The RGPS Passport Season brings 17 stops across the United States from January through August, with RunGood Rings, a season-long leaderboard, and a massive Season Finale at Thunder Valley Casino Resort. Here is everything you need to know to plan your 2026 RGPS calendar.

The RunGood Poker Series is one of the best-known mid-major tours in U.S. poker, and the 2026 Passport Season is its most ambitious schedule yet. Whether you are planning your tournament calendar for the first time or mapping out a multi-stop road trip, this guide covers the full schedule, buy-in tiers, structure quality, travel logistics, and practical tips from experienced RGPS players.

RGPS 2026 at a Glance

Tana Karn founded RunGood as a clothing brand in 2012, and the RGPS tour launched in 2014 with three stops at Downstream Casino in Quapaw, Oklahoma. What started as a small regional tour has grown into a nationwide circuit, winning "Mid-Major Tour/Circuit" at the Global Poker Awards in 2018 and 2019.

The 2026 season — branded the "Passport Season" — spans 17 stops from January through August, visiting casinos across the United States. The schedule culminates in a Season Finale at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California. The Passport concept frames the season as a stop-by-stop campaign, with players effectively "collecting stamps" as they chase RunGood Rings and season-long rewards.

Key facts for 2026:

Season: January – August 2026 (17 stops)
Format: No Limit Hold'em (primarily), with some PLO and mixed events
Main Event buy-ins: $600–$1,100 (varies by stop)
Ring events per stop: Typically 8–19 events per festival
Season Finale: Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Lincoln, California (dates TBA — expected late summer)
Official website: rungood.com/pages/events

2026 Schedule Overview: What to Play

The Passport Season visits a diverse mix of venues — from tribal casinos and card rooms to major resort properties. Some stops are compact five-day festivals; others, like Borgata and Graton, run 10+ days with 19 ring events.

Confirmed 2026 Stops

Stop	Venue	City	Dates	Main Event
1	Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa	Tulsa, OK	Jan 20–25	$800, $100K GTD
2	Lodge Card Club	Round Rock, TX	Jan 27–Feb 1	$600
3	Jamul Casino	San Diego, CA	Feb 17–22	$600, $150K GTD
4	Atlantis Casino Resort Spa	Reno, NV	Feb 24–Mar 1	$800, $150K GTD
5	Hollywood Casino	St. Louis, MO	Mar 3–8	$800, $200K GTD
6	Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa	Atlantic City, NJ	Mar 5–15	$800, $300K GTD
7	Graton Resort & Casino	Rohnert Park, CA	Mar 5–15	$1,100, $300K GTD
8	Horseshoe Tunica	Tunica, MS	Mar 10–15	$600, $200K GTD
9	MGM National Harbor	Oxon Hill, MD	Apr 13–19	TBA
10	Horseshoe Council Bluffs	Council Bluffs, IA	Apr 21–26	TBA
11–17	Remaining stops TBA	Various	May–Aug	TBA

The full 17-stop schedule is released incrementally. Check rungood.com/pages/events for the latest updates. All stops are pending gaming commission approval.

Events by Buy-In Tier

Tier	Buy-In Range	Typical Events
Budget	$200–$400	PokerNews PowerStack ($300), Nightly Ring Events, Satellites
Mid-Range	$400–$800	Main Events (most stops), Ring Events
Premium	$800–$1,100	Main Events (select stops like Graton, Borgata)

RGPS stays focused on the mid-stakes live player: accessible buy-ins, workable structures, and prize pools large enough to make a stop worth the trip. That focus is a big part of the tour's appeal.

Season-Long Competitions

PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard: New for 2026, this season-long competition tracks results at designated PowerStack events at every stop. The top ten finishers on the leaderboard earn a $1,100 RGPS Passport Thunder Valley Main Event seat plus two nights of hotel accommodation.

RunGood Player of the Year: In partnership with the Global Poker Index, the 2025/26 POY race runs through June 1, 2026. Points are accumulated across all open RGPS events. The top five ranked players receive custom Player of the Year rings and an invitation to the Hall of Rings celebration at Thunder Valley Casino, which includes a hotel stay and a $500 travel stipend.

