Diversified gaming supplier Scientific Games Corporation announced the launch of the 2015 Shuffle Master Classic, a first-of-its-kind nationwide qualifying tournament event featuring the Shuffle Master brand’s legendary proprietary poker table games.
Qualification events began on June 1 at more than 200 casinos across the U.S. According to the company, the tournament will “celebrate 20 years of table-game excitement on casino floors” and “honor the historic success of Three Card Poker.”
The qualifying events will culminate in the Three Card Poker National Championship event in Las Vegas on Monday, September 28 at The Venetian Las Vegas, where national qualifiers will compete for a total prize purse of $250,000 in cash, including the top prize of $100,000.
The Shuffle Master Classic is open to any player who visits one of the more than 200 participating casinos in the U.S. during the month of June. To qualify for the Three Card Poker National Championship, players must hit a “Classic Hand” on one of eight Shuffle Master proprietary table games—Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Caribbean Stud Poker, Let it Ride, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em, Texas Hold ‘Em Bonus and Crazy 4 Poker.
A “Classic Hand” is a six-card straight flush in Three Card Poker or a five-card royal flush in any of the other seven games.
“With a 32-year heritage of gaming industry innovation, we are thrilled to continue Shuffle Master’s rich legacy of excellence in table game products with the launch of this event,” said Roger Snow, Scientific Games senior vice president of table and utility product. “The first-ever Shuffle Master Classic is an ideal way to celebrate Shuffle Master’s legendary proprietary table games and the 20th anniversary of Three Card Poker, the most popular casino card game in play today around the world.
“The championship event, which is being held in conjunction with the gaming industry’s largest global conference and trade show, the 2015 Global Gaming Expo (G2E), will bring the best and luckiest players from around the country to a single location for a day filled with tournament action and excitement.”
Each qualifier will receive travel credits to cover expenses in Las Vegas and VIP treatment once in town, including an exclusive welcome party the night before the National Championship and a cocktail party during the final table. The top seven players will be awarded a share of the $250,000 purse, with the winner receiving $100,000 in cash and year-long bragging rights as the “luckiest Three Card Poker player in the country.”
Snow added, “This innovative proprietary table games tournament will create an entirely new experience for players and offer a unique marketing opportunity for participating casinos.”
More information about the tournament is available at www.shufflemasterclassic.com or by following the tournament on Facebook and Twitter.
