CardsChat

Tag: Las Vegas

  • CardsChat Exclusive: Win a $12,400 WPT World Championship Package for Free

    CardsChat Exclusive: Win a $12,400 WPT World Championship Package for Free

    You can get your hands on a free seat in the 2023 WPT World Championship courtesy of an exclusive $12,400 prize package giveaway on CardsChat.

    WPT-Wynn-2023
    Play for a $12,400 WPT World Championship prize package with an exclusive CardsChat freeroll in October. (Image: WPT)

    The latest hot offer is open to everyone who creates their first (and only) account with WPT Global using our sign-up link. Do that and you’ll receive a 100% first deposit match worth up to $1,200, plus a WPT World Championship satellite ticket.

    You’ll need to come top in our freeroll, but the simple fact is you can win a seat in the WPT World Championship for less than it costs to fill up your car with gas. That’s right, you could be anteing up in the $10,400 tournament with poker royalty by entering the latest CardsChat freeroll.

    CardsChat WPT World Championship freeroll

    OK, so that’s the sales pitch out of the way, let’s talk specifics. As we’ve said, there’s a $12,400 prize package up for grabs. You don’t have to be a CardsChat member to take part in this promotion. However, if you tap this link to join our forum, you’ll get access to a lot more offers.

    This forum thread has all the details you need. For those who are eager to get straight into the mix, follow these steps:

    1. Tap our exclusive WPT Global registration link. *This link is for new signups only.
    2. Complete the registration process and verify your identity.
    3. Log in to your account and go to the cashier page.
    4. Input the WPT Global promo code CCWPT20 before you make a deposit.
    5. Enter a deposit amount of $20 or more.
    6. Confirm the transaction to make your deposit and claim the 100% deposit match bonus.

    In addition to a WPT Global sign-up bonus, you’ll be entered into the CardsChat World Championship freeroll. This entry is your shot at WPT glory. All you have to do is be ready to play at 2pm ET on October 29, 2023.

    Play for WPT glory in Las Vegas

    The winner of our exclusive freeroll gets a seat in the 2023 WPT World Championship worth $10,400, plus $2,000 to help cover travel expenses. That’s a grand total of $12,400 in value but, if you make it far enough in the WPT World Championship, it could be a whole lot more.

    Last year’s WPT World Champion, Eliot Hudon, won $4.1 million. You’d need to beat some of the best poker players in the world to bank that sort of prize money, but it’s certainly not impossible. A few clicks, a $20 deposit, and a strong run in our freeroll, could see you become a WPT champion.

    wpt 1
    The 2022 WPT World Championship at the Wynn has broken all records to become the biggest main tour event in history. (Image: Daniel Smyth/CardsChat)

    Winning our freeroll is the aim, but there are plenty of consolation prizes up for grabs. Everyone who follows the entry process gets a $5 WPT World Championship satellite ticket, which means you’ll get another shot at working your way through the qualification system.

    Additionally, if you’re among the top ten finishers in our freeroll, there are more satellite tickets up for grabs:

    • Finish 2nd to 7th and you’ll receive a $220 WPT World Championship satellite ticket
    • Finish 8th to 10th and you’ll receive a $55 WPT World Championship satellite ticket

    Terms and conditions apply. Check out our forum thread for more details on how to play for a place in the 2023 WPT World Championship.

  • WSOP Millionaire Maker Smashes Multiple Records with Over 10K Entrants

    WSOP Millionaire Maker Smashes Multiple Records with Over 10K Entrants

    The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) continues to set new standards. The latest event to break multiple records is the $1,500 Millionaire Maker.

    WSOP Bracelet Winner Joey Weissman
    Joey Weissman leads the record-breaking WSOP Millionaire Maker which attracted more than 10,000 entrants. (Image: WSOP)

    The WSOP Millionaire Maker has, as its name suggests, been making millionaires since 2013. The inaugural event was a reaction to the changing demographics of poker. With more recreational and low-stakes players heading to Las Vegas for the WSOP, the organizers responded by creating a $1,500 tournament with a guaranteed top prize of $1 million.

    Benny Chen beat 6,343 entrants to win the 2013 Millionaire Maker. Since then, fields have continued to increase in size and, this year, more records were broken. Day 2 came to a conclusion on Sunday and, with the registration desks finally closed, the total number of entrants stopped at 10,416.

    Players of all kinds play for $14 million

    That number means 1,563 players will win a share of almost $14 million. It also means the winner and this year’s runner-up will each win over $1 million. Those are impressive stats, but there are more.

    The 2023 WSOP Millionaire Maker now stands as the largest poker event of its kind. Specifically, it’s the largest Million Maker in history and, moreover, it’s the biggest $1,500 live poker tournament ever held.

    New types of tournaments come and go in poker. Some ideas hit, others miss. The WSOP’s Millionaire Maker has been an unequivocal hit. The WSOP has long been home to large-scale tournaments, the Main Event being the most notable.

    However, for those who can’t afford $10,000 or qualify for the Main Event via a satellite, the Millionaire Maker has filled the void. In fact, it’s not just recreational players and aspiring pros who have embraced the $1,500. Seasoned pros with an eye for value have also made it a must-play event.

    Pros out in force at WSOP Millionaire Maker continues to impress

    Mega prizepools are often a double-edged sword for those taking a shot at glory. Pros can smell value at 100 paces, so the Millionaire Maker has gradually become harder to beat. That’s apparent looking through this year’s list of Day 2 survivors.

    WSOP bracelet-holder and US Poker Open champion Joey Weissman ended Day 2 with the chip lead. Also in the mix with 327 remaining are David Baker, 2013 Millionaire Maker champion Benny Chen, and 2014 WSOP Main Event winner Martin Jacobson.

    Despite a shiver of shark-like pros circling, there are plenty of amateurs who could still win. If they can make it over the final few hurdles, a potentially life-changing payday worth $1,201,564 awaits.

    Whoever wins, the 2023 Millionaire Maker is another success story for the World Series of Poker. Attracting more than 10,000 entries for any poker tournament is impressive, regardless of the buy-in, so for the WSOP to do it with a $1,500 event is even more notable.

    The record-breaking Millionaire Maker is also a positive omen for the rest of the Series. Early hopes were that the $10,000 WSOP Main Event would set a new record and, if things continue as they are, that looks more than possible.

  • Doyle Brunson Week on WPT TV, Free Streams of Texas Dolly in Action (VIDEO)

    Doyle Brunson Week on WPT TV, Free Streams of Texas Dolly in Action (VIDEO)

    The WPT is honoring the late Doyle Brunson with a free stream of the great man’s best performances on the Tour.

    Doyle Brunson WPT
    Watch some of Doyle Brunson’s best moments on the World Poker Tour (WPT) for free on Twitch and YouTube. (Image: WPT/Flickr)

    The stream is playing on a loop right now, and fans can tune in via the WPT’s Twitch page or YouTube channel. Doyle Brunson week, as it should be known, will run until Sunday night.

    The WPT has gone back into its archives to find classic episodes from Seasons 1 to 4. That means you can watch footage of Doyle Brunson that hasn’t been aired for many years.

    Watch Doyle Brunson crush WPT events

    Doyle Brunson might be known for winning 10 WSOP bracelets, but he was also a force on the World Poker Tour (WPT). The man known as Texas Dolly won the WPT Legends of Poker main event in 2004. That victory earned him $1.1 million. Two other final tables and eight cashes meant Brunson ended his career with almost $2.1 million in WPT earnings.

    In honor of his achievements, the WPT is airing the following five events on a loop:

    • The 2003 WPT Championship
    • The 2005 WPT Legends of Poker
    • The 2005 WPT Poker by the Book
    • The 2006 WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic
    • The 2022 WPT Cash Game

    The first four episodes are taken from WPT seasons 1 to 4. The final episode is from the invitational cash game held at the 2022 WPT World Championship. Brunson didn’t play in the WPT World Championship, but he did make multiple appearances throughout the series.

    Unsurprisingly, he couldn’t stay away from the action for too long. With the prospect of playing high stakes poker against a bunch of upstarts and his old friend Phil Ivey, Brunson joined the action on the final day of the series. That, as it transpired, would be one of his last public appearances.

    Best video clips of Doyle Brunson

    Doyle Brunson might be gone, but his legacy will live on in the record books, the poker community’s heart, and, thanks to the WPT, on video. The streams are live and free right now. If you miss an episode, don’t worry because they’re playing on loop. That means the episodes play in order then, when the final one is over, the series starts again.

    Of course, Doyle Brunson didn’t do all of his bidding on the WPT. Scour the internet archives and you’ll find dozens of videos featuring the great man doing what he did best. So, if you just can’t get enough of Brunson, here are some of his best clips.

    Doyle’s best moments in PokerStars’ TV tournaments

    Doyle doing his thing in the 2022 WSOP Main Event

    Brunson bluffs with the best of them

    When billionaire bets go wrong

    Not even legends get it right every time

    For more of Doyle Brunson’s best moments in poker, check out the WPT’s free streams on Twitch or YouTube until Sunday.

  • WPT World Championship Seat Giveaway: $150,000 ClubWPT Challenge

    WPT World Championship Seat Giveaway: $150,000 ClubWPT Challenge

    ClubWPT, the World Poker Tour’s subscription-based gaming site, is giving its members the chance to take part in a championship passport promotion worth $150,000.

    ClubWPT Passport
    ClubWPT members have a chance to win a $12,500 package for the 2023 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. (Image: WPT)

    Nearly 30 ClubWPT members played in last year’s WPT World Championship at the Wynn Las Vegas and, in December, at least 10 will be anteing up with poker’s best.

    The $150,000 ClubWPT passport promotion will give 10 players a seat in the $10,400 World Championship, as well as accommodation and money for expenses.

    Free shot at WPT World Championship glory

    Members of ClubWPT can take part in two feeder events each month. The first feeder event took place on April 16 and 20 players booked their place in the November 5 finale. There will be another feeder event before the end of April and then two every month until October 31.

    By that point, 300 players will be locked in for the November 5 WPT World Championship Challenge finale. Of those 300, anyone who finishes within the top 100 gets something for their efforts.

    “The WPT World Championship Challenge is a tremendous opportunity for ClubWPT members to reach new heights. With $150,000 in prizes, it will stand as one of the largest single-day tournaments in ClubWPT history,” said WPT VP of Online Services Jeremy Clemons.

    Players who finish 11th to 100th get a cash prize. Those who finish within the top 10 get a $12,500 WPT World Championship passport.

    That passport entitles the holder to a place in the WPT World Championship, which gets underway at the Wynn Las Vegas on December 12. As well as a seat in the tournament, ClubWPT qualifiers get VIP treatment, including entry to the player’s lounge and special experiences during their trip.

    ClubWPT giving away life-changing experiences

    CardsChat met a selection of WPT World Championship qualifiers last year, including David Jorgensen and Julie Bonz. They described the WPT World Championship as a life-changing experience and one they’d gladly repeat multiple times over.

    With the first WPT World Championship at the Wynn surpassing all expectations in 2022, the organizers are planning something even bigger this year. ClubWPT members have the opportunity to experience all the pre-Christmas festivities by taking part in the World Championship Challenge.

    “ClubWPT is an essential branch of the World Poker Tour landscape, and as such, we sought to link the site and its members to our biggest event of the year,” said WPT CEO Adam Pliska.

    ClubWPT is a subscription-based online poker site. Anyone in a permitted region can sign-up, pay the monthly subscription fee, and take part in free tournaments, including the WPT World Championship Challenge. Make it through the qualifiers and you’ll get a seat in one of the biggest live events of the year.

  • WPT World Championship Stories: Liam Gannon – “I Don’t Remember a WPT Being this Big”

    WPT World Championship Stories: Liam Gannon – “I Don’t Remember a WPT Being this Big”

    The WPT World Championship is looking good from both sides of the felt. That’s what Liam Gannon, a poker reporter and player, told CardsChat this week.

    liam 1
    Liam Gannon believes poker is in the eye of a perfect storm, which is a big reason the WPT World Championship has been a success. (Image: Daniel Smyth/CardsChat)

    Gannon got his shot at WPT glory courtesy of Amanda Botfeld. Like fellow winner Jules, he won the “life-changing opportunity” after submitting a social media post that Botfeld couldn’t ignore. That one post started a sequence of events that Gannon will never forget.

    Unlike other contest winners and satellite qualifiers, Gannon has a unique perspective on the poker industry. As well as being a player, he’s a live reporter. This has given him a unique insight into the WPT World Championship.

    “I’ve been to a lot of great poker series around the country but nothing compares to this atmosphere,” Gannon said.

    Gannon takes his shot in WPT World Championship  

    For Gannon, the positivity started before he flew to Las Vegas. His social media post received a lot of love from the community but, as we discovered, that was just the start of what we later referred to as the WPT effect.

    “The posting experience was very gratifying in and of itself. Everybody was coming out of the woodwork to support us,” Gannon explained.

    Friends and colleagues showing their support was the boost Gannon needed to sit down in his first $10,000 tournament. It wasn’t his first tournament rodeo, but he’d never ridden a bull quite as big as the WPT World Championship.

    Naturally, the occasion required the appropriate attire so, dressed in a suit, Gannon set out on his quest to become a WPT champion. Thanks to some coaching and a measured outlook on poker strategy, he wasn’t overwhelmed by the situation.

