Unibet Open will relocate its flagship poker festival from Paris to Marrakech this fall with over 30 tournaments scheduled at Casino de Marrakech and a new blend of DeepStack and Main Event action
After shattering its previous attendance records in Paris, the Unibet Open is abandoning the French capital for Morocco, launching an 11-day poker festival at Casino de Marrakech from September 24 to October 4. The move signals a calculated shift for the live poker series, which now aims to capitalize on its momentum by combining the Unibet DeepStack Open and Unibet Open Main Event into a single, densely packed schedule.
Main Event and High Roller Stakes
The centerpiece of the Marrakech festival is the MAD 12,000 Unibet Open Main Event, mirroring the series’ traditional €1,100 buy-in but now set against the backdrop of North Africa. Players will find four starting flights between September 30 and October 1, including Speed and Turbo options, with one-hour levels and a 50,000-chip starting stack. The festival also features a MAD 16,000 UO High Roller and a MAD 25,000 Super High Roller, both designed to attract seasoned competitors seeking higher-stakes action. The opening weekend launches with the MAD 6,000 UDSO, offering four starting flights and a structure that caters to both local and international entrants.
Festival Structure and Player Options
Across the 11 days, more than 30 tournaments are scheduled, ranging from satellites with buy-ins as low as MAD 1,000 to the top-tier Super High Roller. The schedule is engineered for variety: Progressive Knockouts, Classic Bounty events, MonsterStack, Omaha, and Turbo formats all make appearances. The MAD 3,000 UO Mini Main provides three starting flights and a lower entry point for players seeking a Main Event-style experience without the full buy-in. For those looking to qualify on a budget, Unibet is running online satellites starting at €5, with package satellites on Mondays and Thursdays. The top prize is a €2,000 package covering the Main Event buy-in, hotel, hospitality, and a travel stipend.
Market Context and Competitive Landscape
The decision to relocate follows a record-breaking turnout in Paris, where the Unibet Open drew its largest field to date. This aggressive expansion into Marrakech comes as other poker series, such as the RunGood Poker Series in Mississippi, also ramp up their live event schedules, as reported earlier. The Marrakech festival’s structure—blending DeepStack and Main Event formats—reflects a broader trend toward hybrid schedules that maximize player engagement and operational efficiency. With buy-ins denominated in Moroccan dirham (MAD), the Main Event’s MAD 12,000 entry equates to roughly €1,100 or $1,320 at current rates, maintaining parity with European standards while opening the door to a new regional audience.
Operational Impact and Editorial Analysis
For players, the Marrakech stop offers a rare opportunity to access a major international poker festival outside the traditional European circuit, with a schedule that rewards both deep-pocketed high rollers and satellite qualifiers. The festival’s structure, with overlapping events and multiple entry points, is designed to keep tables full and action continuous. However, the shift from Paris to Marrakech is more than a logistical change—it’s a tactical play by Unibet to diversify its live poker footprint and test the appetite for large-scale events in emerging markets. The real test will be whether the record Paris numbers can be matched or exceeded in Morocco, or if the move risks diluting the brand’s core European following. Unibet’s willingness to experiment with format and geography is a sign of a poker operator refusing to coast on past success, but the outcome will depend on execution and player response, not just headline attendance figures.
Understanding tournament buy-ins and prize pools is essential for evaluating poker festival value. A buy-in is the amount each player pays to enter a tournament, forming the prize pool after deducting any house fees. High buy-ins typically attract more experienced players and generate larger prize pools, while lower buy-ins and satellite events allow broader participation. The structure and variety of events—such as Main Events, High Rollers, and Knockouts—determine both the competitive landscape and the potential rewards for players at every level.
