After much of the World Series of Poker played out online in 2020 and the series moved to fall in 2021, the annual festival returns to the summer this year.
Organizers released the series’ official schedule on Wednesday and players will find 88 events running May 31 to July 20. The festival also features 14 online bracelet events at WSOP.com.
This is the first time the series will be held on the Las Vegas Strip. The action shifts this year to the Paris and Bally’s casinos. Fitting the series’ history, Caesars is renovating and rebranding the property as Horseshoe Las Vegas.
The annual poker festival was founded in 1970 by Benny Binion at his Horseshoe Casino in downtown Vegas. The Strip now becomes home to the series.
Main Event returns to July, no masks required or vaccine mandates
The $10,000 Main Event remains the biggest tournament in poker and runs this year from July 3-16. Along with releasing the schedule, WSOP officials also announced there will not be a vaccine or mask requirement.
“This year is particularly historic for the WSOP with its move to the heart of the Las Vegas Strip and debut in the best facilities we’ve ever had,” said WSOP executive director Ty Stewart, who is running his 17th WSOP.
“We’re ready to welcome players from all over the world to our housewarming party at Bally’s, soon-to-be Horseshoe, and Paris. The schedule is jam-packed with first-class events and we expect this to be the biggest and most anticipated WSOP yet.”
WSOP hits the Strip
The series heading to Strip offers players some changes and a unique environment. All convention space at Bally’s and Paris will be used for the tournament series.
Organizers note that this will be the largest tournament area in event history. That includes over 200,000 square feet housing a total of 600 tables.
The WSOP features a wide variety of poker variants and that continues this year. The series continues catering to a wide range of players as well with buy-ins from $400 to $250,000.
Players heading to Vegas will find the main cage in Paris with the CBS Sports/PokerGO TV set in the Bally’s Event Center. Navigating between the two spaces should be easy as the buildings are connected and share a parking garage.
Inside the series
The WSOP action kicks off with an aptly named event. The $500 “Housewarming,” which comes with a $5 million guarantee and is a followup to the $500 “Reunion.”
That helped welcome players back to the series in 2021 and brought in 12,973 entries. Here’s a look at some other highlights from the series.
- Weekend events (June 11 – July 16) – Flagship No Limit Hold’em tournaments return each Friday and Saturday. Look for massive-field tournaments like the Millionaire Maker, Monster Stack, Colossus, and The Closer.
- Million Dollar Mystery Bounty (July 2-4) – This new $1,000 event features a mystery bounty for up to $1 million. The tournament was originally planned for 2020, but that series was canceled due to COVID.
- Tournament of Champions (July 18-20) – This $1 million freeroll is the first Tournament of Champions in series history. The event is open to all 88 bracelet winners and 2022 WSOP Circuit ring winners.
- Mid-stakes events (June and July) –Look for more No Limit Hold‘em events at the mid-range price point with buy-ins at the $2,000 to $5,000 level.
- Flip and Go Presented by GGPoker (June 12) – This $1,000 event takes GGPoker’s online tournament and moves it to the live felt. Flip and Go proved popular in 2021 and is back this year. To start, everyone gets three cards, selects two, and is then all in preflop on the first hand. The player who wins the table is then already in the money. The action then plays out as a normal NLHE tournament.
- Lucky Sevens (July 10-12) – Players battle for guaranteed first-place money of $777,777 for a $777 buy-in.
- Poker Hall of Fame Bounty (July 10) – This Poker Hall of Fame comes with a buy-in that’s the same as the hall’s founding, $1,979. All Hall of Fame members earn a freeroll and each carries a bounty for the year he or she was inducted.
High roller action continues
Those with bigger bankrolls have plenty of events to look forward to as well. Several high rollers are on the menu and a couple stand out.
A new $100,000 High Roller Bounty begins May 31 and players earn $25,000 for each bounty they collect.
The Heads Up Championship begins June 2 and has become very popular with pros. The annual event now sees the buy-in move from $10,000 to $25,000. Here’s a look at the complete WSOP schedule.
WSOP 2022 schedule
Online bracelet events back at WSOP.com
Players heading to Las Vegas can also play online poker at WSOP.com. That includes battling for some bracelets.
These tournaments are available to players on the WSOP network in Nevada and New Jersey, with a few events also planned for players in Pennsylvania.