    “It’s just a tournament. At the end of the day, we all get two cards and a broken clock can be right twice a day, and a good clock can be wrong,” Gannon said.

    The young American played the cards as they were dealt but, in the end, lady luck wasn’t on his side. A four-bet shove with pocket queens put Gannon in a tough spot after Dan Shak called with pocket kings.

    An upset wasn’t on the cards but, after taking time to reflect on his efforts, Gannon was anything but upset. His dignity in defeat and composure throughout the tournament left a lasting impression on Shak who offered to stake Gannon in the $3,000 event.

    “I woke up the next day and saw my Twitter was blowing up. I was over the moon and immediately said yes,” Gannon explained.

    Dreams come true twice at WPT World Championship

    A second shot at winning a WPT title was more than Gannon could have dreamed of when he submitted his initial post to Amanda Botfeld. But, as we discussed, it’s emblematic of the vibe at this year’s WPT World Championship.

    “I’m so grateful to Dan for doing that. He’s a big deal in poker. It was very generous and I was at a loss for words. Giving me the seat is emblematic of the WPT series,” Gannon said.

    Winning is clearly important in poker but, as it’s been with all the stories told during the WPT World Championship, it’s not the only thing that matters. Gannon didn’t cash in the $3,000 event but the fact he got to play was a win.

    Moreover, it’s a win for poker. As an industry insider, Gannon knows the importance of putting on world-class events and he believes the WPT has captured lightning in a bottle.

    “This has been an overwhelmingly positive experience. From what I’ve seen, the vibe, the energy, the atmosphere, it’s all so positive. I don’t think I’ve felt an energy like it,” he said.

    Poker’s perfect storm is making it rain in Vegas

    It’s not just the WPT World Championship that’s thriving. Gannon believes there’s a “perfect storm” of factors coming together in poker right now. A desire for live events after COVID restrictions, combined with the rise of poker streams, has led to supersized fields the likes of which we’ve not seen since the Moneymaker era.

    “I don’t remember a WPT being this big since I’ve been interested in poker,” said Gannon.

    Pent up desire and live streams aside, it’s the two Gs, guarantees and giveaways, that have turned the 2022 WPT World Championship into a record-breaker.

    “There are a lot of guys I know who wouldn’t have played this event if 300 people hadn’t won their seats via satellites and giveaways. That’s good because it brings in more entries,” Gannon said.

    The two Gs have certainly brought in more entries. The WPT World Championship has raised the bar in every sense. The standards set this year are almost certainly going to be exceeded in 2023 and Gannon wants to get back here anyway he can.

  • WPT World Championship Sets $29 Million Record, Poker’s Renaissance Continues

    WPT World Championship Sets $29 Million Record, Poker’s Renaissance Continues

    In what came as a shock to almost no one here in Las Vegas, the World Poker Tour announced Wednesday night that its $15 million guarantee had been soundly beaten.

    wpt 1
    The 2022 WPT World Championship at the Wynn has broken all records to become the biggest main tour event in history. (Image: Daniel Smyth/CardsChat)

    The announcement came after a final flurry of players, including Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth, anted up in the dying moments of Day 1C.

    Expectations had been surpassed long before the two Phils sat down, but their presence provided a touch of sparkle to what’s become one of the WPT’s most successful events.

    $29 million gift this holiday season

    Plaudits aside for a moment, the facts are the facts. The first-ever WPT World Championship at the Wynn Las Vegas attracted a record-setting field.

    Three starting flights and a re-entry format were designed to move the needle in every sense. We heard from WPT CEO Adam Pliska during the Women in Poker Hall of Fame ceremony that he’d given his “General,” Angelica Hael, the green light for a $15 million guarantee.

    It was a lofty target that many assumed was possible given the WPT’s recent trajectory. As it transpired, it was more than possible. The allure of a pre-Christmas party in Las Vegas, combined with a $15 million guarantee, moved the needle in terms of player interest.

    When the final few had put in their $10,400 buy-ins on Wednesday, the total number of entries stopped just short of 3,000. That turnout alone makes it the biggest WPT main tour event in history, but there are more highs.

    The guarantee was broken. In fact, it was almost doubled. That means the winner will take home the biggest first-place prize ever awarded on the World Poker Tour. That’s obviously significant in and of itself. What’s even more poignant is that the previous record had stood unmatched for 15 years.

    WPT World Championship facts and figures

    • Entries = 2,960
    • Prizepool = $29,008,000
    • Places Paid = 370
    • First Place Prize = $4,136,000
    • Minimum Cash = $17,400

    The needle has been moved in terms of player interest and WPT payouts. Even more impressive, however, is the fact records from poker’s golden age have been broken. It’s been a topic of discussion all week, but the facts now support the assumption that we’re seeing a renaissance.

    WPT leading poker’s renaissance

    Is it a renaissance for poker in general or just the WPT? It doesn’t matter because, as one of the industry leaders, the WPT is poker. There’s a trickle-down effect when an organization such as the WPT puts on a successful event like the World Championship.

    Therefore, if the WPT is thriving, poker is thriving. The fact one player will win over $4.1 million on December 20 is a throwback. Carlos Mortensen’s 2007 record payout of $3.9 million came at a time when poker was enjoying exponential growth.

    WPT Encore Ballroom, Las Vegas
    Crowds gather inside the Encore ballroom in Las Vegas. (Image: Daniel Smyth/CardsChat)

    Legal issues and regulatory changes across the industry altered the landscape a few years later. The WPT, like many other companies, was caught up in the mess and, at the time, it seemed as though the heights of 2007 wouldn’t be matched again.

    However, they have been matched. The 2022 WPT World Championship has surpassed all expectations to become a record-breaker. More than that, it’s a testament to the renaissance of poker.

    You can watch the final table play out live on December 20 via the WPT’s live streams. You can also get more exclusive content from the 2022 WPT World Championship right here at CardsChat.

  • Dan’s WPT World Championship Diary #1: Partying with Phil Ivey and Improving Poker

    Dan’s WPT World Championship Diary #1: Partying with Phil Ivey and Improving Poker

    When World Poker Tour (WPT) team members express their gratitude, they go all out. I found that out firsthand this week at the WPT World Championship Thank You Party.

    wpt party
    Performers light up the WPT Thank You Party. (Image: Flickr/WPT)

    Fresh off a 10-hour flight, I headed over to Area 15, an event and activity space in Las Vegas. There, under the not so aptly named serenity tree, an anything but peaceful scene was unfolding.

    DJ Sub Zero was disturbing the peace as poker pros mixed with WPT World Championship qualifiers. That was the vibe of the night and, in my opinion, the series as a whole. Yes, winning a WPT title is the goal for all in attendance, but it’s not the only one. Talking to players who qualified online, the event is about more than poker.

    DJ Sub Zero warms up WPT party

    The WPT has certainly scored in this regard. To say I was impressed with the opening frivolities would be an understatement. Of course, this is a personal opinion that’s been somewhat influenced by receiving an invite to the same party as Phil Ivey.

    However, it’s a sentiment that, from my conversations, is shared by all in attendance. The WPT rolled out the red carpet for anyone gracious enough to enter an event or qualify via a satellite.

    wpt party 2
    A sweet introduction to the WPT family. (Image: Flickr/WPT)

    I knew from the chorus of praise ringing out on social media that people were having fun in Las Vegas and, on Monday, I got to see why. Speaking to those on the dancefloor, “experience” was the word on everyone’s lips.

    For qualifiers (and me), getting the opportunity to rub shoulders with Ivey et al is a big deal. David Jorgensen from Canada told me that the hospitality has been unparalleled.

    “The whole promotional team at the WPT has done a top-notch job at bringing an amazing player experience. I was saying to WPT Ambassador Brad Owen that you’re all making memories for people here that will last a lifetime. That means so much,” Jorgensen told me.

    Everyone wins at WPT World Championship

    Those are sentiments I agree with. Even though I’m not playing, the atmosphere here in Vegas is something special. I’ve been to poker events in Europe. I’ve been to the WSOP. This is different. I could wax lyrical about the level of professionalism displayed by the WPT’s team. I could talk about the Wynn’s world-class facilities.

    They might be facts, but they miss the bigger point. The point, at least from my perspective, is that this event is a meeting of worlds. Moreover, it’s a renaissance for the industry.

    Poker is a top-down industry that needs to be built from the ground up. Million-dollar-winners dominate the headlines and pique the interests of poker insiders and outsiders. However, the industry’s beating heart is powered by stage one satellite players.

    The WPT Thank You Party was just that. It was a thank you to those who took part in WPT Global qualifiers. A thank you to those who spread the love on social media through prize giveaways and glowing reviews. A thank you to ambassadors, media members, and supporters who have already made the WPT World Championship a success.

    Back to poker’s golden age

    Giving a plucky poker player a chance to sit down in a $10K event is a big deal, but making them feel part of the community is another. Anyone that’s been around the industry long enough will know what the immediate aftermath of Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 WSOP Main Event win was like.

    It was party time. It was a time when anyone felt like they could become a champion. My first impression of being at the WPT World Championship feels like we’ve come full circle. The party was a heady mix of familiar faces, starry-eyed amateurs, and a whole lot of fun.

    Alongside specially crafted WPT cocktails and cake pops, there were virtual flying experiences, massage therapists on standby, and, as I’ve said, a DJ spinning some top tunes. In fact, DJ Sub Zero wasn’t the only person getting people in a spin.

    WPT anchor Lynn Gilmartin dazzled in a glitter-clad outfit while a performer lit up the dancefloor with a display that was, potentially, even more dazzling than Gilmartin’s dress (see video above). For me, all of these things were part of a warm welcome to the WPT family.

    In my view, poker, as an industry, needs casual players to care. High rollers have provided compelling TV over the last five years, but a $10 SNG player from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is a million miles from those games.

    That’s why the WPT World Championship and everything surrounding it is an important bridge between these worlds. It’s bringing people from all parts of the poker community together and that, for me, is a win. Of course, that could just be the post-party positivity talking but, on this occasion, I certainly think the WPT is onto something.

  • 56 ClubWPT Qualifiers Earn Shot at Greatness with WPT World Championship Passport

    56 ClubWPT Qualifiers Earn Shot at Greatness with WPT World Championship Passport

    Live tournament newbies, seniors, and poker fans from across the US will be taking part in the year’s WPT World Championship courtesy of free-play subscription site, ClubWPT.

    wpt_wc_passport
    56 ClubWPT qualifiers have a chance to make history at the 2022 WPT World Championship in December. (Image: ClubWPT)

    With the final qualifier concluding on November 13, the 56th and final ClubWPT player booked their flight to Las Vegas. Of those who won a ClubWPT passport, 27 have a ticket for the $10,400 World Championship.

    As well as winning their buy-in, the 27 qualifiers get a free stay at the Wynn Las Vegas, $1,000 for travel expenses, and the opportunity to enjoy a variety of off-the-felt activities.

    ClubWPT qualifiers to get VIP treatment

    The remaining 29 ClubWPT qualifiers get access to other special events in Vegas. 22 of them will play in the $2 million guaranteed WPT Prime Championship. As well as entry to the $1,100 Prime Championship, these qualifiers also won a free stay at the Wynn, travel expenses, and WPT merchandise.

    The final seven ClubWPT qualifiers don’t get direct access to the World or Prime Championships. However, what they do get is one of two experiences in Las Vegas. Five qualifiers will take part in the Tony Dunst WPT Battleship Bounty tournament where the winner gets a $10,400 World Championship seat.

    Two ClubWPT qualifiers will sit down in a special six-handed home game. The qualifier who lasts the longest wins a free seat in the WPT World Championship. That’s an impressive prize to shoot for. However, a spot in the home is a great prize on its own.

    Why? Because it’s the Phil Ivey Home Game. The latest recruit to Team WPT will host the six-handed sit & go on December 6. As well as the opportunity of a lifetime to play against Phil Ivey, the qualifiers will square off against WPT ambassadors Andrew Neeme and Brad Owen, as well as WPT anchor Lynn Gilmartin.

    WPT World Championship fairy tales could be written

    The team at WPT HQ pledged to make the 20th anniversary World Championship the biggest ever and ClubWPT qualifiers will help deliver on that promise.

    “We’re always excited to offer ClubWPT members unique experiences and promotions. It is nice to be able to grant our online qualifiers from across the nation with major live event opportunities at the World Championship,” said WPT VP of Online Services Jeremy Clemons.

    Many of the ClubWPT qualifiers have a chance to write their own Moneymaker stories at the 2022 WPT World Championship. Indeed, because it’s a free-play subscription service, most ClubWPT users are recreational players.

    That’s certainly the case for Bruce Ramoth and Mark Symons. Ramoth will be playing in his first ever live poker tournament when he antes up in the WPT World Championship. ClubWPT Player of the Year, Mark Symons, also has a chance of becoming part of poker folklore if he wins the $10,400 event at the ripe old age of 86.

    Poker stars from around the world will be landing in Sin City for a shot at WPT World Championship glory next month. However, when the action begins on December 12, ClubWPT members have a chance to write their own fairy tale endings.

  • WSOP Main Event Betting: Who’s the Favorite?

    WSOP Main Event Betting: Who’s the Favorite?

