Summer is approaching, and temperatures are rising. Meanwhile, PokerStars New Jersey hopes to keep the online poker action heating up with a new tournament series in June.
With the New Jersey Spring Championship of Online Poker (NJSCOOP) having just completed, PokerStars NJ has announced it will stage the Summer Stacks Festival from June 12-28.
The series will feature 100 tournaments with guarantees across the series totaling $528,000.
100 tournaments with buy-ins $100 or less
According to PokerStars, the Summer Stacks Festival will feature “a more casual series format” than other series. To that end, the festival includes a number of turbo tournaments and short events designed to finish quickly. The series also features relatively low buy-ins across the series, with none of the events costing more than $100 to play.
The series-climaxing Summer Stacks Festival Main Event begins on Sunday, June 27, a two-day, $100 no-limit tournament with a $50,000 guarantee. See the full schedule below.
PokerStars will simultaneously run Summer Stacks Festivals on both its Michigan and Pennsylvania sites during the same 17-day period. Each of PokerStars’ three US sites are “ring-fenced,” meaning players can only compete against others within their own state.
Both of the festivals in MI and PA will also feature 100 tournaments with $100 the maximum buy-in. The guarantees total $1 million for the PokerStars MI and PokerStars PA versions of the series (actually slightly over $1M in PA). In both cases, the Main Events will have $100,000 guarantees.
Freerolls provide no-expense entry into Summer Stacks Festival events
One aspect of the Summer Stacks Festival that will resemble NJSCOOP and other series will be series-related freerolls enabling players to win seats into events for nothing at all.
There will be daily Depositor Freerolls awarding $10,000 in Summer Stacks Festival entries. Players need only deposit at least $30 using the bonus code “SUMMER21” to receive a ticket into a daily Depositor Freeroll.
Additionally, PokerStars NJ will have Second Chance Freerolls during the series, much like they did for NJSCOOP.
Players who bust from events shy of making the money automatically qualify for the next day’s Second Chance Freeroll. Those events also will award $10,000 worth of tournament tickets to Summer Stacks Festival events.
Comparing NJ to other PokerStars US sites, NJ competitors
As noted, the NJSCOOP just completed at the end of May. The 165-tournament series ultimately drew more than 26,000 entries and awarded just over $1.36 million.
PokerStars ran SCOOP series on both PokerStars PA and PokerStars MI as well. In both cases, those series drew bigger fields and created larger prize pools than did PokerStars NJ.
The PASCOOP came in April, where players won $2.6 million. The MISCOOP ran parallel to New Jersey’s series in May, and Michigan players won $2.35 million.
PokerStars NJ thus remains well behind its Michigan and Pennsylvania counterparts in terms of traffic. The concurrent Summer Stacks Festivals at all three sites provide another opportunity to compare how each of the PokerStars US sites are progressing.
Meanwhile, the battle among New Jersey online poker operators remains competitive. However there, too, PokerStars NJ resides in third position revenue-wise.
Through the first four months of 2021, WSOP.com NJ/888 Poker NJ operator Caesars reported just over $3.93 million in online poker revenue. That’s tops in the state, followed by Borgata and the partypoker US network of sites (Borgata Poker/BetMGM Poker/partypoker NJ) reporting almost $3.43 million.
Not too far behind, Resorts and PokerStars NJ have reported almost $2.97 million in 2021 revenue through April.
