Due to Popular Demand, MSPT to pay 27 places
By 
When creating the Minnesota State Poker Tour, one of the most difficult things to finalize was the payout structure. It seems like it should be simple enough but we’ve found its one of those topics where few people have the same opinion.
With the motto “Suited for Players”, we try hard to do what’s best in the interest of local poker players. We took the time to interview many, many, many players about their thoughts and suggestions regarding different facets of our tournaments, including the payout structure and the number of places to be paid. Do we pay 18? 27? 30? A percentage of the field? Etc.
We also took a good look at what the World Series of Poker has done. As most may know, the WSOP has a panel of experts that review their payout structure every single year. For several years they’ve been tweaking their structure trying to get it perfect. In 2009, they claimed to have finally gotten it as close to perfect as they can. They suggest 18 with the fields we draw.
On the other hand, many players in this area are regular followers of the Heartland Poker Tour which pays 30 places no matter what. For several years the HPT was the only tour in town so it has become engrained in players heads that 30 is the right number even though that’s not commonplace in poker. This has been very successful for the HPT.
We’ve been mulling the differences for months because there are valid arguments on both sides. Initially we decided to lean toward the WSOP experts as they are of course “experts”. Who are we to recreate the wheel? They’ve spent a ton of time and money developing their structure.
But after getting the opportunity to speak to many players during the first two events, it seems like there is slightly more support to leveling the top-end payouts slightly and dispersing it across more places, say 27.
After all, the one thing the WSOP isn’t factoring in as that 60%+ of the participants in MSPT tournaments are driven by players who grind through $60 satellites & $250 qualifiers just to get to the main event.
We definitely want to do our best to reward as many players as possible who make it this far as it is difficult to do.
So the decision has been made to pay 27 at Running Aces in April. Again, this doesn’t affect things a whole lot. It takes a little piece of places 1-18 and spreads it through 27. Not a big deal. Hopefully the players enjoy it and have a real sense of being near the money more often.
I like it and think you will to. As always, we’re open to hearing your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks to those that send us emails, texts or call with input.
Thank you for supporting the MSPT, lets get 200 Main Event participants at Running Aces and blow this thing through the roof!
Bryan
March 21st, 2010 at 9:13 pm
I liked the pay out structure @ Mille Lacs. I thought it was ideal considering the number of players.
Perhaps, the number of payouts either 18 or 27 should be based on a certain number of players. Example, at or above 150, 160 or 170. The HPT pays 30 or if more than 300 players than 10% of field. I think people around here are just used to the smaller HPT fields (compared to other HPT events held nationally) and the pay out of 30 even though it is greater than the usual 10%
April 3rd, 2010 at 11:08 am
I’m from cross lake mn and I can’t wait 2 play in the main event at walker. This is good news!