RGPS Bay Area 2026: Main Event with a Lower Buy-In and a Big Guarantee

In November 2026, the RunGood Poker Series returns to California with 18 tournaments and a guarantee of over $500,000. The main events are the Mystery Bounty and the Main Event with large prizes.

In November 2026, the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) returns to California, bringing an action-packed poker festival to Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park from November 12 to 22. Over 11 days, players can look forward to 18 ring tournaments and more than $500,000 in guaranteed prize pools, including two marquee events: the PokerNews PowerStack Mystery Bounty with a $200,000 guarantee and the Main Event with a $300,000 guarantee. Both tournaments are expected to attract the top players from the West Coast and offer participants a wealth of opportunities to claim significant prizes. Full Schedule for RGPS Golden Expedition Bay Area The RGPS Golden Expedition Bay Area features 18 tournaments spanning a wide variety of formats and disciplines. In addition to the two headline events, the schedule includes tournaments for fans of different poker variants, such as Limit Omaha 8, Mixed PLO, Pot-Limit Omaha, Double Board Bomb Pot PLO, as well as events for players aged 50 and over, team tournaments, and fast-paced events with low buy-ins. This diverse lineup ensures that every player can find a suitable tournament, regardless of their experience level or preferences. Dates: November 12–22, 2026 Venue: Graton Resort & Casino, Rohnert Park, California Number of ring tournaments: 18 Total guaranteed prize pool: over $500,000 Among the additional events are the $300 Series Opener (starting November 12), $400 Big Bounty (November 15), $300 Graton Harvest Classic, $400 Monster Stack, and a variety of turbo tournaments with accelerated structures. PokerNews PowerStack Mystery Bounty: Kicking Off with Big Guarantees One of the central events in the festival’s opening days is the PokerNews PowerStack Mystery Bounty, featuring a $400 buy-in and a $200,000 guarantee. This format combines a classic No-Limit Hold’em tournament with the excitement of random bounties: starting on Day 2, each elimination can award an additional cash prize, the amount of which is revealed only when claimed. Buy-in: $400 Guarantee: $200,000 Starting flights: 5 entry flights from November 12 to 14 Day 2: Sunday, November 15 Players can choose the starting flight that best fits their schedule to advance to Day 2 and compete for the title and valuable Mystery Bounties. In addition to the PowerStack, the weekend schedule features other tournaments, such as the $300 Series Opener and $400 Big Bounty, as well as events for Omaha and mixed game enthusiasts. Main Event with $300,000 Guarantee and Lower Buy-in This year, RGPS organizers have made the Main Event more accessible by reducing the buy-in from the usual $1,100 to $800, while maintaining an impressive $300,000 guarantee. This gives more players the chance to compete for a major title and substantial prizes without the need for a large entry fee. Buy-in: $800 (previously $1,100) Guarantee: $300,000 Tournament start: Friday, November 20 Starting flights: 4 flights on Friday and Saturday Final day: Sunday, November 22 Each player can attempt to reach the final day through any of the four starting flights. For those looking to enter the Main Event at a lower cost, $200 satellites are available: for every five entries, one Main Event seat is awarded. The entire Main Event will be covered live by the PokerNews team, allowing readers to follow chip counts, major hands, bustouts, and all the key moments as they happen. Additional Opportunities for Players at the Festival RGPS Bay Area is not only a chance to win significant prizes, but also an opportunity to compete for extra rewards throughout the RGPS Golden Expedition season. Participants can earn points in the RunGood Player of the Year 2026/27 race, as well as in the special PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard. The PowerStack Leaderboard is a dedicated ranking that tracks player results across all PowerStack tournaments in the series. The top ten players at the end of the season will receive valuable prize packages for the Thunder Valley stop and earn the right to play in the exclusive Dream Seat Invitational, a $300 buy-in event. The RGPS festival at Graton Resort & Casino comes just a few months after the series’ previous visit in March, when Aaron Overton captured the Main Event title with a $1,100 buy-in, earning $94,050. Background: What is RGPS and Who Covers the Series The RunGood Poker Series is one of the largest regional poker tours in the United States, regularly hosting festivals across the country. In 2026, alongside the California stop, another leg is taking place at Horseshoe Casino Tunica, underscoring the scale and popularity of the series. PokerNews is the official media partner and coverage provider for RGPS. The PokerNews team includes Calum, who joined the publication in September 2021 and has since reported on numerous major events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP). His experience and dedication ensure readers receive timely and reliable updates straight from the tournament floor. Prize Table and Key Results (March 2026) In March 2026, at the previous RGPS stop at Graton Resort & Casino, Aaron Overton won the Main Event with a $1,100 buy-in, taking home $94,050. This achievement stands out as one of the season’s most notable results and highlights the high level of competition at RGPS events. Main Event Winner (March 2026): Aaron Overton Buy-in: $1,100 First place prize: $94,050 What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Participating in live series like RGPS can serve as an excellent benchmark for PPPoker club players looking to develop their skills and pursue professional growth. The tournament formats featured at RGPS closely mirror those available in PPPoker online clubs: Mystery Bounty events, multi-day tournaments with multiple starting flights, and a variety of Omaha and mixed game disciplines. For PPPoker players, it’s valuable to study the structure and schedule of such festivals: many successful strategies and approaches to bankroll management, tournament selection, and play at different stages can be effectively applied in online clubs as well. Additionally, taking part in satellites for major events—as offered at RGPS—can provide great practice for future live appearances. Finally, tracking the results and progress of leaderboard leaders, such as those on the PowerStack Leaderboard, helps identify which qualities and skills are most valued in today’s tournament poker. This serves as a strong motivation to work on your game consistently and raise your level, preparing you for both online and live poker events at the highest level.