By Marcel Lee Pereira

ANOTHER poker tournament could head to Singapore next year, in a bid to boost the card game’s growing popularity here.

The organisers of the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT) told my paper they hope to kick-off next year’s season in Singapore, in March or April.

The tour’s president, Mr Jeffrey Haas, who co-founded the tournament in 2006, was in Singapore yesterday to meet local partners Asian Poker Network, which publishes the regional poker magazine Poker Times.

This comes just after last week’s announcement that the final leg of another tournament, the Asian Poker Tour (APT), could be held here at the end of the year. It is likely to have a US$3,000 (S$4,200) buy-in fee and 700 players are expected to take part.

Mr Haas, however, expects the APPT could attract more players because of its lower buy-in, which is likely to be $2,500 or $3,000. He said the idea was to make the tournament more accessible to players.

Discussions with the authorities here are still in early stages, but he hopes to get licensing for the tour finalised by the end of the year.

This year’s APPT kicks off in Macau next month, then moves on to Seoul, Auckland, Manila and Sydney.

At least 15 Singaporeans are expected to take part in the Macau leg, which features a minimum HK$10 million (S$1.8 million) prize pool.

Asian Poker Network chief executive officer V

ince Lau estimates that there are between 300 and 500 active poker players here, who play regularly online or at home.

They are usually between 21 and 35 years old, he said.

Mr Haas said: “I would like more Singaporeans to take part in our events. As more Singaporeans play poker, the culture grows, and the events here – both APT and APPT – will be more successful.”

When asked if he expected more poker tours to come here, he said: “People from all over the world want to visit as tourists, and you see Singaporeans starting to play poker now.”

He added: “With the integrated resorts and gaming conventions coming here, the Government has demonstrated a willingness to accept poker tournaments.”

marcelp@sph.com.sg

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