PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA)

What is the PCA in poker?

The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) is an annual January poker festival held at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas. Launched in 2004, it was the first major live tournament series organized by PokerStars and quickly became the flagship Caribbean destination event. The festival combines a beach vacation atmosphere with serious poker — a $10,000 Main Event, a $100,000 Super High Roller (added 2010), and dozens of side events spanning NLHE, PLO, and mixed games.

How much is the PCA Main Event buy-in?

The PCA Main Event buy-in is $10,000 — the same scale as the WSOP Main Event. Field sizes have historically ranged 700 to 1,500 entries, producing prize pools of $7M to $15M+. The $100K Super High Roller, introduced in 2010, became the signature event and regularly draws 50-90 top professionals. Side events range from $1,000 satellites to mid-stakes NLHE and PLO tournaments, plus a $25K High Roller.

Did the PCA stop running? Is it back?

Yes — the PCA went on hiatus from 2020 to 2022 due to COVID-19 and PokerStars' corporate restructuring under Flutter Entertainment. The event returned in 2023 at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas as part of PokerStars' broader live-event revival, which included hosting the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC). The 2024 and 2025 editions continued the tradition, cementing the PCA's status as the premier Caribbean poker destination.

Who are the most famous PCA winners?

Notable Main Event champions: Bertrand 'ElkY' Grospellier (2008), Harrison Gimbel (2010), Galen Hall (2011, $2.3M — the largest payday in PCA history at that time), and Cliff Josephy (2014). The $100K Super High Roller has produced multiple wins for Justin Bonomo, plus titles for Steve O'Dwyer, Cary Katz, and other high-stakes regulars. Total prize pools across all events have exceeded $30M in single editions.

Where can I watch the PCA?

PCA coverage streams on PokerStars TV and PokerGO, with hole-card cameras for featured tables. Final tables typically air with delayed broadcast (15-30 minute security delay). PokerStars also posts hand-by-hand text updates and chip counts on its blog. Notable hands and final tables get YouTube highlight reels — Galen Hall's 2011 comeback win is a popular re-watch among tournament fans.