ATLARGE logo

What is “ATLARGE”?

ATLARGE stands for the ATLantic city Annual Rec.Gambling Excursion. We are a diverse group of people with a common hobby: Poker! We’ve been gathering once each year in the springtime in Atlantic City since 1995 (with a short break). We dine, we drink, we laugh and we play poker, including LOTS of ring games plus three tournaments that we organize ourselves. This year, ATLARGE2026 will be the 30th in-person gathering (and 32nd overall!), and will take place at The Borgata, the largest poker room in Atlantic City. Our three tournaments will be April 17, 18, and 19.

ATLARGE is the New Jersey version of BARGE (our group’s biggest event, our annual gathering in Las Vegas in August). Roughly 200 people attend BARGE each year, and about 100 attend ATLARGE each year.

Registration for ATLARGE2026 will open soon.

Everyone of legal gambling age in New Jersey is welcome to join us at ATLARGE. Our only requirement is that you register with us in advance, here, on our website. We charge a small registration fee that is used to buy our tournament winner’s trophies and a commemorative coin/card protector that is given to each registrant on arrival. Here are the tournament details (structures are linked below):

  1. The first ATLARGE2026 tournament will be on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 11:00am. The event is styled on Mike Sexton’s original Tournament of Champions event from years ago at the Orleans in Las Vegas. It is a rotation tournament consisting of Limit Stud High, Limit Omaha-8, and Limit Hold’em. After the 12th level, the tournament becomes no limit Hold’em until the end.

  2. The second ATLARGE2026 tournament will be on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 11:00am. This event, which is the centerpiece of ATLARGE, is No Limit Hold’em.

  3. The third and final ATLARGE2026 tournament will be on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 11:00am. This event will be double board Pot Limit Omaha.

The structure sheets for these tournaments are available here (only not yet).

Other ATLARGE Traditions

  1. Because we begin on Friday morning (11am) many of us gather on Thursday night for a group cocktail party. The best way to know where this takes place is by subscribing to the ATLARGE mailing list. BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ATLARGE EMAIL LIST (bottom of this page) for ongoing information posted by our members about who’s going where, who has a car, etc.

  2. One of the key traditions of ATLARGE (and all BARGE events) is tipping. In addition to the $10 per registrant, we are liberal with $1 chips at the cash AND TOURNAMENT tables! Every new dealer generally gets a “welcome to the table” toke from everyone (thrown lovingly toward the box). Don’t forget to keep this tradition going - it’s what makes ATLARGE special and fun for our dealers, who in turn keep the games fast, friendly, and fun!

  3. Another related tradition we have had for decades now is the bustout gift. At each tournament, you should bring a bustout giftl when you inevitably bust, you should have a small gift for the person that busts you - this makes things more fun! Think very small tchotchke, a toy, book, something funny and creative, and related to you and to poker if you can. Note that re-gifting is generally fine if it fits your style…but in the NEXT tournament! Note that if you end up busting a lot of people, you may collect a bunch of gifts as well as a bunch of chips!

Key Details

  1. The buy-in for the Friday and Sunday tournaments is $100+$20+$10 (Prize Pool + House Rake + Dealer Toke Pool in the form of a chip add-on), with Saturday’s tournament being $150+$20+$10. Note that as a matter of policy The Borgata withholds 3% of the Prize Pool for dealer tokes but our group prides itself on being generous to the dealers so we take an additional $10 from each player at registration time to enhance the dealer tokes.

  2. Buy-in for each event will be at The Borgata. Players will pay the $120/$170 to the Borgata and an ATLARGE volunteer will be at the registration line to collect the added $10 from each player.

  3. Registration Fees ($25 per person) must be paid in advance. In exchange, there are trophies for top finishers of each tournament plus you’ll get a commemorative coin / card protector in person at the event.

  4. The FIRM DEADLINE for registration is noon Eastern time on Monday, April 13, 2026. If you haven’t registered by then you will not be registered for ATLARGE2026.

How Can You Participate in ATLARGE?

EVERYONE IS WELCOME! But because we all originally met over the Internet, the only rule for participation in any of our events is that you must register over the Internet. Since you’re reading this, you’ve already come to the right place! If you follow and complete registration, you’re in! Then, all you have to do is show up and have fun.

Other ATLARGE Events

Dinners and other events around ATLARGE are self-organized by our members. The best way to know what’s going on or to suggest a place where you’d like to visit, is by subscribing to the ATLARGE mailing list.

Ring Games

The Borgata will spread cash games at all limits, including an ARG favorite, the $7.50-$15.00 “pink chip” holdem game! Baby PL is also available, if there is sufficient interest.

Transportation

Unfortunately, for those planning to fly, ATLANTIC CITY is not terribly easy to reach. There is an airport just nine miles from Atlantic City, but regularly scheduled flights there are usually BRUTALLY EXPENSIVE. Once at the Atlantic City airport, cabs are readily available. The PHILADELPHIA airport is 50 miles from Atlantic City, with regular train service.

Pick up the SEPTA R1 train directly in front of the Philadelphia airport terminals, and take the train to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia (three stops after leaving the airport). Change trains at 30th Street for NJ Transit for Atlantic City. NJ Transit will drop you off at the Atlantic City train station 9 blocks off the boardwalk. Your NJ Transit ticket includes no-wait bus service to all casinos when you exit the train. Schedules for these trains are located at:

You are well advised to check the train schedules in advance, lest you be destined to repeat ADB Jester’s overnight stay in 30th Street station at ATLARGE III, missing the Thursday night festivities.

Lodging

There are no hotel codes or special rates. HOWEVER, the rates change rapidly depending on their occupancy on any given day, including weekends. I’ve seen Saturday nights that were going for $400 all week long become $99 on Saturday. AND, the law in NJ requires the hotel to honor their lowest rate. So ATLARGErs are encouraged to check the rates every day on line and if a rate appears that is lower than the reservation rate re-book at the lower rate, even in person while in the hotel.

Mailing List

If you aren’t already signed up for it, we recommend you join the ATLARGE mailing list. In addition to the rec.gambling.poker newsgroup (mostly of yore), lots of us trade insults on this list. Oh, and we also share information about ATLARGE type stuff here too. Late registration details will also be announced there.

Registration Fee

To attend our events and play in our tournaments, everyone must register and pay the ATLARGE registration fee of $25. For your $25 you’ll get a special gift and memento - which for years has been a custom coin / card protector.

The $25 registration fee is paid as part of registration. Before each ATLARGE tournament, each player will pay $120 (or $170 on Saturday) to the Borgata and $10 to the ATLARGE dealer toke pool, both of which will be collected when registering for our tournaments.

Firm Deadline

The registration deadline is noon Eastern time on Monday, April 13, 2026. If you have not registered and paid your $25 registration fee by that Monday before ATLARGE, you will NOT be able to attend. Please be guided accordingly.