If you're in Vegas and looking for action beyond the sportsbook, the Venetian's DeepStack Showdown is in full swing with over $2.1 million in guaranteed prize pools. This is one of the best mid-stakes tournament series in the country, and it runs through February 8.

The Quick Hit

• Series: DeepStack Showdown
• Dates: January 19 – February 8, 2026
• Location: The Venetian Resort, Las Vegas
• Total GTD: $2.1 million+
• Buy-ins: $200 - $1,600

The DeepStack brand has become synonymous with value in Las Vegas poker. Structures are actually playable, fields are softer than your typical WPT or WSOP event, and the Venetian poker room remains one of the best in town.

Key Events on the Schedule

Here's what's coming up in the remaining weeks:

$600 NLH MonsterStack ($150K GTD)

• Multiple Day 1 flights
• Deep starting stacks
• Traditionally draws 500+ entries

$1,100 NLH UltimateStack

• The marquee mid-stakes event
• Solid structure with 60-minute levels
• Previous editions have crushed their guarantees

Daily $250 and $300 Events

• Perfect for degenerates who need daily tournament action
• Softer fields, quick structures, good value

Why DeepStack Events Hit Different

The Venetian has carved out a niche between the massive WSOP/WPT events and the low-stakes daily grind. Here's why serious recreational players flock to these series:

Structures: Starting stacks and level lengths actually let you play poker. You're not shoving pre with 15 big blinds by level 4.

Fields: The $600 and $1,100 buy-ins attract recreational players who wouldn't dream of playing a $5,000 WPT event. More weak spots, more opportunity.

Overlays: The Venetian has been known to pay overlays on their guarantees when fields come in light. Free money in the prize pool is the dream.

Room Quality: The poker room itself is top-tier. New tables, great dealers, food service that doesn't suck.

Recent DeepStack Results

The DeepStack Extravaganza (the December series that just wrapped) saw strong turnouts across all events. The $1,600 MSPT event at the Venetian crushed its $500K guarantee with over 400 entries.

Jeremy Becker shipped one of the December events for $71K, proving these tournaments can produce meaningful paydays without the five-figure buy-ins.

If You're Heading to Vegas

The Venetian poker room is in the Palazzo tower, which means the walk from the Strip entrance is absolutely brutal but the room itself is worth it. A few tips:

• Satellites: They run daily satellites into the bigger events. Great way to get in cheap.
• Cash games: The cash games during DeepStack series are excellent. Tourists plus tournament bust-outs equals soft tables.
• Food: Order from the poker room menu. Walking to a restaurant kills your momentum and probably your spot.

Bigger Events Coming

If DeepStack isn't big enough for you, the Venetian has several other tournament series scheduled for 2026:

• Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT): Multiple stops throughout the year
• DeepStack Championship Poker Series: The summer marquee event
• Various holiday-themed series: Because Vegas never stops

The Bottom Line

The Venetian DeepStack Showdown offers some of the best tournament value in Las Vegas right now. Buy-ins are reasonable, structures are playable, and the fields are softer than major tour events.

If you're in Vegas for the Super Bowl run-up or just need a poker fix, the Venetian should be your first stop. $2.1 million in guarantees isn't nothing, and somebody's going to win it.

Might as well be you, degen.

Shuffle up and deal.