Frequently Asked Questions
Q. When and where is the ECOSTT taking place?
Q. Has the ECOSTT been held before?
Q. What is the structure for the ECOSTT event?
Q. What poker game will be played at ECOSTT?
Q. What is the buy-in for ECOSTT?
Q. How do I register for the ECOSTT?
Q. What if my account isn’t credited with the travel/transfers money?
Q. How old do I have to be to take part?
Q. How can I enter the ECOSTT?
Q. What happens if I win a seat in an online satellite?
Q. How does the package price breakdown?
Q. Can I buy an additional ECOSTT package for a friend?
Q. Can my friends buy-in to the Side Events only?
Q. How much spending money will I receive?
Q. Which hotel are players staying in?
Q. When should I aim to arrive at the Tournament location?
Q. What time is breakfast available at the hotel?
Q. Is there internet access at the hotel?
Q. Is my food included in the price of the trip?
Q. What time do I need to check out of the hotel?
Q. Which is the nearest airport to the Tournament?
Q. Will someone book my flights?
Q. What if I can’t play in the Tournament and want to sell the package?
Q. What if I want to transfer the package to a friend?
Q. Do I need a passport to attend the event in Malta?
Q. Do I need a Visa to attend?
Q. How will I be paid if I win any prizes?
Q. I have won a prize package (including seat, hotel and spending money) – can I bring a guest?
Q. I have won a prize package – do I have hotel accommodation?
Q. What clothes should I bring?
Q. What currency is going to be used?
Q. Will I need special identification to enter casinos in Europe?
Q. What logos am I allowed to wear?
Q. Can I smoke during the Tournament?
Q. Will I appear on television?
The European Championships of Single Table Tournaments (ECOSTT) is a Championship based on the overall results of 4 rounds of STTs. The 18 players who finish with the highest points’ scores after 4 rounds will take part in the grand final. Two additional players will win seats to the ECOSTT final through a Super Eliminator Tournament. See Structures.
Q. When and where is the ECOSTT taking place?
A. It is taking place from 17 to 20 November 2011 at the Portomaso Casino, Malta. Malta is located 90 kilometers south of Sicily. It is a popular tourist resort due to its warm climate, sea proximity, exciting nightlife and a history dating back thousands of years.
Q. Has the ECOSTT been held before?
A. Yes, it was held in Gibraltar in November 2010 and in Tallinn, Estonia, in July 2009.
Q. What is the structure for the ECOSTT event?
A. Click here for the Structures.
Q. What poker game will be played at ECOSTT?
A. The poker tournaments will be No Limit Texas Hold’em.
Q. What is the buy-in for ECOSTT?
A. The buy-in for ECOSTT is €2,200. The buy-in for the NL Hold’em side event is €550. The buy-in for the MTT Turbo Bounty Poker Tournament is €120.
Q. How do I register for the ECOSTT?
A. If you win a €4,300 package to the ECOSTT via online satellites on the Microgaming Poker Network, you will be automatically registered for all 3 tournaments. If you buy-in directly to the event online, you will also be automatically registered for all 3 tournaments. You cannot buy-in at the live event.
Q. What if my account isn’t credited with the travel/transfers money?
A. Your account will be credited with €400 for your travel/transfers. Please allow up to 5 working days for your poker account to be credited. If you do not receive the funds, please contact the help desk of your poker site.
Q. How old do I have to be to take part?
A. The minimum age to play is 18 years old for non-Maltese passport holders. The minimum age is 25 years old for Maltese citizens. This is the rule of the Portomaso Casino in Malta.
Q. How can I enter the ECOSTT?
A. Microgaming Poker Network will be running a series of online satellites to win packages to this event from Monday 8 August 2011. You can also buy-in directly to the event online. You will not be able to buy-in directly at the Casino.
Q. What happens if I win a seat in an online satellite?
A. You will receive an email from the ECOSTT team congratulating you on your package win and giving you details of the package. You will need to supply some basic information – your name, address, date of birth, passport details etc. The ECOSTT team will email you to answer all of your questions.
Q. How does the package price breakdown?
A. The package price breaks down into monies for travel/transfers and spending, hotel accommodation including breakfasts for two people, buffet dinners at the Casino, and tournament buy-ins.
Q. Can I buy an additional package for a friend?
A. You can buy-in directly to the event online for €4,300. You may also bring a guest to stay at the hotel.
Q. Can my friends buy-in to the Side Events only?
A. Yes, you will be able to buy-in to the Side Events via the Microgaming Poker Network. See Structures.
Q. How much spending money will I receive?
A. The €300 spending money will be given to you in Euros at the welcome drinks at the ECOSTT in Malta on Thursday 17 November.