Dream Seat Invitational: 2026 RGPS ring winners are eligible for the $300 Dream Seat Invitational; main-event winners receive an automatic entry. The winner earns a Dream Seat into the PGT Championship $1,000,000 Freeroll.

Tournament Structure Analysis

The RGPS has built its reputation on solid structures at accessible price points, which helps explain why many players return stop after stop.

Main Event Structure (Baseline)

The following structure is representative of the standard RGPS Main Event format. Specific stops may vary slightly, but the core framework is consistent across the tour:

Detail	Value
Starting Stack	40,000 chips
Opening Blinds	100/200 with 200 BB Ante
Starting Depth	~200 BB
Levels 1–15	30 minutes each
Levels 16+	40 minutes each
Break Schedule	Every 2 hours
Re-Entry	Unlimited (until start of Level 9)
Late Registration	Through start of Level 9
Day 1 End	12% of each flight advances

Structure Assessment: Starting around 200 big blinds deep gives players room to play through the early and middle stages without feeling rushed. The first 15 levels move at a reasonable pace, and the jump to 40-minute levels later gives the structure more play once stacks get shallower. The big blind ante also keeps the game moving without the drag of rotating antes.

For a deeper understanding of how starting depth and level duration affect your strategy, see our guide on how to read tournament structures like a pro.

Side Event Structures

Ring events at RGPS stops generally follow a similar format to the Main Event — 30,000 starting stacks with 20- to 30-minute levels depending on the buy-in level. The PokerNews PowerStack events ($300) use a turbo format designed to complete in a single day.

Getting to RGPS Events

Because the RGPS is a true touring circuit, travel logistics change meaningfully from stop to stop. Here is what to expect for the types of venues on the 2026 schedule, along with specifics for the major stops.

Venue-by-Venue Travel Quick Reference

Venue	Nearest Airport	Distance / Time	Rideshare Estimate
Hard Rock Tulsa	TUL (Tulsa)	~11–13 min	$15–$25
Lodge Card Club, Round Rock	AUS (Austin)	~34–36 min	$20–$30
Jamul Casino, San Diego	SAN (San Diego)	~30 min	$30–$45
Atlantis, Reno	RNO (Reno-Tahoe)	~10 min	$10–$15
Hollywood Casino, St. Louis	STL (St. Louis)	~20 min	$15–$25
Borgata, Atlantic City	ACY (Atlantic City) or PHL (Philadelphia)	~18–19 min (ACY) / ~75 min (PHL)	$25–$35 (ACY) / $80–$120 (PHL)
Graton Resort, Rohnert Park	OAK or SFO	~72 min (OAK) / ~75 min (SFO)	$70–$100
Horseshoe Tunica	MEM (Memphis)	~30 min	$25–$40
MGM National Harbor	DCA (Reagan National)	~15–20 min	$15–$25
Horseshoe Council Bluffs	OMA (Omaha)	~15 min	$10–$20
Thunder Valley, Lincoln	SMF (Sacramento)	~35–40 min	$30–$45

All times and costs are approximate and may vary with traffic and demand. Most RGPS casino venues offer free self-parking.

General Touring Tips

Most RGPS venues offer free or cheap parking, so a rental car is often the simplest option. March is the most crowded month on the schedule, so book flights early if you are targeting one of those stops.

Where to Stay

Lodging strategy depends heavily on the venue. Here is a general framework:

Casino resort stops (Atlantis Reno, Borgata, Graton, Thunder Valley, MGM National Harbor) have on-site or adjacent hotels — expect approximately $100–$250/night during the event period. Check the RGPS event page for player rate room blocks.

For card room stops (Lodge Card Club, Jamul Casino), book nearby chain hotels ($60–$120/night for budget options like Hampton Inn or La Quinta; $120–$200/night for mid-range like Courtyard by Marriott or Hilton Garden Inn). Airbnb and VRBO are often the best value for 5+ night stays, especially if you are sharing with another player.

