Abstract: A system and method for late registration for poker tournaments provides for seating late registrants at existing tables if possible, preferably each at a different table. When the existing tables run out of room, a new table is added, and the new late registrant sat there, as well as players from other tables, attempting to evenly distribute players over all tables. More late registrants are sat at the seats vacated by moving players to a new table. Late registration may be closed after a certain prespecified time, blind level, or number of late registrants are added.