Heatland Poker Tour 2007
On Saturday, July 28th, the largest event to date on the Heartland Poker Tour, will be played at the Majestic Star Casino in Gary, Indiana. They are expecting 300 players for the $2500 main event. With this, the main event prize pool will grow to more than 700, 000 dollars, with a first prize pay out around 200, 000. What an attention grabber for any 9-5 worker, seeking a good break for the weekend.
"Every time we go somewhere new, we pick up more people," said Todd Anderson of the emergent tournament fields. The HPT has taken several steps to ensure that the poker player with a 9-to-5 day job can play in these events. The main event of each tournament stop takes place principally on the weekends. The HPT has put into practice something unique, a "Ride/Room Share" tab on their website. This facilitates a method for players from the same region or hometown can carpool and room share to cut the total tournament play expense. The HPT includes numerous days of $400+50 satellites to build up tournament fields and give everyone who wants to play an opportunity to become a television poker star.
"The 10k buy-in is really out of range for 99 percent of the population," said Anderson. "It's more affordable, it's more realistic. Our events are a lot of fun, they're not as serious." The Heartland Personal Tour creates a relaxed sense of community, due to smaller buy-ins and less pressure, and that atmosphere has created a cult-like following in many regional poker circles. "I liken it to a fishing trip with your buddies...it's a different experience," said Anderson.
The tour began solely in the Midwest, but as more people show interest, the tour has added new stops all over the country. For the first time this year, there are stops in Tucson, Arizona and Verona, New York. The growing tour is looking into additional stops in Tunnica, Mississippi, Oaklahoma, and Denver, Colorado. The television interest has increased and the tour has grown as a result. As the numbers of new events have been added to the schedule for 2007, expect to see the same for the 2008 series as well.
The stops Remaining on the 2007 Heartland Poker Tour:
- Grand Series at Grand Casino Mille Lacs (Mille Lacs, Minnesota) August 20 - 27, 2007
- Northern Light Casino (Walker, Minnesota) September 12 - 19, 2007
- Golden Gates Casino (Black Hawk, Colorado) October 8 - 14, 2007
- Lucky Nugget Card Club (Deadwood, South Dakota) October 15 - 21, 2007
- Meskwaki Casino (Tama, Iowa) October 31 - November 3, 2007
- Casino Del Sol (Tucson, Arizona) November 11 - 18, 2007
- The HPT Championship Open at the Majestic Star Casino (Gary, Indiana) December 1 - 9, 2007