Q. Which hotel are players staying in?
A. As part of your ECOSTT package, you will be booked in the Hilton Malta Hotel for 4 nights, with arrival on Thursday 17 November, and departure on Monday 21 November. Your room and breakfast will be paid for, but you will be responsible for all other costs.
Q. When should I aim to arrive at the Tournament location?
A. Your hotel room will be available from 15:00pm on Thursday 17 November. We recommend that you arrive early afternoon so you have some to rest and recover from the travelling, and in case there are any delays to your travel.
Q. What time is breakfast available at the hotel?
A. A special late breakfast has been organised in the Spinola suite at the Hilton Malta Hotel from 11am to 12.30pm.
Q. Is there internet access at the hotel?
A. Yes. We have secured a special deal with the Hilton Hotel for the ECOSTT. You can purchase a 3-day voucher for 25€ at the hotel reception. You will be given a unique username and password to login. This is available to all players and guests. This is not included in your package.
Q. Is my food included in the price of the trip?
A. A breakfast buffet is included as part of your hotel package. A casino buffet will also be provided on each evening’s dinner break. You will need to buy lunches, snacks and any other food and drink.
Q. What time do I need to check out of the hotel?
A. You will need to check-out at 12noon.
Q. Which is the nearest airport to the Tournament?
A. Malta International Airport. From the Airport, taxis can take you directly to the Hilton Malta Hotel at Portomaso. The journey normally takes around 25 minutes from the airport to the hotel and should cost around €20 to €25.
Q. Will someone book my flights?
A. No. Your account will be credited with €400 to cover your flights and transfers. You must book the flights.
Q. What if I can’t play in the Tournament and want to sell the package?
A. You have entered the online satellite final on the basis that you would like to win a package to the tournament. Your package is non-transferable. You must contact the help desk of your poker site if you have a problem with this.
Q. What if I want to transfer the package to a friend?
A. The packages are non-transferable.
A. It is being organised by the Microgaming Poker Network.
Q. Do I need a passport to attend the event in Malta?
A. Yes. All players travelling abroad will need a passport – and you will need to present your passport at the casino for entry/registration.
Q. Do I need a Visa to attend?
A. EU and UK nationals do not need a visa to visit Malta. For other countries, please contact the Malta Immigration Department on +356 2205 6333.
Q. How will I be paid if I win any prizes?
A. Any prize money will be credited to your players’ account in Euros after the event has been concluded.
Q. I have won a prize package (including seat, hotel and spending money) – can I bring a guest?
A. Yes. Your prize package includes a double or twin room where your guest may sleep at no extra cost and receive a buffet breakfast. However, all other costs incurred by your guest, such as meals etc, will not be covered in your prize package.
Q. I have won a prize package – do I have hotel accommodation?
A. Yes. Your hotel room will be booked in your name at the Hilton Malta Hotel from Thursday 17 November 2011, with departure on Monday 21 November 2011.
Q. What clothes should I bring?
A. This is what you are not allowed to wear – no vests, no shorts, no ripped jeans, no flip-flops, sleeveless shirts, in the Casino. You can wear baseball caps, hoodies, jeans, trainers/sneakers, sunglasses etc.
Q. What currency is going to be used?
A. The Euro (€) is the main currency for the event. Your account will be credited in Euros. If you wish to play cash games at the Casino, Euros are accepted.
Q. Will I need special identification to enter casinos in Europe?
A. Yes. You will need to present your passport.
Q. What logos am I allowed to wear?
A. Any logos relating to poker must be branded by Microgaming Poker Network operators only. You are not allowed to wear any branded clothing from any Operator/poker site outside the Microgaming Poker Network.
Q. Can I smoke during the Tournament?
A. Smoking is not allowed in the ECOSTT tournament area. Smoking is allowed in the casino area.
Q. Will I appear on television?
A. No. This event is not being televised. But we may like to interview you and use your photo on the www.ecostt.eu website. Please be prepared to have your photo taken while you are playing.
Portomaso Casino, Malta
Location: The Casino at Portomaso, Business Tower, Portomaso, St Julians, Malta.
Tel: +356 21383777
Opening hours: 10.00am to 05:00am (Sunday – Thursday); 10.00am to 06.00am (Friday and Saturday)
Games: The Portomaso Casino has 8 live tables including Blackjack, American Roulette, Punto Banco, Three card Poker, Progressive Stud poker and Ultimate Texas hold’em.
There is a wide choice of slot machines all over the Casino.
Minimum age: The minimum age to play is 18 years old for non-Maltese passport holders. The minimum age is 25 years old for Maltese citizens. This is the rule of the Portomaso Casino in Malta.
Casino Regulations: Everyone entering the Casino must be registered and must provide a passport.