Meta description: Daytona Beach is gaining attention in the poker world after Chris Moneymaker’s win at his namesake tour’s Main Event. Learn how this Florida city is becoming a hub for high-stakes action and global poker tourism.
Daytona Beach isn’t just about sun, surf, and motorsports anymore; it’s quickly carving out a reputation as one of Florida’s hottest poker destinations. This past April, the Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club hosted one of the most anticipated poker stops of the year: the Moneymaker Tour. Running from April 17 to April 29, the series was part of the Great American Poker Tournaments (GAPT) and featured 12 trophy events with over $600,000 in total guaranteed prize pools. The headline event was the $1,500 buy-in Main Event, boasting a $300,000 guarantee. But the real story came when Chris Moneymaker himself (yes, the man who sparked the 2003 poker boom) captured the Main Event trophy on his namesake tour.
For poker fans, it was a full-circle moment. In 2003, Moneymaker famously entered an $86 online satellite tournament, won a $10,000 seat to the World Series of Poker Main Event, and went on to win $2.5 million. His underdog story became the stuff of poker legend, inspiring millions to take up the game online. The Moneymaker Tour honors that history with tournaments at the “magic” $86 buy-in level alongside higher-stakes events, making it accessible to all players. Fred Guzman, president and GM of the Daytona Beach Racing and Card Club, called Moneymaker’s presence a prestige boost for the event and the city. The mix of affordable entry points, multi-day events, and large guarantees drew players from across Florida and beyond. For Daytona Beach, it marked a turning point: proof that poker tourism could complement the city’s racing heritage and spring break crowds, bringing in a different kind of high-energy visitor.
How Moneymaker is Boosting US Online Poker and Beyond
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While Daytona Beach earned the spotlight this spring, the Moneymaker Tour’s ambitions extend far beyond Florida’s coastline. Thanks to its partnership with top US online poker site Americas Cardroom, the tour now has a growing list of international stops, including an upcoming September event in Aruba. This tropical destination offers players a $300,000 guaranteed Main Event prize pool from September 26 to September 28. Americas Cardroom is sweetening the deal by offering online satellites where players can win $3,700 travel packages. Each package includes a $1,700 Main Event buy-in, four nights in a hotel, and $1,000 in airfare. Players can buy in directly for $95 or qualify for free via the Beast weekly leaderboard.
Chris Moneymaker himself has called the Aruba stop the “perfect mix of serious competition and a great vacation.” Beyond the poker tables, players can enjoy pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and the island’s lively culture. “Whether you’re chasing the title or just chasing the sun, this satellite gives players a chance to play poker in an incredible location and hang out with fellow poker fans — all for a small buy-in,” Moneymaker said. The tour has already made appearances in Las Vegas, Canada, and multiple Florida venues, and the addition of an exotic Caribbean leg shows how poker is becoming part of global lifestyle tourism. For Floridians, it’s a unique gateway: play a live event at home, qualify online, and take that momentum to an international poker stage.
Florida’s Growing Poker Scene Amid Online Grey Areas
Florida’s poker scene is thriving, but it’s not without its quirks. Unlike states such as Nevada or New Jersey, Florida doesn’t have regulated online poker. The online market operates in a legal grey zone, meaning platforms like Americas Cardroom become attractive options for players seeking internet-based action.
This doesn’t seem to be slowing growth; in fact, the live poker sector in Florida is booming. The 2021 Gaming Compact between the Seminole Tribe and the State of Florida brought craps, roulette, and sports betting to all six Seminole Casinos. This expansion, alongside traditional offerings like blackjack, baccarat, and poker, has made Florida one of the most competitive gaming destinations in the country. Jim Allen, CEO of Seminole Gaming, has noted the positive economic effects of these additions, from increased tourism to job creation in surrounding communities. For cities like Daytona Beach, hosting major poker events taps into that same economic engine. Tournaments bring in not only players but also their families, media crews, and poker fans, all of whom spend on hotels, restaurants, and entertainment.
The demand for poker in Florida is clear. From Tampa’s bustling poker rooms to Miami’s high-stakes action, the Sunshine State has positioned itself as a must-visit location for both recreational and professional players. The Moneymaker Tour’s Daytona Beach stop is part of that trend, offering a major series right in the heart of the state and drawing eyes from across the poker world. As Moneymaker’s latest Main Event win shows, Florida is more than a side stop in the poker calendar; it’s becoming a must-visit destination. With its combination of in-person tournament growth, online engagement, and now international connections through the Moneymaker Tour, the state is firmly in the game for the next chapter of poker’s global expansion.
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