Book early — room rates at destination stops like Borgata and Reno can jump sharply once the poker dates are public. Flexible cancellation policies let you lock in a rate and adjust later.

All prices are directional estimates based on March 2026 data and may vary by season and availability.

Eating at and Around RGPS Venues

Casino resort stops (Borgata, Atlantis Reno, Graton, MGM National Harbor, Thunder Valley) offer multiple dining options on-property — from quick-service food courts to sit-down restaurants. During a standard 15- to 20-minute break, the safest move is usually the nearest counter or a meal you planned ahead for. At card room stops like Lodge Card Club, on-site dining may be limited — check for food trucks during the event, and have delivery apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats) ready.

Dietary accommodations: Vegetarian options are widely available at casino restaurants; vegan-specific options vary by venue. Gluten-free menus are increasingly common — ask your server. Kosher and halal options are limited at most casino properties but available off-property in major metro areas (Atlantic City, the DC area). For multi-day festivals, booking accommodation with a kitchen and stocking up at a grocery store is the healthiest approach.

Poker players keep odd hours, and casino resorts usually have at least one late-night or 24-hour food option. Bring a water bottle; most poker rooms provide complimentary water at the table, but having your own keeps you from waiting for a server.

Practical Info: Venue, Registration, and Amenities

Registration

RGPS events use on-site registration at the casino cage or a dedicated tournament registration desk. For some stops, you can view the full schedule and event details on PokerAtlas before you arrive. There is no unified RGPS pre-registration platform; registration is handled locally at each venue.

Phone and Device Policies

Phone policies vary by venue, since RGPS events are held at independently operated casinos and card rooms. Most US poker rooms allow phone use at the table when you are not in a hand. Some venues restrict phone use to between hands only, and headphones are typically permitted.

If you track hands during an event, review them between flights or after the day ends, not during play.

Check the specific house rules at each stop — they are usually posted at the tournament area or available from the floor staff.

Other Amenities

Most casino resort properties offer free Wi-Fi (though signal strength in poker rooms varies — cellular data is more reliable). Chips are bagged and tagged by tournament staff at the end of each day; personal items should be stored in your hotel room. Every venue has ATMs on the property (expect $3–$8 per transaction in fees).

Money Movement: Funding Buy-Ins and Cashing Out

Paying for Tournaments

Cash: Accepted at every stop. This is the most common method for RGPS buy-ins.
Casino cage: Some venues allow you to set up a casino account and pay from your balance.
Credit/debit cards: Generally not accepted for direct tournament buy-ins at most US poker rooms. Use the ATM if you need to convert card funds to cash.

Cash Handling

On a multi-stop tour, cash management matters. Carry enough for your planned buy-ins plus a reserve for re-entries. Use the hotel safe (available at most casino resort properties) rather than carrying your entire bankroll on the floor. For players following the circuit across multiple stops, consider keeping funds in a bank account with low ATM fees and withdrawing at each stop as needed.

For a deeper look at bankroll planning for a tournament series, see our bankroll management guide for live tournament players.

Cashing Out

Winners are paid at the casino cage, typically in cash or by check. Payout timelines vary — smaller amounts are usually available immediately; larger payouts may require advance notice or may be issued by check within a few business days.

Tax Considerations

US casinos are required to issue a W-2G form for tournament winnings over $5,000 (net of buy-in) or winnings at a 300:1 or greater payout ratio. Federal tax withholding may apply to non-resident aliens. Keep records of all buy-ins and cashes throughout the season for tax filing purposes.

Important: Tax rules are complex, especially if you are playing across multiple states during the RGPS season. Consult a tax professional familiar with gambling income for guidance specific to your situation.