At least one online event is scheduled every Sunday. Three “Double Up Bracelet Days” on June 5, July 10 and 17 offer players two events.
Two online bracelet events are also scheduled for Tuesdays and one on a Saturday. Some of the online portion highlights include:
- BIG $500
- Lucky Sevens $7,777 high roller
- two freezeout events
- $1,000 NLHE Online Championship
Satellites for WSOP gold bracelet events are already underway at WSOP.com. These will also run continuously through the festival.
GGPoker also runs exclusive satellite events for the WSOP for players outside the US. Here’s a look at the complete online bracelet schedule.
2022 WSOP.com Online Bracelet Schedule
Daily Deepstacks
Along with plenty of bracelet-hunting action, the WSOP also runs Daily Deepstacks events throughout the series. These non-bracelet events come with smaller buy-ins, but achieve some nice prize pools.
These events run at 2 , 5, and 9 p.m. on most days in the Paris Ballroom. This area also hosts daily satellites and cash games.
Things to remember for players from outside the US playing the WSOP
As COVID-19 restrictions ease in many countries, more players should be heading to this summer’s WSOP. Players from outside the US have a few considerations to take into account.
- COVID-19 vaccination and mask status – As noted above, these aren’t required in 2022. WSOP officials are following local, state, and federal guidelines that are in effect at the time of the event. There is no vaccination or mask requirement, but that could theoretically change depending on the circumstances.
- ID requirements – All players must show a government-issued picture ID with current address as well. A secondary form of ID, such as a bill or statement confirming address, is also required. Players from outside the US must provide a valid passport and another form of ID with address shown. This could be a signed lease agreement, utility bill, or mobile phone bill.
- Taxes – Foreign players from countries with a tax treaty with the US are subject to up to a 30% tax withholding.
- Wiring funds for a WSOP tournament account – Players can wire funds for WSOP events ahead of time. This money is then placed on account. An account can be set up at the WSOP Main Cage in the Champagne Ballroom. Players can then register online using BravoPokerLive.com.
- Online event deposits – Players can create an account and deposit from anywhere. (Use this link for exclusive bonus offers). Those wishing to create an account in person will find a booth near Payouts and Player Services in the Champagne Ballroom.
WSOP Europe 2022
Along with the release of the WSOP schedule, Caesars also announced some other information that may be of interest to players outside the US. The WSOP Europe is set for Oct. 12 to Nov. 3 at King’s Casino in Rozvadov, Czech Republic.
Players will find 15 gold bracelet events, with the €10,000 Main Event as the signature event. Players with bigger bankrolls will find a €50,000 High Roller.
Other important WSOP information
Online registration
Series organizers are asking players to make use of the online/mobile registration process. This helps reduce lines and congestion during the series.
The WSOP uses BravoPokerLive.com for online and mobile registration and payment. Those looking to use this process first need to visit the Champagne Ballroom in the Le Centre Des Conventions at Paris to to validate their identification.
Once that is complete, players can register and pay on Bravo and use self-service kiosks to print seat cards. They can then go directly to their tables. Registration for events begins in May.
In-person registration
The main registration area is in the Champagne Ballroom with other stations also at the main registration and VIP cages.
These areas open May 31 at 9 am and run 24 hours a day through July 17. A valid photo ID and Caesars Rewards cards are required.
Caesars Rewards
The booth is located in the Champagne Ballroom by the main and VIP registration cages. Kiosks are also available for players to reprint cards.
Methods of payment
The WSOP accepts the following forms of payment:
- cash
- credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
- ACH payments
- wire transfers
- cashier’s checks made out to the player or Paris
- Paris or Bally’s gaming chips
- Paris tournament buy-In chips
- tournament buy-In credit
ACH and credit/debit card transactions include additional fees. Players also need a valid ID.
Payouts
Winning players can collect at the WSOP Main Cage in the Champagne Ballroom. Players can request cash, wire transfer, casino chips, check, or tournament account deposit.
The WSOP can also send funds to a Bravo Tournament Buy-In Account account.
TV coverage
CBS Sports will once again air a second season of World Series coverage. PokerGo will stream action daily with 18 bracelet events and at least 15 hours of Main Event coverage.
* Photos courtesy PokerGO, WSOP