Best Online Poker Tournaments in Michigan

Jon Sofen
Senior Editor U.S.
12 min read
Michigan

Are you looking for the best poker tournaments in Michigan?Whether you're a low-stakes grinder, recreational player, or high-stakes crusher, there are tournaments every single day that are perfect for you. And if you're looking for the best Michigan poker bonuses to pad your poker bankroll, we've got you covered as well.

Michigan's online poker sites have tournaments in many poker variants, with, of course No-Limit Hold'em being the most prevalent. That said, you'll also find plenty of Pot-Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, Limit Hold'em, and some mixed game events fairly regularly.

Play Online Poker Tournaments in Michigan

The best poker tournaments Michigan has to offer are listed right here. But before we get into that, let's discuss everything you need to know about playing tournament poker on the internet.

What Are Online Poker Tournaments?

What are online poker tournaments? They are games that are played just like you see when watching the World Series of Poker on ESPN. But instead of actually sitting down at a poker table and competing against other players face-to-face, you play from behind a computer screen on the virtual felt.

An online tournament has a similar format to a live tournament in terms of structure and format. One major difference, however, is that online tournaments are quicker, which is great for those who want to play in a big event but don't want to spend several days doing so. The game goes by quicker because when playing online, there are more hands dealt per hour.

What Different Types of Online Poker Tournaments Can You Play in Michigan?

What are the different online poker tournaments you can play in Michigan? There are many different types, including No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E., Stud, Razz, mixed games, Limit Hold'em, and Omaha Hi-Lo.

In this section, which we are dubbing "Online Poker Tournaments Explained," we're going to talk about the various tournament formats. We've already mentioned the poker variants you can play in online tournament form in Michigan, but now let's talk about the different types of tournaments.

The most common, of course, is the standard rebuy or re-entry, which allows players who bust to buy back into the tournament up until the registration period closes (typically eight-to-twelve levels into the tournament). Another common, although less popular than in the past,tournament format is the freezeout. In this format, if you bust, you're out. There is no option to rebuy; make that one and only bullet count!

Bounty tournaments are also common on Michigan poker sites. If you bust a player, you receive a bounty payout, which is a predetermined amount before the tournament begins. Progressive knockouts, or PKO, sees you win half the bounty amount on your opponent's head when you eliminate them, with the remaining 50% going onto your head and increasing your bounty, thus making you a more attractive target for the rest of your opponents.

What Online Poker Tournaments Can You Play in Michigan?

What are the different online poker tournaments you can play in Michigan? Let's dig into it. First off, as you have probably guessed, No-Limit Hold'em tournaments are the most popular in the Great Lake State, much like they are everywhere.

So, you're going to find that the majority of tournaments on your poker site of choice will be of the No-Limit Hold'em variety. That said, there are still plenty of other poker variants available in the tournament format at all Michigan poker sites. The list includes Pot-Limit Omaha, Omaha 8/b, Stud, azz, and even Limit Hold'em, the most popular game 20 years ago.

Play Bounty Builder Poker Tournaments in Michigan

What are online bounty builder poker tournaments? Bounty tournaments are, in some ways exactly the same as a regular poker tournament, but in one other way much different. Many poker players enjoy the uniqueness of bounty tournaments as they give them an opportunity to mix it up a bit and try something different for a change.

So what exactly are online bounty builder poker tournaments? They are tournaments that have a bounty component added to them. When you bust a player, you will be awarded a bounty payout that is separate from the main prize pool. The amount of the bounty varies from tournament to tournament. The bounty element makes it possible to win cash without having to finish in one of the prize money-awarding finishing places.

What is an online bounty builder tournament or a progressive knockout?

Only bounty builder tournaments are a cool and unique way to play poker. Although we all love the traditional style of tournaments, sometimes it's fun to just mix it up and try something different. Bounty tournaments are a bit gimmicky in nature, but that's exactly what makes them so enjoyable.

In a regular poker tournament – we'll use No-Limit Hold'em as our example – you pay a set buy-in. Perhaps, there is an add-on that you pay to get extra chips too. But once you pay the buy-in, you receive a certain amount of chips. You then play until you are eliminated (or win the whole thing), and then are awarded a payout based on your finish, if you do, in fact, finish in the money. The deeper into the tournament you are, the more ICM comes into play due to the payouts structure of tournaments.

