The Global Poker Index recently announced its nominations for the Top 4 Fan Choice Best Poker Rooms, featuring Canada’s Playground Poker Club, King’s Resort Rozvadov, ARIA Las Vegas, and Asia Poker Arena. While the first three are already well-established favorites among the global poker audience, Asia Poker Arena has quickly risen to prominence as one of the largest poker rooms in the world, earning its place on the prestigious list of the top world-class live poker rooms.
In this article, we will delve into Asia Poker Arena’s history, the facilities and amenities it provides, its role in promoting poker culture in Asia, and more.
Asia Poker Arena One of the Biggest Poker Room in Asia
Asia Poker Arena, which is also known as Asia CTP Arena, is a popular poker destination that hosts poker tournaments for both amateur and professional poker players. The Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP) is one of the biggest poker associations in Asia and plays an important role in promoting Texas Hold’em poker in China and its neighboring countries. The association etched its name as a big player by hosting a variety of poker tournaments in Taiwan. CTP has become a fan-favourite in the Asian region, collaborating with global poker brands like the Asian Poker Tour and World Poker Tour to host marquee poker festivals in Taiwan.
Situated in the bustling city of Taipei, Taiwan, Asia Poker Arena was founded by David Tai, the founder and Executive Director of the Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP). The idea to open a poker arena arose due to the popularity of live poker across Asian countries. CTP used to host poker tournaments inside CTP Club. Here is a quick look at what makes Asia Poker Room a top-class room in Asia.
>Top poker room by a record number of players with over 302k players recorded
> Tops the list of top venues by the record number of events in last year with 3,204
> Boasts area of 540 square meters with world-class facilities to host big poker festivals
>Has hosted WPT, APT, USOP and events from several other major live poker brands
>Will host major live festivals in 2025, including Players Series in February, Zodiac Series of Poker in March, APT in April and November, APC Taipei in May, and WPT in August,
“With the arrival of international brands like WPT and APT tournaments, it became clear that our original space could no longer meet the demand,” Tai stated in the press release. “The overall growth of poker in Asia is thriving, and we recognize the trend of hosting tournaments in larger, more accommodating venues.” They were right about the old venue being small, as it may not have accommodated over 6,000 players. In the recent edition of the Taiwan Millions Tournament, the main event of the series drew 6,000 players, showcasing the popularity of poker in the Asian continent.
Asia Poker Arena Facilities and Amenities
The Asia Poker Arena boasts a spacious area of an impressive 540 square meters and is designed to accommodate up to 65 poker tables, making it the largest venue of its kind in Asia. Tailored primarily for poker tournaments, the arena features a 9-player live stream table equipped with four cameras, a dedicated live stream control room, and a commentary room, ensuring professional-grade streaming for fans and players alike. Unfortunately, cash games are not allowed in Taiwan, which is why players may not be able to play cash games inside APA.
Mobile cameras enhance coverage, while a spacious conference area is utilized for meetings, poker lectures, and courses. Guests can enjoy dining at Mr. Chee restaurant, set against a picturesque backdrop of an outdoor waterfall and koi pond—an ideal spot for an aesthetic photo shoot for your Instagram profile.
The venue also includes convenient amenities like power outlets along the pillars, a comfortable lounge area, and portable power banks. Open daily from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. or until the last tournament concludes, the Asia Poker Arena offers a comprehensive poker experience.
Why Do Professional Players Prefer Asia Poker Arena?
The CTP Asia Poker Arena frequently hosts high-value poker tournaments, which attract both newbies and professional players. Most of their tournaments feature massive guarantees with low buy-ins, a recent example would be the TMT 17, which featured a $1 million GTD with a buy-in of $280.
In addition to low buy-in poker tournaments, CTP Asia Poker Arena is renowned for hosting high-stakes poker tournaments that draw seasoned players seeking substantial prize pools. These events frequently feature prominent figures from the poker world, creating an intensely competitive and thrilling atmosphere, making it a go-to destination for poker enthusiasts.
CTP Asia Poker Arena’s Role in Promoting Poker Ecosystem in Asia
Since the inception of Asia Poker Arena, it has become the biggest poker hub in Asia. In its initial years of operations, APA held the APT Taipei, which drew nearly 10,000 entries, surpassing 2017 and 2018 combined. The Main Event awarded a record-breaking US $365,000 to first place, the largest prize in Taiwan, while the high-roller attracted over 300 participants.
In 2024, APT Taipei in collaboration with CTP Asia Poker Arena created history, becoming the richest poker series in Taiwanese history. The 2024 APT Taipei welcomed 2,776 unique players from 48 countries and regions, generating 16,787 entries across 98 Trophy Events. The 11-day festival created a massive TWD 388.25 million (~USD 12.18 million) in prize money.
By hosting prestigious events and attracting players from around the globe, Asia Poker Arena has solidified its position as a hub for competitive poker and a catalyst for the game’s continued growth in Asia.
Keep following PokerProNews for more updates on live poker rooms in Asia
