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Italian Poker Challenge
Seven days. 10 events. And a huge €700,000 guaranteed Main Event prize pool.
That’s right. The Italian Poker Challenge is back for 2026, and the first edition of the year will take place on the stunning shores of Lake Lugano this March at the luxurious Casino di Campione.
Featuring a packed program designed to suit everyone from newcomers to experienced hands, the Italian Poker Challenge has both the schedule and the surroundings to create an unmissable live event experience.
High Roller tournaments. PLO variants. Freerolls, €90 satellites and specialty formats. Whatever your level, there’s a seat for you at the first-ever Italian Poker Challenge.
Will we see you there?
Festival Dates: March 17-23, 2026
Venue: Casino di Campione
Mystery Bounty Challenge: March 17-18-€440
Italian Poker Challenge-Main Event €700K GTD: March 17-23
March 17 DAY 1A special price -€500
March 18-23-€770
High Roller: March 22-€1,100
Big Sunday: March 22-€220
The license holder and operator of this event is Casino di Campione.
Address: Piazzale Milano, 2, 22061 Campione d’Italia CO, Italy
Telephone number: +41 916401111
Dress Code: Smart casual. No sports clothing and footwear (e.g. tracksuits, shorts, shirts, trainers, etc).
Minimum Age: 18+
NB: Must bring a valid government-issued passport or valid European Union Citizen ID card to participate.
Travel
By Air:
The closest airport is Lugano Airport (LUG), approximately 10km from Campione. From Lugano Airport, you can take a taxi or arrange for a private transfer, which takes about 20–30 minutes.
Other airports include:
- Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP): Around 80km away (1.5-hour drive).
- Milan Linate Airport (LIN): About 90km away (2-hour drive).
- Zurich Airport (ZRH): Roughly 3 hours away by car or train.
All these airports offer frequent international flights and convenient transportation options.
By Train:
Lugano station is well-connected to a lot of major Swiss and Italian cities. From Milan, the train to Lugano takes approximately 1 hour. From Zurich, the train journey takes about 3 hours.
By Car:
Campione is only a short 10-minute drive from Lugano. From Milan, the journey takes about 1.5-2 hours. Casino di Campione offers convenient parking facilities for guests.
Please remember that Campione d’Italia is an enclave within Switzerland, meaning you’ll need the proper identification and necessary visas to cross the border. Also, while the official currency is Euros, Swiss Francs are often accepted.
You can buy-in onsite at the venue using the following options.
- CASH – EUROS
- DEBIT/CREDIT CARD
- WIRE TRANSFER**
* Subject to change per event. Regional and account restrictions may apply.
**Players who wire funds will need to collect them at the casino cage and then proceed to the cash registration desks.
Please Note: we cannot accept part payment of one payment type with another.
Every day
- Open 2pm – closes 3.30am
Games Offered:
- Hold’em
- PLO 4/5/6/Double Board
- Bomb Pot
- Mixed Games
- Mixed Games
More information on qualification will be available soon.
Contact live@pokerstarslive.com for further information.