The World Poker Tour (WPT) is hoping to make a Macao comeback, with the internationally televised gaming event’s boss planning to visit the SAR early this year, Inside Asian Gaming (IAG) reports.
The tour’s CEO, Adam Pliska, told the specialist gaming publication that he’s been “very eager” to explore Macao as a host for a major tournament series, in spite of barriers that include the city’s table cap and limited dealer resources.
While several of Macao’s casinos currently offer poker rooms, large-scale tournaments haven’t taken place since 2018 – when Chinese authorities cracked down on the card game online and City of Dreams closed its PokerStars Live room, IAG reports.
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“There are some structural issues in Macau that make it difficult, particularly with dealers, but we are dedicated,” Pliska told IAG. “We will get to Macao. We will work with the government and we’ll work with anyone else to make sure we get a good event.”
The CEO noted that Asia was an increasingly important region for World Poker Tour, which held successful events in Taiwan, Cambodia and India in 2023. The US-founded tour stops at Phnom Penh’s NagaWorld for the first time later this month – for the US$3,500 buy-in Cambodia Championship – and moves on to Korea and Vietnam later in the year.
“Anybody who’s played any Asian events realises that the level of enthusiasm is palpable,” Pliska said.
