I have talked about how successful the poker tours outside of the United States in past posts here have been thriving like the European Poker Tour and its amazing recent Monte Carlo Grand Finale that boasted a staggering 8.4 million Euros prize pool. Currently gearing up for its second run based upon a successful season one is the Asian Pacific Poker Tour.

Sponsored by PokerStars.net, the APPT will boast six events this time, along with a "high roller" event that will set runner back nearly $20,000 to enter at the Grand Waldo Hotel and Casino in Macau on September 7th. Like last year, the Grand Finale for the APPT tour will be held in beautiful Sydney, Australia at the Star City Casino.

Below is the official press release from Pokerstars.net:

PokerStars, (www.PokerStars.net ), the world's largest online poker site, today announced the launch of Season 2 of the PokerStars.net Asia Pacific Poker Tour (PokerStars.net APPT). Spanning the region from Macau, China to Auckland, New Zealand, the tour will once again bring world-class poker action to some of the most exotic and luxurious locations in the world.

Jeffrey Haas, president of the APPT, said, "Following the success of the APPT's first season, we're very excited to announce the schedule for Season 2 which includes a brand new event in Auckland, plus increased buy-ins to create even bigger prize pools. The PokerStars APPT has brought a whole new dimension to poker in the Asia Pacific region. It is a testament to the success of Season 1 that the tour is back for a second year, marking poker's emergence into a truly global sport. Every year, PokerStars sends thousands of poker players from around the world to compete in events across Europe, the US and the Caribbean , and now the Asia Pacific region is established as an integral part of the global poker circuit."

The first events of APPT Season 2 will be held in Macau from September 1-9. The $25,000 HKD buy-in Main Event (approximately $3,200 USD) will take place from September 1-6 and the return of the prestigious "high roller" event with a buy-in of $150,000 HKD (approximately $19,250 USD) will run from September 7-9. Both events will guarantee a minimum prize pool of $10M HKD (approximately $1.3M USD) and will crown Asia 's next poker millionaires. APPT Macau is expected to set new records for poker tournaments in Asia , both by player numbers and prize pools.

The second event on September 26-28 is a 3,000,000 KRW buy-in event (approximately $2,870 USD) in exciting Seoul , Korea at the Paradise Walker-Hill Casino. This will be followed by the addition of a $3,000 NZD buy-in event (approximately $2,400 USD) at the beautiful SkyCity Casino in lovely Auckland , New Zealand from October 9-12. This season's fourth APPT event will be in Manila , the Philippines (details: TBD).

The tour culminates in December 2008 with the APPT Grand Final taking place in the fabulous Star City Casino in Sydney , Australia , during the country's lovely summer. This $6,300 AUD buy-in event (approximately $6,000 USD) will guarantee at least a $1,000,000 AUD (approx. $960,000 USD) prize for the first-place winner and be one of the largest poker tournaments in the world this year. It will be held in the casino's spectacular poker room overlooking the city's world-famous icon, the Sydney Harbour Bridge . All tour details can be found at: http://www.appt.com.

The PokerStars' APPT tournaments will again be run by the region's most prominent tournament director, Danny McDonagh, under whose direction the Aussie Millions earned its reputation as one of the world's best-run and most successful tournaments.

"I am delighted to be back for Season 2 of the PokerStars.net APPT. It illustrates how poker has developed in the Asia Pacific region and I am very proud to be a part of that growth," said McDonagh.

In addition to tournament play, the PokerStars.net APPT is continuing to work hand-in-hand with local tourism boards to offer a wide range of tourism experiences, designed to introduce the players and their partners to some of the incredible beauty and cultural diversity of these exotic locations.

"Poker is still at an early stage in many of the countries we visit with the PokerStars.net APPT," said Haas. "But for those forward-thinking authorities that embrace the opportunities it offers, the APPT continues to develop a whole new type of tourism in the region. The APPT tournaments bring players from all over the world. This in turn helps stimulate tremendous local economic benefit - because one of our key aims is to ensure players, their friends and families enjoy the local sights and experiences."

Limited free-to-enter satellite tournaments will be available on PokerStars.net starting from May 29, so that every poker player across the world will be able to compete in these events, whatever their bankroll. Live satellites will also be available: at Star City Casino in Sydney for the Grand Final and other events; at SkyCity Casino in Auckland for the Auckland event; at PokerStars Macau for all events; and at other locations TBA.

For more information on the PokerStars.net APPT and how to qualify for the tournaments, go to: http://www.appt.com

CITY/COUNTRY
DATES
VENUE
BUY IN

Macau, Macau

September 1-6

Grand Waldo Hotel & Casino

$25,000 HKD ($3,200 USD)

Macau, Macau

September 7-9

Grand Waldo Hotel & Casino

$150,000 HKD ($19,250 USD)

Seoul, Korea

September 26-28

Paradise Walker-Hill Casino

3,000,000 KRW ($2,870 USD)

Auckland, New Zealand

October 9-12

SkyCity Casino

$3,000 NZD ($2,400 USD)

Manila, The Philippines

TBD

TBD

TBD

Sydney, Australia

December 2008
Star City Casino

$6,300 AUD ($6,000 USD)