2021 PokerStars New Jersey Summer Stacks Festival Schedule
| No. | Date | Time (ET) | Event | Buy-in | Gtd. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jun 12 (Sa) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (Summer Stacks Warm Up: Stars-B-Que) | $20 | $3,500 |
| 2 | Jun 12 (Sa) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (Summer Stacks Kick Off) | $100 | $12,000 |
| 3 | Jun 12 (Sa) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (Mini Summer Stacks Kick Off) | $30 | $6,000 |
| 4 | Jun 12 (Sa) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max) | $5 | $1,000 |
| 5 | Jun 12 (Sa) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $6,500 |
| 6 | Jun 12 (Sa) | 8:30 p.m. | PLO8 (6-Max) | $20 | $1,500 |
| 7 | Jun 12 (Sa) | 10 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO) | $30 | $3,000 |
| 8 | Jun 13 (Su) | 3 p.m. | NLHE (Sunday Marathon) | $100 | $6,500 |
| 9 | Jun 13 (Su) | 3 p.m. | NLHE (Mini Sunday Marathon) | $30 | $4,500 |
| 10 | Jun 13 (Su) | 5 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Sunday Storm) | $10 | $2,500 |
| 11 | Jun 13 (Su) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Sunday Special – Summer Edition) | $100 | $25,000 |
| 12 | Jun 13 (Su) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Sunday Special – Mid) | $25 | $6,500 |
| 13 | Jun 13 (Su) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Sunday Special – Micro) | $5 | $1,500 |
| 14 | Jun 13 (Su) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,000 |
| 15 | Jun 13 (Su) | 10 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, PKO, Sun. Supersonic – Summer Edition) | $30 | $2,000 |
| 16 | Jun 14 (M) | 7 p.m. | NLHE | $20 | $3,500 |
| 17 | Jun 14 (M) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $5,000 |
| 18 | Jun 14 (M) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale) | $100 | $9,000 |
| 19 | Jun 14 (M) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Mini Battle Royale) | $20 | $4,000 |
| 20 | Jun 14 (M) | 9:30 p.m. | NLHE (Turbo) | $10 | $1,000 |
| 21 | Jun 15 (Tu) | 7 p.m. | NLHE | $5 | $2,500 |
| 22 | Jun 15 (Tu) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $5,000 |
| 23 | Jun 15 (Tu) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (Super Tuesday – Summer Edition) | $100 | $15,000 |
| 24 | Jun 15 (Tu) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (Mini Super Tuesday) | $20 | $4,000 |
| 25 | Jun 15 (Tu) | 9 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max) | $30 | $1,000 |
| 26 | Jun 16 (W) | 7 p.m. | NLHE | $20 | $2,500 |
| 27 | Jun 16 (W) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,500 |
| 28 | Jun 16 (W) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max) | $100 | $8,000 |
| 29 | Jun 16 (W) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max) | $20 | $2,500 |
| 30 | Jun 16 (W) | 9:30 p.m. | NLHE (Turbo, Deepstack) | $30 | $3,000 |
| 31 | Jun 17 (Th) | 7 p.m. | NLHE | $5 | $1,000 |
| 32 | Jun 17 (Th) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,500 |
| 33 | Jun 17 (Th) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill – Summer Edition) | $100 | $8,000 |
| 34 | Jun 17 (Th) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (Progressive KO, Mini Thursday Thrill) | $20 | $3,500 |
| 35 | Jun 17 (Th) | 9:30 p.m. | NLHE (Heads-Up, Turbo, Progressive Total KO, Heads Up Zoom) | $30 | $4,000 |
| 36 | Jun 18 (F) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Stars) | $100 | $8,000 |
| 37 | Jun 18 (F) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (Mini Nightly Stars) | $25 | $3,500 |
| 38 | Jun 18 (F) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,000 |
| 39 | Jun 18 (F) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (4-Max, Progressive KO) | $20 | $1,500 |
| 40 | Jun 18 (F) | 9 p.m. | NLHE (Turbo) | $5 | $500 |
| 41 | Jun 19 (Sa) | 4 p.m. | NLHE (Progressive KO, Saturday Warm Up) | $10 | $2,000 |
| 42 | Jun 19 (Sa) | 6 p.m. | NLHE, $2.5K | $20 | $2,500 |
| 43 | Jun 19 (Sa) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $5,000 |
| 44 | Jun 19 (Sa) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Progressive KO) | $100 | $12,500 |
| 45 | Jun 19 (Sa) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Progressive KO) | $30 | $6,500 |
| 46 | Jun 19 (Sa) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Progressive KO) | $10 | $2,000 |
| 47 | Jun 19 (Sa) | 9:30 p.m. | PLO (6-Max, Turbo) | $10 | $500 |
| 48 | Jun 20 (Su) | 2 p.m. | NLHE (Sunday Drive) | $50 | $3,500 |
| 49 | Jun 20 (Su) | 2 p.m. | NLHE | $10 | $1,500 |
| 50 | Jun 20 (Su) | 4 p.m. | NLHE (Sunday Warm Up – Sunday Edition) | $50 | $5,000 |
| 51 | Jun 20 (Su) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Sunday Special – Summer Edition) | $100 | $25,000 |
