SkyCity Auckland, New Zealand is to host the inaugural New Zealand Poker Open with a prize pool of 50,000 dollars from May 31 to June 1.
Although the minimum prize pool has been set at $50,000, SkyCity predicts that the popularity of poker in the country may mean that the pool is much higher.
“The massive growth in the popularity of poker worldwide has taken its time reaching New Zealand but it has certainly arrived at SkyCity,” said Ejaaz Dean, executive manager of table games at SkyCity Auckland. “With the success of our tournaments so far and the calibre of players visiting the gaming floor, we believe we are only just breaking the surface of what we can achieve for poker in New Zealand.
“We are committed to making SkyCity the home of poker in New Zealand and look forward to the New Zealand Poker Open becoming an annual fixture on the poker circuit."