When it comes to a bounty builder tournament, you will be playing the same format and chasing the money from the main prize pool just like a traditional poker tournament. But the difference is you will also receive a bounty (i.e. a separate reward) every time you bust a player. So, you could actually turn a profit in a bounty tournament without finishing in the money, which is impossible in a regular poker tournament.

Progressive bounty tournaments play the same way as a regular bounty event but the bounties change in size. Standard bounty tournaments have a predetermined bounty amount on each player's head. PKO events see your bounty increase with each opponent you send home, adding an exciting dynamic to the play. Often, the final bounties of a PKO event are worth more than the first-place prize money! Mystery bounty poker tournaments are also becoming more popular, where bounties with a random cash prize can be won.

The Best Bounty Builder Poker Tournaments to Play in Michigan

  • PokerStars MI's $30 Bounty Builder – PokerStars MI has plenty of bounty offerings among them the $30 Bounty Builder. This event is a step up from the lower buy-in Bounty Builder and sees $13.60 going to the bounty pool. The event follows the same structure as the $10 Bounty Builder.
  • PokerStars MI's $10 Bounty Builder – This PokerStars MI event is the perfect starter event, a step down from the previously mentioned $30 Bounty Builder, is great for players looking to get into bounty tournaments. Of the buy-in, $4.55 goes to the bounty prize pool and the event features eight minutes levels and a starting stack of 5,000 with blinds at 15/30.
  • BetMGM Poker MI's Bounty Blitz – Like PokerStars MI, BetMGM Poker MI offers an array of bounty events. Not only that, BetMGM Poker MI offers a Bounty Blitz series that features buy-ins ranging from $20 to $535 and guarantees of up to $20,000.
PokerStars MI

Play High Roller Poker Tournaments in Michigan

After checking out bounty tournaments, it may be time to move up the stakes and try out some of the high roller poker tournaments in Michigan, which we will discuss below.

What Are High Roller Poker Tournaments?

High-stakes tournaments are any tournaments that cost more to play than your typical $5 or $10 online tournament. These high-roller tournaments can range in buy-ins from $100 to the thousands or tens of thousands.

What Are the Best High Roller Poker Tournaments to Play in Michigan?

  • BetMGM Poker MI's Friday Special – One of the first high rollers players in Michigan should check out is the $215 buy-in Friday Special on BetMGM Poker PA, where players begin with 50,000 chips and play ten-minute levels.
  • PokerStars MI's Super Tuesday Higher Roller – Among the high roller offerings on PokerStars MI is an $250 buy-in 8-Max tournament with a $20,000 guaranteed prize pool. Players begin with a starting stack of 100,000 chips in exchange for their $250 buy-in. Levels increase every ten minutes and the tournament allows for plenty of deep-stacked play.
  • PokerStars MI's Sunday High Roller – Yet another PokerStars MI high roller to check out is the $20,000 guaranteed $250 Sunday High Roller. This 6-max event sees players starting with 10,000 chips and blinds of 25/50 and ten-minute levels.

Play Freeroll Poker Tournaments in Michigan

While high roller tournaments aren’t for everyone, there is another tournament offering that is much more affordable and a good choice for the beginning player: the freeroll. These tournaments are perfect for beginning players or those looking to build a bankroll from scratch.

What are freeroll poker tournaments?

Freeroll tournaments are promotional events where players win or earn their seats for free, giving them a chance to turn nothing into something. Freerolls are great ways for players to grow their bankrolls and move up to micro and low-stakes events.

Let's take a look at the freerolls available in Michigan.

What Are Michigan's Best Freeroll Poker Tournaments to Play?

  • BetMGM MI's Depositor Freeroll – The Depositor Freeroll on BetMGM Poker MI is a $5,000 guaranteed event that you can earn a seat into just by depositing on the site. The event features 30,000 starting stacks and eight-minute levels and runs on Sundays.
  • PokerStars MI's Deposit Freeroll – PokerStars MI also offers a deposit freeroll with $5,000 added to the prize pool. This event features starting chips of 2,500 and blinds of 15/30 with six-minute levels, allowing for a decent amount of play.
  • PokerStars MI's Monthly Stars Rewards Freeroll – This promotional event has $2,000 in added prize month and can be entered by opening a chest and receiving a ticket. The event follows a similar structure as the Deposit Freeroll and is a great way to start building a bankroll.

Play No-Limit Hold'em Poker Tournaments in Michigan

Now it's time to take at the most common type of poker tournament out there, the no-limit Hold’em tournament. No-Limit Hold'em is known as the Cadillac of poker and there are plenty of NLH tournaments available to play in Michigan.

