Traditional satellite poker tournaments, with their rich history spanning over forty years, have been a cornerstone of poker success. The modern take on this format, the “Milestone” satellites, has gained favor among poker organizers due to its ability to address some of the drawbacks of traditional satellites. This innovative new format originated in Europe and is now reshaping the poker industry in the United States. 

What is a Traditional Satellite? 

A satellite tournament is designed to allow players to win a seat in a larger, higher-stakes poker tournament without paying the full entry fee. It uses a “survivor” format with a specific target. For example, if 100 players enter the satellite, each player would start with a stack of 10,000 chips, with ten seats up for grabs, into a predetermined tournament called a target. The top 10 players at the end of the game would win a seat or the cost of the predetermined target (depending on legal jurisdictions). Regardless of their stack size, they would receive the same prize. These tournaments can be held online or live; organizers use them for marketing, player engagement, and to fill series schedules. 

History Of Traditional Poker Satellite 

The concept of satellite tournaments can be traced back to the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1982. At that time, Tournament Director Eric Drache was frustrated with the low turnout for the $10,000 Main Event, so he devised a solution. While working at Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas, he noticed many cash players and proposed a deal: each player would contribute $1,000, and the winner would secure a seat in the Main Event. This idea was an instant hit and soon became a format adopted by other organizers, marking a significant chapter in the history of poker satellites. 

Satellites have been instrumental in reshaping the poker industry and fueling the Poker Boom. A pivotal moment was in 2003, when an amateur poker player from the United States, Chris Moneymaker, shot to global fame by winning the prestigious $10,000 WSOP Main Event. His entry into the event was secured through an $86 online satellite tournament hosted by PokerStars. By outplaying 839 players, he walked away with $2.5 million, sparking what is now known as the “Moneymaker Effect.” This term, coined by the media, refers to the surge in poker interest and the influx of new players that followed Moneymaker’s win. It added to the allure of satellites, showing that anyone could enter a tournament at an affordable cost and win a life-changing sum.  

Drawbacks of Traditional Satellites? 

Although traditional satellites were popular, they had some significant drawbacks. One issue is that the ‘survivor’ format enables player collusion and manipulation. For instance, players could use stalling tactics, such as taking an unusually long time to decide, hoping another player would be eliminated before they were. Additionally, there is the problem of chip dumping, which essentially allows chip leaders to manipulate who makes the final table by intentionally losing chips to other players. These tactics not only hurt the game’s image but can cause financial loss to organizers as they are time-consuming.   

What Is a “Milestone” Satellite Tournament? 

“Milestone” satellites are a fresh take on the traditional poker satellite tournaments. The fundamentals are still the same, offering a player a chance to win a seat into win a seat in a larger, higher-stakes poker tournament at a significantly smaller cost. The main difference is that instead of a “survival” format, it uses a “Milestone” format that focuses on reaching a specific chip count.  

Players must accumulate chips to achieve a predetermined “Milestone” and earn seats in the targeted tournament. For example, with a buy-in of $200 and the tournament guarantees ten seats into the target event priced at $1,100, players start with 20,000 chips. The “Milestone” chip count is set at 140,000 chips. When a player reaches the “Milestone” chip count, the chips are removed from play, and they secure a seat in the tournament.  

In this innovative format, regional preferences dictate different approaches for dealing with extra chips that exceed the “Milestone” amount. In Europe, the extra chips are added to the next pot, creating high-variance pots known as “bomb pots.” In America, the extra chips are removed from play. The streamlined U.S. approach is gaining favor for its clarity and straightforwardness. 

The Rise of “Milestone” Satellite Tournament 

The “Milestone” Satellite Tournament’s exact origin is unknown, but it gained popularity in Europe and was subsequently popularized in America by operators such as the World Poker Tournament (WPT). This is significant because the industry looks to WPT Executive Matt Savage for guidance. He is an influential figure in the industry, but more importantly, he has garnished their trust as the Head; he is the Founder of the Tournament Director Association, where he has consistently advocated for fair and profitable gameplay. So, when WPT, in collaboration with Wynn Las Vegas, incorporated “Milestone” Satellite into its flagship series, WPT World Championship, it quickly became adopted by other poker organizations.  

The innovative format eliminates player stalling tactics and collusion, leading to shorter game durations and greater player enjoyment. The reduced time allows operators to maintain revenue levels while cutting the labor costs associated with running a large series. It also enables operators to capture more revenue because the reduced time commitment allows players to participate in other tournaments. 

One criticism of the “Milestone” format is that it may favor more skilled players, potentially impacting the game’s appeal to recreational players. However, this ongoing evolution of the game is a topic of interest and discussion among many organizations, who are still adopting the innovative new format, believing the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. This engagement in the game’s evolution keeps the industry dynamic and responsive to the changing needs of players.