How Tallinn is Rising as a European Entertainment Destination for Poker Fans

Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and sits nestled snugly on the Baltic Sea. It has hosted many events in recent history, often centered around the game of poker. This year it was the host for the World Series of Poker. In this article we discuss Tallinn and how it is becoming a go-to destination for the game. 

The World Series in Tallinn

In 2024, Tallinn hosted the World Series of Poker event. It took place between the 19th and the 28th of July, and some of the best poker players on the planet descended on the city's Olympic Park Casino. 

The event was one of the biggest events the city has ever held and definitely the largest gambling and casino-related event. It hosted 40 side events over the course of the festival, which allowed winners entry to next year's bigger tournament, along with a World Series of Poker Ring and a cash prize. However, the main draw was the twelve-ring events and the main tournament with its guaranteed cash prize of €1 million. 

The city has a long pedigree when it comes to poker festivals. Each year it holds its own Kings of Tallinn poker festival. This features around 50 different tournaments and a main event. Together, these regular events and global tournaments are making Tallinn a hub for poker. 

The Enduring Popularity of Poker

Poker remains one of the most popular card and casino games on the planet, second only to blackjack in terms of popularity. It experienced a huge boost between the years of 2003 and 2006, in what later became known as the poker boom. This was due to several factors, including the opening of online poker rooms and the proliferation of televised events.

After this, its popularity remained steady until a further resurgence in the modern online casino era. This has been the period in which poker has become more accessible to the general public, as they are able to play it from the comfort of their home. This has let them hone their skills and then venture out to physical casinos.

Another factor has been the variation of rules and games available, which have also appealed to a wider audience. At the heart of the game are the poker hands ranked in order, from a high card at the lowest end all the way up to a royal flush. A player must get a better hand from their cards than the other on the board. However, the methods in which this plays out can be changed. For example, a new version of the game is Mississippi Stud, in which players are paid against a paytable and compete against the dealer, not other players. This makes for a fast game with quick rewards that have been picked up by younger generations.

Tallinn is a great choice for an event of this size and is a fantastic getaway for any poker fan. It has everything you could want from a city. The heart is its old town, a small walled center that is a Unesco World Heritage Site. It dates all the way back to the 13th century. Yet move outside this, and it has a very modern city, which has become a technology hub for northern Europe. Casinos are extremely popular and dotted all around the city itself. All of this is served by efficient and low-cost transport from Europe and further afield. 

The popularity of poker is only set to grow and Tallinn's festival is a sight to behold. However, even if you don't like poker, Tallinn is still a great place to visit at any time of year, either for business or a short break.