The 55th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) is fast approaching and players from around the world will soon converge on Las Vegas for a packed schedule. The biggest spectacle in poker was founded in 1970 and has grown into a massive event that set records again in 2023.
Keep reading to learn all about the series and what to expect when heading to Sin City this summer – from schedule highlights to important things to remember and much more.
Key Details on the 2024 World Series of Poker
When planning a trip to Las Vegas for the WSOP, having an idea on what events you want to play will certainly help. There is something for every bankroll level and preference. Here is a look at some key details to remember.
Dates: May 28 – July 17, 2024
Location: Horseshoe and Paris casinos on the Las Vegas Strip
Number of live events: 99
Number of online events: not yet available
Buy-in levels: USD 300 to USD 250,000
Number of tables: 700
Along with plenty of big cash payouts, players are also battling for gold bracelets. These have become the biggest prize in poker for many players and every live event and online event will award one of these trophies.
WSOP Main Event Dates & Information
The $10,000 Main Event highlights the schedule each year and is broadcast on the PokerGO streaming service in episodes on CBS Sports. This year’s tournament is set for July 3, with four starting flights running through July 6 and late registration available on July 7-8 on Day 2 flights.
The final table is set for July 16-17 at the Horseshoe. Last year’s Main Event drew a record 10,043 entrants and crowned Daniel Weinman champion and the winner of $12.1 million, the largest Main Event payout in series history.
New Events & Series Highlights
WSOP management regularly brings something new to the schedule each year and 2024 is no different. One of those new interesting events is the $5,000 Champions Reunion. This tournament brings together former WSOP Main Event champions to kick off the 2024 series on May 28.
The no limit hold’em freezeout offers quite a bounty for those eliminating one of the former champions. Players collecting these knockouts receive an automatic entry into the Main Event. All former Main Event champions are given a free entry to play in the tournament. Here’s a look at a few more of the new additions to the schedule this year:
- $5,000 Seniors High Roller NLHE (Event 65) – For the first time, players ages 50 and up can participate in an exclusive new high roller event beginning on June 26.
- $1,500 Mixed NLHE; Pot-Limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot (Event 41) – Beginning on June 15, this first-of-its-kind event for the series. A bomb pot format features each player putting a set amount in the pot before the hand is dealt. The preflop betting round is also skipped and all players immediately see the flop.
- $800 Independence Day Celebration (Event 80) – Celebrate American Independence Day with this new three-day event with two starting flights on July 3 and 4.
- $10,000 Bog O Championship (Event 37) – Another high-stakes championship event for those who enjoy five-card Omaha hi/lo with the action kicking off on June 13.
- $5,000 Senior High Roller (Event 65) – A higher buy-in for seniors that should be popular, and getting started on June 26.
- $1,000 Mystery Bounty Pot Limit Omaha (Event 86) – Mystery bounty events continue to be popular and WSOP officials have now added a low buy-in PLO version. The action begins June 9.
- $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship (Event 89) – This event splits the difference between the lower buy-in events and high-stakes tournament and begins on July 11.
A few other favorites that return to the action this year including popular large-field events like the Millionaire Maker, Gladiators of Poker (featuring the lowest buy-in level at just $300), Colossus, Mystery Millions bounty event, $777 Lucky 7s, and numerous others.
Those with higher buy-in levels will also find the $25,000 Heads-Up NLHE Championship, $50,000 Poker Players Championship, $50,000 High Roller, $250,000 Super High Roller, and numerous others. Some mid-stakes events are also on tap with buy-ins in the $3,000 and $5,000 range. For a complete schedule, click here.
Daily DeepStacks & Live Satellites
Beyond traditional bracelet events, the WSOP also offers even more action at lower buy-in levels throughout the series. The Daily DeepStack events usually feature large fields and regularly produce five-figure payouts for winners. These non-bracelet tournaments run every day from May 28 to July 16 with buy-ins ranging from $200 to $400.
On the live satellite front, Daily Landmark Mega Satellites run May 28 to July 15 with buy-ins running from $135 and running as high as $25,000. These are great ways to grab a tournament seat at a bargain price.
Additionally, Main Event Maynia, the WSOP’s official guaranteed seat-qualifier series, returns in May at official partner casinos and card rooms throughout the world. Some of those include: Horseshoe St. Louis, Grand Victoria Casino Elgin, Harrah’s Cherokee, Horseshoe Tunica, Harrah’s Pompano Beach, Thunder Valley Casino Resort, Turning Stone Resort Casino, Horseshoe Las Vegas, Foxwoods Resort Casino, and Graton Casino and Resort. More international live qualifiers are also expected to be announced in the coming days.
Online Poker & Qualifiers
Online poker in the U.S. is only legal in a state-by-state. Luckily for WSOP players, the online game is legal in the state of Nevada. WSOP.com is the official online poker operator of the WSOP in the U.S. and is the only operator in the states. Players are actually pooled with players in New Jersey, making for larger player pools and prize pools.
Players in Nevada can participate in online bracelet events throughout the series with New Jersey players also competing. Signing up is easy and players can fund an account before landing in Las Vegas and then be ready to play throughout the series.
The WSOP also runs official online bracelet events on WSOP.com during the summer and also offers daily satellite qualifiers and Main Event satellites for as little as $1 as part of the “Road to Vegas” qualifying process. These offer a nice way to qualify for an event with a lower buy-in commitment. WSOP.com is offering several other qualifying options before and during the series.
