Milwaukee – August 27, 2025. Tribal gaming is stepping squarely into the spotlight as the Forest County Potawatomi Community doubles down on poker. The tribe’s flagship property, Potawatomi Casino Hotel, has inked a deal with the Major Series of Poker, The Tour (MSPT) to bring three marquee tournaments to Wisconsin in 2026—each carrying a hefty $1 million guaranteed prize pool.
It’s a big move for both the tribe and Midwest poker fans. The schedule includes the Club Poker Championship in February, the MSPT Festival in late April, and the Wisconsin State Poker Championship in September. For a region long starved of major poker action, the tribal backing provides not just credibility, but stability.
Domonic Ortiz, CEO and General Manager of Potawatomi Casino Hotel, didn’t mince words: “Poker demand in Wisconsin has never been stronger. By teaming up with MSPT, we’re putting tribal gaming at the forefront of the game’s growth in the region.”
The Potawatomi have history on their side. Their poker room, recently renovated as part of a $200 million overhaul, already proved its pull earlier this year when a January event drew more than 1,700 entries. The tribal-run venue is now setting the stage for even bigger fields and national attention.
For the tribes, the poker push is more than a revenue stream. It’s a chance to cement their role as key players in the evolving U.S. poker ecosystem—where tribal operators are increasingly shaping how and where the game thrives.
With MSPT Founder Bryan Mileski calling it “a homecoming,” the message is clear: poker in Wisconsin is back, and it’s the tribes who are holding the cards.
