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ACR Venom Series 2026: The Complete Player Guide
- ACR Poker Venom 2026 $10M GTD with NLH & PLO Mystery Bounty events.
- Entry fees start at $0.80 with multiple qualification paths + freerolls.
- Top bounties include $500k for NLH and $200k for PLO.
ACR Poker Venom April 2026 tournament lobby showing NLH and PLO Mystery Bounty events with a combined $10M guarantee.
(credit: ACR Poker)
The ACR Poker Venom is one of the biggest online poker tournaments in the world, and one of the most accessible. This guide covers the full April 2026 Venom schedule, every qualification path from freerolls to satellites, how ACR Mystery Bounty format works, and what the Venom Vault offers. Whether you are a grinder, a casual player, or registering for your first major online tournament, everything you need is on this page.
The Venom Series - ACR Flagship Since 2019
The Venom runs on the Winning Poker Network (WPN) and is available through ACR Poker and its sister sites, including BlackChip Poker and Ya Poker. Since launching in 2019, it has become one of the most-entered recurring online MTTs in the world. Currently ACR is running simultaneous NLH and PLO Dual Mystery Venom events with a fixed $2,650 buy-in and a combined $10M guarantee. The satellite ecosystem means a player can qualify for as little as $0.80, or for free.
April 2026 Venom Series: What's Running
| Event | Guarantee | Top Bounty | Min Bounty |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLH Mystery Bounty Venom | $8,000,000 | $500,000.00 | $5,000 |
| PLO Mystery Bounty Venom | $2,000,000 | $200,000 | $5,000 |
| Combined | $10,000,000 | — | — |
Day 1 Flight Schedule
| Flight | Date | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1A | Sunday, April 12 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 1B | Thursday, April 16 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 1C | Sunday, April 19 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 1D | Thursday, April 23 | 12:05 PM |
| Bonus Flight | Saturday, April 25 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 1E | Sunday, April 26 | 12:05 PM |
| Day 2 | Monday, April 27 | 1:05 PM |
| Final Table | Tuesday, April 28 | 4:05 PM |
Note: ACR added a sixth Bonus Flight on Saturday, April 25. Late registration stays open for approximately five hours per flight. Players who survive multiple Day 1 flights have their stacks automatically combined for Day 2.
The Venom Warmup ($66 buy-in, $500K GTD) runs daily Day 1 flights from April 14–27 as a lower-cost parallel event.
Venom Tournaments Structure Details
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Starting stack | 300,000 chips (187.5 big blinds) |
| Early blind levels | 12–15 minutes |
| Levels 22–36 | 15 minutes |
| Levels 37+ | 20 minutes |
| Late registration | 21 levels (~5+ hours) |
| Day 1 ends | When 12% of field remains |
| Bounties active | Day 2 only |
| Money bubble | Pops before Day 2 begins |
| Min-cash survivor bonus | $2,500 per additional Day 1 survived |
How the ACR Poker Mystery Bounty Format Works
Every buy-in is split equally: half to the standard prize pool, half to the bounty pool.
Day 1 – All Flights:
- No bounties are awarded at any point during Day 1
- Focus entirely on chip accumulation; bust protection has no bounty value here
- Surviving stacks from multiple flights combine automatically going into Day 2
Day 2 – Bounty Phase Begins:
- Every Day 2 starter is guaranteed a cash payout before cards are dealt
- Each player you eliminate gives you a randomly drawn bounty envelope
- NLH bounty range: $5,000 minimum to $500,000 maximum
- PLO bounty range: $5,000 minimum to $200,000 maximum
- No player's bounty value is known until the envelope is opened
Why it matters strategically: In the January 2026 edition, runner-up 'BALDOUS' drew the $500,000 and $150,000 top bounties and took home $1,240,310 that topped the official NLH champion who received $728,281.
How to Qualify: All Paths Compared
Venom Fever (April 7–26) guarantees 687 seats worth $2,650 each across all satellite formats.
Dual Venom Satellite Path Overview
| Path | Min Entry | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeroll Pipeline | $0 | 210 NLH + 30 PLO | Four chains, all start free |
| Direct Satellites | $33+ | 310 NLH + 42 PLO | Highest volume, most frequent |
| Beast Tournaments | $95 (Sundays) | 95 NLH | Via $11 super-sat or leaderboard |
| Venom Madness | $16.50 | 20 NLH | Multi-flight format |
| Poison Path | $0.80 | Unlimited | Survivor Flip step ladder |
Freeroll Pipelines: Turn $0 to a $2,650 Seat
| Chain | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $0 Freeroll | $5.50 Super Sat | $55 Mega Sat | $2,650 seat |
| Standard | $0 Freeroll | $11 Super Sat | $109 Mega Sat | $2,650 seat |
| Mid | $0 Freeroll | $33 Super Sat | $290 Mega Sat | $2,650 seat |
| High | $0 Freeroll | $66 Super Sat | $630 Mega Sat | $2,650 seat |
The Venom Poison Path: Survivor Flip Ladder
| Step | Format | Buy-In | Advances |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Survivor Flip | $0.80 | 1 of 8 |
| 2 | Survivor Flip | $6 | 1 of 8 |
| 3 | Survivor Flip | $46 | 1 of 8 |
| 4 | Survivor Flip | $350 | 1 of 8 |
| 5 | Venom Day 1 | $2,650 value | — |
How to Earn Free Keys – Full ACR Mission List
ACR Poker has a unique Venom Vault mission promotion where you can earn keys to Venom Series qualifiers.
| Mission | Keys |
|---|---|
| Play 25 raked cash game hands in a day | 3 |
| Play 25 raked Blitz Poker hands in a day | 3 |
| Play real money for 15 consecutive days | 6 |
| Refer a friend | 10 |
| Hit a Royal Flush using both hole cards | 10 |
| Play real money for 10 consecutive days | 3 |
| Play real money for 5 consecutive days | 2 |
| Play 5 real-money tournaments in a day | 1 |
| Play 3 Survivor Flips in a day | 1 |
| Play Blitz + cash + tournament in one day | 1 |
| Win with 7-2 offsuit at showdown (NLHE) | 1 |
| Win with 4-2 offsuit at showdown (NLHE) | 1 |
- Paid: Additional keys cost $2.99 each or 300 Combat Points via the loyalty exchange.
