WSOP

GGPoker’s $500M Acquisition of WSOP Marks New Chapter for Poker’s Top Brand

Posted on August 8, 2024August 8, 2024 by Kelley N.

In a significant shift within the poker industry, Caesars Entertainment has recently announced the sale of the iconic World Series of Poker (WSOP) to Toronto-based iGaming investment firm NSUS Group, known for owning GGPoker and other prominent online gambling platforms. The acquisition, valued at $500 million, includes the intellectual property rights for the WSOP. NSUS Group will make an upfront payment of $250 million, with the remaining amount to be paid over the next five years.

Noting the company’s lengthy partnership with Caesars Entertainment, NSUS Group CEO Michael Kim expressed his excitement about the transaction. He emphasized that GGPoker’s expertise in the field and cutting-edge technology will spearhead WSOP’s future, improving the brand’s worldwide reach and player experience. He further said that under NSUS Group’s leadership, the WSOP is poised to continue its legacy as the premier poker brand while pushing the boundaries of poker’s growth on an international scale.

This is not the first time the WSOP brand has changed hands. Caesars, then operating as Harrah’s, acquired the WSOP and Horseshoe brand in 2004 for $50 million following the Binion family’s loss of control over its casino. The acquisition came at a pivotal moment as the poker boom, ignited by Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 Main Event win, was in full swing. Harrah’s subsequently moved the WSOP from the Las Vegas Strip to the Rio in 2005, where it remained until relocating to the Las Vegas Horseshoe and Paris in 2022.

What About the Events?

Despite the change in ownership, the WSOP’s signature summer events will continue to be hosted at Caesars Entertainment’s Las Vegas casinos for the next two decades. Caesars will retain the use of WSOP branding at its physical casino locations and maintain preferential rights to host live WSOP Circuit events, according to the press release.

However, with GGPoker’s extensive global operations, there are plans to significantly increase the number of WSOP events, both live and online, across Asia, Europe, South America, and Canada. GGPoker, already a key platform for WSOP events and satellites, is expected to leverage its new ownership to solidify its position as the world’s largest online poker site.

Caesars Digital’s WSOP Online platforms in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, and New Jersey are also part of the deal. For the time being, Caesars Digital will keep running these online poker rooms, but they will be subject to regulations that prevent them from running P2P real-money poker games online (with a few exceptions, of course).

While the four jurisdictions work to resolve licensing issues and make adjustments to the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement, which currently permits WSOP to share player pools across New Jersey, Michigan, and Nevada, the online poker rooms may temporarily close.

WSOP Online Debuts Multi-State Poker Network in the United States

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Kelley N.

In an exciting announcement, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) have gone live with WSOP Online, an all-new platform for real-money poker. This revolutionary project is the first of its kind to pool liquidity across three states that are now fast-rising poker havens. Specifically, it unites player pools in Michigan, Nevada, and New Jersey into a single network.

Updates to the platform include mobile support for up to four tables, more game variations (such as Omaha), and the ability to participate in multi-flight re-entry tournaments. More new features that players may anticipate include in-app gift drops and game adaptations like Mystery Bounty.

Caesars Digital’s VP of online poker, Danielle Barille, was quite complimentary of the new platform, calling it a huge win for their players. For players in all three states, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) online events will provide the year’s largest prize pools, elevating the experience and offering increased value.

Same Exciting Tournaments

The much-awaited 55th World Series of Poker began play at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas on May 28. This coincided with the debut of WSOP Online. There will be 30 online bracelet events running from June 1st to July 21st, making this year’s series the most extensive schedule to date.

There will be an official gold bracelet event every Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout the series. The events start at $333 for Triple Treys No Limit Hold’em and run all the way up to the $10,000 WSOP Online Championship on July 11. Exclusive satellites to live events will also be playable on WSOP Online, with buy-ins as little as $1.

And there is more. There are five hybrid-format high-roller events available on WSOP Online for players with large bankrolls. Participating in these tournaments will be even more exciting since the final tables will be held live at the WSOP in Las Vegas.

How to Get In On the Fun

To ensure a smooth transition to the new platform, existing players from Nevada and New Jersey were invited to complete pre-registration. A player’s existing balance, tournament tickets, and reward points would be credited to their account no later than 72 hours after the platform becomes live. The existing service was available to players until May 27th, after which they needed to reinstall the WSOP Online app.

Transferring the data is only possible if players create a new WSOP Online account before July 31. Following this date, any remaining funds will be sent to the addresses they have listed in their accounts. Still, it is an exciting development and it will be very interesting to see how it impacts other aspects of online poker.

