The RunGood Poker Series is returning to San Diego. The Golden Expedition stop at Jamul Casino runs November 17 to 22, 2026, with a $600 Main Event and a $150,000 guarantee, according to PokerNews. The festival features 12 ring events and a satellite week that starts on November 10, giving Californian grinders several routes into the flagship tournament. This guide walks through the schedule, the satellites and what to consider before you register.
The Main Event: $600, $150,000 guaranteed
The Main Event has three starting flights: Friday, November 20 at 6 p.m., then Saturday, November 21 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Day 2 finals take place on Sunday, November 22 at noon. For a $600 buy-in, a $150,000 guarantee requires roughly 250 entries to cover the prize pool before fees (250 times $600 is $150,000), though the actual fee structure was not published in the PokerNews article. The lower buy-in, relative to the $800 Main Events some regional tours run, makes this stop accessible to a wider range of recreational players.
Festival schedule
| Date | Time | Event | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov 17 | 10 a.m. | $200 Seniors Ring Event | $7,500 |
| Tue, Nov 17 | 1 p.m. | $200 Series Opener Ring Event | $5,000 |
| Tue, Nov 17 | 7 p.m. | $200 Ambassador Bounty Ring Event | $10,000 |
| Wed, Nov 18 | 11 a.m. | $300 PokerNews PowerStack Flight A | $25,000 |
| Wed, Nov 18 | 6 p.m. | $300 PokerNews PowerStack Flight B | — |
| Thu, Nov 19 | 1 p.m. | $300 One-Day NLH Ring Event | $10,000 |
| Thu, Nov 19 | 6 p.m. | $300 Tag Team Double Ring Event ($150/player) | $5,000 |
| Fri, Nov 20 | 11 a.m. | $200 Double Green Chip Bounty Ring Event | — |
| Fri, Nov 20 | 2 p.m. | $300 Pot-Limit Omaha Ring Event | — |
| Fri, Nov 20 | 6 p.m. | $600 Main Event Flight A | $150,000 |
| Sat, Nov 21 | 11 a.m. | $600 Main Event Flight B | — |
| Sat, Nov 21 | 6 p.m. | $600 Main Event Flight C | — |
| Sun, Nov 22 | 10 a.m. | $200 Monster Stack Ring Event | $5,000 |
| Sun, Nov 22 | 12 p.m. | Main Event Day 2 Finals | — |
| Sun, Nov 22 | 1 p.m. | $300 Black Chip Bounty Ring Event | $10,000 |
| Sun, Nov 22 | 5 p.m. | $200 Closer NLH Ring Event | Not listed |
Notable side events
Ambassador Bounty Ring Event. At $200 with a $10,000 guarantee, this event offers prizes that range from $1,000 cash to RunGood apparel store credit, which is a playful twist on the bounty format.
PokerNews PowerStack. The $300 buy-in comes with a $25,000 guarantee and two starting flights, with Day 2 finals on Thursday, November 19 at noon.
Tag Team Double Ring Event. Teams pay $300 in total ($150 per player) for a $5,000 guarantee. Tag team formats are a nice entry point for friends who want to play together without risking a full buy-in each.
Satellite week
The Main Event satellites begin well before the festival. PokerNews lists the following qualifiers:
| Date | Time | Event | Seats guaranteed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Nov 10 | 4 p.m. | $85 Main Event Satellite | 2 |
| Wed, Nov 11 | 4 p.m. | $85 Main Event Satellite | 2 |
| Thu, Nov 12 | 4 p.m. | $85 Main Event Satellite | 2 |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 6 p.m. | $145 Main Event Satellite | 5 |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 4 p.m. | $145 Main Event Satellite | 5 |
More $145 satellites run during the festival itself, and a $300 Ultimate Package Satellite is scheduled for Monday, November 16 at 6 p.m. An $85 satellite that guarantees two seats is an efficient way to turn a small buy-in into a $600 ticket. The key skill is understanding how to play for survival rather than chip accumulation, which is where ICM knowledge pays off.
Why this stop matters
San Diego is a notable market for RunGood because California's card rooms and tribal casinos are some of the most active in the country, and the series has been building a broad calendar of regional stops. The Golden Expedition branding has appeared at several venues this autumn. The Jamul stop's week overlaps with the Council Bluffs festival, which we cover in a separate article, so players choosing between the two should compare buy-ins and guarantees.
What this means for players
Satellites are value if you play them well. A satellite is a different game from a standard tournament. Once you have enough chips to secure a seat, the objective changes. Practise the late-stage decisions using our ICM guide and the poker odds calculator.
Choose your formats wisely. Bounty, PLO and tag team events reward different skills. If you are still deciding between the structures, read our comparison of Hold'em vs Omaha and the Omaha overview.
Mind the bankroll. A festival week can add up quickly. Our bankroll management guide explains how to size your tournament schedule, and the tournaments page shows how to find cost-effective online alternatives.
Warm up online. If you want volume before you travel, a good option is to play online satellites. Our reviews of Americas Cardroom and BetOnline cover US-friendly sites, and the real money poker page explains how to pick a reliable room.
A note on jurisdiction
Online poker rules differ widely across US states, and live events are governed by their own venues and tribal regulations. Check your local laws before you play or deposit; our US poker guide gives a state-by-state overview.
Bottom line
RGPS San Diego pairs a $150,000-guaranteed $600 Main Event with 12 ring events and a satellite schedule that begins November 10. It is a convenient stop for West Coast players who want regional-tour value without the cost of a major festival. Check the final schedule before you register, plan your bankroll and look at satellites if you want to lower your cost of entry.
Source: PokerNews, "RGPS Returns to San Diego With $150K Main Event at Jamul Casino," November 4, 2026.