have traditionally taken place in September, such as Pennsylvania's PACOOP. These individual series now fall under the broader NACOOP umbrella, offering players an expanded and enhanced poker experience.

As part of the NACOOP series, PokerStars PA will run 89 events in its PACOOP. This schedule is identical on all three North American sites, ensuring consistency and fairness. Since online poker in Pennsylvania is ring-fenced, its guarantees are slightly smaller than the USCOOP, which shares player pools and liquidity between New Jersey and Michigan.

PokerStars' advanced software provides a comprehensive range of mixed game events alongside traditional favorites like No-Limit Hold 'em and Pot-Limit Omaha. The event caters to players of all skill levels, offering buy-ins ranging from just $10 to the $2,500 High Roller tournament.

While the full schedule awaits release, some highlights include:

• 20 Trophy Events, signifying the major tournaments of the series.
• A $300 Main Event with $250,000 guaranteed in Pennsylvania.
• A $2,500 High Roller event with $150,000 guaranteed in Pennsylvania.
• Various mixed game events include 8-Game, HORSE, 2-7 Triple Draw, and Stud variants.
• A series leaderboard with $10,000 in prizes.

The introduction of NACOOP comes following PokerStars' expansion into Ontario, Canada, in late June, where it launched its operation. Like Pennsylvania, Ontario maintains a separate player pool, leading to the creation of ONCOOP. This innovative approach brings all of PokerStars' fall COOP events under one cohesive name.

As one of the leading online poker sites in the United States, PokerStars can expand into states like Nevada, West Virginia, and Connecticut once their respective state governments permit online poker operations. Similarly, any new states legalizing online poker could lead to PokerStars creating state-specific series that could still be incorporated into the NACOOP brand.

While PokerStars has built its reputation as a poker platform, it continues to expand its offerings in Pennsylvania's online casino sector. In recent weeks, PokerStars Casino PA has forged partnerships with game suppliers White Hat Studios and the Bragg Gaming Group, diversifying its gaming catalog.

White Hat Studios, known for its rapid growth in Pennsylvania, collaborates with BetPARX Casino and Unibet Casino. It has a strong presence across all six states with online casinos and features in nearly every online casino in Pennsylvania. Some of its popular games include titles like Peaky Blinders, Masters of Atlantis, Buffalo Megaways, and Ted.

Bragg Gaming, on the other hand, has joined forces with PokerStars globally and will introduce its games on PokerStars Casino platforms in several European countries, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Michigan.

Already having partnerships with industry giants such as BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings, Bragg Gaming will offer titles like Fairy Dust, Mystery Mine, and Sea of Plenty on PokerStars Casino.

While PokerStars may be renowned for its poker offerings, it is actively expanding its presence in Pennsylvania's online casino market. The state boasts the largest online casino market in the nation, with PokerStars currently operating under the Mount Airy Casino licensee.

Although these recent partnerships are expected to boost PokerStars' revenue, it will likely remain a mid-tier operator in revenue share, trailing behind the state's top-performing online casinos. Nevertheless, PokerStars' continued expansion and diverse gaming offerings position it as a significant player in Pennsylvania's burgeoning online poker and casino landscape.