MSPT Wisconsin: win a ticket to a poker tournament by eating a burger

From September 30 to October 5, the MSPT series with a $1,000,000 guarantee will take place at Potawatomi Casino. Get a chance to win a Main Event ticket by eating a special burger.

From September 30 to October 5, 2025, the Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin will host the large-scale Major Series of Poker: The Tour (MSPT), featuring 11 tournaments with gold cards and a Main Event with a $1,000,000 guarantee. The organizers have prepared a packed schedule designed for both seasoned professionals and poker enthusiasts, and have also come up with an unusual way to win a Main Event ticket — all you have to do is eat a special burger at the Players Bar in Madison. Schedule of the MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship 2025 The main focus is on the Main Event — the MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship with a $1,110 buy-in and a $1,000,000 guarantee. The tournament will be held in No-Limit Hold’em format with deep starting stacks and a well-thought-out level structure: Starting stack: 100,000 chips Level duration: 40 minutes Day 1a: Thursday, October 2, starts at 12:00 PM, late registration until 9:10 PM Day 1b: Friday, October 3, starts at 12:00 PM, late registration until 9:10 PM Day 1c: Saturday, October 4, starts at 12:00 PM, late registration until 9:10 PM Final Day: Sunday, October 5 — all surviving players combine and play down to the champion This structure allows participants to showcase their skills and choose the most convenient starting day. Late registration until late evening gives even those who can't arrive at the start of the tournament a chance to join the action. In addition to the Main Event, the series schedule includes other major tournaments: Event #1: 100 Grand Stack NLH — $400 buy-in, $200,000 guarantee. A tournament with an increased starting stack, giving more room for play. Seniors (50+) Monster Stack NLH — $400 buy-in. A tournament for players aged 50 and over with an increased stack. Last Chance Monster Stack NLH — $200 buy-in. The last chance to cash in the series, also with an increased stack. There are a total of 11 tournaments on the schedule with various formats and buy-ins, so everyone can find a suitable event. History of the MSPT and Potawatomi Casino Partnership Before the pandemic, the MSPT series and Potawatomi Casino Hotel hosted some of the largest poker tournaments in the Midwest. According to MSPT founder and president Bryan Mileski, after a forced break due to the pandemic, the local poker community was eagerly awaiting the return of a major series. In 2024, after the completion of a $200 million large-scale casino renovation and the opening of a new poker room, MSPT returned to Milwaukee. Potawatomi Casino Hotel CEO Dominic Ortiz noted that demand for poker in Wisconsin is now higher than ever, and hosting the MSPT not only creates an elite poker atmosphere but also showcases all the new features and services the casino offers to players from across the Midwest. The last MSPT at Potawatomi was held from January 30 to February 2, 2024. That tournament drew a record 1,697 entries, surpassing the venue’s previous record (1,658 entries in 2017). The winner was Timothy Thorp, who defeated Umut Ozturk heads-up and took home the top prize of $244,362. How to Win a Main Event Ticket by Eating the MSPT Burger From September 22 to 28, Players Bar (Madison, Wisconsin) will host a unique promotion: anyone can get a chance to win a ticket to the MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship Main Event worth $1,110. To participate, you need to: Buy the signature MSPT Burger at Players Bar during the promotion period. Take a photo with the burger. Post the photo on one of the following platforms: Players Bar Facebook page X/Twitter with tags @ChadAHolloway and @msptpoker Instagram with tags @DISCO_CHAD and @msptpoker Madison Poker Community (MPC) Facebook group MSPT Facebook page Each purchase of an MSPT Burger and photo post gives you a separate chance to win (but no more than one post per day). The winner will be chosen at random on September 30 and will receive a ticket to the MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship Main Event at Potawatomi Casino. The ticket is non-transferable and will be issued on-site with MSPT representatives present. Additionally, $2 from every MSPT Burger sold will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House charity, which supports families with children undergoing medical treatment. The MSPT Burger itself is a thick beef patty with spicy cheddar, fried onions, macaroni and cheese, and slices of State Street Brats — a traditional Wisconsin sausage. This recipe highlights local flavor and makes the promotion appealing not only to poker players but also to foodies. Players Bar — a Landmark for Wisconsin’s Poker Community For decades, Players Bar has been an important part of the state’s poker scene. This is where Phil Hellmuth Jr. — future 1989 WSOP Main Event champion and one of the most famous players in history — took his first steps in poker. Hellmuth still occasionally returns to Players Bar to play a few hands and chat with local players. The bar is owned by Mark “Poker Ho” Kroon — an online poker veteran and active member of the local community. Recently, Phil Hellmuth, Mark Kroon, and Chad Holloway — PokerNews PR manager, host of the PokerNews Podcast and MSPT Podcast Presented By PokerNews, and 2013 WSOP bracelet winner — met again at Players Bar. This visit was covered in the PokerNews podcast (starting at 13:22 of the episode). Full Schedule of the MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship 2025 The organizers have prepared 11 tournaments with various formats and buy-in levels. Here are the main events on the schedule: Event #1: 100 Grand Stack NLH — $400 buy-in, $200,000 guarantee Seniors (50+) Monster Stack NLH — $400 buy-in Last Chance Monster Stack NLH — $200 buy-in Main Event: MSPT Wisconsin Poker State Championship — $1,110 buy-in, $1,000,000 guarantee, 100,000 starting stack, 40-minute levels, three starting flights (October 2-4), final on October 5 The remaining 7 tournaments are various NLH formats with different starting stacks and buy-in levels, allowing players of any skill level to find the right format. Statistics and Results of the Previous MSPT Series at Potawatomi At the beginning of 2024, MSPT returned to Potawatomi Casino for the first time since the pandemic. The tournament drew a record 1,697 entries, surpassing the venue’s previous record (1,658 entries in 2017). The winner was Timothy Thorp, who defeated Umut Ozturk heads-up and took home the top prize of $244,362. Winner: Timothy Thorp — $244,362 Runner-up: Umut Ozturk Total entries: 1,697 Previous record: 1,658 entries (2017) This data confirms the high level of interest in the series and the significance of MSPT for the region’s poker community. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news is a great example of how major live series build their programs and keep poker interesting not only for professionals but also for a wider audience. Deep stack and long-level formats, a variety of tournaments, and the chance to qualify through creative promotions — all of this can be used in online clubs to boost player engagement. Pay attention to the MSPT structure: deep stacks (100,000 chips) and 40-minute levels allow players to showcase their skills and minimize variance. In PPPoker club tournaments, you can experiment with similar structures to attract both recreational and experienced players. Finally, social and charitable initiatives like the MSPT burger promotion help build a loyal community and create extra reasons to participate. PPPoker clubs can implement similar promotions — for example, awarding tickets to major tournaments to members who complete creative tasks or support charity projects. This approach not only increases activity but also strengthens the club’s positive image.