In 2003, Chris Moneymaker’s improbable victory at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event ignited a global poker boom, inspiring countless amateurs to pursue the game professionally. Now, over two decades later, Moneymaker is once again at the forefront of poker’s evolution with the Moneymaker Tour—a series of tournaments designed to make poker more accessible and appealing to a broader audience.
Helping to Expand the Sport
The Moneymaker Tour, co-founded by Chris Moneymaker and Executive Manager Tony Burns, has rapidly grown in popularity since its inception. The tour’s mission is clear: to provide affordable, professionally-run poker tournaments that cater to players of all skill levels. By offering a variety of events with reasonable buy-ins and substantial guarantees, the tour has successfully attracted both seasoned professionals and enthusiastic newcomers.
2025 Tour Highlights
The 2025 Moneymaker Tour schedule showcases its expansive reach and commitment to inclusivity:
- The Casino @ Dania Beach, Florida (May 27 – June 1): Continuing the tour’s presence in Florida, this venue hosts a series of events catering to a diverse player base. Moneymaker Poker Tour
- MGM Grand, Las Vegas (June 26 – July 6): A highlight of the summer, this stop includes a $1,700 buy-in Main Event with a $1 million guarantee, aligning with the broader Summer Poker Festival.
- The Casino Aruba at Hilton (September 18 – 28): In partnership with the Caribbean Poker Series, this international stop features a $1,500 buy-in Main Event with a $200,000 guarantee, set against the backdrop of Aruba’s stunning beaches.
Diverse Game Offerings
The Moneymaker Tour prides itself on offering a wide array of poker variants to cater to different player preferences. Events include No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Mystery Bounty tournaments, and mixed games like H.E.R.O.S. and T.O.R.S.E. Buy-ins are structured to be affordable, often ranging from $150 to $600, ensuring accessibility for recreational players while still attracting professionals seeking substantial prize pools.
Impact on the Poker Community
Chris Moneymaker’s vision for the tour extends beyond just tournament play. By live-streaming final tables and providing real-time updates, the tour engages a global audience, allowing fans to follow the action and learn from top-level play. Additionally, the tour’s emphasis on community and camaraderie fosters a welcoming environment, encouraging new players to participate and grow their skills. This ethos is shared by Americas Cardroom, the biggest poker website in the US, and one Moneymaker has joined as its main ACR Pro to help grow the sport across the world. You’ll see in the main image, Moneymaker is wearing a ACR Pro jersey. The site has a number of high profile poker pros on the team including Ebony Kenney and Chris Moorman as well as its own streaming team The Stormers.
The Moneymaker Tour stands as a testament to Chris Moneymaker’s enduring influence on the game of poker. By creating a series that emphasizes accessibility, diversity, and community, the tour is successfully bringing the sport to a new generation of players across the U.S. and beyond. As the tour continues to expand, it promises to further enrich the global poker landscape, staying true to the spirit of inclusivity and excitement that Moneymaker himself embodies.
If you’ve been a fan of Chris Moneymaker’s epic journey then watch this recent comeback video that Americas Cardroom shared on its YouTube channel: