Chris Moneymaker on Building His Poker Tour and Evolving His Brand

Title Image Credit: Moneymaker Tour

Inside the Moneymaker Tour: Key Developments and Vision

• Expansion Targets: The Moneymaker Tour is preparing for further growth, with potential plans to extend its reach to Europe as early as late 2025 or spring 2026 and an increasing focus on global events.
• Player Satisfaction: The tour has garnered positive reviews from players, especially regarding its event formats and affordable entry points.
• Ambitious Roadmap: Looking ahead, the tour aims to add high roller tournaments and introduce annual player awards designed to create new paths to prestigious, high-stakes games.
• Transformational Stories: The tour is recognized for creating life-changing moments for participants—such as Mike Rossi, whose victory at a Moneymaker Tour main event opened doors to international poker success.
• Poker’s Inclusive Nature: Moneymaker remains committed to highlighting poker’s accessibility, stressing that determination and skill can yield rewards for players from all backgrounds.

The Journey from Poker Champion to Tour Owner

Chris Moneymaker’s legacy was born in 2003 when, after qualifying in a modest $86 online satellite, he took home the World Series of Poker Main Event title and $2.5 million. Over the years, he has amassed more than $8.2 million in live tournament cashes.

Expanding his involvement in the poker industry, Moneymaker launched the Moneymaker Tour in May 2023, followed by opening his own poker club in Kentucky the following year. The tour’s concept: blend classic poker excitement with accessible structures and offer price points suitable for a range of players—all while finding a unique space within a crowded market.

Now an active brand builder as well as a player, Moneymaker frequently interacts with fans and is noted for his down-to-earth approach. Teaming up with Tony Burns, an experienced tournament manager formerly of Seminole Hard Rock, has been instrumental in cementing partnerships and developing a schedule that now includes international stops like Canada and Aruba.

Image Credit: Moneymaker Tour

Evolution of the Tour and Team

As the Moneymaker Tour has grown, so have its operations. Initially, Moneymaker relied heavily on Burns to manage logistics while he focused on playing and representing his brand. However, as the schedule expands and more locations express interest, Moneymaker is becoming increasingly hands-on, reprioritizing personal involvement within the company as Burns transitions toward administrative responsibilities and family life.

The presence of Chris’s name has been significant in reviving nostalgia and drawing back fans who may have stepped away from poker for years. Burns notes that such brand power not only reactivates past players but also enhances the event atmosphere.

With stops in places like Florida, Ohio, and Las Vegas, player turnout has been strong and feedback overwhelmingly positive. The continued influx of new and returning faces, along with expanding staff, demonstrates the tour’s upward momentum.

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Diverse Events, Real Guarantees, and Player-Focused Structures

While poker circuits are plentiful across the U.S., the Moneymaker Tour differentiates itself by thoughtfully balancing mid-range buy-ins with appeal to high-roller circles.

Events range from as little as $86 to as high as $2,500, allowing a broad spectrum of participants. Championship tables have featured prominent names, such as WSOP champions, and the tour’s format is shaped by Moneymaker’s critiques of the industry—namely, inflated entry fees and unreliable guarantees.

He is adamant about transparency: guarantees announced are guarantees delivered, with no manipulated prize pools or event cancellations if targets aren’t met. The goal is to offer player-friendly structures, low rake, and trustworthy payouts.

That commitment has paid off. For example, the 2024 MGM Grand Las Vegas main event boasted a $1 million guarantee and swelled to a $2.2 million prize pool, far exceeding expectations. The result: strong attendance and recurring invitations from nearly every venue that has hosted the tour.

Image Credit: Moneymaker Tour

Expanding the Brand Beyond the Felt

The past year has been pivotal for the brand, with deals secured between the Moneymaker Tour and MGM Resorts—most notably at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and National Harbor near Washington, D.C. As other tours scale back their MGM presence, this opens the door for the Moneymaker Tour to serve players seeking high-quality events in premier locations.

Though competition among tours remains steep and securing sponsorship remains challenging, the team is optimistic about attracting new partners, especially as the tour’s reputation grows. International expansion and partnerships with major casino brands suggest more potential ahead.

Moneymaker’s interests now reach beyond the poker table. He manages a poker club in Louisville, Kentucky, with aspirations to extend operations to additional cities and create venues that can host future tour stops. The Moneymaker name has also expanded into coffee and, soon, bourbon. His recent shift as ambassador from PokerStars (after 17 years) to ACR Poker underscores a growing ambition to steer the brand’s trajectory and leverage online qualifiers for the tour. Collaboration possibilities remain open—especially as relationships with partners like MGM thrive.

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A Vision for the Next Chapter

The tour’s international footprint is expanding. A recent event in Aruba more than doubled its $200,000 guarantee, and the upcoming Canadian leg at Montreal’s Playground Poker Club sets a $500,000 guarantee for the main event. A European tour stop is on the horizon—potentially in late 2025 or spring 2026.

Such milestones, along with continued player satisfaction and strong turnout, affirm the tour’s direction. The five-year outlook includes maintaining current strengths while expanding globally, introducing high-stakes events, and launching annual awards to reward consistent excellence and provide entry into even more prestigious tournaments.

Success stories, such as Mike Rossi’s journey from winning a $2,500 main event in Florida to securing a $26,000 seat at Triton Poker’s Super High Roller Series—and ultimately finishing fifth for $148,200—perfectly encapsulate the tour’s ethos: offering pathways to life-changing opportunities.

Moneymaker sees poker as one of the rare games where anyone, regardless of background or ability, can succeed with effort and determination. He is dedicated to fostering an environment where every participant has a genuine chance to change their lives—much like he did back in 2003.

No lesson illustrates this better than Chris Moneymaker’s own legacy.

Image Credit: Moneymaker Tour