    The World Series of Poker Main Event is down to 10 players, but who will win? Ahead of this year’s final table, we’ve got all the important stats, including the latest WSOP Main Event betting odds.

    wsop final table
    Who will win the WSOP Main Event? The stats and betting odds all point to Espen Jorstad (right) becoming the 2022 World Champion. (Image: WSOP/Rachel Kay Miller)

    Picking the winner of the Main Event isn’t easy, even at this late stage. Over the years, we’ve seen players squander seemingly insurmountable chip leads. We’ve seen short stacks rise up. We’ve seen dark horses emerge from the shadows and ride off into the sunset with a bracelet.

    The point we’re making, in case you hadn’t guessed, is that anything is possible. Anyone with chips can win, which is why the finale will make for compelling viewing. However, as tough as it is to pick a winner, it hasn’t stopped people from trying.

    WSOP Main Event stacks and statistics

    As soon as the unofficial final table of 10 was set on Thursday, the number crunchers and tipsters got to work. Within hours, predictions were popping up on every social media platform. So, in the interest of speculation and entertainment, here’s how the WSOP Main Event betting markets are shaping up.

    2022 WSOP Main Event Payouts
    First place $10 million
    Second place $6 million
    Third place $4 million
    Fourth place $3 million
    Fifth place $2.25 million
    Sixth place $1.75 million
    Seventh place $1.35 million
    Eighth place $1.075 million
    Ninth place $850,675
    10th place $675,000

    Before we dive into the latest WSOP betting odds, let’s start with the basics. Heading into the final sessions, the chip counts are as follows:

    2022 WSOP Main Event Final Table Chip Counts
    Espen Jorstad Seat 9 83,200,000
    Mathew Su Seat 5 83,200,000
    Matija Dobric Seat 3 68,650,000
    Aaron Duczak Seat 8 56,000,000
    John Eames Seat 6 54,950,000
    Adrian Attenborough Seat 2 50,800,000
    Michael Duek Seat 4 49,775,000
    Jeffrey Farnes Seat 7 35,350,000
    Asher Conniff Seat 10 24,400,000
    Philippe Souki Seat 1 13,500,000

    Using stacks as a starting point is great, but stacks don’t tell us the whole story. Experienced poker players will base their decisions on a variety of factors, one of which is their equity in the tournament.

    WSOP Main Event ICM calculations

    Using the Independent Chip Model (ICM), players can determine what their stack is worth (as a dollar amount) based on their probability of winning and the prizes left to win. To put it another way, ICM is the share of a prize pool everyone would get if the tournament ended now and payouts were based on chip counts.

    ICM calculations aren’t set in stone. The figures are theoretical, but they’re a useful way of judging equity and, in turn, the strategy a player might use. For example, a player with a lot of equity might decide it’s best to play aggressively.

    A player’s strategy shouldn’t be based on ICM alone, however. The fact remains, however, that ICM calculations are a useful way of assessing a final table lineup. With that being said, here are the numbers for this year’s Main Event final table.

    2022 WSOP Main Event Final Table ICM Calculations
    Espen Jorstad Seat 9 $4,127,600
    Mathew Su Seat 5 $4,127,600
    Matija Dobric Seat 3 $3,718,391
    Aaron Duczak Seat 8 $3,320,032
    John Eames Seat 6 $3,284,876
    Adrian Attenborough Seat 2 $3,142,417
    Micheal Duek Seat 4 $3,106,333
    Jeffrey Farnes Seat 7 $2,554,868
    Asher Conniff Seat 10 $2,068,304
    Philippe Souki Seat 1 $1,500,250

    So, we now know the chip counts and each player’s ICM calculations. That just leaves the WSOP betting odds.

    Any seasoned sports bettor will tell you that bookmakers don’t always get it right. In fact, they can miss the mark by a wide margin. However, they do consider a variety of variables before creating a betting hierarchy.

    WSOP Main Event betting odds

    WPT and EPT winner Mike McDonald tweeted his thoughts on the final 10. He has experience setting odds for tournaments as the creator of the now defunct PokerShares. Although he’s not taking bets this year, McDonald has Espen Jorstad and Matthew Su as the joint favorites.

    One bookmaker that is offering odds and taking bets is Partypoker. Along with its sister sportsbook, bwin, Partypoker has the following betting lines for the 2022 WSOP Main Event.

    2022 WSOP Main Event Final Table Betting Odds
    Espen Jorstad Seat 9 +200 (2/1)
    Mathew Su Seat 5 +250 (5/2)
    Matija Dobric Seat 3 +450 (9/2)
    Adrian Attenborough Seat 8 +650 (13/2)
    John Eames Seat 6 +750 (15/2)
    Aaron Duczak Seat 2 +1200 (12/1)
    Michael Duek Seat 4 +1600 (16/1)
    Jeffrey Farnes Seat 7 +2000 (20/1)
    Asher Conniff Seat 10 +2000 (20/1)
    Philippe Souki Seat 1 +3300 (33/1)

    So, that’s how the numbers stack up for this year’s Main Event finale. We’re not telling you to place a bet. We’re not even giving you our opinion on who will win or saying it’s a good idea to wager some money.

    But, if you follow the numbers, Jorstad is the betting favorite. Does that mean he’ll win? No, but it’s something worth considering if you’re going to gamble on the 2022 WSOP Main Event.

  • A Tale of Two Casinos: Bally’s, Paris Offers Disparate WSOP Comfort Levels

    A Tale of Two Casinos: Bally’s, Paris Offers Disparate WSOP Comfort Levels

    Early player reviews from the World Series of Poker have been mostly positive when comparing the new location to the series previous home at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino. But one’s comfort level can vary greatly depending on whether they’re playing in the more luxurious tournament area at Paris or the tighter quarters at Bally’s.

    The walk from the WSOP tournament areas at Bally's offers tighter hallways than what players experienced at Rio. (Image: Johnny Kampis)
    The walk from the WSOP tournament areas at Bally’s offers tighter hallways than what players experienced at the Rio. (Image: Johnny Kampis/CardsChat)

    Fortunately, most action takes place at Paris since it has the largest convention space available of the two casinos. This is home to the bigger buy-in tournaments, all Day 1 starts, cash games, daily deep-stack tournaments, and single-table satellites. The wide hallways and large space can accommodate thousands of players, with plenty of space between tables. The bathrooms are also much larger than what was found at the Rio. Smokers complained they had to walk too far to the outside space designated for puffing, but that’s a minor complaint in the scheme of things.

    On the other hand, Bally’s Grand Ballroom, home of Day 2 restarts and Day 1 overflow traffic, isn’t a comfortable environment. The space is tighter and air conditioning issues caused the room to get very hot during the first week of the series. (At least water coolers have been set up in the tournament room so that players can grab their own water, as necessary). The one bathroom servicing the ballroom isn’t large enough to accommodate the number of players in the room, and the lone narrow hallway makes for a slow walk to the casino proper during breaks.

    Bally’s Events Center, where the “mothership” is set up for televised final tables, offers a better experience than the Grand Ballroom, but still has just one bathroom and is a bit warm. (Workers set up industrial fans in the doorways leading between the Events Center and Grand Ballroom to increase airflow.)

    And as CardsChat’sChris “Fox” Wallace noted in his recent report, players always find plenty to complain about, even if they’re happy overall with the WSOP’s move to the Strip.

    Hopefully, as the series marches toward the Main Event, WSOP officials will find solutions to provide a more comfortable playing situation for poker aficionados headed to Las Vegas this summer, no matter which casino they’re playing in.

  • WSOP Hacks: More Ways to Save Time & Money This Summer

    WSOP Hacks: More Ways to Save Time & Money This Summer

    I wrote a piece before the World Series of Poker began highlighting need-to-know information about the festival in its new location. Now, after having put boots on the ground this past week in Las Vegas, I’ve gleaned some more useful WSOP hacks that will help you if you’re coming to the Series in the next month.

    2022 WSOP
    Patrons enter the Paris convention space at the 2022 World Series of Poker. (Image: Johnny Kampis/CardsChat)

    These tips can either save you time or money – or both.

    Lines are for suckers

    As I was standing in the main registration line at the front of the Paris convention space to secure my seat for the Housewarming event, another player in line shared some intel that would prove super useful for the rest of my trip. He told me that if paying cash – rather than using a lammer – you can buy into any tournament at the single table satellite cashier area. Instead of waiting for what could have been an hour in the main line, I waited no time at all at the STS windows. I used the same tactic the following day to register for the $600 Deepstack bracelet event, passing a line of more than a hundred players to enter a line of zero players.

    Save on parking

    I noted in my previous WSOP Hacks article that some casinos near Bally’s and Paris still offer free parking, including Casino Royale, Cosmopolitan, and Tropicana. Additionally, I learned that if you stay at a Caesars Entertainment property, you get in-and-out privileges at any of the company’s properties during your stay. That opens up more possibilities in terms of the hotels you can stay at without having to pay two parking fees each day (as we did by staying at New York-New York, an MGM property, and driving to Paris). Also, if you stay at a Caesars property, you pay less on weekends than non-guests ($23 compared to $18).

    Comps in cash games

    It’s often not clear how to get comps for playing in cash games at the WSOP. After all, those temporary tables don’t have readers for scanning rewards cards and tracking play. If you play cash at Paris this summer, see a floorperson in a suit after you’ve played about eight hours and they’ll put $10 in rewards credits on your card. You can get your card scanned every eight hours for up to $30 in comps per day if you’re putting in marathon sessions.

  • Stranger Things WSOP Edition: The Weird Series of Poker

    Stranger Things WSOP Edition: The Weird Series of Poker

    Fans of the Netflix hit “Stranger Things” might be busy running up that hill behind Kate Bush, but poker’s finest are running in altogether different directions. With the WSOP in full swing and temperatures soaring in Las Vegas, things are taking a strange turn at Bally’s and Paris.

    stranger things
    “Stranger Things” might be topping the charts on Netflix, but there have been enough weird happenings at this year’s WSOP to capture our attention. (Image: Netflix/WSOP)

    Maybe it’s the new venues. Maybe it’s because this is the first summer WSOP in Vegas since 2019. Whatever it is, the WSOP is quickly becoming the Weird Series of Poker. Don’t believe us? Well, here’s a quick recap of the weird and wonderful things we’ve seen so far this year:

    Lisa Vanderpump plays poker?

    Plenty of celebrities have been drafted in to kick off the WSOP in recent years, but this choice was a strange one, to say the least. Businesswoman and “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Lisa Vanderpump was this year’s “shuffle up and deal” announcer.

    Vanderpump
    Vanderpump and her novel card protector. (Image: Chris Wallace/CardsChat)

    Why? Well, that’s the question many poker players were asking. Reality TV personalities, such as Kim Kardashian, have played at the WSOP before (usually when they need some publicity), so Vanderpump isn’t a complete wild card. However, the fact she’s never been around the game before and used her dog as a card proctor makes it a weird choice.

    Nipplegate

    The Frank Stepuchin stunt that backfired spectacularly and led to a masseuse losing her job has got to be right up there on the all-time list of WSOP blunders. Known prankster Stepuchin asked Cintia Amstalden to massage his nipples while someone recorded it.

    frank massage
    A prank orchestrated by poker pro Frank Stepuchin caused WSOP masseuse Cintia Amstalden to lose her job. (Image: Reddit/pocketfullofquads)

    Joke or not, Amstalden was promptly fired after images of the incident appeared online. Stepuchin has since apologized and started a GoFundMe for the now jobless masseuse. Even so, this is an early contender to be one of the year’s weirdest and worst thought-out stunts.

    Phil Hellmuth can’t dodge COVID

    Phil Hellmuth can dodge bullets, but he can’t avoid COVID-19. While this, in and of itself isn’t too strange (COVID is still a thing, after all), not seeing Hellmuth at the early days of this year’s WSOP has definitely changed the vibe. Whether that’s good or bad is for you to decide.

    What is good, however, is that Hellmuth says he doesn’t feel too sick after being sidelined by the virus on June 8.

    Sadly for the WSOP’s all-time bracelet winner, he missed the $10K Omaha 8 or Better event, which, in his words, was his “best chance” at a bracelet this year.

    Phil Ivey returns to tournaments

    Many believe that Phil Ivey is the best to ever play the game, but much of his legendary reputation comes from his cash game prowess. Indeed, even though he has more than $35 million in tournament earnings and 10 bracelets to his name, he’s often skipped WSOP events in favor of the juicy summer cash games to be found in Vegas all summer long.

    But this year, in the spirit of all things strange, Ivey has been more active in WSOP tournaments than he has in recent years. He even final-tabled the $100K high roller and cashed in a $25K event in Week 1. Is this a new look Ivey?

    Stranger things have certainly happened so far this year.

    Dealer drama: chip chaos and sleeping on the job

    We should all tip our hats to dealers at the WSOP. They work grueling hours, have to listen to bad beat stories, and are constantly on the firing line when things go wrong. This type of pressure can lead to mistakes, but the list of faux pas this year is getting stranger by the day.

    First up, one dealer was told to color up and, instead of swapping out all the small denomination chips, they scooped up everyone’s stack. It took an hour just to rectify the situation. Another tale from the tournament floor involved a dealer falling asleep in the middle of a hand. To make matters worse, it was during the bubble of an event.

