Heartland Poker Tour Schedules Record Year
Nationally-Televised Event Announced at Indigo Sky Casino in October
Wyandotte, OK – Heartland Poker Tour (HPT), one of the longest-running brands in poker, announced a new stop on its popular tour with a nationally-televised event at Indigo Sky Casino in northeast Oklahoma. The newly announced stop paces a record year for HPT this season with eighteen stops and counting through 2013. The series, October 10th-20th, will include a nationally-televised Main Event with three starting flights, plus a full schedule of cash tournaments and qualifying events.
The casino located near Seneca, Missouri is owned by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe and features an 80,000 square foot gaming space and full-service casino. Indigo Sky also offers a 117-room luxury hotel and four restaurants. HPT anticipates the Shawanoe Restaurant and Tequila Bar will be popular among tour regulars who will descend on Indigo Sky from throughout the country.
Melanie Chase of Indigo Sky Casino said the team is “thrilled to serve as a host of the nationally-televised HPT.” Chase said, “This is a great opportunity to showcase our newly opened casino and hotel while highlighting our up-and-coming poker room. We are extremely proud of our new property and welcome the attention a tournament of this size will bring.”
Although Indigo Sky is a brand new casino in its first year of operation, it has already made a name for itself on the poker landscape in Oklahoma.
“The room is exceptionally well-run,” said HPT Director of Operations Jen Mastrud, “The word is out regionally that the team at Indigo Sky is player-focused and the room is very comfortable. As a result, they are attracting big crowds and big games.”
HPT brings a full production set to each of their stops to capture the action while poker enthusiasts grind their way to life-changing money. The Main Event champion is expected to earn a six-figure cash prize at Indigo Sky, with more prize money up for grabs in side events throughout the series. The full tournament schedule is available at HPTpoker.com
The top nine in the Main Event will move to the Final Table to play in front of 16 cameras for a pair of hour-long episodes set to air nationwide. Pro Maria Ho will join longtime HPT commentator Fred Bevill at the broadcast desk to offer her critical analysis.
HPT broadcasts on a syndicated network covering over 100 million U.S. households and reaching into Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. The busy tour will produce about 40 original episodes this year.
HPT’s previous tour record was 17 stops in a calendar year, accomplished in 2009 and 2011. The addition of new partners Indigo Sky, Thunder Valley, Card Player Cruises and Stratosphere will push HPT to new heights.
“We are incredibly grateful to the poker community for embracing HPT throughout our nine-year history,” said Mastrud. “Our tour continues to evolve thanks to the support of players across the country.”
About HPT - Heartland Poker Tour
Founded in 2005, HPT is built on a grass-roots strategy, "Real People, Unreal Money". HPT provides poker enthusiasts a televised “Texas No Limit Hold'em” poker tour with affordable buy-ins. Now filming Season IX, HPT is available in over 100 million U.S. households in addition to widespread distribution throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia. For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, visit www.HPTPoker.com.
About Indigo Sky Casino
Indigo Sky Casino is one the largest casinos in NE Oklahoma, featuring a hotel, electronics games, RV Park, and more. Our Casino Floor boasts over 1,250 gaming machines, bingo, 12 table games, a poker room, and off-track betting for gamblers looking for a variety of gaming options. Indigo Sky Casino is also home to Shawanoe and ECHO, offering visitors an exciting opportunity to take advantage of unique dining options & bars.
Indigo Sky Casino is owned & operated by the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma. The net income from Indigo Sky Casino and all other Eastern Shawnee businesses helps to provide essential services such as health and social care, education, housing, career and other programs to the citizens of Eastern Shawnee. To learn more about the historical Eastern Shawnee Tribe, visithttp://www.estoo-nsn.gov/