Tips from RGPS Veterans

Start with a stop close to home. The RGPS visits 17 venues across the country. If you have never played the tour before, pick the stop nearest to you to get a feel for the format, registration flow, and schedule pace before committing to a multi-stop trip.
March is the busiest month — plan early. The 2026 schedule packs five stops into March alone (St. Louis, Borgata, Graton, Tunica, plus overflow from Reno). If you are targeting a March stop, book flights and hotels as soon as dates are confirmed.
The PowerStack Leaderboard is a real incentive. The $300 PokerNews PowerStack events at each stop feed into a season-long leaderboard. If you are attending multiple stops anyway, playing the PowerStack at each one gives you a shot at a $1,100 Thunder Valley Main Event seat.
Win a ring, earn a Dream Seat shot. Ring winners are eligible for the $300 Dream Seat Invitational, and main-event winners get an automatic entry. The winner earns a Dream Seat into the PGT Championship $1,000,000 Freeroll — meaningful upside on every ring event.
Bring a light jacket. Casino poker rooms are notorious for aggressive air conditioning. Even at summer stops, a layer on the back of your chair saves you from freezing during a 10-hour Day 2.
Check each venue's specific rules before you arrive. Registration procedures, phone policies, and even re-entry rules can differ between venues. The RGPS event page for each stop usually lists house rules and structure sheets a few days before the festival begins.
Take advantage of the community. RGPS tends to feel more social than many tours of similar size. The RunGood team leans into that with player events, giveaways, and side activities around the series. If you are traveling solo, it is one of the easier tours on which to meet other players.
Track your hands across stops. Playing multiple RGPS stops over a season gives you a meaningful sample of hands — but only if you record them. Reviewing hands between stops helps you identify patterns in your play across different structures and field sizes.

RunGood Poker Series 2026 FAQ

What is the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS)? The RGPS is a US-based mid-major poker tour founded by Tana Karn and launched in 2014. It visits casinos and card rooms across the country, offering ring events with accessible buy-ins (typically $200–$1,100) and player-friendly structures. The 2026 Passport Season features 17 stops from January through August.

What is the RGPS Main Event buy-in? Main Event buy-ins vary by stop, ranging from $600 to $1,100 for the 2026 Passport Season. Most stops feature a $600 or $800 Main Event.

How many stops are on the 2026 RGPS schedule? The 2026 Passport Season features 17 stops across the United States, running from January through August and ending with a Season Finale at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in Lincoln, California.

How do I register for RGPS tournaments? Registration is handled on-site at each venue, either at the casino cage or a dedicated tournament desk. There is no single RGPS-wide pre-registration system. You can check schedules and event details on PokerAtlas or at rungood.com/pages/events.

What is the PokerNews PowerStack Leaderboard? New for 2026, the PowerStack Leaderboard is a season-long competition that tracks results at designated $300 PowerStack events at every RGPS stop. The top ten finishers at season's end earn a $1,100 RGPS Passport Thunder Valley Main Event seat plus two nights of hotel accommodation.

What is the RGPS Player of the Year? In partnership with the Global Poker Index, the RunGood Player of the Year race tracks performance across all open RGPS events through June 1, 2026. The top five ranked players receive custom POY rings and an invitation to the Hall of Rings celebration at Thunder Valley.

What is a RunGood Ring? A RunGood Ring is the trophy awarded to the winner of each designated ring event at RGPS stops — similar in concept to a WSOP Circuit ring. Ring winners also qualify for the Dream Seat Invitational.

Can I use my phone at the table during RGPS events? Phone policies are set by each venue, not by the RGPS tour itself. Most US poker rooms allow phone use when you are not in a hand, but check the house rules at each stop.

What should I budget for a single RGPS stop? A reasonable budget for a single five-day stop includes the Main Event buy-in ($600–$1,100), one or two side events ($200–$400 each), accommodation (approximately $100–$200/night), food (approximately $40–$80/day), and ground transportation. All-in, many players will land somewhere around $2,000–$3,500 depending on travel costs, room rates, and how many events they play.

Where can I find the full 2026 RGPS schedule? The official schedule, including updates for stops announced incrementally throughout the season, is available at rungood.com/pages/events. PokerNews also provides live reporting and updated schedules at pokernews.com/tours/rungood-poker-series.

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RunGood Poker Series 2026 Complete Player's Guide: Schedule, Travel, Structures, and Tips