The 2026 Tournament Calendar Taking Shape
New and Notable Tournament Additions
One of the more encouraging developments on the current calendar is the continued presence of Hard Rock Biloxi, which has just now added three new opportunities as part of its Summer Season events.
Because of the location and relative accessibility for many BJTUSA subscribers, the $25,000 and $30,000 events at Hard Rock Biloxi — along with the two highly anticipated $25,000 Paragon Casino Resort events later this year in Marksville, Louisiana — will likely continue to receive particular attention. Both continue to offer dependable opportunities with worthwhile prize money, and the support shown by the player community has helped reinforce that these are significant events for both the players and the properties that continue to host them. Take a look at the Calendar or Event Listing for details.
This just in – Also returning this year is the tournament at Island Resort & Casino in Harris, Michigan, which may deserve a second look from some in the BJTUSA community. Although the prominently advertised “$10,000 added” figure may make it seem smaller at first glance, the overall purse has reportedly exceeded $23,000 in each of the last two years once player entries were included. Each $250 buy‑in allocates $200 directly to prize money, so it likely would not take much additional support for this event to move well above $25,000.
The format is unique, but not in a way that turns it into a pure luck-fest; if anything, it increases the need for strong table analysis beyond simply tracking chip counts, etc. It appears to offer plentiful hands (21 to 28), per round, the last two tournaments paid 12 finalists-7th thru 12th paid $500.00 each, along with a fun change of pace, all in a pleasant lake setting at a well-regarded property with welcoming casino staff. For some players, this may be an event worth a closer look. See Event Calendar and Event Listing for details.
Also newly added to the calendar are the recurring $25,000 monthly tournaments in the Live! Casino Baltimore area, giving players another dependable opportunity to keep an eye on as the 2026 schedule continues to take shape. The Calendar and Event Listing sections both include links to the full details available through the Live! Casino website.
**A quick note of interest—** We have some members who have played in Hanover (Baltimore area), as well as at other Live! Casino properties in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. From what we continue to hear, all three locations have offered good invitational blackjack tournaments, and it apparently does not take a great deal of play to begin receiving invitations.
Looking ahead, we are hopeful that Live! Casino management in Bossier City, LA may eventually take a similar interest and help restore what was once a strong and long-standing Tournament Blackjack presence in the Shreveport/Bossier area.
Other Ongoing Opportunities
Players may also want to keep an eye on the events currently appearing on the calendar at Running Aces in Minnesota, including the weekly Free Roll qualifier events leading to the $25,000 Tournament of Champions on May 31st, along with the $100,000 Golden Nugget events in Las Vegas, both of which continue to offer additional tournament opportunities.
Why BJTUSA Stays Selective
As the 2026 calendar continues to fill in, BJTUSA remains focused on highlighting tournament opportunities that are realistically worth knowing about — not cluttering the Calendar by simply listing every tournament we find.
That includes typically avoiding weekly events, keeping an eye on prize money levels and preferencing cash purses, quality of rules and format, location, travel requirements, hotel considerations, whether an event has a reputation for being well run, and whether the overall trip seems worthwhile for players taking time away from work, family, and everyday responsibilities.
While tournament formats other than Blackjack may occasionally be considered when they seem worthwhile to the broader subscriber base, BJTUSA will continue focusing primarily on the Tournament Blackjack community it was built to serve — and we’re always glad to hear from players, especially when it comes to ideas for making this service better or helping bring attention to quality Tournament Blackjack opportunities that we may have missed and should be highlighted in our listings.
A big part of keeping these opportunities visible also depends on the established communication between the player community and the casino personnel who organize, support, or are considering tournaments at their properties. Continued visibility and cooperation appear to be helping keep worthwhile events alive.
And for many members of this unique community, these events go beyond the competition itself. Over time, they also become a chance to reconnect, compete, visit, and enjoy being around others who appreciate the Tournament side of Blackjack.
Thank You
Thank you to the players and casino property personnel who continue helping keep live Tournament Blackjack active, visible, and worth supporting.
Did You Know
To get the most out of the BJTUSA community site, it helps to check the tournament schedule and news updates regularly. For easy one‑tap access on your phone, you can add a BJTUSA icon to your home screen. If you’d like simple step‑by‑step instructions for iPhone and Android, click here to view them:
Quick-Draw BJTUSA Access (24/7)
https://bjtusa.com/quick-draw-bjtusa-access-24-7/