The site sent 450 qualifiers to the Main Event in 2023 and WSOP.com officials hoped to top that this year. Each night of the series, WSOP.com will also host a guaranteed seat mega satellite for one of the next day’s bracelet events.
Players in the international online poker market also have numerous opportunities to qualify for a seat in the WSOP. GGPoker is the official online satellite operator for players outside the U.S. (including the GG skins). The GG “Road to Vegas 2024” qualifiers will be launching over the coming weeks, with some early satellites going live shortly.
The full qualifiers award complete travel packages and tournament entries, and are expected to be live by early spring. The platform’s WSOP Super Circuit online tournament series is also currently running on Natural8 and players can snag Road to Vegas qualifier tickets and full $12,000 WSOP packages via random ticket drops on tournament tables – the first Road to Vegas packages available. These drops even include a $10,000 Main Event seat plus complete accommodations in Las Vegas.
Casino Information
Those heading to Las Vegas for some of the action may need some general ideas on what to expect in the Horseshoe and Paris casinos. Both players are located on the Las Vegas Strip. Players will find the WSOP final table, television set, and staging again inside the Horseshoe while the main cage/cashier is located in Paris.
The two buildings are connected and share a parking garage, making navigating between the two properties pretty easy.
Registration, Payment, & Payouts
There are a few registration options for players visiting the WSOP. Here’s a look at those as well as other necessary information.
- Online and mobile registration – This is preferred by WSOP management to help avoid long lines and congestion, WSOP management encourages participants to utilize the online/mobile registration process at www.BravoPokerLive.com. Those who register online will need to visit the Champagne Ballroom located in the Le Centre Des Conventions in Paris Las Vegas and have their identification validated.
Once verified, players can simply pick events online via Bravo and utilize the self-service kiosks located throughout the Paris and Horseshoe convention centers to print their seat cards and go directly to their table. For in-person registration, the main registration area will be in the Champagne Ballroom, with more stations added to the main registration and VIP cages.
- In-person registration – The main registration area is located in the Champagne Ballroom, with more stations also added to the main registration and VIP cages this year. Registration opens May 28 at 9 a.m. and is then open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. with a 90-minute break from 5-6:30 a.m. The registration area closes on July 17. Players must have a valid photo ID, their Caesars Rewards card, and tournament entry payment.
- Methods of payment – Players can use cash, credit and debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express), cashier’s checks drawn from a player’s accredited bank account and made out to the player, wire transfers, or Paris or Horseshoe casino chips.
Credit and debit card payments come with additional fees and players must have a valid ID that matches the cardholder’s name on the card. Players can also use Bravo or WSOP tournament accounts for tournament entry payments as well. Those looking to pay with a wire transfer will need to set up a Bravo Poker Live account.
- WSOP tournament account – Players can deposit money on their account using cash or casino chips. Tournament winnings can also be deposited into a tournament account.
Players can set up an account at the main cage in the Champagne Ballroom. Players can then register for tournaments online or via mobile device through Bravo Poker Live and then print seat cards at a kiosk on site.
- Caesars Rewards – A rewards card is needed to buy into an event and signup is located in the Champagne Ballroom near the main and VIP registration cages. Caesars Rewards kiosks are also located throughout the tournament area for players who simply need to reprint their cards.
- Payouts – Players cashing in an event can collect winnings at the Main Cage in the Champagne Ballroom. Payouts can be made via: cash, wire transfer, casino chips, paper check, or WSOP tournament account or Bravo account.
Important Things to Remember for Players Outside the U.S.
International players have some other key requirements to consider when planning a trip to the WSOP. Participating players must bring a valid government-issued picture ID with their current residential address, A secondary form of ID showing a residential address, such as a driver’s license, signed lease agreement, a utility bill, or a mobile phone bill. Players living outside the U.S. must have a valid passport as well.
Winners are required to provide a valid picture ID as well, and those winning $5,000 net of the event buy-in will also need to complete tax forms. Those without a Tax Identification Number and foreign players from non-tax treaty countries are subject to tax withholding of up to 30%.
The schedule, events, start and end times, and locations of events are also subject to change. Tournament chips have no cash value.
Hotel Booking
There are numerous hotels to choose from when staying in Las Vegas. However, those staying at the Horseshoe and Paris as well as other Caesars Entertainment can use the special advanced booking code “WSOP24” to receive reduced hotel room rates.
Environment Considerations
Those heading to Las Vegas should realize that the summer months can be extremely hot and should plan accordingly. When walking the Strip or heading out for some adventures away from the poker tables, sunglasses and sunscreen are also handy. As the Las Vegas desert is a dry climate, lip balm is also recommended.
On the other hand, the temperature inside the tournament area can also be quite cold so a jacket or hoodie can be nice clothing items to remember. There are several stores and pharmacies along the Strip for players looking to purchase normal day-to-day essential items.
Streaming
PokerGO returns as the official live streaming and production partner of the WSOP. Throughout the summer, PokerGO will stream dozens of WSOP gold bracelet events, including live coverage of the 2024 WSOP Main Event, across PokerGO.com and other platforms.
The full streaming schedule will be released soon and will be found here. Additionally, PokerGO will produce new WSOP episodes to air on CBS Sports, the exclusive domestic television home of the WSOP. International television coverage of the WSOP is also a regular part of the series.
*Article by Sean Chaffin
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