The PokerGO Tour is going on the buses this spring, taking the action overseas for the first-ever PGT Italy. The series will feature eight events, all $10k-$50k buy-ins, and will be hosted in the Casinò di Venezia.
“We are pleased to welcome the PGT Italy Presented By Luxon Pay at Casinò di Venezia as a new stop on the PGT,” Mori Eskandani, President of PokerGO, said in a press release.
He continued his soundbite by saying: “In addition to adding eight brand new tournaments to the 2022 PGT schedule, we are incredibly excited for our players to experience high-stakes poker at such an iconic venue in a stunning location.”
Alessandro Cattarossi, General Manager of Casinò di Venezia, added how thrilled the casino was to host the PGT.
“We are excited to partner with PokerGO," Cattarossi said. "And to deliver an out-of-this-world experience for high rollers at the oldest casino in the world. Players are going to love the city of Venice with its fine culture, food, and wine available.”
Additional side entertainment will be laid on during the Champions League final on May 28. To facilitate this, there will be only one poker event on that day.
There's also a Wagner Museum in the building for anyone who busts the tourneys early and needs something to do.
The oldest casino in the world
On a side note, the claim to be the oldest casino in the world comes with a bit of an asterisk.
Il Ridotto (meaning a private room) was the first official closed-off area dedicated to gambling in the West. Il Ridotto opened in 1638 in a room in the Palazzo Dandalo to the south of the Casino di Venezia's current location. Ridotto became just one of nearly 120 Venetian gambling dens that were part of the then city-owned casinos. It is in this sense that the Casino di Venezia as an institution is the oldest casino in the world.
There was then a period in which the city outlawed gambling in 1774, which arguably breaks the chain.
The city of Venice resurrected its official casinos much later and in 1946 purchased the Ca' Vendramin Calergi converting the building into the winter home for the casino in 1959. This building is where the PGT Italy will be played.
You can see the full schedule for the PGT Italy below.
PGT Italy complete schedule
| Date | Start Time | Event Name |
| May 26, 2022 | 12:00 | Event #1: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha |
| May 26, 2022 | 17:00 | Event #2: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em |
| May 27, 2022 | 12:00 | Event #3: $25,000 Short Deck |
| May 27, 2022 | 17:00 | Event #4: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em |
| May 28, 2022 | 12:00 | Event #5: $15,000 Pot-Limit Omaha |
| May 29, 2022 | 12:00 | Event #6: $50,000 Short Deck |
| May 29, 2022 | 17:00 | Event #7: $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em |
| May 30, 2022 | 12:00 | Event #8: $15,000 No-Limit Hold’em |
Featured image source: PokerGO