    Christoph Vogelsang channels Phil Laak

    Christoph Vogelsang is an experienced pro who’s won more than $27 million and who’s gone deep in a number of WSOP events, including the 2014 Big One for One Drop. But, despite having more skill and experience than most players at Bally’s/Paris this year, Vogelsang pulled a Phil Laak during the heads-up championship.

    What’s a “Phil Laak?” It’s the old hoodie over the head trick.

    Vogelsang thought his best route to the final was hiding away at every opportunity. That strategy, which is OK for a novice, but unusual for a pro, worked until he came up against Dan Smith, as you can see from the video above.

    Norman Chad Bowls Over His Opponents

    Did you know that WSOP announcer Norman Chad is big on bowling? If you’ve ever read his Twitter bio, you might. If not, his choice of footwear at the WSOP is a huge giveaway. The man who’s never short of a cheesy quip was forced to wear bowling shoes after leaving his own at Red Rock Casino’s alley.

    Chad tweet
    Chad showing off his lucky bowling shoes. (Image: Twitter/NormanChad)

    A crime against fashion or not, the shoes stopped Chad from striking out in the $1,500 Dealer’s Choice event. Although he didn’t throw a perfect game, he did finish 13th to win more than enough to buy a new pair of shoes ($5,993).

    Daniel Negreanu’s creepy call

    One of the more ominous stranger things from this year’s WSOP is an attempt to blackmail Daniel Negreanu. The Canadian pro received an anonymous phone call from a man who wanted an undisclosed sum of money.

    Why would Negreanu entertain the idea of paying this mystery man? Well, as the story goes, the caller claims to know about Negreanu’s secret past. The claim is that Negreanu used to live in Havasu Lake, Arizona, where he abandoned a secret family to live in Vegas. Um, OK.

    Negreanu denies it and we believe him. But, this is the Weird Series of Poker, so we wouldn’t be shocked if the potential blackmailer’s claim turns out to be true (even though we know it’s definitely not true).

    Dr. Alex Livingston, we presume

    OK, so the spelling of his surname is slightly different from that of Dr. David Livingstone, but Alex Livingston performed a disappearing act the famous doctor would have been proud of.

    Unlike the doctor, who went missing on one of his explorations, Livingston made his WSOP bracelet disappear, and quite quickly, at that.

    The Canadian won the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud event on June 6. He received his bracelet two days later and, within 20 minutes, he’d lost it.

    Fortunately, the offer of a $200 reward saw him reunited with his first bracelet a few hours later. So, even though there have been some weird and tragic occurrences at the 2022 WSOP so far, this story has a happy ending.

    Have you seen or heard of any strange things that we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments.

  • Beyond the WSOP: Affordable, Jam-Packed Schedule Highlights Orleans Summer Open

    Beyond the WSOP: Affordable, Jam-Packed Schedule Highlights Orleans Summer Open

    The Orleans Summer Open will provide the usual wide array of events, catering mostly to players looking for modest buy-ins.

    The Orleans poker room
    The Orleans will host its annual summer tournament series concurrent with the World Series of Poker. The Orleans Summer Open will offer a variety of tournaments over the course of six weeks.  (Image: Johnny Kampis)

    This year’s festival will run from May 31 to July 10 with more than 75 events and a total guaranteed prize pool of $3.5 million. The Orleans, home to probably more Omaha Hi-Lo cash games than any other casino in Las Vegas, will host several events of that game on its schedule, as well as a variety of other mixed games, including Triple Stud, HORSE, and 8-Game Mix.

    Most tournaments feature buy-ins of $150 or $200, but the Orleans still has some offerings for higher rollers. These include $600 HORSE and Omaha Hi-Lo championship events, and a $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em main event with a $750K guarantee starting on June 23.

    The Orleans will run a two-day Seniors Championship event beginning on June 27 with a buy-in of $400. The room is also jumping on the mystery bounty event bandwagon with two such tournaments on its schedule ($300 buy-in June 2-5 and $600 buy-in June 23-26). The latter event will feature mystery bounties ranging from $200 to $50K.

    Ryan McNeel, tournament director for the Orleans, told CardsChat that every time the poker room has run a mystery bounty event, the response has been positive. “We’ve run two of them and the player feedback has been incredible,” he said. “They [the players] think these are really fun events.”

    McNeel pointed out that the Orleans’ location, about a mile off the Strip on Tropicana, can be advantageous given its free parking and easy accessibility to Las Vegas Boulevard. But, he believes a bigger draw may be the poker room’s relaxed atmosphere that runs contrary to the stereotype of the tables filled with players wearing hoodies and headphones.

    “We like to laugh and have a good time, and break that stereotype,” McNeel said.

    2022 Orleans Summer Poker Open Schedule

    Date Time Buy-in Event
    5/31/2022 11:00 AM $200 $25K Guarantee
    5/31/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $15K GTD
    6/1/2022 11:00 AM $200 Player Appreciation Event
    6/1/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $15K GTD
    6/2/2022 11:00 AM $300 Mystery Bounty $250K Guaranteed – Day 1A
    6/2/2022 2:00 PM $200 Stud, Stud-8, Razz
    6/2/2022 7:00 PM $300 Mystery Bounty $250K Guaranteed – Day 1B
    6/3/2022 11:00 AM $300 Mystery Bounty $250K Guaranteed – Day 1C
    6/3/2022 7:00 PM $150 Friday Night $25K GTD
    6/4/2022 11:00 AM $300 Mystery Bounty $250K Guaranteed – Day 1D
    6/4/2022 7:00 PM $300 Mystery Bounty $250K Guaranteed – Day 1E
    6/5/2022 11:00 AM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $50K GTD
    6/5/2022 7:00 PM $200 Bounty No-Limit Holdem $15K GTD
    6/6/2022 11:00 AM $200 Monday Special $40K Guaranteed
    6/6/2022 2:00 PM $400 2-7, A-5, Badugi
    6/6/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/7/2022 11:00 AM $200 No-Limit Hold’em $30K GTD
    6/7/2022 2:00 PM $200 Fixed-Limit Holdem
    6/7/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/8/2022 11:00 AM $200 No-Limit Hold’em $30K GTD
    6/8/2022 2:00 PM $200 Omaha-8 / Stud-8
    6/8/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/9/2022 11:00 AM $400 Thundering Threes – Day 1A $333,333 Guaranteed
    6/9/2022 2:00 PM $200 Fixed-Limit Omaha-8
    6/9/2022 6:00 PM $400 Thundering Threes – Day 1B $333,333 Guaranteed
    6/10/2022 11:00 AM $400 Thundering Threes – Day 1C $333,333 Guaranteed
    6/10/2022 7:00 PM $150 Friday Night $25K GTD
    6/11/2022 11:00 AM $400 Thundering Threes – Day 1D $333,333 Guaranteed
    6/11/2022 6:00 PM $400 Thundering Threes – Day 1E $333,333 Guaranteed
    6/12/2022 11:00 AM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $50K GTD
    6/12/2022 7:00 PM $200 Bounty No-Limit Holdem $15K GTD
    6/13/2022 11:00 AM $200 Monday Special $40K GTD
    6/13/2022 2:00 PM $600 HORSE Championship
    6/13/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $15K GTD
    6/14/2022 11:00 AM $200 No-Limit Hold’em $30K GTD
    6/14/2022 2:00 PM $300 Fixed-Limit Omaha-8
    6/14/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/15/2022 11:00 AM $150 Mega-Satellite to $750K GTD Championship
    6/15/2022 2:00 PM $150 Mega-Satellite to $750K GTD Championship
    6/15/2022 7:00 PM $150 Mega-Satellite to $750K GTD Championship
    6/16/2022 11:00 AM $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Championship Day 1A $750K Guaranteed
    6/16/2022 2:00 PM $300 NLHE, Stud, Omaha-8, Razz, PLO, LHE, Stud-8, Triple-Draw
    6/16/2022 7:00 PM $1,000 $750K Guaranteed Day 1B
    6/17/2022 11:00 AM $1,000 $750K Guaranteed Day 1C
    6/17/2022 7:00 PM $150 Friday Night $25K GTD
    6/18/2022 11:00 AM $1,000 $750K Guaranteed Day 1D
    6/18/2022 5:00 PM $1,000 $750K Guaranteed Day 1E
    6/19/2022 11:00 AM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $50K GTD
    6/19/2022 7:00 PM $200 Bounty No-Limit Holdem $15K GTD
    6/20/2022 11:00 AM $200 Monday Special $40K GTD
    6/20/2022 2:00 PM $600 Omaha-8 Championship
    6/20/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/21/2022 11:00 AM $200 No-Limit Hold’em $30K GTD
    6/21/2022 2:00 PM $200 Stud, Stud-8, Razz
    6/21/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/22/2022 11:00 AM $200 No-Limit Hold’em $30K GTD
    6/22/2022 2:00 PM $200 Omaha-8 / Stud-8
    6/22/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/23/2022 11:00 AM $500 Mystery Bounty $300K GTD – Day 1A
    6/23/2022 2:00 PM $200 Holdem, Omaha, Razz, Stud, Stud-8
    6/23/2022 7:00 PM $500 Mystery Bounty $300K Guaranteed – Day 1B
    6/24/2022 11:00 AM $500 Mystery Bounty $300K Guaranteed – Day 1C
    6/24/2022 7:00 PM $150 Friday Night $25K GTD
    6/25/2022 11:00 AM $500 Mystery Bounty $300K Guaranteed – Day 1D
    6/25/2022 7:00 PM $500 Mystery Bounty $300K Guaranteed – Day 1E (turbo flight)
    6/26/2022 11:00 AM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $50K GTD
    6/26/2022 7:00 PM $200 Bounty No-Limit Holdem $15K GTD
    6/27/2022 11:00 AM $200 Monday Special $40K GTD
    6/27/2022 2:00 PM $400 Seniors Championship
    6/27/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/28/2022 11:00 AM $200 No-Limit Hold’em $30K GTD
    6/28/2022 2:00 PM $300 Pot-Limit Omaha-8 or Better
    6/28/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/29/2022 11:00 AM $200 No-Limit Hold’em $30K GTD
    6/29/2022 2:00 PM $200 Holdem, Omaha, Razz, Stud, Stud-8
    6/29/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    6/30/2022 11:00 AM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $250K GTD Mystery Bounty – Day 1A
    6/30/2022 2:00 PM $200 Fixed-Limit Omaha/8
    6/30/2022 7:00 PM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $250K GTD Mystery Bounty – Day 1B
    7/1/2022 11:00 AM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $250K GTD Mystery Bounty – Day 1C
    7/1/2022 7:00 PM $150 Friday Night $25K GTD
    7/2/2022 11:00 AM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $250K GTD Mystery Bounty – Day 1D
    7/2/2022 7:00 PM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $250K GTD Mystery Bounty – Day 1E
    7/3/2022 11:00 AM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $50K GTD
    7/3/2022 7:00 PM $300 Bounty No-Limit Holdem $20K GTD
    7/4/2022 11:00 AM $200 Monday Special $40K GTD
    7/4/2022 2:00 PM $400 Holdem, Omaha, Razz, Stud, Stud-8
    7/4/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    7/5/2022 11:00 AM $200 No-Limit Hold’em $30K GTD
    7/5/2022 2:00 PM $300 NLHE, Stud, Omaha-8, Razz, PLO, LHE, Stud-8, Triple-Draw
    7/5/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    7/6/2022 11:00 AM $200 No-Limit Hold’em $30K GTD
    7/6/2022 2:00 PM $200 Fixed-Limit Omaha-8
    7/6/2022 7:00 PM $150 Super Stack $20K GTD
    7/7/2022 11:00 AM $400 The Finale $300K GTD – Day 1A
    7/7/2022 2:00 PM $300 Seven-Card Razz
    7/7/2022 7:00 PM $400 The Finale $300K GTD – Day 1B
    7/8/2022 11:00 AM $400 The Finale $300K GTD – Day 1C
    7/8/2022 7:00 PM $150 Friday Night $25K GTD
    7/9/2022 11:00 AM $400 The Finale $300K GTD – Day 1D
    7/9/2022 7:00 PM $400 The Finale $300K GTD – Day 1E
    7/10/2022 11:00 AM $300 No-Limit Hold’em $50K GTD
    7/10/2022 7:00 PM $200 Bounty No-Limit Holdem $15K GTD
  • WSOP Hacks: How to Save Money Now that the Series is on the Las Vegas Strip

    WSOP Hacks: How to Save Money Now that the Series is on the Las Vegas Strip

    The World Series of Poker’s move from the Rio to Bally’s and Paris in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip will increase convenience in many aspects, but it will likely increase costs, too, given the higher charges levied on tourists in the most popular locations in the city.

    Las Vegas Strip reopening
    The WSOP’s move to the Las Vegas Strip greatly changes how to think about travel costs for the tournament series. (Image: CardsChat)

    Consider the following tips to save money on transportation, food, and lodging so you’ll have more for the poker tables.

    Ditch the car to save on parking fees

    Before casinos on the Strip began charging parking fees, it was clearly advantageous for most out-of-town visitors to rent a car, given the low cost of rentals and the convenience that having a vehicle presents. That was especially true when the WSOP was held at the Rio, given its distance from the Strip and its ample free parking.

    Now that parking at most places on the Strip costs upwards of $20 per day, the cost curve has bent toward using other forms of transportation to get around if you’re planning on staying in the general area and not, say, trekking to Mt. Charleston.

