This is a huge month in the poker world, with the 2022 World Series of Poker set to kick off on May 31st. Before we get to the WSOP though, we have two massive events taking place in the shape of GGPoker Network’s GG Online Championship (GGOC) and PokerStars’ Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP). The question is, which online poker series is the best? Let’s look at the comparison below.
2022 GG Online Championship
Since the launch of GGPN in 2017, it has quickly established itself as one of the best online poker networks. From signing brand ambassador Daniel Negreanu to hosting the international WSOP events during 2020, it’s been a remarkable rise to the top.
Let’s take a look at what’s in store this year, all of which can be enjoyed at Natural8.
GGOC 2022 Schedule
An incredible $150 million in guaranteed prize pools is up for grabs across more than 400 events. The series runs from 5th May to 31st May 2022 and features four different levels of buy-in.
| Level | Minimum Buy-In | Maximum Buy-In | Number of Events |
| Low | $5 | $250 | 131 |
| Medium | $50 | $2,625 | 131 |
| High | $500 | $25,500 | 131 |
| Super High | $5,250 | $10,300 | 20 |
GGOC vs SCOOP
As impressive as the GGOC schedule looks, we mustn’t forget about the other big series running this month. The PokerStars’ SCOOP poker tournament was first launched back in 2009 and is much more well-established than its GGPoker equivalent.
This year, SCOOP promises $78.5 Million in guaranteed prize pools, with over 318 tournaments across different tiers of buy-ins.
GGOC and SCOOP: At a Glance
| GGOC | SCOOP | |
| Number of Events | 413 | 318 |
| Series Length | 27 days | 25 days |
| Guaranteed Prize Pools | $160 Million | $78.5 Million |
| Biggest Guarantee | $10 Million | $5 Million |
| Average Guarantee | Approx. $387,000 | Approx. $247,000 |
| Events Guaranteeing $1 Million+ | 46 | 10 |
| Total Guarantee NLH Main Events | $19 Million | $11.5 Million |
| Minimum Buy-In | $5 | $2.20 |
| Maximum Buy-In | $25,500 | $25,000 |
As we can see, not only does GGOC offer a greater number of tournaments, but there’s more value to be found too. With more than twice as much money guaranteed, players will be licking their lips at this schedule.
However, micro-stakes players may enjoy the smaller buy-ins found at SCOOP poker events, not to mention that PokerStars has also announced its first-ever women-only SCOOP event.
How Have They Fared Early On?
The two series are already underway and both made a big impact in their opening weekends. The first day of the 2022 SCOOP poker events generated a massive $6.4 million in prize money, with almost 100,000 participants.
The famous PokerStars Sunday Million has reverted to its old buy-in of $215, which evidently proved to be a popular move. A field of almost 8,000 entries created a prize pool of $1.59 million.
Meanwhile, the organiser of GGOC has been hit in the pocket to the tune of almost $150,000, thanks to some serious overlays. Naturally, that’s great news for players, with 5 of the first 63 events falling short of their guaranteed mark. But perhaps less so for the top brass at GGPoker.
Win Big With Natural8 Mystery Boxes
An interesting addition to the 2022 GGOC is the Natural8 Mystery Box. As if the promise of sizable guaranteed prize pools weren’t enough, you can also pick up extra cash simply by playing in GGOC events. How? We’ll tell you!
Every time you buy into a tournament, you’ll receive a number of Natural8 Mystery Boxes. The exact amount depends on the size of the buy-in, in accordance with the below table.
| Level | Buy-In Range | Mystery Boxes |
| Bronze | $5 – $52.50 | 1 |
| Silver | $75 – $525 | 5 |
| Gold | $840 + | 20 |
At the end of the GG Online Championship, you will be able to open all of your Mystery Boxes. The more boxes you collect, the higher your chance of winning additional prizes! And what’s more, if you are lucky, you may find the only $8,888 prize in one of your Mystery Boxes!
Here is the breakdown of the contents:
| Mystery Box Prize | Number of Prizes |
| $8,888 | 1 |
| $888 | 5 |
| $188 | 20 |
| $88 | 100 |
| $8 | 500+ |
How To Opt In and Redeem
The good news is that you don’t need to opt into this Natural8 promotion! Simply take part in any GGOC numbered tournaments to earn these Mystery Boxes. However, do note that only direct buy-ins are eligible. So, if you buy in through satellites, you won’t be able to get the Mystery Boxes.
You will only be able to see the Mystery Boxes at the end of GGOC. If you want to know how many you’ve acquired so far, all you have to do is contact Natural8’s 24/7 live support.
The redemption period starts from 1st-14th June 2022. All you have to do is log into your account to open them up. Make sure that you open the boxes before the end of 14th June (UTC-0); otherwise, they will be forfeited.
Sign up for a free account with Natural8 and start playing today! And don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest poker tips as well as info on the upcoming poker events.