ACR Poker’s Halloween Special Offers $650K in Guarantees

Written by: Jonathan Rodriguez
Published: Mon Oct 19, 2026, 10:00 am ET
Read Time: 4 minutes

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ACR Poker is putting a new spin on knockout poker this Halloween with three tournaments offering $650,000 in combined guarantees. The Halloween Special introduces a Mystery Progressive Knockout (PKO) format that splits bounty rewards between immediate payouts and growing player bounties.
With buy-ins starting at $5.50, the series gives players several entry points into the action. However, the biggest attraction is the bounty mechanic, which keeps a portion of every qualifying reward in play. Players can collect mystery prizes while simultaneously becoming more valuable targets for their opponents.
For players tracking tournament innovations across US online poker sites, ACR Poker's Halloween Special brings a different approach to bounty hunting, with the main action scheduled for November 1.
Halloween Special: Three Buy-Ins, Three Tournament Guarantees
The Halloween Special features three tournaments, with the $109 event carrying the largest guaranteed prize pool. Players seeking a lower-cost entry can choose the $33 or $5.50 tournaments instead.
Buy-in
Guaranteed prize pool
$109
$500,000
$33
$100,000
$5.50
$50,000
Total
$650,000
Day 1 flights begin on October 18, 2026, ahead of Day 2 on November 1. Players can enter multiple qualifying flights and combine their stacks for Day 2, subject to the tournament's entry conditions.
Importantly, Day 1 knockouts do not award bounties. The bounty action begins on Day 2, when every remaining player starts with a $0 accumulated Progressive Bounty. This gives the second day a distinct dynamic as players compete for mystery prizes and begin building their own bounties.
Players should check the tournament lobby for individual flight times, registration details, and applicable entry rules.
How the New Mystery PKO Format Works
The format combines hidden Mystery Bounties with visible Progressive Bounties. When a player eliminates an opponent during Day 2, they reveal the opponent's Mystery Bounty and receive half its value immediately. The other half transfers to their own Progressive Bounty.
The same 50/50 split applies when eliminating a player with an accumulated Progressive Bounty. The eliminator immediately receives half of that bounty, while the remaining half transfers to their own Progressive Bounty.
That split creates a second layer of competition. Players collect immediate rewards, but they also build bounties that opponents can target in later hands. As those accumulated amounts grow, successful eliminations can become increasingly valuable.
Consider a hypothetical $500,000 Mystery Bounty. The player who claims it receives $250,000 immediately, while the remaining $250,000 becomes their Progressive Bounty.
If another player subsequently eliminates them, that opponent receives half of the accumulated bounty, with the remainder transferring to the new eliminator's bounty.
This example illustrates the mechanic rather than an advertised Halloween Special prize. Actual rewards depend on the tournament's bounty pool and applicable rules.
Every Big Bounty Creates Another Target
ACR Poker's approach changes the usual mystery bounty calculation. Instead of awarding the full revealed prize to one player, the format keeps half attached to the winner as a visible target.
Consequently, a major knockout can deliver an immediate payday while increasing the risk that comes with holding a large bounty. Players must balance the potential rewards of pursuing opponents against the need to protect their own tournament positions.
The structure also gives bounty hunting a longer lifespan. A mystery prize can influence several stages of play because part of its value remains available to whoever eventually eliminates its owner.
For tournament fans following promotions across US online poker sites, this format offers a compelling alternative to conventional knockout events. Still, players should remember that bounty rewards are not guaranteed, and tournament outcomes remain uncertain.
The Action Builds Toward November 1
ACR Poker's Halloween Special pairs its $650,000 in combined guarantees with a bounty system designed to keep knockout rewards in circulation.
The three buy-in levels offer different ways to enter, while the November 1-Day 2 marks the start of the actual bounty competition.
Check ACR Poker and their Halloween Special page for tournament schedules, registration information, and complete rules before entering.
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