2026 MSPT Ameristar Poker Open
The 2026 MSPT Ameristar Poker Open is scheduled for September 1–7 at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles in St. Charles, Missouri. The seven-day festival is part of Season 17 of Major Series of Poker: The Tour and is built around a $1,110 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event with a $300,000 guaranteed prize pool.
MSPT lists 13 Gold Card tournaments for the stop, with supporting events ranging from a $250 Monster Stack Turbo and $300 Pot-Limit Omaha to a Seniors tournament, Epic Stack, Ultimate Stack, Tag Team event and several Monster Stack tournaments. Players trying to reach the Main Event for less can also choose between conventional and milestone satellites.
The complete event-by-event calendar is available through the official MSPT Ameristar Poker Open schedule. Players should check that schedule again before traveling because tournament information can change.
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MSPT Ameristar Poker Open Series Overview
The Ameristar Poker Open runs from September 1 through September 7, 2026, at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles. The casino is in St. Charles, Missouri, rather than downtown St. Louis, but serves the greater St. Louis market.
The central tournament is the $1,110 Main Event, which carries a $300,000 guarantee. MSPT also confirms that the Main Event winner receives a $3,500 seat into the MSPT Championship in addition to the tournament's regular first-place payout.
MSPT advertises 13 Gold Card tournaments during the festival. The official schedule also identifies numerous events as eligible for Season 17 Player of the Year points.
Key series information includes:
Dates: September 1–7, 2026
Venue: Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles
Location: St. Charles, Missouri
Tour: MSPT / Major Series of Poker: The Tour
Main Event buy-in: $1,110
Main Event guarantee: $300,000
Gold Card tournaments: 13
Main Event winner benefit: $3,500 MSPT Championship seat added to first place
Minimum age: 21
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Schedule Highlights
The Ameristar Poker Open combines lower-buy-in No-Limit Hold'em events with Omaha, age-restricted tournaments and several different stack structures.
Opening day on September 1 includes a $250 Monster Stack Turbo with a 30,000 starting stack and 15-minute levels. A $400 Tag Team No-Limit Hold'em tournament follows later that day, with the buy-in listed as $200 per player and a 20,000 starting stack.
September 2 brings a $300 Epic Stack No-Limit Hold'em tournament with 50,000 starting chips and 30-minute levels. The same day's $300 Pot-Limit Omaha event starts players with 30,000 chips and uses 30-minute levels.
Players age 50 and older can enter the $300 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em event on September 3. It comes with a 30,000 starting stack and 30-minute levels.
Several $250 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em tournaments appear later in the festival. These events use 30,000 starting stacks and 20-minute levels. The supporting schedule also includes a $300 Ultimate Stack on September 6 with 40,000 chips and 30-minute levels.
On September 7, the schedule lists a $300 40/30/40 No-Limit Hold'em event for players age 40 and older. Its name refers to the format: a 40,000 starting stack, 30-minute levels and a minimum age of 40.
Those are only selected highlights. Players planning multiple tournaments should use the full official MSPT schedule for exact start times and registration deadlines.
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Ameristar Poker Open Main Event
The $1,110 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event is the centerpiece of the September festival.
It carries a $300,000 guaranteed prize pool and offers three starting flights:
Day 1A: September 3 at 2:00 p.m.
Day 1B: September 4 at 2:00 p.m.
Day 1C: September 5 at 2:00 p.m.
Each starting flight begins with 30,000 chips and uses 40-minute levels. The published registration deadline for each flight is 10:40 p.m.
Surviving players return for Day 2 on September 6 at 11:00 a.m. The official schedule states that players returning for Day 2 are already in the money, and Day 2 continues with 40-minute levels.
The Main Event is also a Gold Card tournament and awards MSPT Player of the Year points. The winner receives the tournament title and Gold Card, along with a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat added to first place.
The September schedule does not publish a specific Main Event re-entry limit or complete re-entry procedure. Players should therefore verify re-entry rules with MSPT or tournament staff before purchasing additional entries rather than assuming rules from another MSPT stop or the March 2026 St. Charles series apply.
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Other Events to Watch
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$300 Epic Stack
The September 2 Epic Stack offers one of the largest starting stacks on the supporting schedule.
Players begin with 50,000 chips, and levels last 30 minutes. Registration is listed as closing at 4:20 p.m. for the noon start.
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$300 Pot-Limit Omaha
Players looking outside No-Limit Hold'em have a $300 Pot-Limit Omaha event at 4:00 p.m. on September 2.
The tournament starts with 30,000 chips, uses 30-minute levels and is marked for both Player of the Year points and a Gold Card on the official schedule. Registration is scheduled to close at 8:20 p.m.
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$300 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em
The Seniors tournament begins at 10:00 a.m. on September 3 and is restricted to players age 50 and older.
It starts with 30,000 chips and uses 30-minute levels. Registration is listed as closing at 2:20 p.m.
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$250 Monster Stack Events
Monster Stack tournaments appear several times during the festival.
