It’s time again for the largest and most exciting series of poker tournaments, the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Sponsored by Caesars Entertainment and held annually in Nevada, it attracts thousands of players from all corners of the world. The competition offers millions of dollars in cash prizes and the ultimate gold bracelet.
Although you can trace its origin back to 1970, WSOP didn’t kick off big until 2004 when Caesars Entertainment (known then as Harrah’s Entertainment) bought Binion’s Horseshoe, alongside the rights to World Series of Poker brands. Since then, the event has continued to grow bigger and is now known in many nations of the world.
This year’s event kicked off on May 30 and will run until July 18. In addition, 95 WSOP live bracelets and 34 WSOP online bracelets are up for grabs this year. Both will run simultaneously.
How to Register for the Physical Events
It’s not too late to participate in the tournament, as registration is still ongoing. However, you must start by knowing the schedule for the year. Check out https://www.tightpoker.com/wsop-schedule to see the full schedule of the series of tournaments, including the physical and online events. You’ll also get to see the buy-in amounts and the winners after each event ends.
Registration began on May 31 and will continue till July 20. To register for the event, US participants will only require their ID, while non-US participants need their ID and proof of address (e.g. utility bill or bank statement). After that, you can head on to the registration area in the Champagne Ballroom, which is open 24/7, meaning registration can be done at any time of the day.
Players will also need a Caesars Rewards loyalty card to enter the events. If you don’t have one, you can get it at the Player Services area in the Champagne Ballroom or any card reprint kiosk.
Registration Online
If you want to avoid the queues at the Champagne Ballroom, you can register for WSOP online. The online events begin from June 1 to July 16, and you can register at the WSOP.com client if you reside in New Jersey or Nevada. If you’re in Pennsylvania or Michigan, you can feature in events from June 4 to July 16.
There are three ways to pay for buy-ins online – wire transfer, credit card, or ACH. Wire transfer is available for buy-ins at all levels, while credit cards are available for buy-ins of $10,000 and below. ACH may only be valid for buy-ins below $10,000. The credit cards accepted are American Express, Discover, Diners Club, Mastercard, and Visa. If you don’t have a credit card yet, you can quickly apply for one using the tips.
The online Poker event comes with the same intensity as the physical one. What you may only miss is the fun atmosphere and crowd at the physical venues. However, if you prefer to enjoy the competition quietly, online tournaments might be a great option for you.
WSOP Main Event
The main event, which costs $10,000, is the most exciting part of the tournament, as the winner is declared the world champion. Last year, it was won by a Norwegian, Espen Jorstad, who walked away with the $10 million cash prize.
This year, it will kick off close to the end of the series. It starts on July 3 and runs until July 17, when another world Champion will be crowned.
The Day 1 flights will be played from July 3 to July 6, from noon daily. There will be five levels on Day 1, each running for 2 hours. Players will start with 60,000 chips, while blinds begin from 100/200 and a 200-chip BB ante.
Players that qualify from the different flights on the Main Event Day 1 will play on Day 2 (July 7 to July 8). The event continues to Day 8 (July 14), after which there’ll be a day off on Jul 15. The final contest between the last nine players will occur on Day 9 (July 16) and Day 10 (July 17). At the end of Day 10, the new world champion will be crowned.
World Series of Poker in Other Locations
In 2007, WSOP took a significant step to host the first series of Poker tournaments outside the US, leading to the WSOPE. The first edition of the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) was held in London, England. The first edition saw a record created as the main event was won by Annette Obrestad, just one day before she clocked 19. To date, she remains the youngest player to win a bracelet. Unfortunately, no US player can break this law because according the minimum age for gambling in most states is 21.
Last year, the main WSOPE took place at King’s Resort in Rozvadov, Czech Republic. It attracted 763 entries, breaking the previous records. Players contested for five days for a share in the accumulated €7,248,500 prize pool. A Swedish player, Omar Elijach, eventually emerged winner and walked away with the €1,380,129 top prize. WSOPE 2023 will take place later this year.
Moreover, the first series of tournaments (WSOPA) in Africa was held in 2010. It took place in Gauteng, South Africa. Even though the series has not been held since 2013, WSOP has continued to push into Africa with its International Circuit events.
