The Asian Poker Tour (APT) has announced the signing of an exclusive five-year agreement with Macau Billionaire Poker and Babylon Casino to bring a minimum of two international poker events per year to Macau for the next five years.
Widely considered to be the most prestigious brand in Asian poker due to its generous structures and sizable prize pools, the APT has staged over 60 international poker events throughout the region since it was formed in 2008 including eight events in Macau. However, until now it has struggled to find a permanent Macau home.
“Put bluntly, for our next stage of growth and expansion, APT now needs a permanent base in Macau,” said APT CEO Jeff Mann. “APT needs to be a very active participant in what is the gaming hub of the world. We are delighted with this new partnership with MBP and our joint vision of what is possible for the Macau poker scene moving forward.”
In a statement, Macau Billionaire Poker said, “For too long Macau has been restricted in terms of the variety of poker tournaments on offer which we believe has restricted the growth of poker not only in Macau but also in Asia. Given the incredible growth and following for poker from Mainland players, more professional tournaments are needed.
“The APT is an established and well respected brand in Asia and viewed by many as the best poker tournament organizer in the region. We are delighted to start this long-term relationship to establish a very strong presence in Macau.”
The first event under the new APT-MBP partnership will be the APT Finale Championships Macau 2017, to be held at the Babylon Casino from 29 November to 9 December.
The APT held its APT Macau 2017 event at Babylon Casino in June, with Malaysia’s Choong Kian Weng taking home the HK$521,000 top prize.
