Stake is celebrating its 9th birthday with a $90,000 guaranteed poker tournament, giving players the chance to buy in for $9 and compete for birthday cash prizes.
A Birthday Tournament With a Simple Hook
Stake is turning its 9th birthday into a poker event, with a $90,000 guaranteed tournament taking place on 8 August 2026.
The setup is deliberately straightforward. You buy in for $9, take your seat in the tournament and compete for a share of the guaranteed prize pool. The numbers all tie back to the birthday theme: nine years, a $9 buy-in and $90,000 in guaranteed prizes.
The tournament begins at 17:00 UTC, and the player cap is set at 10,000. That makes timing important. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so players who want to take part will need to be ready when registration opens in the Stake Poker Lobby.
If you do not already have an account, you can sign up with the Stake promo code NEWBONUS.
What You Need to Do on the Day
To take part, head to the Stake Poker Lobby on 8 August and look for the 9th Birthday Poker Special.
Once the tournament is available, you can register by paying the $9 buy-in. From there, the aim is familiar: survive longer than the rest of the field, knock out opponents where possible and try to finish high enough to claim a share of the $90,000 prize pool.
This is also a bounty tournament, which adds another layer to the format. Every player starts with an individual bounty, and when you eliminate another player, you can claim that bounty straight away.
That means the tournament is not only about where you finish. Knockouts matter too, because bounty rewards are paid during the event as players are eliminated.
Stake Birthday Poker Special Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Casino | Stake.com |
| Event | 9th Birthday Poker Special |
| Date | 08-Aug-26 |
| Start time | 17:00 UTC |
| Buy-in | $9 |
| Guaranteed prize pool | $90,000 |
| Player cap | 10,000 players |
| Entry system | First come, first served |
| Format | Poker tournament with bounties |
| Where to enter | Stake Poker Lobby |
The Bounty Format Adds Pressure
The bounty element gives the tournament a slightly sharper edge than a simple birthday freeroll or standard prize-pool event.
Because every player has a bounty attached, eliminations carry immediate value. If you knock someone out, you do not need to wait until the final standings are settled to see a reward from that elimination.
That can change how the tournament feels. Some players may take more aggressive lines when a bounty is within reach, while others may play more carefully to protect their stack and stay alive longer.
Either way, the structure gives you two things to chase: bounties during the tournament and final-table prize money at the end.
Why the Seat Limit Matters
The 10,000-player cap is one of the main details to watch.
A $9 buy-in for a $90,000 guaranteed tournament is likely to attract attention, especially because it is attached to Stake’s birthday celebrations. Once the available seats are taken, late arrivals may not be able to join.
That makes this a timing-based promo as much as a poker event. If you want to play, you should be in the Poker Lobby before the 17:00 UTC start time and ready to register when seats are available.
It is also worth checking the event page in advance so you know where the tournament will appear and whether any additional poker rules apply to your account or region.
The Terms Worth Knowing
- Entry is limited to the first 10,000 registered players, and all seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The tournament starts on 8 August 2026 at 17:00 UTC. Players who arrive late may miss the chance to take part if the tournament has already filled.
- The buy-in is $9 per entry.
- Each participant starts with an individual bounty. If you eliminate another player, you claim that player’s bounty, and bounty rewards are paid instantly during the tournament.
- The guaranteed prize pool is $90,000, with payouts awarded according to final tournament standings.
- The event is also governed by Stake Poker’s Card Room Rules, Security & Ecology Policy and Refund Policy. Stake may suspend, amend, void or cancel the promotion if required.
Stake’s 9th Birthday Poker Special works because the idea is easy to understand.
The birthday theme is clear, the buy-in is low, the prize pool is guaranteed and the tournament has a hard player cap. That gives the event enough urgency without making it complicated.
For regular Stake Poker players, this is a chance to compete in a themed tournament with a sizeable guaranteed prize pool. For newer players, the $9 buy-in makes the event more accessible than many larger poker promotions.
The key thing is timing. With only 10,000 seats available and entry handled first come, first served, players who want in should be ready before the 17:00 UTC start on 8 August.