- Location: Find Venom Vault banner inside the poker client.
- Expiry: All keys expire April 27
New Player Bonus Includes Keys
First-time depositors who fund $25 or more receive:
- 7 free Venom Vault keys delivered over 3 days (3 + 2 + 2)
- 100% Welcome Bonus up to $2,000
- USE PROMO CODE NEWBONUS
Venom Prize Pool History
| Edition | Guarantee | Prize Pool | Winner | 1st Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2019 | $5M | $6.38M | THEBIGKID | $1,049,283 |
| Aug 2020 | $7M | $9.68M | TRT-VITOR | $1,542,024 |
| Aug 2022 | $10M | $10.04M | MANUMA29 | $1,169,951 |
| Apr 2024 | $12.5M | $12.61M | Dominik Nitsche | $1,818,044 |
| Jan 2025 | $10M | $10.89M | S1NISTRO | $748,547 |
| Aug 2025 | $10M | $10.55M | IamYorFather | $710,163+ |
| Jan 2026 | $10M | $11.27M | MatasSembolas | $728,281 |
What’s Your Game Plan For Dual Venom Mystery Series?
Serious Grinder
- Fire multiple Day 1 flights using cheap satellite entries and combine surviving stacks
- Each additional Day 1 survival pays a $2,500 min-cash bonus on top of Day 2 stack
- Day 1 = pure chip EV; Day 2 = widen calling ranges to factor in bounty EV
- Monitor entry counts before late Day 1 flights. Overlay situations add direct EV regardless of edge
- Deal-making is permitted at the final table; significant if top bounties remain in play
Rec Player
- The Freeroll Pipeline and Venom Vault missions are genuinely functional entry points
- 25 raked cash hands per day = 3 free Vault keys. Stack these across multiple days for solid key volume
- The Venom Warmup ($66 buy-in, $500K GTD) runs alongside and has a significantly softer field
- Busting Day 1 is not the end. Re-enter via satellite on any remaining flight
First-Timer
- Deposit $25+ with code NEWBONUS for 7 free Vault keys and the 100% Welcome Bonus up to $2,000
- Start at the $0.80 Poison Path or the free freeroll pipeline
- Primary objective: survive to Day 2, which locks in a cash before a hand is dealt
- The High Five Series (April 19–23, 50 events, $4M GTD, buy-ins from $2.20) runs simultaneously for lower-stakes volume
- ACR accepts 60+ cryptocurrencies
The April 2026 Venom is live with Day 1 flights through April 26. Six flights, a $10M guarantee, a $500,000 top bounty, and entry paths starting at $0 make this the most accessible high-value tournament in online poker right now. Day 2 is Monday, April 27 and every player who got this far is already cashing.
Latest News
ACR Venom 2026 FAQ
Is it possible to qualify for the ACR Poker Venom without spending money?
Yes, two fully free paths exist. The Freeroll Pipeline starts with a free daily freeroll in the Venom Fever lobby and steps up through Super Satellites and Mega Satellites to a full $2,650 Venom seat. The Venom Vault awards every registered player one free key on April 6, with more keys available through daily in-client missions. One of those keys could be a Golden Ticket worth a direct $2,650 entry. Neither path requires a deposit to begin.
I busted my Day 1 flight. Can I still play in Venom?
Yes. The April 2026 Venom has six Day 1 flights running through April 26, so busting one flight does not end your tournament. Re-enter on any remaining flight. Late registration stays open for roughly five hours per flight, giving plenty of time to satellite back in via the Venom Fever lobby or claim a new Venom Vault key before the next available flight.
Where is the money bubble in the Venom?
There is no traditional money bubble in the ACR Poker Venom. Every player who survives any Day 1 flight is guaranteed a cash payout before a single hand is dealt on Day 2 (Monday, April 27 at 1:05 PM ET). Each additional Day 1 flight survived also triggers an automatic $2,500 min-cash bonus on top of the combined stack.
When do Mystery Bounties activate and how do they work?
Mystery Bounties are completely inactive during Day 1. No bounties are awarded at any point before Day 2 begins. From Day 2 onward, every player you eliminate gives you a randomly drawn bounty envelope from the shared prize pool. In the NLH Venom, values range from $5,000 minimum to $500,000 maximum. Each player's bounty value stays hidden until the envelope is opened, so every elimination carries potential upside regardless of the opponent's stack size.
Can I fire multiple Day 1 flights and bring all my chips to Day 2?
Yes. Multi-entry is permitted across all six Day 1 flights and surviving stacks combine automatically into a single Day 2 stack. One important rule applies: all tickets must be held on a single WPN account. Consolidate any tickets from ACR sister skins such as BlackChip Poker or Ya Poker to one account before Day 1A on April 12.
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