The standard $250 Monster Stack No-Limit Hold'em events use 30,000-chip starting stacks and 20-minute levels. They are scheduled on September 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
A separate $250 Monster Stack Turbo opens the series on September 1 with the same 30,000-chip starting stack but faster 15-minute levels.
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$300 Ultimate Stack
The September 6 Ultimate Stack begins at noon with 40,000 starting chips and 30-minute levels.
It is listed as a Gold Card and Player of the Year event, with registration scheduled to close at 4:20 p.m.
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Satellites and Main Event Qualifiers
Players do not necessarily have to pay the full $1,110 Main Event buy-in directly.
The festival includes both $135 conventional satellites and $265 milestone satellites.
The September 2 $135 satellite is advertised as advancing approximately one in 10 entries to the $1,110 Main Event.
The $265 milestone satellites use a different qualification target, with one in five advancing to the Main Event. Milestone satellites are scheduled on multiple days leading into and during the three Main Event starting flights.
Most of the published milestone satellites begin with 30,000 chips and use 20-minute levels.
Players using a satellite should confirm exactly which Main Event flight the seat can be used for, particularly early in the series when the schedule specifically references Day 1A or Day 1B.
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Gold Card Events and MSPT Player of the Year Points
MSPT describes the Ameristar Poker Open as a 13-Gold Card-tournament series.
Gold Cards recognize MSPT tournament winners, subject to MSPT's official rules concerning chops and how the tournament concludes. Under the tour's published Gold Card policy, a Gold Card can only be awarded once an event has reached three-handed play. Different procedures apply when players make a deal or ICM chop.
The September schedule also marks many Ameristar events for Player of the Year points. MSPT states that players who cash in eligible MSPT tournaments earn points toward the Season 17 Player of the Year race.
That makes the festival relevant not only to players targeting the Main Event but also to regular MSPT competitors tracking season-long results.
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Tournament Structures and Registration
Structures vary significantly across the Ameristar Poker Open.
Published starting stacks range from 15,000 chips in the $135 Main Event satellite to 50,000 chips in the $300 Epic Stack. Most supporting tournaments use 20- or 30-minute levels, while Main Event levels are 40 minutes.
The official schedule publishes a clock time at which registration closes for each tournament. Examples include:
Main Event starting flights: 10:40 p.m.
$300 Epic Stack: 4:20 p.m.
$300 Pot-Limit Omaha: 8:20 p.m.
$300 Seniors: 2:20 p.m.
$300 Ultimate Stack: 4:20 p.m.
The September schedule does not publish a universal re-entry policy covering every event. Players should not assume that the same number of re-entries, late-entry rules or best-stack-forward procedures used at another MSPT stop automatically apply in St. Charles.
Confirm the current tournament rules at registration before entering, especially when planning multiple Main Event bullets or playing more than one starting flight.
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Ameristar St. Charles Poker Room
Ameristar operates a permanent live poker room at the St. Charles property.
The official Ameristar St. Charles poker room page lists regular cash games that can include Limit Hold'em, No-Limit Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo and Pot-Limit Omaha. Regular game availability can change, and MSPT tournament operations may affect the normal room schedule during the festival.
Ameristar lists several poker-room amenities:
USB charging stations at every seat
Complimentary self-service soft drinks
Boyd Rewards poker comps
A call-ahead waiting-list option
The poker room says players can call (636) 940-4400 to reserve a place on the waiting list up to one hour in advance.
Ameristar also publishes a poker comp program through Boyd Rewards. Because offers and comp rules can change, players should verify the current terms before relying on a specific benefit.
The property notes that the casino is closed Wednesdays from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. That closure falls during the festival but well before the September 2 tournament schedule begins for the day.
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Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles is a full-service casino resort in St. Charles and part of the greater St. Louis gaming market.
Boyd Gaming's current property information lists a 130,000-square-foot casino, an all-suite hotel, live poker, seven dining venues, bars, a sportsbook, conference space, a spa, fitness facilities and a seasonal indoor-outdoor pool.
For tournament players, the most useful feature is having the poker room, hotel, dining and other casino amenities at the same property.
Boyd Rewards is the casino's loyalty program. Poker players can check comp balances at Boyd Rewards kiosks and redeem qualifying comps according to current program rules.
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Where to Stay
Ameristar has an on-site all-suite hotel, making it the most direct lodging option for players who want to stay at the tournament property.
The official Ameristar St. Charles hotel page currently describes a 400-suite AAA Four Diamond hotel. Hotel facilities include a fitness center, spa and seasonal indoor-outdoor pool.
MSPT has also advertised an Ameristar Poker Open group rate of $129 per night using code GMSPT26, with a $15 resort fee stated in the MSPT offer. Availability can change, and Ameristar's current general hotel information lists its standard resort fee separately, so players should confirm the final nightly rate and fees when booking.
Staying at the property eliminates the need to arrange transportation between a separate hotel and the tournament room, which can be particularly useful during Main Event flights that remain open until late in the evening.
