Delaware North’s Daytona Beach Racing & Card Club on April 2-14 hosted a tournament on the Moneymaker Poker Tour, a popular circuit championed by poker legend Chris Moneymaker.
The tournament is the latest in the club’s Great American Poker Tournaments (GAPT) series and featured over $500,000 in guaranteed prizes. The event culminated with the $250,000 guarantee Main Event Tournament, which was livestreamed to give poker fans around the world a front-row seat to the action.
“We are excited to host another great event in collaboration with the Moneymaker Tour,” said Fred Guzman, president and general manager for Delaware North at Daytona Beach Racing & Card Club and Orange City Racing & Card Club. “By hosting high-profile events like this, Delaware North continues to strengthen its position within the gaming industry while driving guest engagement and promoting tourism to the area.”
The series drew 737 entries with players from 29 states and Puerto Rico throughout the two weeks, with the total prize pool generating close to $1 million.
Sam Sternfield of South Florida took the first-place spot following a grueling two-hour heads-up showdown, claiming the Main Event trophy and a $80,855 prize.
Tour namesake Chris Moneymaker helped popularize poker by winning the Main Event at the 2003 World Series of Poker while working as an accountant and part-time restaurant employee. He has gone on to be an ambassador for poker and founded his own branded tour.
This year’s Moneymaker Poker Tour not only showcased exceptional talent and competitive spirit but also underscored the growing reputation of the Daytona Beach and Orange City Racing & Card Club, Delaware North’s second gaming property in Florida, as premier poker destinations.
The success of the Moneymaker Tour stop is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Joseph LaRosa, room manager at Daytona Beach; Byron Rodriguez, GAPT tournament director; the Daytona Beach poker team; the Moneymaker Tour and the passionate Florida poker community.
The GAPT series, launched in 2023, is recognized as a top choice for tournament players in Florida. The 2025 Moneymaker Poker Tour built on this success, offering an exceptional environment of nonstop poker play.
Photo caption: South Florida resident Sam Sternfield took the top prize at the two-week Moneymaker Poker Tournament held at Delaware North’s Daytona Beach Racing & Card Club. Pictured with Sternfield (center) following his big win are Daytona Beach Racing & Card Club team members (from left to right) Byron Rodriguez, GAPT tournament director; Joseph LaRosa, poker room manager; Sarina White, dealer; and Chopper Vail, director of marketing.