Reinventing Live Poker: Inside Antonio Sapio’s Mission to Make the Game Human Again

_{Antonio Sapio is building from ground up. (Image: PartyPoker Tour)}

In a world of bright lights and bigger egos, poker can sometimes feel more corporate than communal. Yet at Resorts World Birmingham this autumn, something different unfolded: a grassroots-style poker festival that swapped glossy marketing for genuine connection.

The driving force behind it was Antonio Sapio, founder of the Party Poker Tour, a fast-growing live-event series determined to strip poker back to its creative core.

Sapio, a veteran of more than 100 live festivals, wants poker to feel transparent, inclusive, and, above all, fair. “It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to reach out to an audience and share what our unique selling points are for the industry,” he said during a recent Casinos.com podcast.

Building a Festival from the Ground Up

When the Party Poker Tour landed in Birmingham, it didn’t take over an existing poker room, it built one. Working with Resorts World Casino, Sapio and his team created an entirely new poker space and ran 20 tournaments over nine days.

“The partnership allowed us to help the casino integrate a new vertical, poker, building a poker room from scratch,” Sapio explained. 

“We generated a 50 percent increase compared to previous events.”

That growth wasn’t just about numbers. The event drew players from across the UK, giving a fresh buzz to a venue that previously had no dedicated poker scene.

No Hidden Fees, No Fine Print

The cornerstone of Sapio’s movement is transparency. He believes too many tournaments quietly skim fees from prize pools, a practice he calls “a strange norm.”

“I’ve always been confused about why operators consider it normal to withdraw a percentage from the prize pool that isn’t advertised,” he said. “We remove any hidden fees, any admin fees, any deductions.”

It’s a radical stance in an industry where even major series often take undisclosed cuts. The Party Poker Tour model promises players exactly what they see: the buy-in, the rake, and nothing more.

As Sapio expands the tour into Europe next year, he admits it will take time for some markets to adjust. But he’s confident that “what you see is what you play for” will catch on.

Listen to the full interview on our  Podcast 

Poker for Everyone, Not Just the Pros

Unlike elite tours designed for high-rollers, the Party Poker Tour targets everyday players. Buy-ins start at just a few pounds, and the main event has one of the lowest rakes in the industry.

“We’re a grassroots movement,” Sapio said. “We want to be poker for everyone, not just pros.”

That inclusivity has helped the brand stand out in a competitive live-event scene dominated by long-established names like PokerStars and the World Poker Tour. By lowering costs and creating welcoming environments, Sapio hopes to rebuild poker’s sense of community, a move that resonates with new and casual players looking for affordable fun.

Creativity at the Table

Sapio’s team doesn’t look like a traditional tournament crew. Alongside dealers and tournament directors are filmmakers, sound engineers, musicians, and even a gothic writer.

“I wanted to shuffle the rules,” he said. “I wanted to work with people who could see this game with different eyes.”

The result is a visual, story-driven brand that merges poker with art, cinema, and live entertainment. Events feature LED walls, cinematic lighting, and dynamic content streamed online. The goal: make poker as exciting to watch as it is to play.

Self-Sufficient and Scalable

To stay flexible, Sapio’s team has invested heavily in equipment, RFID poker tables, LED walls, mixers, and cameras, all stored and transported in two trucks.

“By becoming self-sufficient, we can adapt to any venue of any size,” he said. “We can scale the budget up or down without disruption.”

Owning everything in-house keeps costs low and quality consistent. It also allows Sapio to replicate the model quickly across Europe. “We’re announcing the 2026 calendar soon,” he revealed. “We’re doubling the number of events.”

Storytelling Beyond the Felt

Sapio doesn’t just want to run tournaments; he wants to tell stories. His vision is for each stop to become a cultural event, a celebration of everyday players and their journeys.

“We want our events to be a celebration of communities,” he said. “Stories that can go beyond poker.”

That storytelling focus is already drawing media attention and new audiences who might not have followed poker otherwise.

Looking Ahead

Sapio’s ambitions go beyond the UK. The Party Poker Tour plans to expand into one new market each year, focusing on building communities before moving on. “We want to use the events to create quality, original content and reach people who might feel excluded,” he said.

For him, success isn’t measured only in attendance or prize money. It’s about connection. 

“We want players to go home and tell their family and friends how great the experience was,” he said.

If Sapio succeeds, the Party Poker Tour could redefine what live poker means in the modern era, less corporate spectacle, more collective celebration.

As the poker world watches, it’s clear this isn’t just another tour. It’s a movement built on fairness, creativity, and community.