2014 Borgata Winter Poker Open

Nearly one year after Governor Chris Christie signed legislation to regulate and legalize online poker in New Jersey, the state’s premier gaming establishment – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa – has capitalized on the momentum.

As the Borgata Winter Poker Open kicks off with Event 1: $500+$60 Big Stack NLHE Re-entry, dozens of players in attendance have the rebirth of online poker to thank for their tournament entry. With Borgata's affiliated gaming sites now operational, the casino has been running satellite tournaments to give online players an opportunity to jump into the live action, and so far several players have done just that.

Jermaine “Blue_Magic” Hampton hails from Voorhees, New Jersey, and after becoming interested in poker just before Black Friday, he was more than ready to mix it up on the virtual felt. Hampton entered a $91+$9 satellite event on BorgataPoker.com, and along with 49 other survivors, he emerged from the 184 player field to claim his entry to today’s opening event of the series. Hampton said he was “ecstatic” to have online poker back in his backyard, and he has a tremendous chance here today as he attempts to turn an online satellite entry into a major payday.

According to the Borgata's online poker consultant, the synergy between Borgata’s online poker room and its live tournament series is integral to the success of both venues. Players can compete online, cash in their winnings right at the casino’s cashier cage, and even parlay a deep run in a satellite event into an entry to the Winter Poker Open.

We will be sure to track the progress of online qualifiers like Hampton throughout the day here at PokerNews, so check back regularly to follow along.

The tournament director's voice is filling the venue here at Borgata in Atlantic City, N.J., and players line the back wall as they prepare to take their seats for Event 1 of the Borgata Winter Poker Open. PokerNews will be on location, bringing you live updates throughout the tournament series, which culminates with the $3,300 re-entry main event starting Jan. 26. Other highlights of the two-week-long series include a $1,500 Heads-Up event and a $1,000 Six-Max tournament.

Last year, Andy Hwang topped a final table that included former WPT champion Matt Salsberg to take home a $730,053 first-place prize in the main event.

The first event, which is set to begin just minutes from now, is a $500 re-entry tournament with a $2 million guaranteed prize pool, so over 4,000 entries are expected. Roughly 700 entrants are registered so far, according to a tournament official, who said he expects the field to top out around double that number today, the first of three heats.

The button will start in Seat Six, and the tournament director has just instructed dealers to begin the tournament. Players will begin with stacks of 20,000.

Tags: Andy HwangBorgataMatt Salsberg