Friday, 29th March 2024 13:24
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At EPT Monte Carlo, PokerStars Blog got to experience the high life in Monaco, one usually reserved for the highest of high rollers


If you’ve been watching HBO’s drama series Succession (and if you haven’t, we highly recommend it) then you’ll be used to watching the high-rolling Roy family travel around by chopper.

The fat-cat siblings (a.k.a. the “sibs”) – Kendall, Roman and Shiv Roy – frequently use helicopters to get around, both for frivolous convenience and as a blatant status symbol. It always seems excessive. But it always looks like a lot of fun, too.

And if the Roys were ever to make their way to Monaco, you better believe they would arrive by helicopter. Why drive when you can fly, right?

They’re not the only ones. Every year, an unknown quantity of super high rollers board choppers heading straight to the Principality for the European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo festival.

But as we learned this morning, it’s not just the Roys and the super high rollers who get to fly high in the Monégasque sky.

Before Day 1A of the European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo 2023 Main Event began, PokerStars Blog got an unexpected taste of the high life.

And if you ever decide to play or manage to win a package for EPT Monte Carlo, you could too.

ALL THANKS TO THE PLAYERS’ PARTY

Every day throughout the EPT Monte Carlo festival, PokerStars has arranged free helicopter rides for players and their partners (these slots can be won as “high” prizes on the Spin The Wheel at the information desk).

But there are only six slots per day, and they fill up fast.

So how did we end up as a seat filler soaring above the French Riviera from Monaco to the border of France and Italy?

It’s all thanks to the PokerStars Players’ Party.

The shindig took place at the picture-perfect April Jardin at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel last night, with entertainment from the performers of the “Planète Vapeur” Circus.

There was an open bar, complimentary food, a DJ… and did we mention the free bar?

Needless to say, there were some sore heads this morning and as a result, a couple of cancellations on this morning’s helicopter tour.

Luckily for us, we arrived to work at precisely the right time. Hayley Clarke, PokerStars’ Senior Customer Engagement Manager, was kind enough to offer us a slot, and minutes later we were being chaperoned to Heli Air Monaco.

JUST ONE OF MANY MONACO ACTIVITIES

Look, we all know Monaco is a glitzy place to spend a holiday. But even driving around feels glamorous.

We headed past the Casino de Monte-Carlo, onto the Monaco Grand Prix track, past the Prince’s Palace…

The next thing we knew, we were boarding.

It was raining this morning in Monaco, so the photos we all took on our phones won’t look quite as inviting as those shot by PokerStars photographers last year. But trust us when we say, the wet didn’t dampen the experience in the slightest. In fact, you barely noticed it when you were up in the air.

You don’t just get the thrill of a helicopter ride. You also get a guided tour of the area, courtesy of the pilot.

Simply, it was an incredible way to start the day and this poker festival. And just like Logan in Succession, it’s a hard act to follow.

Thankfully, it’s not the only activity that PokerStars is putting on throughout EPT Monte Carlo.

Next up: a ride in a Lamborghini!

More about EPT Monte Carlo

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