What are No-Limit Hold'em poker tournaments?

No-limit Hold’em is the most common form of poker that features unlimited betting, two hole cards and five community cards. No-limit Hold’em is played in both cash game and tournament formats, the latter of which will be discussed here.

PokerStars MI

What Are Michigan's Best No-Limit Hold'em Poker Tournaments to Play?

  • PokerStars MI's Sunday Special – This event costs just $100 to enter and sees players begin with 10,000 chips and blinds of 25/50 and plays relatively long with 12-minute levels.
  • PokerStars MI's Deepstack Saturday – Another $100 event on PokerStars; this 8-max tournament sees players begin with a starting stack of 50,000 and blinds of 100/200/30 and levels lasting ten minutes.
  • BetMGM MI's Daily C-Note – This $100 buy-in tournament on BetMGM Poker MI sees players begin with 50,000 chips and blinds of 150/400 with ten-minute levels.

Play Pot-Limit Omaha Tournaments in Michigan

Unlike No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha plays with four cards and betting limits. The game has a lot more variance and is a fun variant to check out if you like making big hands with four cards.

What are Pot-Limit Omaha Poker Tournaments?

Omaha is a poker variant where players get four hole cards and use two of them to make the best five-card hand with the five community cards. Pot-limit Omaha tournaments are popular and are played at the World Series of Poker and elsewhere.

What Are Michigan's Best Pot-Limit Omaha Poker Tournaments to Play?

  • BetMGM MI's $20 PLO – This low-stakes tournament is great for players who are new to the game and are looking to try their hands at four cards. In this great tournament, players begin with 5,000 chips with eight-minute levels.
  • PokerStars MI's Nightly PLO – This $20 PLO event plays 6-max as players start with 5,000 chips and blinds of 30/60. This is definitely a tournament to check out for players getting into Omaha.
  • PokerStars MI's Morning PLO – Are you more of a morning player than a night player? If so, the Morning PLO event may be your best option.

Play Satellite Poker Tournaments in Michigan

Looking to build up a bankroll or play a big event without putting up the buy-in. Then satellites may be your best option, and there are plenty of them to play in Michigan.

What are Satellite Poker Tournaments?

Satellites are single or multi-table events where players can win seats into bigger events for just a fraction of the buy-in. Most satellites offer several seats and are an excellent way to get newer players into higher buy-in events.

PokerStars PA

What Are Michigan's Best Satellite Poker Tournaments to Play?

  • PokerStars MI's Nightly Stars Knockout – The Nightly Stars Knockout satellite costs $10 to enter and awards five seats into the $8,000 guaranteed Nightly Stars Knockout.
  • PokerStars MI's Wednesday Storm – Another PokerStars MI Saturday tournament that costs $10 to enter; this one awards five seats to the Wednesday Storm tournament with a $12,500 guarantee, another great option for players looking to build a bankroll.
  • BetMGM MI's Six Figure Sunday – Not all the $10 satellites are on PokerStars, there are also some on BetMGM Poker MI. This event awards three tickets to BetMGM PA’s $100 Six Figure Sunday and allows for unlimited reentry.

Online Poker Tournaments in Michigan FAQs

Is it legal to play online poker tournaments in Michigan?

Yes, it islegal to play online poker tournaments in Michigan! Online poker has been legal in Michigan since late 2019.

How do I play online poker tournaments in Michigan?

To play online poker tournaments in Michigan, you first must sign up for a poker site and make a deposit. Then you head to the lobby on the poker site software and click on "tournaments." After that, you search through the list of available tournaments and choose the one(s) that you like best.

Can you run your own online poker tournament in Michigan?

Yes, on sites such as PokerStars, you can host private home games online.

What are the best online poker tournaments in Michigan?

PokerStars has some of the best tournaments in Michigan (and the world) thanks to having a wide range of buy-ins and formats. The Sunday Million is considered to be the biggest online poker tournament in the weekly calendar. PokerStars tournaments tend to have larger prizes because the online poker site is the most popular with Michigan's poker-playing public.

What are the best online freeroll poker tournaments in Michigan?

The best freeroll poker tournaments are listed right here at PokerNews, but you should also check out each Michigan poker site's freeroll offerings. Some offer freerolls to new players, or free-to-play satellites that feed into bigger events.

Jon Sofen
Senior Editor U.S.