PokerStars Cuts EPT Main Event Buy-In to €5,000 for 2027
Key Details PokerStars has announced its 2027 European Poker Tour (EPT) schedule, with lower buy-ins for several events. The EPT
PokerStars Cuts EPT Main Event Buy-In to €5,000 in 2027 Schedule Overhaul
Key Details
- PokerStars cut the EPT Main Event buy-in from €5,300 to €5,000, the first change in over 15 years.
- Every PokerStars Open Main Event now costs €1,250, and PokerStars Open High Rollers at EPT festivals drop to €2,500.
- PokerStars hasn’t published 2027 rake and fees yet, so the real value of the new prices is still unknown.
PokerStars has announced its 2027 European Poker Tour (EPT) schedule, with lower buy-ins for several events. The EPT Main Event will cost €5,000 instead of €5,300, marking its first price change in over 15 years, according to PokerNews. PokerStars Open Main Events will cost €1,250 at every stop, while High Rollers at EPT festivals will drop to €2,500.
EPT Paris kicks off the season on February 9, with EPT Prague closing it in December. However, PokerStars hasn’t announced its 2027 tournament fees yet. That means players still don’t know how much of their buy-in will go toward the prize pool.
What Changes in the 2027 EPT Schedule
PokerStars Open Main Event buy-ins are also changing in 2027. These events previously cost €1,650 at major EPT stops and €1,100 at smaller festivals like Campione and Namur. Next year, every PokerStars Open Main Event will cost €1,250.
That means players at most EPT stops will save €400, while those attending Campione and Namur will pay €150 more. The 2026 EPT Prague event was an exception, with a lower €1,100 buy-in already in place.
PokerStars says the changes will make pricing simpler and help keep tournaments affordable. Cedric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events at PokerStars, explained:
“Players told us the PokerStars Open at EPT stops had become too expensive, and €1,250 brings it back within reach while still letting us manage demand in our busiest venues.”
Why the Fee Breakdown Matters More Than the Headline Price
A tournament buy-in covers two things: money for the prize pool and fees paid to the organizer and staff. These fees are known as rake, and they affect how much of your money goes toward prizes. At the 2026 EPT Prague Main Event, the €5,300 buy-in included €4,850 for the prize pool and €450 in fees, or about 8.5%.
The new €5,000 buy-in saves players €300, but the fees still matter. If PokerStars keeps them at €450, the fee percentage rises to 9%, leaving €4,550 for the prize pool. Lower fees would mean more of each buy-in goes toward prizes. Our guide to tournament rake structures explains why this matters. PokerStars plans to release its full fee details with each festival schedule, so players will need to wait to see how much of their buy-in goes toward the prize pool.
How Power Path Qualifiers Fit the New Prices
The new prices also make PokerStars’ Power Path qualifying system easier to use. Power Path lets players win seats to major poker events through smaller online tournaments. Eligible players can now trade four €1,250 PokerStars Open entries for one €5,000 EPT Main Event entry.
Online qualifiers for PokerStars Open Campione and the Irish Open are already available. EPT Paris qualifiers begin November 10, with direct qualifiers starting November 15.
For US players, availability is still unclear. PokerStars operates a regulated site in New Jersey, but it hasn’t confirmed whether players on its US platforms can qualify for these events.
Full 2027 EPT and PokerStars Open Dates
PokerStars confirmed five main EPT festivals plus regional stops. Here’s the calendar in date order:
- PokerStars Open Campione (Lake Lugano), January 8–17
- EPT Paris, February 9–20
- Irish Open (sponsored by PokerStars), March 18–29
- EPT Monte-Carlo, April 21–May 2
- PokerStars Open Namur, May 26–June 6
- EPT Barcelona, August 15–28
- EPT Malta, September 28–October 9
- EPT Prague, November 28–December 9
Malta returns after missing the 2026 calendar. Prague closes the season again, and our past EPT Prague coverage gives a feel for the tour’s December finale.
What the 2027 EPT Changes Mean for US Players
For US players planning to attend EPT events, the lower buy-ins mean spending less to enter certain tournaments. However, the final cost will depend on exchange rates and tournament fees, which PokerStars has yet to announce.
PokerStars says these changes are part of a larger plan to improve its live events, including tournament operations and streaming. More updates are expected, but no details have been confirmed. For now, players should check the full fees before booking a trip.
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