    When using taxis, “long-hauling” through the tunnel near Harry Reid International Airport is no longer an issue, as regulators have established set rates from the airport to various sections of the Strip. It now costs a flat $23 to get from the airport to Bally’s or Paris, for example. As a general rule, you’re still likely better off using Uber or Lyft to travel from place to place instead of taxis, however. Recent trips from the airport to mid-Strip cost around $10-$15 through the ride services, depending on surge pricing.

    The monorail is now also a viable option, as it stops at most major casino resorts on the East side of the Strip between Sahara and MGM Grand, including a station for Bally’s and Paris. Plus, it’s not piloted by Homer Simpson, so safety isn’t a concern.

    If you do decide to rent a car, some casinos relatively close to Bally’s and Paris still offer free parking, including Casino Royale, Cosmopolitan, and Tropicana. But with the WSOP now located in the middle of the Strip, it’s now more feasible to walk from that poker festival to many restaurants, casinos, and other activities than it was before.

    Score some nice discounts using casino game apps

    In 2019, I highlighted three casino game apps that users could play to earn some pretty good rewards: myVegas, Wynn Slots, and Binion’s. These have been greatly watered down over the past three years, unfortunately. Binion’s no longer awards users with rewards, and Wynn Slots requires plenty of coin purchases to earn room rewards. (I stayed for four nights at Wynn during the 2019 WSOP completely free.)

    However, myVegas remains a solid option for free or reduced room and food options. And since the game is part of the MGM Resorts International family, you’ll enjoy plenty of options for freebies near the WSOP. The list of MGM Strip casinos offering rewards on myVegas includes Aria, Bellagio, Park MGM, MGM Grand, New York-New York, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, and Mirage.

    Discounted rooms and 2-or-1 food specials can usually be had for a low number of loyalty points (the currency for purchasing rewards on the app), while the better rewards that offer free nights (less the required resort fee, of course) or free food without the BOGO requirement cost more. Fortunately, you get 400 loyalty points daily when you log into myVegas now, and there are four versions of the game you can play to earn the points (these also include myVegas on Facebook, myKonami, and myVegas blackjack).

    Think outside the box on accommodations

    The WSOP moving to a more central location opens up many more accommodation and food options. Likely, you’ve never been to Ellis Island Hotel & Casino, since it doesn’t feature a poker room. But the property, a block behind Bally’s and Paris (a walkable stretch down Flamingo Avenue), offers cheaper rooms and great food specials (ask about the steak special not on the menu at the Village Pub & Café). Plus, it has its own brewery with some of the best local beers in Las Vegas.

    Ellis Island (Visit Las Vegas)
    The small casino hotel Ellis Island sits a block behind Bally’s and Paris. (Image: Visit Las Vegas)

    Being on the Strip also opens up more hotels within walking distance of the WSOP – a Motel 6 here and a Hilton Garden Inn there. Also, don’t forget about the possibility of renting out a nearby condo, such as the one located at Polo Towers or the Jockey Club.

    One last note: having a mini-fridge in your room will allow you to save on food and drink. Most hotels charge for that amenity, but if you say you need a refrigerator for medications, they must provide you one free of charge. If that’s stretching the truth a little … well, I won’t tell if you won’t.

  • Beyond the WSOP: South Point Offers Plenty of Mixed-Game Events

    Beyond the WSOP: South Point Offers Plenty of Mixed-Game Events

    Poker players willing to venture south of the Strip will find a summer series at the South Point casino this year, with a regular weekly rotation for nearly two months.

    South Point tournament
    The South Point poker room will try its hand at a WSOP-adjacent event with its Summer Poker Round-Up. (Image: CardsChat)

    The South Point Summer Poker Round-Up will run from May 30 to July 20 with a multiday No-Limit Hold ’em tournament each week and what could amount to the most mixed-game action in Las Vegas this summer.

    A big NLH event and three mixed-game events weekly

    A $240 No-Limit Hold ’em event with a $75K guarantee will run each week, with three starting flights Monday thru Wednesday and the final day on Thursday. A separate, smaller $240 no-limit event with a $30K guarantee will also run on Thursday in the room, which will grow from 30 to 46 tables during the Round-Up.

    Then, the mixed games begin: Omaha Hi-Lo on Friday, Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo/Stud Hi-Lo on Saturday, and ROSE on Sunday. All mixed games include a $240 buy-in and $20K guarantee.

    South Point will also bump up the guarantees on its daily tournaments. The daily 6 p.m. No-Limit Hold ’em tourney will feature a $150 buy-in and guarantee $15K on Monday thru Thursday, and $25K on the weekends. South Point will also host the $450 LIPS National Championship on June 30-July 1 with a $40K guarantee.

    Series ‘complements’ others

    Jason Sanborn, manager of the South Point poker room, told CardsChat that most other summer series in Las Vegas tend to have large-field No-Limit Hold ’em events on the weekends and mixed games in the middle of the week so, in an attempt to draw crowds to his venue, he turned that schedule on its head.

    ”We kind of flip-flopped and put mixed games on weekends and our multiday NLHE event on weekdays,” he said. “We’re new to the summer tournament series scene, so we kind of wanted to complement what else is out there.”

    And because the first question he gets from players is about guarantees, Sanborn and his team set strong guaranteed prize pools in an attempt to draw poker players south of the Strip.

    “We tried to stay true to our normal schedule and also hope to attract some of the multitude of players who come to Vegas each summer,” he said. “We have high hopes we will be able to make those guarantees.”

    South Point Summer Round-Up Schedule

    Date Time Buy-in Event
    May 30 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1A
    May 31 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1B
    June 1 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1C
    Jun 02 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $30K GTD
    Jun 03 1:00 PM $240 Omaha/8 $20K GTD
    Jun 04 1:00 PM $240 Mixed Omaha/8 – Stud/8 $20K GTD
    Jun 05 1:00 PM $240 ROSE $20K GTD
    Jun 06 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1A
    Jun 07 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1B
    Jun 08 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1C
    Jun 09 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $30K GTD
    Jun 10 1:00 PM $240 Omaha/8 $20K GTD
    Jun 11 1:00 PM $240 Mixed Omaha/8 – Stud/8 $20K GTD
    Jun 12 1:00 PM $240 ROSE $20K GTD
    Jun 13 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1A
    Jun 14 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1B
    Jun 15 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1C
    Jun 16 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $30K GTD
    Jun 17 1:00 PM $240 Omaha/8 $20K GTD
    Jun 18 1:00 PM $240 Mixed Omaha/8 – Stud/8 $20K GTD
    Jun 19 1:00 PM $240 ROSE $20K GTD
    Jun 20 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1A
    Jun 21 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1B
    Jun 22 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1C
    Jun 23 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $30K GTD
    Jun 24 1:00 PM $240 Omaha/8 $20K GTD
    Jun 25 1:00 PM $240 Mixed Omaha/8 – Stud/8 $20K GTD
    Jun 26 1:00 PM $240 ROSE $20K GTD
    Jun 27 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1A
    Jun 28 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1B
    Jun 29 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1C
    Jun 30 Noon $450 LIPS National Championship $40K GTD Day 1A
    Jul 1 Noon $450 LIPS National Championship $40K GTD Day 1B
    Jul 02 1:00 PM $240 Mixed Omaha/8 – Stud/8 $20K GTD
    Jul 02 2:00 PM $200 LIPS Double Green Chip Bounty Survivor
    Jul 03 1:00 PM $240 ROSE $20K GTD
    Jul 04 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1A
    Jul 05 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1B
    Jul 06 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1C
    Jul 07 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $30K GTD
    Jul 08 1:00 PM $240 Omaha/8 $20K GTD
    Jul 09 1:00 PM $240 Mixed Omaha/8 – Stud/8 $20K GTD
    Jul 10 1:00 PM $240 ROSE $20K GTD
    Jul 11 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1A
    Jul 12 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1B
    Jul 13 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1C
    Jul 14 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $30K GTD
    Jul 15 1:00 PM $240 Omaha/8 $20K GTD
    Jul 16 1:00 PM $240 Mixed Omaha/8 – Stud/8 $20K GTD
    Jul 17 1:00 PM $240 ROSE $20K GTD
    Jul 18 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1A
    Jul 19 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1B
    Jul 20 1:00 PM $240 No-Limit Holdem $75K GTD Day 1C

     

  • 2022 WSOP FAQ: COVID-19 Requirements for International Travelers

    2022 WSOP FAQ: COVID-19 Requirements for International Travelers

    The World Series of Poker is fast approaching and, this year, US COVID entry requirements have changed for international players. What are they? CardsChat has the answers …

    us gate
    Fully vaccinated travelers will be free to enjoy this year’s WSOP in Las Vegas without any noticeable restrictions. (Image: Toronto Star)

    COVID-19 stopped play in 2020 and hampered the proceedings last year. Now, with the majority of countries around the world dropping their restrictions, this year’s festival is back to normal.

    Although there are some lingering safety measures, US borders and, more importantly, the 2022 WSOP, are open to almost anyone who wants to play.

    US entry requirements for vaxxed travelers

    If you’re planning a trip to the WSOP in Las Vegas, the current travel requirements, as outlined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are:

    • Non-US citizens can enter the US if they’ve been fully vaccinated and have official documents proving their vaccination status.

      Fully vaccinated means having the maximum number of “primary series” doses. Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen is a one-shot COVID vaccine. The two-shot vaccines permitted by the CDC are AstraZeneca, BIBP/Sinopharm, Covishield, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Sinovac. Anyone who’s received two doses of those vaccines (and boosters, if required) at least two weeks prior to traveling is considered fully vaccinated.
    • Non-US citizens who aren’t vaccinated won’t be granted access unless they have a special waiver. These waivers are only provided on exceptional grounds, such as religious beliefs.

    Everyone who’s permitted to enter the US (i.e,. the vaccinated) will also have to do the following before they travel:

    • Take a COVID-19 test no more than one day before traveling. Evidence of a negative test must be shown before you board a flight. Alternatively, proof that you’ve recovered from COVID-19 (i.e., you have antibodies) within the last 90 days can, in most cases, be used instead of a negative test result.
    • Before boarding, travelers must provide their airline with their contact information for their time in the US.

    In addition to the new US COVID entry guidelines, you’ll have to complete any standard Visa requirements, such as an ESTA.

    Mask mandates and WSOP COVID rules

    One notable change that WSOP players will notice on their way to Vegas is the lack of masks on their planes. Following a court ruling on April 18, face masks are no longer required on flights into or within the US. As such, CDC guidelines have changed and airlines won’t be enforcing this rule for people flying to the US.

    The same holds true once you’ve reached Vegas as face masks aren’t required in the State of Nevada. That means you can enter poker rooms, including those being used by the WSOP, without a mask. The relaxation of rules regarding face masks coincides with the removal of vaccine certificates. The WSOP won’t require players attending this year’s series to be vaccinated.

    That’s a major departure from the rules used between September and November last year. The delayed live event in Las Vegas was bound by CDC and state COVID guidelines, which meant only the vaccinated could play.

    That requirement sparked debates online, with a number of high-profile players, including Alex Foxen, boycotting the WSOP in protest. The backlash didn’t significantly reduce the number of players who took part in last year’s WSOP, nor did the fact that international travelers were blocked from entering the US until the latter part of the Series.

    WSOP COVID-19 checklist

    Based on last year’s numbers and the lack of restrictions this time around, the 2022 WSOP looks set to attract another bumper crowd. For those booking flights into the US, the three main things to remember are:

    1. Make sure you’re fully vaccinated and have proof.
    2. Provide your airline with a negative COVID test taken no more than one day before you travel.
    3. Complete a passenger locator/contact form before you board the plane.

    Do those things and you’ll be free to enjoy this year’s WSOP in Las Vegas from May 31 to July 19.

  • Beyond the WSOP: Aria Poker Classic Expects Big Turnout

    Beyond the WSOP: Aria Poker Classic Expects Big Turnout

    Paul Campbell, Aria’s poker tournament manager, believes the World Series of Poker’s move across the street should increase traffic in the casino’s poker room, but more so for cash games than tournaments.

    aria poker classic tournament schedule
    The Aria Poker Classic returns this summer. Tournament director Paul Campbell expects the move of the WSOP to the Strip to benefit the event and the poker room’s cash games. (Image: CardsChat)

    Campbell told CardsChat that he expects a slight spike in tournament entries, but suspects the Aria will benefit more in the evenings as players bust out of bracelet events and head across the Strip to switch formats to cash.

    WSOP’s move makes Aria trek more convenient

    Campbell believes many players used to stay at the Rio to play cash games at night largely out of convenience, given the inconvenience of the one-mile trek to the Strip from the WSOP’s former home. Moving the series to Bally’s and Paris could result in a paradigm shift for cash game action at Aria, he adds.

    “Now they can just walk across the street and that’s a big difference,” he said. “I think Aria and Bellagio will benefit greatly, especially in the evenings.”

    The Aria Poker Classic returns this summer, with 46 events between June 1 and July 17. As in the past, the APC will mostly feature buy-ins in the $400 to $600 range, with a heavy focus on No-Limit Hold’em. The alternatives include four Pot-Limit Omaha tournaments and a HORSE tournament.

    Campbell pointed out that Aria hosts plenty of PLO cash games regularly in the poker room.

    “We’re the house of PLO in the city so we’re happy to host those events,” he said.