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Dining and Amenities
Ameristar lists seven dining venues across the property.
One particularly useful option for poker players is Fifth Street Deli, which Ameristar says is located next to the Poker Room. Its menu includes sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers and all-day breakfast items.
Other property dining ranges from casual restaurants to sit-down options. Restaurant hours vary, so players planning a meal during a tournament break should check operating hours before leaving the table.
The resort also has a fitness center, seasonal pool, spa, Fanatics Sportsbook and other casino amenities. For most tournament travelers, the poker room, hotel, nearby food and parking are likely to be the most practically useful features.
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Getting There and Parking
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles is located at 1 Ameristar Boulevard, St. Charles, Missouri 63301.
The property is in St. Charles in the greater St. Louis area, not downtown St. Louis. Ameristar describes the resort as being just west of St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
Players driving to the property can use the official Ameristar St. Charles directions page for current routing information.
Ameristar's hotel amenities information lists complimentary self-parking. Hotel guests should still review their complete booking charges because the property assesses a resort fee that covers several hotel amenities and services.
Players flying into the region should make transportation arrangements between St. Louis Lambert International Airport and St. Charles based on their arrival schedule. Rideshare availability and pricing can vary, so it is better to check shortly before travel rather than rely on a fixed estimate.
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What Players Should Know Before Arriving
The Ameristar Poker Open runs September 1–7, 2026.
The casino is in St. Charles, Missouri, in the greater St. Louis area.
The Main Event costs $1,110 and carries a $300,000 guarantee.
Main Event flights run September 3, 4 and 5 at 2:00 p.m.
Each Main Event flight starts with 30,000 chips and uses 40-minute levels.
Day 2 begins September 6 at 11:00 a.m., with returning players already in the money.
The Main Event winner receives a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat in addition to the normal tournament prize.
MSPT advertises 13 Gold Card tournaments for the festival.
$135 and $265 Main Event satellites are available.
Supporting events include Pot-Limit Omaha, Seniors, Epic Stack, Ultimate Stack, Tag Team and Monster Stack formats.
The published September schedule provides registration closing times but does not state a universal re-entry policy.
Ameristar has a permanent poker room and an on-site all-suite hotel.
Complimentary self-parking is listed by the property.
Verify the official schedule, tournament rules and hotel information again shortly before traveling.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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When is the 2026 MSPT Ameristar Poker Open?
The MSPT Ameristar Poker Open is scheduled for September 1–7, 2026, at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles in Missouri.
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Where is Ameristar St. Charles?
Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles is at 1 Ameristar Boulevard in St. Charles, Missouri. It is in the greater St. Louis area and is not located in downtown St. Louis.
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How much is guaranteed at the Ameristar Poker Open?
The $1,110 Main Event has a $300,000 guaranteed prize pool. A separate series-wide aggregate guarantee has not been published in the official information reviewed for this guide.
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How much is the MSPT Ameristar Poker Open Main Event?
The Main Event buy-in is $1,110.
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How many Main Event starting flights are there?
There are three starting flights. Day 1A begins September 3 at 2:00 p.m., Day 1B begins September 4 at 2:00 p.m., and Day 1C begins September 5 at 2:00 p.m.
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What is the Main Event starting stack?
Each Main Event starting flight begins with 30,000 chips and uses 40-minute levels.
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When does Main Event registration close?
The official September schedule lists registration closing at 10:40 p.m. for each of the three 2:00 p.m. starting flights.
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Are re-entries allowed in the Main Event?
The September schedule reviewed for this guide does not publish a specific Main Event re-entry limit or complete re-entry procedure. Players should confirm the rule with tournament staff rather than relying on information from another MSPT event.
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When is Main Event Day 2?
Day 2 is scheduled for September 6 at 11:00 a.m. The official schedule states that returning players are already in the money.
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Are satellites available?
Yes. The schedule includes $135 satellites in which one in 10 advances and $265 milestone satellites in which one in five advances to the $1,110 Main Event.
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Are Gold Card tournaments scheduled?
Yes. MSPT advertises 13 Gold Card tournaments during the Ameristar Poker Open.
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Does the Main Event winner receive an MSPT Championship seat?
Yes. MSPT states that a $3,500 MSPT Championship seat is added to first place in the Ameristar Poker Open Main Event.
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Does Ameristar St. Charles have a poker room?
Yes. Ameristar operates a permanent live poker room with cash games, poker comps, USB charging stations and a call-ahead waiting-list option.
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Does Ameristar St. Charles have a hotel?
Yes. The property has an on-site all-suite hotel. Ameristar currently describes it as a 400-suite AAA Four Diamond hotel.
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Is parking available at Ameristar St. Charles?
Yes. Ameristar's current hotel amenities information lists complimentary self-parking.
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Where can players find the complete official schedule?
Players can view the official MSPT Ameristar Poker Open schedule for the complete event listing, start times, starting stacks, level lengths and registration deadlines.