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Borgata Atlantic City’s Lions of the East poker tournament will give players a chance to compete for a share of at least $2 million, with a $600 buy-in and starting flights at two East Coast casinos.
Borgata Atlantic City will host eight starting flights, or separate Day 1 sessions, from Oct. 13–17. Players can also begin at MGM National Harbor in Maryland, with qualifiers from both casinos meeting at Borgata for Day 2 on Oct. 18.
NJ players have an online route into the event, too, with BetMGM Poker running qualifying tournaments through Oct. 16.
Eight Borgata starting flights begin Oct. 13
Borgata will hold a flight at 10:15 a.m. each day from Oct. 13–17, with additional evening flights at 5:15 p.m. on Oct. 15–17.
The final flight on Saturday evening will use a turbo format with 20-minute opening levels, giving players one last chance to advance before Day 2.
MGM National Harbor’s eight starting flights run Oct. 7–12. Players who qualify there will need to travel to Atlantic City for the combined field, rather than continue playing in Maryland.
The $600 buy-in includes an optional chip add-on
The advertised entry consists of $500 for the prize pool, a $70 registration fee and an optional $30 staff gratuity. That gratuity adds 15,000 chips to the starting stack, bringing it to 35,000.
Players who decline the optional add-on would pay $570 and start with 20,000 chips, based on the published breakdown.
Registration opens at 9 a.m., and players can sign up in person at Borgata’s designated poker registration area or through the BetMGM Poker app. Seating may be limited, according to the tournament rules.
Registration closes at the start of Level 13 in each flight. Players eliminated during the first 12 levels can re-enter an unlimited number of times but must pay again each time they re-enter.
Players must be at least 21 and have an MGM Rewards card to participate. A valid ID is required to collect winnings.
$50 online qualifiers offer seats through Oct. 16
Players located in New Jersey or Pennsylvania can compete in BetMGM Poker’s daily $50 qualifiers, each of which guarantees at least two tournament seats.
According to BetMGM’s announcement, winners receive a $600 entry usable at either property on their chosen starting day, plus $50 for expenses.
The operator also offers $5 hyper-turbo satellites into the $50 qualifiers. These appear under the satellites tab within each daily qualifier. Winning one provides entry to the $50 qualifying tournament.
Day 1 payouts are set at $1,200
Payouts begin when approximately 12.5% of the field in each flight remains, with Day 1 payouts set at $1,200. Play continues until approximately 8% remain to advance.
Players can enter multiple flights even after qualifying. If they advance more than once, their largest chip stack moves forward to Day 2. Each additional qualifying stack earns a $1,200 payment.
Those reaching Day 2 receive a two-night Borgata hotel stay for Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18, with checkout on Monday, Oct. 19. The stay is tied to those dates, so qualifying during an earlier flight does not provide accommodation for the intervening nights. Taxes and resort fees remain payable.
