Poker Night in America (PNIA) is a one-of-a-kind TV poker experience. PNIA is the brainchild of former Heartland Poker Tour co-founder, and current Rush Street Productions President, Todd Anderson. Anderson recently partnered with Chicago-based Rush Street Gaming, one of the fastest growing gaming companies in North America, to form a production company that is creating something new and exciting for poker TV.
“We are looking to film the biggest and the best poker events at premier venues,” said Anderson. “We’re going to bring a fresh approach to how poker is shown on TV, making the show relevant to the average viewer. We think the world is ready to watch poker in a whole new way.”
Besides showing the game itself, PNIA will emphasize fun, variety, entertainment, and interesting story telling. PNIA will garner broad appeal with its plans to shoot “made for” events featuring poker pros and/or celebrities. Viewers will also be engaged in a whole new way through interactive play-at-home components. They will be encouraged to participate and play poker online for a chance to win prizes and even a TV appearance.
Following the recent regulation of online poker in key gaming markets across the United States, PNIA will be the first poker television show to launch at the onset of an exciting new era of poker. Rush Street Productions plans to lead the way by creating new and compelling entertainment for poker, its players and its fans.
Turning Stone Casino in Verona New York, one of the country’s premiere resorts, will play host to the first PNIA television event on August 10 when their main event, the annual Empire State Poker Classic, gets underway. This event will be open to the public and features a $1650 buy in and a guaranteed prize pool of $500,000. Besides the public tournament, Anderson says there will plenty of poker star power on hand for the first PNIA event.
“We are looking forward to hosting the first Poker Night in America,” said Turning Stone Director of Poker Operations Jason DiBenedetto. “Todd Anderson has an excellent reputation in the TV poker industry and we are excited to be working with him again. It’s also a great opportunity to go beyond the walls of our casino and promote our property to a TV audience.”
Future PNIA host sites have yet to be announced but Anderson is planning to film at least four additional events this year with a planned TV debut in early 2014.