A tournament for a poker-type card game is played at multiple sites to determine players in a final tournament. Each multiple site location plays at least a first round of a qualifying event, and an at least second round of advancing players may be used top further narrow the number of players. After playing a predetermined number of hands of the poker-type card game in the first round, at least some players that will advance to an at least second round are determined by the total nominal value or number of chips or tokens accumulated by each player after play of the round. At least one round at a site will determine which players are invited to attend a separate continuing tournament. At least some players are randomly selected for invitation to the separate continuing tournament to complete a field of players, competing in a series of rounds of play to narrow the field to an eventual winner, and awarding a prize to at least the winner.