    Still, there’s no pleasing everyone. The lack of any Omaha Hi-Lo events has players like Allen Kessler (go figure) complaining on Twitter.

    Despite its mostly small buy-in events, the APC’s championship event will be of some consequence, requiring a $3,500 entry and including a $100K guaranteed prize pool. It’s one of five events that guarantees $100K, with the vast majority of events guaranteeing $50K.

    Aria Poker Classic focuses on one-day events 

    The championship will last three days, and all other events but the $1,100 PLO event (two days) will run to completion in one day.

    Campbell said the focus on one-day events helps attendance at the APC, as many players don’t want to commit to two-day events as they tie up too much of their time. One-day events also benefit players with a day to spare between other tournaments they plan to play.

    “We like to be the venue where players can come when they’ve got a day off,” Campbell said. “They’re long days, but they’re good structures.”

    The APC will conclude on July 17 with a player’s choice tournament to be decided by Twitter vote. Campbell told CardsChat that Twitter followers in the waning days of the APC will be given the choice of three options, which will likely include No-Limit Deuce to Seven, Triple Draw Mix, and one other.

    “It will not be Hold’em,” he said with a laugh. “That will not be an option.”

    Aria won’t host nightly, small buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournaments this year, Campbell said, because of the high cash-game volume in the evenings.

  • Beyond the WSOP: Venetian Championship Poker Series Begins Monday

    Beyond the WSOP: Venetian Championship Poker Series Begins Monday

    The Venetian’s Championship Poker Series will kick off the summer tournament season in Las Vegas on Monday, with a schedule welcoming players for three months of events.

    Venetian Poker room Vegas
    The Venetian Championship Poker Series schedule begins on May 2, kicking off the Las Vegas summer tournament season. This is the longest of the summer festivals, lasting three months. (Image: Twitter/VenetianPoker)

    That schedule includes a whopping 133 events spread out between the kickoff and the series’ end on July 31, with more than $22 million in guaranteed prize money. As with most festivals, most tournaments will focus on No-Limit Hold’em, although the CPS will also feature more than a dozen events incorporating the four most popular forms of Omaha (Pot-Limit, Pot-Limit High-Lo, Big O, and Limit Hi-Lo).

    Variety-packed tourney schedule

    The Venetian will also offer plenty of variety among its No-Limit Hold’em events. The well-liked Survivor events populate several dates on the schedule. These run much like super satellites, with 10% of the field equally splitting the prize pool.

    The CPS also features “monster bounty” events. Bounties aren’t awarded until the money is reached, but the prize is more than the initial buy-in. In the $400 events, for example, bounties will be worth $500 each.

    As in previous years, the Mid-States Poker Tour will be part of the CPS. The MSPT kicks off at the Venetian this summer with a $1,600 No-Limit Hold’em event on June 6 with a $2 million guarantee. The June 12 MSPT event has an $1,100 buy-in and comes with a $1.5 million guaranteed prize pool.

    In all, the CPS will host eight events with guaranteed prize pools in the seven figures, including:

    • $2,500 Ultimate Bounty (June 19-21) with $1 million guaranteed
    • $1,100 Ultimate Stack (June 21-25) with $1.5 million guaranteed
    • $1,100 Seniors Event (June 24-27) with $1 million guaranteed
    • $1,600 DeepStack Championship (June 29-July 3) with $1.5 million guaranteed
    • $2,400 NLHE (July 8-12) with $2 million guaranteed
    • $5,000 NLHE (July 12-17) with $4 million guaranteed

    Most events will also award a coin, or a coin and a trophy. Bronze, silver, and gold coins are awarded, depending on the level of the buy-in.

    Thanks to the World Series of Poker’s new location at Bally’s and Paris, the trip to the Venetian will be more convenient for those seeking alternate events. It’s a walkable one mile between these Strip casinos.

    Aiming for comfort and value

    Tommy LaRosa, poker director for the Venetian poker room, told CardsChat that the goal is to provide players with a well-rounded schedule each summer.

    “This year, we have low-limit No-Limit Hold’em and various forms of Pot-Limit Omaha events that provide value in terms of starting chips, structures, and guarantees that are hard to beat anywhere, in addition to the higher buy-in events,” he said. “We also have shuffle machines on every table to assist in the pace of the game, and the comfort and spacing between tables allows for one of the most enjoyable poker-playing experiences around.”

    Venetian Championship Poker Series schedule

    Date Time Event Name
    5/2 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $20K GTD
    5/2 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    5/3 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1A)
    5/3 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    5/4 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1B)
    5/4 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    5/5 12:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack Freezeout $20K GTD
    5/5 2:10 PM Venetian High Roller 12 – $10,000 No-Limit Holdem
    5/6 11:00 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack Freezeout $20K GTD
    5/6 2:00 PM Venetian High Roller 13 – $10,000 No-Limit Holdem
    5/7 11:10 AM $500 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack Freezeout $25K GTD
    5/7 2:00 PM Venetian High Roller 14 – $15,000 No-Limit Holdem
    5/8 10:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Senior Monster Stack $20K GTD
    5/8 2:10 PM $400 Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty $10K GTD
    5/9 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1A)
    5/9 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    5/10 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1B)
    5/10 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    5/11 12:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $20K GTD
    5/11 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $10K GTD
    5/12 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $200K GTD (Day 1A)
    5/12 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $10K GTD
    5/13 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $200K GTD (Day 1B)
    5/13 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $10K GTD
    5/14 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $200K GTD (Day 1C)
    5/15 12:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack Freezeout $25K GTD
    5/16 11:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1A)
    5/16 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    5/17 11:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1B)
    5/17 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    5/18 12:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $25K GTD
    5/18 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $10K GTD
    5/19 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $250K GTD (Day 1A)
    5/19 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $10K GTD
    5/20 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $250K GTD (Day 1B)
    5/20 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $10K GTD
    5/21 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $250K GTD (Day 1C)
    5/22 11:10 AM March/April/May $500K Mystery Bounty Freeroll Invitational
    5/22 1:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack Freezeout $25K GTD
    5/23 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1A)
    5/23 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    5/24 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1B)
    5/24 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    5/25 12:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $50K GTD
    5/25 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $15K GTD
    5/26 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $200K GTD (Day 1A)
    5/26 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $15K GTD
    5/27 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $200K GTD (Day 1B)
    5/27 2:10 PM $500 Pot-Limit Omaha $50K GTD (Day 1A)
    5/27 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $15K GTD
    5/28 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $200K GTD (Day 1C)
    5/28 2:10 PM $500 Pot-Limit Omaha $50K GTD (Day 1B)
    5/28 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $15K GTD
    5/29 12:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack Freezeout $40K GTD
    5/29 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $15K GTD
    5/30 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $300K GTD (Day 1A)
    5/30 2:10 PM $600 Limit Omaha 8/OB $30K GTD
    5/30 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $15K GTD
    5/31 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $300K GTD (Day 1B)
    5/31 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $15K GTD
    6/1 12:10 PM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $150K GTD
    6/1 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $15K GTD
    6/2 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $100K GTD
    6/2 2:10 PM $600 Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty $50K GTD
    6/2 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $40K GTD
    6/3 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $75K GTD
    6/3 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    6/4 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $75K GTD
    6/4 2:10 PM $800 Pot-Limit Omaha/8 $75K GTD
    6/5 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $100K GTD
    6/5 4:10 PM $300 NLH Mega Satellite (5 seats GTD)
    6/5 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    6/6 10:10 AM $300 NLH Turbo Mega Satellite (3 seats GTD)
    6/6 11:10 AM $1,600 MSPT No-Limit Holdem $2M GTD (Day 1A)
    6/6 2:10 PM $800 Pot-Limit Omaha $75K GTD
    6/7 11:10 AM $1,600 MSPT No-Limit Holdem $2M GTD (Day 1B)
    6/8 11:10 AM $1,600 MSPT No-Limit Holdem $2M GTD (Day 1C)
    6/9 12:10 PM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Double Stack $150K GTD
    6/10 11:10 AM $1,110 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $200K GTD
    6/10 2:10 PM $800 Big O $100K GTD (Day 1A)
    6/11 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $100K GTD
    6/11 2:10 PM $800 Big O $100K GTD (Day 1B)
    6/12 11:10 AM $1,100 MSPT No-Limit Holdem $1.5M GTD (Day 1A)
    6/12 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    6/13 11:10 AM $1,100 MSPT No-Limit Holdem $1.5M GTD (Day 1B)
    6/14 11:10 AM $1,100 MSPT No-Limit Holdem $1.5M GTD (Day 1C)
    6/15 12:10 PM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Double Stack $200K GTD
    6/16 11:10 AM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $200K GTD
    6/16 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    6/17 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $100K GTD
    6/17 $1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty $100K GTD
    6/18 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $100K GTD
    6/18 $300 NLH Turbo Mega Satellite (5 seats GTD)
    6/18 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $40K GTD
    6/19 $300 NLH Turbo Mega Satellite (5 seats GTD)
    6/19 11:10 AM $2,500 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Bounty $1M GTD (Day 1A)
    6/19 $800 Pot-Limit Omaha / Pot-Limit Omaha 8/OB $75K GTD
    6/20 11:10 AM $2,500 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Bounty $1M GTD (Day 1B)
    6/21 11:10 AM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack Freezeout $1M GTD (Day 1A)
    6/21 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    6/22 11:10 AM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack Freezeout $1M GTD (Day 1B)
    6/22 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    6/23 11:10 AM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack Freezeout $1M GTD (Day 1C)
    6/24 10:10 AM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Seniors $1M GTD (Day 1A)
    6/25 10:10 AM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Seniors $1M GTD (Day 1B)
    6/25 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    6/26 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $150K GTD
    6/26 $1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha 8/OB $100K GTD
    6/27 11:10 AM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $200K GTD
    6/27 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    6/28 11:10 AM $1,600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $300K GTD
    6/28 $800 Big O $75K GTD
    6/28 $300 NLH Turbo Mega Satellite (5 seats GTD)
    6/29 $800 No-Limit Holdem Super Seniors (60+) $75K GTD
    6/29 11:10 AM $1,600 No-Limit Holdem Deep Stack Championship $1.5M GTD (Day 1A)
    6/29 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    6/30 11:10 AM $1,600 No-Limit Holdem Deep Stack Championship $1.5M GTD (Day 1B)
    6/30 $800 Pot-Limit Omaha Bounty $75K GTD
    7/1 11:10 AM $1,600 No-Limit Holdem Deep Stack Championship $1.5M GTD (Day 1C)
    7/2 12:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $100K GTD
    7/2 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    7/3 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $150K GTD
    7/3 $500 No-Limit Holdem Ladies $40K GTD
    7/3 6:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $40K GTD
    7/4 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $150K GTD
    7/4 2:10 PM $1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha $200K GTD (Day 1A)
    7/5 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $150K GTD
    7/5 2:10 PM $1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha $200K GTD (Day 1B)
    7/6 11:10 AM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $200K GTD
    7/6 6:10 PM $400 NLH Mega Satellite (5 seats GTD)
    7/7 11:10 AM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem $200K GTD
    7/7 6:10 PM $400 NLH Mega Satellite (5 seats GTD)
    7/8 11:10 AM $2,400 No-Limit Holdem WPT $2M GTD (Day 1A)
    7/8 6:10 PM $400 NLH Mega Satellite (5 seats GTD)
    7/9 11:10 AM $2,400 No-Limit Holdem WPT $2M GTD (Day 1B)
    7/10 11:10 AM $2,400 No-Limit Holdem WPT $2M GTD (Day 1C)
    7/11 12:10 PM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem $200K GTD
    7/11 6:10 PM $600 NLH Mega Satellite (10 seats GTD)
    7/12 10:10 AM $600 NLH Mega Satellite (10 seats GTD)
    7/12 11:10 AM $5,000 WPT No-Limit Holdem $4M GTD (Day 1A)
    7/12 8:00 PM $600 NLH Turbo Mega Satellite (5 seats GTD)
    7/13 11:10 AM $5,000 WPT No-Limit Holdem $4M GTD (Day 1B)
    7/14 11:10 AM $5,000 WPT No-Limit Holdem $4M GTD (Day 1C)
    7/15 3:10 PM $1,100 No-Limit Holdem Turbo Double Stack $100K GTD
    7/16 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $300K GTD (Day 1A)
    7/16 2:10 PM $600 Limit Omaha 8/OB $50K GTD
    7/17 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $300K GTD (Day 1B)
    7/17 2:10 PM $600 Limit Omaha 8/OB $50K GTD
    7/18 11:10 AM $800 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $300K GTD (Day 1C)
    7/19 12:10 PM $600 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack Freezeout $40K GTD
    7/19 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $15K GTD
    7/20 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Bounty $20K GTD
    7/20 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $15K GTD
    7/21 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Epic Stack $250K GTD (Day 1A)
    7/21 6:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $15K GTD
    7/22 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Epic Stack $250K GTD (Day 1B)
    7/23 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Epic Stack $250K GTD (Day 1C)
    7/24 12:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $25K GTD
    7/25 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1A)
    7/25 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    7/26 11:10 AM $400 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $100K GTD (Day 1B)
    7/26 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
    7/27 12:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack $25K GTD
    7/27 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $10K GTD
    7/28 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $200K GTD (Day 1A)
    7/28 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Survivor $10K GTD
    7/29 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $200K GTD (Day 1B)
    7/30 11:10 AM $600 No-Limit Holdem Ultimate Stack $200K GTD (Day 1C)
    7/31 12:10 PM $400 No-Limit Holdem Monster Stack Freezeout $25K GTD
    7/31 6:10 PM $300 No-Limit Holdem Bounty $10K GTD
  • Beyond the WSOP: Wynn Summer Classic Schedule Expands

    Beyond the WSOP: Wynn Summer Classic Schedule Expands

    The Wynn Summer Classic returns on May 31 with a full slate of events that includes seven tournaments with guaranteed prize pools of seven figures.

