PokerStars.net is delighted to announce the launch of the long awaited PokerStars.net North American Poker Tour (NAPT).

The NAPT is the first major poker tour in North America created by poker players for poker players with accessible buy-ins, expectations for massive prize pools and thousands of players from around the world all competing for millions of dollars. The NAPT will start at the PokerStars.net Caribbean Adventure (PCA) in the Bahamas on January 5, 2010.

Two further stops are already planned for the NAPT’s inaugural season, with more events to be announced soon. The NAPT Venetian event in Las Vegas, Nevada, from February 20-24 will be the Main Event of The Venetian’s Deep Stack Extravaganza I; and the NAPT Mohegan Sun Main Event in Uncasville, Connecticut, from April 7-11 will be the star feature of a spectacular new poker festival there this Spring.

Both Main Event buy-ins will be $5,000 and like the PCA will feature an exciting variety of side events with a broad range of buy-ins to suit all players.

Joanna Krupa, famed from appearing on “Dancing with the Stars” and “PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge” will be its TV host. It will feature the very best players from North America and from around the world, including team members  Joe Cada, Greg Raymer, Vanessa Rousso and Daniel Negreanu who is among those who have been eagerly awaiting the launch of the NAPT.

“I’m really looking forward to the launch of the NAPT.  PokerStars.net has done an excellent job sponsoring meaningful tournaments around the world with the EPT, LAPT, APPT, and various other local tours – and it’s exciting to see them coming to my home town of Las Vegas!  With the addition of the NAPT, I’ll have a chance to play some tournaments on home soil, and I’m very excited about that,” said Negreanu

The Venetian Las Vegas and Mohegan Sun will provide perfect backdrops for each of the Main Events, fitting destinations for what is expected to be a popular tour. The Venetian is the largest property in the country to receive AAA’s Five Diamond and Mobil Four-Star Awards and is home to The Grand Canal Shoppes, Canyon Ranch SpaClub, world-class gaming, exquisite restaurants and a wide variety of entertainment. Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribe, is one of the largest, most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, and gaming, shopping and meeting destinations in the United States.

PokerStars.net will provide the easiest possible way to qualify for the tournaments with free packages up for grabs on PokerStars.net. Daily NAPT Venetian freerolls are scheduled on PokerStars.net and can be found in the PokerStars.net lobby under Events/Special. Here players can win the $5,000 seat, plus accommodation, for absolutely nothing.

About The Venetian Las Vegas (NAPT Venetian February 20-24, 2010):
The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino, the largest property in the country to receive AAA’s Five Diamond Award and Mobil Four-Star, is one of the world’s most luxurious resort and convention destinations. Re-creating Venice’s legendary landmarks, the resort offers unmatched service and quality for leisure and corporate guests. Located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, The Venetian features The Grand Canal Shoppes, an indoor streetscape complete with gondolas and singing gondoliers, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, world-class gaming, exquisite restaurants, and a wide variety of entertainment such as Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular, Blue Man Group, David Spade and Wayne Brady on its premises, as well as extensive convention and corporate services. For additional information, visit www.venetian.com and follow on twitter @venetianvegas.

About Mohegan Sun (NAPT Mohegan Sun, April 7-11, 2010):
Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribe, is one of the largest, most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and meeting destinations in the United States.  Situated on 240 acres along the Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country.  More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com.

About www.pokerstars.net:
PokerStars.net is the world’s largest poker site with more than 31 million members around the world. It’s the first choice of the world’s top players with more daily tournaments than anywhere else with the best security online. More hands have been dealt on PokerStars.net than any other site.

PokerStars.net operates worldwide under the license from the Isle of Man Government, UK.

PokerStars.net regularly sets the bar high, staging some of the biggest online and live poker tournaments in the world:

  • The European Poker Tour attracts many of the best players worldwide and currently generates the biggest prize pool of any poker tour
  • The PokerStars.net Caribbean Adventure (PCA) staged on the shores of Paradise Island in the Bahamas is the largest and richest tournament in the world outside the United States.
  • The Latin American Poker Tour unites many of the best players in Latin and South America
  • The Asia Pacific Poker Tour does the same across Asia and the Pacific

PokerStars.net is also home to an elite team of sponsored players– a group of established and up and coming players that travel the world competing in international tournaments. For a full list visit the PokerStars.net website.

(PokerStars Press Release)