Asian Poker Tour Manila set to elevate poker scene with record prize guarantee

Lea Hogg September 12, 2024

The Asian Poker Tour (APT) is making a high-stakes return to the Philippines with the launch of APT Manila 2024, a tournament series that showcases the rapid growth of poker in Asia. Set to run from 28 October to 7 November at the opulent City of Dreams Manila, the festival guarantees over PHP 170 million (~USD 3 million) in prize money. The event marks APT’s first return to Manila since 2022, a period that has seen poker in the region gain remarkable momentum amid a surge in both player interest and prize pools. The crown jewel of the 11-day event will be the APT Main Event, which boasts a PHP 100 million (~USD 1.78 million) guaranteed prize pool, more than quadrupling the payout from the last Manila-hosted APT Main Event in 2022. With a buy-in of PHP 85,000 (~USD 1,510), the tournament is set to attract top talent from across the globe, solidifying Manila’s reputation as a premier destination for high-stakes poker. The Main Event will run from October 31 to November 6, adding a fresh layer of excitement to an already heated competition.

Poker’s quiet rise in Asia
Interestingly, while poker is traditionally viewed as an American or European pastime, Asia has become a fertile ground for its growth. In the Philippines, poker was formally recognized as a sport in 2017 by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), giving it a legal status that enabled the proliferation of local tournaments and a rise in Filipino poker professionals. The country is now home to a number of prestigious poker events, including APT and the PokerStars-sponsored Manila Megastack series.

Moreover, poker’s popularity in the region has been fuelled by the rise of online platforms, with Natural8 and GGPoker serving as major players in bringing digital poker to a new generation of enthusiasts. The convergence of live and online poker in Asia may well signal a golden era for the game, with APT Manila 2024 poised to further cement the region’s growing stature in the poker world. APT’s partnership with Natural8—a major online poker platform—further underscores the festival’s growing prestige. Natural8’s backing of the Mystery Bounty Hunter tournament, set for 29.30 October, adds a strategic element to the competition, with PHP 6 million (~USD 106k) guaranteed in this event alone. The PHP 6 million Super Stack event, held on 30 October, rounds out the early week highlights, contributing to a highly anticipated series that has sparked interest throughout Asia’s poker community.

APT Manila 2024 highlights super high roller

The festival also features some of the region’s highest buy-ins, with the PHP 600,000 (~USD 10.6k) APT Super High Roller on 30 – 31 October offering a guaranteed PHP 15 million (~USD 267k). Meanwhile, the Superstar Challenge, held 1-2 November, offers a PHP 1.5 million (~USD 26k) buy-in, making it another marquee event for serious competitors. As the series draws to a close, high-stakes players will have the chance to compete in the APT High Roller event on 6′-7 November, which also features a PHP 15 million (~USD 267k) guarantee. With its ever-expanding prize pools and increased visibility, APT is making a significant statement about poker’s place in Asia. While previously overshadowed by poker markets in North America and Europe, the region’s steady rise is now impossible to ignore. APT’s strategic focus on the Philippines as a tournament hub reflects the country’s growing role as a poker hotspot. Manila’s success as a host city is largely attributed to its world-class venues and the accessibility of high-stakes tournaments for both local and international players.