| 52 | Jun 20 (Su) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Sunday Special – Mid) | $30 | $7,500 |
| 53 | Jun 20 (Su) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Sunday Special – Low) | $10 | $3,000 |
| 54 | Jun 20 (Su) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,000 |
| 55 | Jun 20 (Su) | 10 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Hyper-Turbo, PKO, Sunday Supersonic – Summer Edition) | $20 | $1,500 |
| 56 | Jun 21 (M) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (Progressive KO) | $20 | $3,000 |
| 57 | Jun 21 (M) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,500 |
| 58 | Jun 21 (M) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Battle Royale) | $100 | $7,500 |
| 59 | Jun 21 (M) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO, Mini Battle Royale) | $30 | $4,500 |
| 60 | Jun 21 (M) | 9:30 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO, Battle Royale, Late Night Edition) | $10 | $500 |
| 61 | Jun 22 (Tu) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO) | $20 | $2,500 |
| 62 | Jun 22 (Tu) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $5,000 |
| 63 | Jun 22 (Tu) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (Super Tuesday – Summer Edition) | $100 | $12,500 |
| 64 | Jun 22 (Tu) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (Mini Super Tuesday) | $30 | $7,000 |
| 65 | Jun 22 (Tu) | 9:30 p.m. | NLHE (Turbo, Super Tuesday, Late Night Edition) | $10 | $1,500 |
| 66 | Jun 23 (W) | 7 p.m. | NLHE | $20 | $2,500 |
| 67 | Jun 23 (W) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,500 |
| 68 | Jun 23 (W) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max) | $100 | $8,000 |
| 69 | Jun 23 (W) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max) | $30 | $2,500 |
| 70 | Jun 23 (W) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max) | $5 | $1,000 |
| 71 | Jun 24 (Th) | 7 p.m. | NLHE | $20 | $2,500 |
| 72 | Jun 24 (Th) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,500 |
| 73 | Jun 24 (Th) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (Progressive KO, Thursday Thrill – Summer Edition) | $100 | $7,500 |
| 74 | Jun 24 (Th) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (Progressive KO, Mini Thursday Thrill) | $30 | $4,500 |
| 75 | Jun 24 (Th) | 9 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Progressive KO) | $10 | $1,500 |
| 76 | Jun 25 (F) | 7 p.m. | NLHE | $20 | $2,000 |
| 77 | Jun 25 (F) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,000 |
| 78 | Jun 25 (F) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (4-Max) | $100 | $7,500 |
| 79 | Jun 25 (F) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (4-Max) | $30 | $5,000 |
| 80 | Jun 25 (F) | 9:30 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Turbo, Win The Button) | $10 | $1,500 |
| 81 | Jun 26 (Sa) | 6 p.m. | HORSE | $30 | $1,000 |
| 82 | Jun 26 (Sa) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (Progressive KO, The Big $20 – Bounty Builder Edition) | $20 | $2,500 |
| 83 | Jun 26 (Sa) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $5,000 |
| 84 | Jun 26 (Sa) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max) | $50 | $3,500 |
| 85 | Jun 26 (Sa) | 8:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Bigstack) | $100 | $12,500 |
| 86 | Jun 26 (Sa) | 9 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Bigstack) | $30 | $6,500 |
| 87 | Jun 26 (Sa) | 10 p.m. | NLHE (Heads-Up, Turbo, Progressive Total KO, Heads Up Zoom) | $75 | $8,000 |
| 88 | Jun 27 (Su) | 3 p.m. | NLHE (Afternoon Bigstack) | $100 | $8,000 |
| 89 | Jun 27 (Su) | 3 p.m. | NLHE (Mini Afternoon Bigstack) | $30 | $4,500 |
| 90 | Jun 27 (Su) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Main Event) | $100 | $50,000 |
| 91 | Jun 27 (Su) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Main Event – Mid) | $30 | $8,500 |
| 92 | Jun 27 (Su) | 6 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Main Event – Low) | $10 | $3,000 |
| 93 | Jun 27 (Su) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $4,000 |
| 94 | Jun 27 (Su) | 8:30 p.m. | PLO (8-Max) | $30 | $2,000 |
| 95 | Jun 27 (Su) | 9:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Turbo, Last Chance) | $75 | $5,000 |
| 96 | Jun 28 (M) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Dual Threat) | $10 | $1,500 |
| 97 | Jun 28 (M) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Progressive KO, Dual Threat) | $10 | $1,500 |
| 98 | Jun 28 (M) | 7 p.m. | NLHE (Summer Stars) | $100 | $10,000 |
| 99 | Jun 28 (M) | 7:30 p.m. | NLHE (8-Max, Nightly Summer Stack) | $50 | $5,000 |
| 100 | Jun 28 (M) | 8 p.m. | NLHE (6-Max, Turbo, Last Call) | $5 | $1,500 |
| TOTAL | $528,000 | ||||
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