    Wynn and Encore casinos in Las Vegas
    The Wynn Summer Classic returns in May with a variety of events on its schedule. (Image: Wynn Las Vegas)

    The festival runs from May 31 to July 20 with close to 30 events on the schedule. The low number is due to the amount of big buy-in and multiday tournaments, of which the WSC schedule is packed. Some of the bigger events include the $2,200 Mystery Bounty (June 13-17) with a guaranteed $2.5 million prize pool, a $1,600 No-Limit Hold’em tournament (June 28-July 1) guaranteeing $2 million, and the $3,500 No-Limit Hold’em Championship (June 24-28) guaranteeing $3.5 million.

    The biggest buy-in tournament on the slate is a $5,200 Progressive Bounty on June 27.

    The WSC also features a variety of poker disciplines, despite the low total number of events. These tournaments include a $1,100 HORSE (June 10-11), Omaha Hi-Lo (June 12-13), $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (June 19-20), $550 PLO (June 23), and $3,000 8-Game Mix (July 1-2).

    Ryan Beauregard, executive director of poker operations for Wynn Las Vegas and Encore, told CardsChat that this year’s schedule bumped the guarantees up to $16 million overall compared to $13 million in 2021. The nine multiflight events also represent an increase. He pointed out the $500 buy-in casino industry event at the end of the schedule, a popular tournament the World Series of Poker holds at the front of its festival.

    “Also, while it’s technically not new anymore, watching players draw for $100,000 and $250,000 envelopes in the Mystery Bounties never gets old,” Beauregard said.

    Overall, the WSC aims for a higher-bankrolled crowd, with eight events featuring buy-ins in the three figures and the rest requiring $1,000 or more to enter. The schedule includes many satellites that offer players the opportunity to win their entry to the bigger events at a lower cost.

    wynn classic chps
    (Image: Twitter/ProtentialMN)

    Beauregard notes that there’s plenty of tournament competition in Las Vegas in the summer, and believes the WSC offers a strong choice for players.

    “The best thing about this time of year is that players have endless options, and the freedom to choose based on what they value most,” Beauregard said. “We have a very good variety of events and price points that are thoughtfully scheduled, coupled with a comfortable tournament area and a great team.”

    2022 Wynn Summer Classic Schedule

    Date Time Event Buy-In
    5/31 TUE 12 P.M. $200,000 GTD NLHE Day 1A $600
    6/1 WED 12 P.M. $200,000 GTD NLHE Day 1B $600
    6/2 THU 12 P.M. $200,000 GTD NLHE Day 1C $600
    6/3 FRI 12 P.M. $50k GTD Seniors NLHE 50+ $550
    6/4 DAILY 12 P.M. $200k GTD NLHE $1,100
    6/5 DAILY 12 P.M. $200k GTD NLHE $1,100
    6/6 DAILY 12 P.M. $200k GTD NLHE $1,100
    6/7 TUE 12 P.M. $1M GTD NLHE Day 1A $1,100
    6/8 WED 12 P.M. $1M GTD NLHE Day 1B $1,100
    6/9 THU 12 P.M. $1M GTD NLHE Day 1C $1,100
    6/10 FRI 1 P.M. $100k GTD H.O.R.S.E. Championship (2 Day) $1,100
    6/11 SAT 12 P.M. $200k GTD NLHE $1,100
    6/12 SUN 12 P.M. Satellite To $2,200 Mystery Bounty (25 Seat GTD) $400
    6/12 SUN 1 P.M. $100k GTD Omaha/8 (2 day) $1,100
    6/12 SUN 7 P.M. Satellite To $2,200 Mystery Bounty (20 Seat GTD) $400
    6/13 MON 12 P.M. $2.5M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1A $2,200
    6/13 MON 7 P.M. Satellite To $2,200 Mystery Bounty (20 Seat GTD) $400
    6/14 TUE 12 P.M. $2.5M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1B $2,200
    6/15 WED 12 P.M. $2.5M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1C $2,200
    6/16 THU 12 P.M. $2.5M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1D $2,200
    6/18 SAT 12 P.M. $200k GTD NLHE $1,100
    6/18 SAT 7 P.M. Satellite To $3,000 PLO Championship (10 Seat GTD) $400
    6/19 SUN 12 P.M. $200k GTD NLHE $1,100
    6/19 SUN 2 P.M. $250k GTD PLO Championship (2 Day) $3,000
    6/20 MON 12 P.M. $250k GTD Seniors 50+ (2 Day) $1,100
    6/20 MON 7 P.M. Satellite To $1,600 NLHE $1M GTD (20 Seat GTD) $300
    6/21 TUE 12 P.M. $1M GTD NLHE Day 1A $1,600
    6/21 TUE 7 P.M. Satellite To $1,600 NLHE $1M GTD (20 Seat GTD) $300
    6/22 WED 12 P.M. $1M GTD NLHE Day 1B $1,600
    6/23 THU 1 P.M. $100k GTD PLO $550
    6/23 THU 7 P.M. Satellite To $3,500 NLHE Championship (20 Seat GTD) $500
    6/24 FRI 12 P.M. $3.5M GTD NLHE Championship Day 1A $3,500
    6/24 FRI 7 P.M. Satellite To $3,500 NLHE Championship (20 Seat GTD) $500
    6/25 SAT 12 P.M. $3.5M GTD NLHE Championship Day 1B $3,500
    6/26 SUN 12 P.M. $3.5M GTD NLHE Championship Day 1C $3,500
    6/27 MON 2 P.M. $250k GTD NLHE Progressive Bounty $5,200
    6/28 TUE 12 P.M. $2M GTD NLHE Day 1A $1,600
    6/29 WED 12 P.M. $2M GTD NLHE Day 1B $1,600
    6/30 THU 12 P.M. $2M GTD NLHE Day 1C $1,600
    7/1 FRI 1 P.M. $150k GTD 8-Game Mix (2 Day) $3,000
    7/2 DAILY 12 P.M. $100k GTD NLHE $550
    7/3 DAILY 12 P.M. $100k GTD NLHE $550
    7/4 DAILY 12 P.M. $100k GTD NLHE $550
    7/5 TUE 11 A.M. $50k GTD Ladies NLHE $550
    7/5 TUE 12 P.M. $1M GTD NLHE Day 1A $1,100
    7/6 WED 12 P.M. $1M GTD NLHE Day 1B $1,100
    7/7 THU 12 P.M. $1M GTD NLHE Day 1C $1,100
    7/8 FRI 1 P.M. $200k GTD NLHE $1,100
    7/9-10 DAILY 12 P.M. $200k GTD NLHE $1,100
    7/11 MON 12 P.M. $100k GTD NLHE $550
    7/12 TUE 12 P.M. $200k GTD NLHE $1,100
    7/12 TUE 7 P.M. Satellite To $1,600 Mystery Bounty (20 Seat GTD) $300
    7/13 WED 12 P.M. $1.5M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1A $1,600
    7/13 WED 7 P.M. Satellite To $1,600 Mystery Bounty (20 Seat GTD) $300
    7/14 THU 7 P.M. $1.5M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1B $1,600
    7/15 FRI 12 P.M. $1.5M GTD Mystery Bounty Day 1C $1,600
    7/17 SUN 12 P.M. $100k GTD NLHE $550
    7/18 MON 12 P.M. $100k GTD Casino Employee Mystery Bounty Day 1A $500
    7/19 TUE 12 P.M. $100k GTD Casino Employee Mystery Bounty Day 1B $500
  • GGPoker Opens Road to Vegas with $1 WSOP Main Event Satellites

    GGPoker Opens Road to Vegas with $1 WSOP Main Event Satellites

    The 2022 World Series of Poker is just 54 days away and, with COVID restrictions almost a distant memory, GGPoker is ready to take a team of international qualifiers to Las Vegas.

    WSOP
    The 2021 WSOP Main Event held in attracted more than 6,600 players to Las Vegas last November, and organizers are hoping for a larger turnout this year now that sites like GGPoker are again running online qualifiers to the tournament. (Image: Mark Gorman/Poker Central)

    The WSOP’s official partner launched its Road to Vegas satellites this week. Although other operators can offer Vegas prize packages, GGPoker is the only international platform that can offer direct qualifiers for the WSOP Main Event.

    Anyone who wins one of this year’s Road to Vegas packages will get a seat in the $10,000 Main Event, their expenses covered, and access to exclusive events.

    GGPoker offering direct route to WSOP Main Event

    GGPoker’s WSOP satellites are already underway. Buy-ins start at $1 and there are dozens of WSOP prize packages up for grabs each week until the end of June.

    Those who successfully navigate the qualification road to Vegas will receive the following:

    • Direct entry into the $10K WSOP Main Event
    • Seven nights’ accommodation at Bally’s Hotel & Casino
    • $1,200 to cover travel expenses (flights have to be booked through MainEventTravel.com)
    • Entry to GGPoker’s last longer promotion (the winner gets a WSOPE prize package)
    • GGPoker merchandise
    • Access to the GGPoker Platinum Lounge at the WSOP

    GGPoker ambassador, Daniel Negreanu, said he’s looking forward to playing alongside qualifiers from “every corner of the planet.” Even without GGPoker’s Road to Vegas promotion, that’s a noteworthy thing to say after two years’ worth of COVID restrictions.

    Las Vegas open to all

    COVID-19 meant the 2020 WSOP had to take place online for the first time in its history. Last year’s series did eventually take place in Las Vegas. However, the dates were changed, and players had to comply with a variety of safety measures.

    GGPoker WSOP
    International players can now win a seat in the 2022 WSOP Main Event with GGPoker’s Road to Vegas qualifiers. (Image: GGPoker)

    Now, with the US open to international travelers, no mask mandates in Nevada, and the requirement to show proof of vaccination dropped, the 2022 WSOP will be back to normal. That means GGPoker can take a sizable cohort of qualifiers to the series.

    What’s more, the removal of restrictions means players from outside of the US won’t have to jump through as many hoops to play in poker’s biggest tournament. The combination of these two things could result in the WSOP and the Main Event being the biggest ever.

  • Las Vegas Tournament Preview: March 2022

    Las Vegas Tournament Preview: March 2022

    March will be a huge month for tournament players in Vegas with an incredible slate of events throughout the month. This will be the biggest month for poker in Vegas outside of the World Series Of Poker in 2022. And the lifting of the mask mandate in Nevada should bring in even more players to feast on the big guarantees some of these series are offering.  

    Vegas March 2022 Tournament scene

    Wynn Millions (February 21 – March 20)

    Continuing on from February, the Wynn Millions runs through March 20th. The million dollar guaranteed $10,000 buy-in event starts March 3rd and features multiple starting days. This event will also be broadcast on PokerGo.

    The rest of the Wynn Millions series for 2022 will feature buy-ins from $400 to $1,100 with the excellent rake and blind structures that we’ve come to expect for mid-level buy-ins in Vegas. If you haven’t been to The Wynn, you can expect a beautiful room, excellent staff, and great food options nearby.

    The Wynn usually brings in respectable fields, though not the huge numbers that we see from the WSOP or The Venetian. The ambitious guarantees for this series should draw in a ton of players generating bigger prize pools than in previous years. We expect a full room and you may want to register early to avoid being an alternate because space can be limited. 

    Wynn Millions March 2022 Schedule

    Venetian Deepstack Showdown (March 1 – March 27)

    Running for almost the entire month of March, the DeepStack Showdown features everything we’ve come to expect from The Venetian, big fields, great structures, and a solid staff. Players haven’t forgotten that the Venetian Deep stacks brought good structures to Vegas and other poker rooms were forced to follow. 

    Most of these events feature buy-ins from $300 to $800, with some higher buy-ins on weekends. Almost every event has a solid guarantee, and even with all the other series running you can expect The Venetian to crush those guarantees.  

     

    Venetian Deep Stack Showdown March 2022 Schedule

    The Orleans March Mania Series (March 15 – April 3)

    If you are looking for smaller buy-in events that still offer a nice structure and don’t eat up half the prize pool with rake and fees, The Orleans has you covered in March with an excellent series for those of us without a huge bankroll. Buy-ins mostly range from $150 to $500, with an ambitious $800 event on March 31st with four starting days and a $500,000 guarantee.

    We also love to see unique tournament formats, and the March Mania series includes HORSE and ROSE events and even a Run It Twice tournament that should really bring out the gamblers.  

    Rooms should be very affordable at The Orleans all month if you’re coming in from out of town and want to stay where you play, with the possible exception of the weekends during the March Madness basketball tournament. The Orleans has become one of the busiest poker rooms in town over the last few years, and the room will be filled with cash game players if you bust out of a tournament and want a shot at winning some extra lunch money. 

