Los Angeles Poker Classic struggles as player numbers collapse to just 50

A once-thriving poker tournament now fights for survival. Industry insiders reveal the missteps that shattered the LAPC's reputation—and what's next.

, and Administrator

2026 April 25 . 2:02 PM

1 min read

The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread... — The image shows a group of men sitting around a table playing poker, with coins and cards spread out in front of them. In the background, there is a pillar and other objects, suggesting that the men are participating in a poker tournament.

Los Angeles Poker Classic struggles as player numbers collapse to just 50

Going from nearly 800 players to 50 isn't a small dip. What happened?

The biggest issue is that the LAPC just isn't the same stop it used to be. There was a time when this series was a must-play for traveling pros. If you were on the tournament circuit, you were coming through Commerce. Not anymore.

Why is Commerce struggling?

I've also been seeing a lot of talk on social media about this event, and there's a lot of speculation as to why. I clear up the misconceptions and break down the reasons why I think Commerce is struggling in our latest video:

Declining relationships with major tours
Scheduling issues
No Matt Savage?
Where are the satellite events for the LAPC events?

Smash the play button above for my full breakdown.

Justin Hammer is the Live Events Director for PokerAtlas, online Tournament Director for the Texas-based poker app Hijack, and a Tournament Director for Thunder Valley Casino Resort. He also brings his expertise as a consultant and minority owner of Desert Bluffs Casino in Kennewick, Washington.

_For more info visit PokerAtlas.com, HijackPoker.com, and bluffs.poker. Follow Justin on X.