BetMGM Poker MI is creating its own version of March Madness.
March Poker Mania will run March 20-27, headlined by a special appearance from Michigan native and poker vlogger Andrew Neeme.
The festival will feature nearly $400,000 in guarantees.
What is March Poker Mania?
BetMGM Poker‘s March Poker Mania is an eight-night event that features more than the typical nightly tournaments.
There will be a $1,060 buy-in, Heads-up Bracket Battle, featuring 32 players in a single-elimination tournament-style event. BetMGM Poker stated in a release that it was committed to adding $10,000 in value to the prize pool in Michigan, as well as New Jersey and Pennsylvania, where the event is also being held.
There will also be multiple opportunities for Michigan online poker players to qualify for the Phase II Main Event through a $55 buy-in, multi-day tournament. A qualifier will be held each day leading into the $535 buy-in main event on Monday, March 27.
Neeme will be a major part of the festival, as well, streaming several events on his YouTube channel during the week. He will host the BetMGM Poker Cash Game Meetup on Thursday, March 23, at MGM Grand Detroit, and a college basketball hangout at the BetMGM Sports Lounge on Friday, March 24.
Each of the three states will have a celebrity guest. BetMGM poker ambassador Darren Elias will feature in the New Jersey event, and high stakes pro and content creator Matt Berkey will feature in Pennsylvania.
“We’re thrilled that March Poker Mania will feature three poker titans, offering BetMGM players multiple new touchpoints with our brand,” BetMGM Director of Poker Luke Staudenmaier said in a release. “It’s the first time that we’ve produced an online poker event in multiple states and with multiple hosts – simultaneously, and we’re excited to further connect our players and our brand with MGM properties across the country.”
March Poker Mania Michigan schedule
Multiple tournaments will be held nightly throughout March Poker Mania. Michigan players must be physically located in Michigan to participate.
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 20 | 5 p.m. | Warm-up | $535 |
| March 20 | 6 p.m. | Half-price PKO | $109 |
| March 20 | 7 p.m. | Phase I to Phase II Main Event | $55 |
| March 20 | 8 p.m. | NLH Turbo | $215 |
| March 21 | 7 p.m. | Phase I to Phase II Main Event | $55 |
| March 21 | 8 p.m. | PLO 6-max | $215 |
| March 22 | 7 p.m. | Phase I to Phase II Main Event | $55 |
| March 22 | 8 p.m. | NLH Progressive Knockout 6-max | $535 |
| March 23 | 7 p.m. | Phase I to Phase II Main Event | $55 |
| March 23 | 8 p.m. | NLH 8-max | $320 |
| March 24 | 7 p.m. | Phase I to Phase II Main Event | $55 |
| March 24 | 8 p.m. | NLH PKO 6-max | $320 |
| March 25 | 7 p.m. | Phase I to Phase II Main Event | $55 |
| March 25 | 8 p.m. | PLO 6-max | $215 |
| March 26 | 6 p.m. | Heads-up Bracket Battle 32-max | $1,060 |
| March 26 | 7 p.m. | Phase I to Phase II Main Event | $55 |
| March 27 | 5 p.m. | NLH Main Event 8-max | $1,060 |
| March 27 | 6 p.m. | Phase II: Main Event | $535 |
| March 27 | 7 p.m. | NLH Turbo Second Chance | $215 |
BetMGM offering $10K freeroll Saturday
To celebrate its one-year anniversary of online poker in Michigan and to thank its users, BetMGM is hosting a $10K freeroll tournament Saturday, March 19. The tournament begins at 4 p.m. Players can begin registering immediately and can enter until the end of Level 1 of the event.
The top prize is a $1,060 ticket to the Heads-Up Bracket Battle or Main Event. Here’s a breakdown of the prize structure:
- First Place: $1060 ticket to March Poker Mania Michigan Heads-Up Bracket Battle/Main Event
- Places 2-4: $535 March Poker Mania ticket
- Places 5-12: $320 March Poker Mania ticket
- Places 13-28: $215 March Poker Mania ticket
- Places 29-45: $55 March Poker Mania ticket
- Places 46-70: $10 ticket
- Places 70-100: $5 ticket
