Lions of the East 2026: Schedule, Buy-In, $2M Prize Pool and Live Updates

Last Updated on October 13, 2026 by Bala Kumar

Lions of the East 2026 brings back the cross-property format BetMGM Poker introduced last October as Lions of the Atlantic. Players start in one of several flights at MGM National Harbor in Maryland or Borgata in Atlantic City, and every surviving stack is combined at Borgata for Day 2. This year the buy-in is still $600 and the guarantee is still $2,000,000, but there are now 16 starting flights. The Maryland flights are finished, and the Atlantic City flights begin today.

This guide covers the Lions of the East schedule, start times for players around the world, how the multi-flight format works, the buy-in and prize pool breakdown, and verified results from last year’s edition. It also covers what a schedule doesn’t show: what a multi-flight run costs, what the guarantee requires, and which flights fit which kind of player.

Quick Facts: Lions of the East Poker Tournament

• Venues: MGM National Harbor (Maryland) and Borgata (Atlantic City, NJ)
• Powered by: BetMGM Poker
• Buy-in: 600(500 prize pool + $70 registration fee + $30 voluntary staff add-on)
• Guarantee: $2,000,000
• Starting flights: 16 (eight per property)
• Borgata dates: Borgata’s official poker page lists the event for October 13–18, covering the Atlantic City flights and Day 2
• Starting stack: 35,000 chips under the published terms. The terms also mention a voluntary $30 staff add-on that is linked to additional chips, so confirm the exact allocation with the registration desk.
• Re-entry: Unlimited during Levels 1–12; registration closes at the start of Level 13
• Day 2: Sunday, October 18, 12:00 PM ET at Borgata
• Extras: Two-night Borgata stay and a property-specific BetMGM Poker jersey for eligible Day 2 qualifiers
• Minimum age: 21, with valid ID and an MGM Rewards card

Official source: Borgata Poker. Check this page and the BetMGM Poker app before you travel.

Lions of the East Results 2026: Live Status

Results pending. Official entry counts, the final prize pool and the winner have not been published yet. This section will be updated with confirmed numbers after Day 2.

Lions of the East Schedule 2026: Day 1 Flights

MGM National Harbor (Completed)

Borgata

Lions of the East Day 2

Every qualifier from both properties plays together at Borgata on Sunday, October 18, at 12:00 PM ET. Day 2 plays down to the final three tables or for 12 hours, as set out in the official terms. If a Day 3 is needed, it continues until there is a winner. Levels are 30 minutes through Level 24 and 40 minutes from Level 25 onward.

Start Times Around the World

Daylight saving time is still in effect during the event. US clocks change on November 1, and the UK and Europe change on October 25.

Lions of the East Buy-In and Prize Pool

About the $2 million guarantee. With $500 of each buy-in going to the prize pool, the field needs roughly 4,000 entries to reach $2 million without help from the guarantee. If there are fewer entries, the operator would need to make up the difference (an “overlay”). Whether that happens in 2026 depends on the final entry count, so an overlay should not be treated as confirmed until the official prize pool is published.

Last year’s figures are useful for context. Card Player reported 3,693 entries in 2025. The Hendon Mob lists a 2025 prize pool of $1,966,900, which is just under the guarantee. Database totals can differ from official payout records, so use that figure as a reference point only.

How the Format Works, Explained Simply

Multi-flight. The 16 starting flights work like 16 qualifying sessions for one tournament. Each Day 1 flight plays until about 8% of its field remains. Those players bag their chips and advance.

Best stack forward. If you bag chips in more than one flight, only your largest stack goes to Day 2. The stacks are not combined. The published terms list $1,200 for each additional bag, but ask the tournament staff exactly how this applies to your entries.

Re-entry. If you are eliminated during Levels 1–12, you can buy in again. Registration closes when Level 13 starts. Players who register late begin with stacks that have already been blinded down.

Turbo flight. Borgata’s Day 1H on Saturday evening uses shorter levels. It is the last chance to qualify and suits players who are comfortable playing short-stacked.

How to Register: BetMGM Poker Live Tournament Entry

1. Age: 21 or older.
2. ID: Valid government-issued ID. Overseas visitors should bring a passport.
3. MGM Rewards card: Required to play. Sign up at the casino if you don’t have one.
4. Online registration: Available through the BetMGM Poker app, but only while you are physically in an eligible state.

For the 2025 edition, BetMGM Poker was the exclusive online platform for qualification and registration. New to the platform? Read our BetMGM Poker guide to learn how online satellites and registration work.

International players: Tax may be withheld from the winnings of some non-US residents. Read the official terms before you play.

Lions of the Atlantic 2025 Results vs 2026

The 2025 entry count, guarantee, flights and winning prize come from Card Player, which also reported that more than 300 players returned for the final day at Borgata. Adding two starting flights in 2026 points to a push for a field large enough to clear the guarantee.

Verified Results From Comparable Borgata Events

Sources: Summer Open Kick Off, Mystery Bounty, Pinson total and Bar Poker Open.

Takeaway: $600 tournaments at Borgata regularly draw thousands of players, and last year’s Lions field was about 50% larger than the Summer Open’s $600 kick-off.

Practical Tips Before You Play

Budget for more than one bullet. Two or three entries across different flights cost 1,200–1,800 before travel and hotel. Set your limit before you sit down.

Choose your flight on purpose.

• Want a calmer field: Weekday morning flights (Day 1B, 1C) give you the full structure without weekend crowds.
• Working during the day: Thursday and Friday evening flights (1D, 1F) fit around a workday, but they run late into the night.
• Comfortable short-stacked: Saturday’s turbo (1H) is the last chance to qualify.

Use the early levels. With 35,000 chips and 200 big blinds at Level 1, you can see cheap flops and learn how your table plays before the blinds start to matter.

Think before you fire again. Once you have a Day 2 stack, another flight is only worth playing if it could produce a bigger stack. Weigh that against the listed $1,200 value of an additional bag.

Plan your Sunday. Day 2 can last up to 12 hours. Eat beforehand and confirm your October 19 checkout.

Why This Event Matters

Lions of the East links online qualifying, two casino properties and one combined final day. That connected route from online play to live play is one of BetMGM Poker’s clearest advantages over other US operators. The event also comes just before the Borgata Fall Poker Open, scheduled for November 3–17, 2026, which means two major Atlantic City festivals within about a month.

The Bottom Line

Lions of the East 2026 combines a $600 buy-in, a $2 million guarantee and 16 starting flights. Whether there will be an overlay depends on the final entry count. Choose your flight based on your schedule and bankroll, understand the best-stack-forward rule before re-entering, and check final details on Borgata’s official page before you travel.

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