    Orleans March Mania 2022 tournament schedule

    Bally’s World Series Of Poker Circuit (March 17 – April 3) 

    The WSOP Circuit always brings in nice crowds, and even with so many other events running in close proximity we expect to see a big crowd of players chasing those circuit rings. This season the rules have changed so that every ring winner gets a seat in the national championship, meaning that events that typically have smaller fields, like the Omaha/8, HORSE, and PLO, should draw some extra players. 

    Most buy-ins are either $250 or $400, with a few larger numbers in the middle of the series. The senior event on the 28th should be a big draw as they always are in Vegas. With so many players in town for the various series we expect a good number for the main event as well and it should blow past the half-million dollar guarantee easily. Click HERE for the full WSOP Bally’s 2022 Circuit stop schedule.

    Aria 2022 US Poker Open (March 16 – March 27) 

    You’ll have real trouble finding a more beautifully appointed poker room than Aria, a fitting venue for a high-roller series like The US Poker Open. Many of the final tables from these events will be broadcast in the PokerGo studios just around the corner. Buy-ins range from $10,000 to $50,000 and you can expect shark-filled waters as some of the best players in the world typically play these events. 

    US Poker Open 2022 Schedule on PokerGo

    Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza II (March 28 to May 1) 

    That’s right, another Venetian event that starts as soon as the previous series wraps up. This is standard stuff for The Venetian these days, with a tournament series running most of the time, which is great for local tournament grinders. We’ll talk more about this series next month, but here’s a link to the schedule for the 2022 Venetian Deep stack Extravaganza II. 

  • Short Stacks: Nevada Drops Indoor Mask Mandate, SD Senate Acts on Online Sports Betting

    Short Stacks: Nevada Drops Indoor Mask Mandate, SD Senate Acts on Online Sports Betting

    Nevada ends its mask mandate, a casino memorabilia show coming to Las Vegas, and South Dakota acting on online sports gambling are some of the news bits CardsChat picked up during another orbit around the poker world the past week.

    casino mask sign
    Visitors to card rooms in Las Vegas will soon be able to throw away their masks. (Image: KTNV)

    The Governor of Nevada will lift indoor mask mandates today, joining California, New York, and Delaware in allowing its residents to go maskless in casinos and card rooms.

    According to the Nevada Independent, and several other Nevada-based news sources, Gov. Steve Sisolak will announce the change during a virtual press conference about COVID at 10 am PST. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul is also allowing her state’s mandate to expire today. Delaware’s mandate ends Friday.

    And on Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsome said the state’s indoor masking requirement will end Feb. 15.

    During a conference call about MGM Resorts International’s fourth-quarter earnings earlier this week, CEO Bill Hornbuckle seemed to tip the Governor’s hand. “I expect that given positive COVID trends in Nevada, we will start to see meaningful lifting of COVID restrictions in the very, very near future consistent with what we have seen in other states,” Hornbuckle said.

    Despite the mask mandate, casinos in Nevada went on a pretty good winning streak in 2021 — 10 months a row pulling in at least a billion dollars.

    A push for Yonkers

    New York Majority House Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins wants the slots parlor MGM Empire City at Yonkers raceway to get one of the three casino licenses up for grabs in the New York Metropolitan area. 

    MGM Resorts International, which owns Empire City, joins a crowded field, which is vying for the lucrative casino licenses. Empire City sits in her district. “Of course I’m going to support my hometown casino, which by the way, has done the work,” Stewart-Cousins said, according to the New York Post.

    Empire City’s competitors include the Malaysian conglomerate Genting Group, UE Resorts International Inc., Las Vegas Sands Corp., Wynn Resorts, Rush Street Gaming, Hard Rock International, Bally’s Corporation, and the Water Club in Manhattan, according to Politico.    

    New York’s Gaming Commission is expected to award the licenses later this year.

    Jeff Gross parts ways with partypoker

    Poker professional and Twitch streamer Jeff Gross told his Twitter followers he’s ending a three-year run streaming for partypoker. Gross said the combination of raising a small child and living in the US is forcing him to cut back on his poker streaming. 

    He said he will collaborate with partypoker on future projects.  

    His Twitch channel will remain active. 

    “This is not a good bye, just a beginning,” he said. 

    South Dakota takes a step closer to allowing online sports betting

    The South Dakota senate advanced a proposal that puts the fate of online sports betting in the hands of voters. The measure passed the Senate 18-17, and will face the same stiff resistance from the 70-member house. 

    If the house passes SJ 502, it will appear as a referendum on November’s ballot.

    Online sports gambling is legal in South Dakota’s neighbors, Iowa and Wyoming. 

    Casino memorabilia show at South Point

    People who collect poker chips, playing cards, dice, matchbooks, and other gambling-related memorabilia might want to visit the 29th annual Casino Collectibles Association Show in June.

    The three-day exhibition is set to run June 16 through 18 in Exhibit Hall C at South Point Casino.

    More information can be found on the group’s Facebook page.

     

  • The Fading Mirage: Between a Piece of Poker History and a Hard Rock

    The Fading Mirage: Between a Piece of Poker History and a Hard Rock

    The volcano on the Las Vegas Strip will go dormant and gamblers on the Strip will play a different tune when the iconic tourist attraction outside The Mirage is replaced by the Hard Rock Casino’s signature guitar-shaped tower.

    hard rock guitar tower
    A new Hard Rock hotel and casino will change the face of the Las Vegas Strip with the addition of a guitar-shaped tower. (Image: Hard Rock)

    MGM Resorts announced last week that it sold The Mirage to Hard Rock International for $1.075 billion, giving the Florida-based tribal casino chain a prominent spot on the Las Vegas Strip. The volcano will be torn down as part of what Jim Allen, CEO of Hard Rock and Seminole Gaming, called a “massive re-do.”

    “I’m 100 percent committed to creating something new,” Allen told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Just buying something and putting the Hard Rock brand on it was never in the options.”

    A guitar-shaped hotel tower will be built where the fake volcano erupted since Steve Wynn opened Las Vegas’s first mega-resort in 1989. Hard Rock doesn’t know when this massive “re-do” will start. In the meantime, MGM Resorts will retain The Mirage name and brand, and will license those to the Hard Rock for up to three years while that company finalizes its plans for its new Strip property.

    A representative of the PR firm that handles Seminole Gaming said it’s too early to say if plans for the new casino will include a poker room. The Mirage permanently closed its poker room in 2020.

    The sale price is higher than expected, according to Morgan Stanley analyst Thomas Allen in a client note, where he estimated the hotel and casino to be worth $650 million.

    The land underneath

    The sale only provides Hard Rock with the rights to operate the soon-to-be-former Mirage, and doesn’t include the nearly 80 acres of Las Vegas Strip real estate the casino sits upon. 

    The property will be owned by VICI Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in New York. The firm specializes in casino properties and entered a purchase agreement with MGM Growth in August for $17.2 billion. MGM Resorts will own 1% of VICI. The sale is expected to be completed next year.

    MGM Growth is a REIT that was formed by MGM Resorts in 2015, and which went public in 2016. Hard Rock will lease the land for $90 million a year.

    “By working collaboratively with MGM Resorts to sell The Mirage operations, we are able to grow our pre-existing partnership with Hard Rock as they expand their gaming operations onto the Las Vegas Strip, the most economically productive street in America,” VICI President John Payne said in a statement.

    VICI is the landlord for Hard Rock Casino in Cincinnati, as well as for 28 gaming facilities comprising over 47 million square feet, approximately 17,800 hotel rooms, and more than 200 restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and sportsbooks, according to a press lease from MGM Growth.

    The deal makes VICI the landlord to 15 MGM Resorts properties across the country. Collectively, it will add  32,400 hotel rooms, 1.5 million feet of casino square footage, and 3.6 million of convention space square footage to VICI’s portfolio, according to the same release.

    The rent for these properties will be $860 million a year.

    The center of the poker world

    Between 1989 and 1998, The Mirage’s poker room was, arguably, the center of the poker universe.  

    “The Mirage was the place to be. It was the Mecca of poker,” said Daniel Negreanu in “Stories from the Felt – The Mirage,” a short video by the poker streaming service PokerGo. “Everything about (The Mirage) was spectacular.”

    The players who called it their office included Chip Reese, Doyle Brunson, Jennifer Harman, Ralph Perry, Mike Matusow, Eli Elezra, Howard Lederer, David Grey, John Hennigan, Steve Zolotow, and Mori Eskandani.

    “From 1989 to 1998, I don’t remember a day that I would go into the poker room and not find a game to play,” said Eskandani, a 2018 Poker Hall of Fame inductee who, as a television producer, is responsible largely responsible for the poker boom. 

    Eric Drache, a 2012 Poker Hall of Fame inductee, had a full career managing poker rooms for nearly two decades before he was tapped by Steve Wynn to set up the room. Drache was the WSOP’s tournament director from 1973 to 1988 and is responsible for many poker innovations, including satellites. His role in poker history is expansive.

    Wynn gave him full control of the room, including determining where it should go in the casino. 

    “It wasn’t tucked away behind the sportsbook. It’s in the middle of the casino so that people who were getting out of dinner or shows, they’d walk by it, and you know, the guys would look and say ‘Oh, I want to play this for a little bit,’” Negreanu said in the piece.

    Zolotow added it was situated “so somebody can walk out of the craps pit with a wad of chips and say ‘Boy, I’m tired of standing up, I want to play some poker,’” a grin on his face.

    This also made the poker room part of the beating pulse of the casino, as well as a juicy spot for both the sharks and the dreamers, even fictional ones like Mikey McDermott from “Rounders.” 

    “I want him to think that I’m pondering a call, but all I’m really thinking about is Vegas and the fucking Mirage,” he says in the movie’s first scene, moments before KGB stacks him. McDermott further expounds on The Mirage’s place in poker history as he begins his “Ali-like return to the ring” with a trip to Atlantic City later in the film (below).

     

    And right then, just like that, playing poker at The Mirage was added to the to-do list for many aspiring players at the time. Well, it’s now too late.

    In 1998, the Bellagio opened and the players followed the liquidity that the newer, bigger, and fancier mega-resort brought. Still, The Mirage’s poker room endured for another 22 years until Covid — and all that came with it — shuttered it for good. 

  • WSOP POY Leader Josh Arieh Bows Out Early, Leaves Race Wide Open

    WSOP POY Leader Josh Arieh Bows Out Early, Leaves Race Wide Open

    Josh Arieh has taken his chips off of the table for the remainder of this year’s World Series of Poker, but he remains the man to catch in the 2021 Player of the Year race.

    josh arieh
    Josh Arieh won’t compete in the final few WSOP events, which leaves the door open for others to win this year’s Player of the Year race. (Image: PokerCentral/Mark Gorman)

    The longtime pro enjoyed a renaissance during this year’s series, cashing 10 times and picking up two WSOP bracelets. That run has earned him a table-topping 3,639.34 points, but he won’t be trying to improve that total.

    Arieh would love to win the WSOP Player of the Year title, but says that life outside of poker is more important. As such, he won’t be playing the final handful of events, which means any number of pros, including Dylan Linde and Shaun Deeb could usurp his position.

    Arieh looking to hold one time

    Arieh announced his decision to forgo the final events on Wednesday night. In a tweet sent to his followers, he said that becoming WSOP POY would be a career milestone, but that other aspects of his life, including his family, are more important than chasing bracelets right now.

    “Although #WSOP Player of the Year is a career milestone that I’ll likely never be in the running for again, there are more important things in life than my career! I will not be playing the remainder of the WSOP. Best of luck to those in the chase” Arieh tweeted.

    He’ll return the money players staked him for the final run of events and watch from the rail as those around him try to take the title. Regardless of the end result, Arieh has had one of his best years in poker. He’s won $928,845 in 2021, and all but $2,534 of that came from WSOP events. The only times he’s won more money in a single year were in 2004 ($2.8 million) and 2009 ($1 million).

    What makes this year’s haul more impressive is the fact Arieh semi-retired from poker in 2012. He was a standout player during the mid-noughties, but gradually faded from the limelight as the game evolved.

    Arieh said at the time poker was getting tougher and that he wanted to play less. He did, however, remain a firm fixture at the WSOP. This, coupled with his work for PocketFives, kept him sharp enough to roll back the years and top the 2021 POY leaderboard.

    Who can catch Arieh?

    Arieh’s run is one for the ages, but his position isn’t secure. The chasing pack has eight events remaining in which someone can overtake the current leader. Based on the remaining events, there are thousands of point up for grabs.

    The average return for winning a WSOP event is 1,000-1,100 points, while a min-cash is worth around 60 POY points. The gap between Arieh and Dylan Linde, who currently sits in second place, is 662.72 points. The rest of the top five need to earn approximately 800 points to take the lead.

    2021 WSOP POY Leaderboard

    WSOP POY

    Catching Arieh is far from impossible. In fact, a strong finish from anyone in the top 15, let alone the top five, could knock Arieh from his perch. For example, Shaun Deeb is currently sitting in seventh with 2,714.82 points.

    Deeb already said he wants to dethrone his friend Arieh and, with 15 cashes and one bracelet this year, he’s certainly not out of the running. So, while the WSOP POY title would cap off an unexpectedly impressive series for Arieh, he’ll have to fade a lot of outs before his name goes into the history books.