PokerStars Announces Return of Iconic NAPT with First Stop In Las Vegas

Summary:

• The NAPT makes a comeback after 12 long years, PokerStars has confirmed
• The first stop of the revived tour takes place in Las Vegas this November
• The series includes a multi-flight $1,650 buy-in Main Event

PokerStars is bringing back the North American Poker Tour (NAPT) after 12 long years. Season 3 of the popular tour kicks off this November with a stop in Las Vegas, the operator has announced.

Originally launched in 2010, the NAPT involved a series of poker tournaments held in North America, with the final table of some events broadcast on television.

The tour came to an abrupt end in April 2011, in the middle of its second season, when PokerStars was forced to terminate its poker operations in the US, an event known as poker’s “Black Friday”. Rumors regarding the return of the NAPT began to circulate when PokerStars announced the Summer Series, its first live festival on US soil in six years. Now, it’s official – the NAPT is back!

2023 NAPT Las Vegas

NAPT will return for a third season this year, with the first stop taking place on November 4-12 at Resorts World Las Vegas on the Strip. This isn’t the first time that PokerStars is linking up with the casino operator. Both have an existing partnership in New Jersey which has allowed PokerStars to offer online poker in the state since 2016.

The NAPT Las Vegas schedule includes a $1,650 buy-in Main Event which has six Day 1 flights. Other key events confirmed so far are a $550 PokerStars Cup (November 9-12) and a $5,300 High Roller (November 10-12). PokerStars is expected to release the full schedule of the series in the weeks ahead.

 

NAPT Comeback Announced on Short Notice

For some reason, PokerStars announced the return of the NAPT on short notice, which is unusual considering that it represents a major milestone for the operator’s US operations. It also came as a bit of a surprise that PokerStars chose Las Vegas to host the first stop of the revived NAPT when it could have selected a state where it offers online poker such as New Jersey, Michigan, or Pennsylvania.

PokerStars may have decided to pick Las Vegas because of its alliance with Oracle Red Bull Racing. Additionally, the Las Vegas leg of the F1 Grand Prix happens on November 15-17.

Among the past champions of the NAPT was no other than Vanessa Selbst who pulled off a back-to-back victory in Connecticut just before the tour was scrapped.