PokerStars Michigan Championship Prize Pool More Than Doubled

Online poker in Michigan has continued to thrive after PokerStars became the first platform provider to offer it following the state’s mobile sports betting and internet casino launch.

The latest evidence of online poker’s success in Michigan came with PokerStars’ inaugural Michigan Championship of Online Poker (MICOOP). PokerStars crowned a Main Event champion and gave out $2,208,327 in prize money. The purse ended up being more than double the original $1 million guarantee because of Michigan players signing up and taking part in high numbers.

Of the 60 events, 56 exceeded the prize guarantee, with numerous six-figure prize pools across several tournaments in the series.

The Main Event, which featured a $300 buy-in, drew 1,284 players competing online for a prize pool of $359,520. The final table included two $30 satellite winners, with “smftt” emerging victorious, taking home $56,398 and becoming the first MICOOP Main Event Champion.

“Throughout the series, we were blown away by the overwhelming support from the poker community in Michigan,” said PokerStars Associate Director of Consumer Engagement and Public Relations Rebecca McAdam Willetts. “We are very encouraged by the success of our inaugural MICOOP and look forward to hosting future poker events for Michigan players.”

The MICOOP had 60 tournaments with various formats and buy-ins ranging from $10 to $500. Satellite events also took place, with buy-ins as low as $2.

PokerStars will announce details and dates for future tournaments soon.

More on PokerStars

PokerStars remains the only active platform to offer online poker in Michigan. It officially went live on Jan. 29 after it was approved by the Michigan Gaming Control Board. PokerStars has a partnership with the Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indiana.

“The Tribe’s partnership with The Stars Group extends beyond our reservation and places the thrill of world-class sports betting and online gaming under every finger-tip sliding across a touch screen in the State of Michigan,” said Fred Harrington Jr., Tribal Council, LTBB Odawa.

Michigan poker players have made PokerStars Michigan one of the top websites in the world. It recently ranked as the 15th biggest, according to data from Poker Scout.