The 2026 Ante Up Poker Tour is well underway, and what a year it has already been.

Gila River Resort & Casinos – Lone Butte

Our season kicked off in March at Gila River Resort & Casinos – Lone Butte in Chandler, Arizona, and it couldn’t have gone better. The property quickly became one of our favorite destinations, with outstanding hospitality, a fantastic poker room, and an incredible turnout from the Ante Up community.

One of the highlights of the stop was watching Deepa Shah capture the Main Event title. Deepa’s victory made for a fantastic story, and you can read all about her journey in Ante Up Magazine. Be sure to check out the issue featuring Deepa on the cover for an inside look at her championship run and everything that made the Gila River stop so memorable.

But we’re just getting started.

Alaska Was a Blast!

The Ante Up Poker Tour at Sea has officially wrapped, and what an incredible ten days it was. From the poker tables to the breathtaking Alaskan scenery, we had an unforgettable time with members of the A-Team and our friends throughout the poker community.

Congratulations to Karen Gustafson, who captured the Ante Up Tournament title! Clint Newcomb finished runner-up, with Lenny Trieber rounding out the top three.

The cards may be back in the box and the ship back in port, but we’re not done talking about this one. Look for much more from the tournament and the cruise in the next issue of Ante Up Magazine, where we’ll feature our champion, Karen Gustafson, and take you back aboard for some of our favorite moments from an unforgettable trip.

Next Stop is the Electric City

Once we return to dry land, we’ll head to one of our annual favorites—Rivers Casino & Resort Schenectady in New York. We will be joining the Electric City September 18-28.

This stop has become a tradition on the Ante Up Poker Tour, and for good reason. The staff always rolls out the red carpet, the poker room is outstanding, and the players make us feel at home every single year. If you’ve never experienced Electric City, this is the perfect year to see what all the excitement is about.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Schenectady for another great series.

Back to California!

October brings one of the most anticipated stops of the year as the Ante Up Poker Tour makes its way to Sycuan Casino Resort in beautiful San Diego, California.

From October 16-25, we’ll partner with the SoCal Classic to bring another exciting Ante Up Tour stop to Southern California. This marks our first return to California in several years, and judging by the messages we’ve already received, many of you are planning to join us.

We love hearing that so many members of the A-Team are making travel plans, and we can’t wait to see everyone around the tables in San Diego.

The Grand Finale

We’ll close out the 2026 season with the Ante Up Poker Championship at the beautiful Venetian Las Vegas. While the final dates are still being confirmed, you can expect us to wrap up the season in December or January at one of the premier poker destinations in the world.

The Venetian has been home to our championship for the past several years, and it provides the perfect setting to celebrate another incredible season of the Ante Up Poker Tour. Great tournaments, world-class amenities, and the chance to spend one more week with the Ante Up community. There’s no better way to finish the year.

Whether you’ve already joined us this season or are planning your first Ante Up Poker Tour stop, we can’t wait to see you at the tables. Every stop is more than just a tournament series, it’s a chance to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, and celebrate what makes the Ante Up community so special.

We’ll see you on the felt!