The first hand of the Asian Pacific Poker Tour Macau (APPT) has been deal and played. As the first live, legal tournament of Poker is being played in the People’s Republic of China, a new live gambling movement began in the region.

Released in a blog post on PokerStars.com, Asian Pacific Poker Tour President, Jeffery Has summed up the incredible impact of this event saying, “This event ranks up there with the first World Series of Poker in 1970 and the 2003 WSOP, when Chris Moneymaker’s win played a pivotal role in starting the online poker boom.” Referring to the Moneymaker win in 2003, he was an online player who won his way into the tournament, and then took the bracelet as well.

More than simply being the first legal tournament held in China, the main event of the Asian Pacific Poker Tour Macau stop, deemed the Asian Poker Open, is in position to break competition field entry records as well. The buy in for the main event is 2500 USD, with a field expected to max capacity of 350 players competitively. It’s not over after that either, on Monday the first High Roller event priced at 15 thousand (USD) will be played. Keep in mind that many of the incredible players from the main event could also carry over to this remarkable follow up event.

Playing in this premier stop on the Asian Pacific Poker Tour are phenomenal professional poker names creating the kind of competition one would anticipate at any live major poker event. People such as Joe Hachem and Scotty Nguyen are competing against the impressive Team Poker Stars players such as Hevad Khan and Lee Nelson. Having this quality and number of professional in this competition shows that importance of this game, and the expected impact it will have in China, and the region over all.

The new gambling capitol of the east, Macau has our attention now. As all eyes of the poker world are being brought to Macau, China, the event is in a position to create incredible growth for both Macau and the Asian Pacific corner of the world. Full coverage of the event, daily, is being held on PokerStars. This includes live video casts, updated at the APPT Macau events, as well as blog coverage. The complete angle held by PokerStars, as the sponsor of the Asian Pacific Poker Tour Macau, will permit players and railbirds world wide to enjoy the events virtually, from the comforts of home.