What to Look Forward to In the World of Poker in 2024

Posted on January 4, 2024January 2, 2024 by Kelley N.

2023 finally came to a close, but the best is yet to come for poker enthusiasts. With a plethora of incredible deals from different operators, be ready to greet 2024 in grand style. In addition to being the ideal way to commemorate the season, it is also an excellent way to be ready for an amazing year of poker and casino gaming.

PokerStars’ 2024 European Poker Tour

The 2024 calendar for the European Poker Tour (EPT) was unveiled, with an emphasis on quality rather than quantity. Starting in February in Paris’s Le Palais des Congrès, the tour will make its way to Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Cyprus, and Prague, among other famous locations, with the hopes of hosting a more grandiose event.

The first event of the season, EPT Paris, will take place from February 14th to the 25th in the newly expanded Le Palais des Congrès. In the following week, from April 24th through May 4th, the legendary EPT Monte-Carlo will continue its storied history as part of the EPT schedule.

Casino Barcelona, the site of PokerStars’ biggest ever sponsored live event in 2023, will play home to EPT Barcelona from August 26th through the 8th at the same time. The Merit Royal Diamond Hotel, Casino & Spa in Cyprus will play home to EPT Cyprus from October 9–20, continuing the island’s involvement in the circuit after a successful debut in 2023.

Last but not least, the 2024 season concludes with EPT Prague, which takes place from December 4–15. This year’s event aims to shatter its record for the largest Main Event field.

The online tournament entry options are provided by PokerStars. For example, satellites are running for the EPT Paris that provide Main Event tickets and lodging packages.

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Events

The 55th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) will take place at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas from May 28th to July 17th. After sixteen years in the Rio Convention Center, the event will head to the Strip for the third year in a row. With a great venue in the bag, Ty Stewart, WSOP’s senior vice president, looks forward to surpassing the success of 2023, aiming for a groundbreaking 2024 event.

There will be four beginning flights for the Main Event No-limit Hold ’em World Championship, which is a $10,000 buy-in event, from July 3–17. Defending the Main Event title and taking home a whopping $12.1 million in 2023, Daniel Weinman beat off an unprecedented field of more than 10,000 competitors.

Other notable events on the schedule include the “Mystery Millions,” the renowned “Millionaire Maker,” the Seniors Championship, and the Ladies Championship.

Poker Community Honors Doyle Brunson

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Kelley N.

On October 2, 2023, the global community of poker paid tribute to a poker icon by the name of Doyle Brunson, who is regarded as the ‘Godfather of Poker.’ Doyle won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 1976 and 1977 with the now-famous 10-2 hand, part of why he is considered a legend.

Famous poker players Andrew Neeme, Brad Owen, and Doug Polk, who operate the Lodge Card Club, collaborated with the poker player agency Poker Royalty to honor Doyle Brunson on his birthday. They announced a thrilling incentive for those who were willing to try their luck with the legendary ten-deuce.

Winners of hands where the hole cards were 10-2 will be put into a raffle tonight at midnight if they scored trips or better with those cards. One fortunate participant won the big prize of $10,200 on October 3.

More Goodies

There was a special event tonight with a $102 buy-in and a $2,000 guaranteed prize pool for those who couldn’t get enough activity. Both tournament and cash game players were eligible for this promotion, which offered a total of $10,200 in prizes. Even the high hand qualification was dropped to tens full of deuces (until 10:00 pm) in poker venues under the Live! name in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Hanover, Maryland.

At the Peppermill Casino in Reno, Nevada, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., players who made a flush or full house with 10-2 were awarded $100. WPT Prime Madrid poker festival participants who won a hand with 10-2 were entered into a drawing for a $1,100 place in the WPT Prime Championship. An exciting $1,000 Cash Giveaway competition was also open to ClubWPT VIP and Diamond members.

While not much of the growing crypto poker world was involved, it was certainly a great way to commemorate someone who had such a huge impact on the game we know and love. Maybe next year.

Why Doyle Was Such a Big Deal

Doyle Brunson won the World Series of Poker Main Event twice (1976 and 1977), placing him in a tie for second place all-time alongside giants like Phil Ivey and Johnny Chan. However, his legacy goes much beyond his ten career bracelets. With 17 bracelets, Phil Hellmuth is far and away the leader. Brunson built his wealth in the high-stakes cash games in Las Vegas, but he won around $6.2 million in live poker tournaments.

Brunson is well-known not just for his skill at the poker table, but also for writing “Super/System,” which is usually considered the most important book on the subject. He worked with a team of specialists to develop “Super/System 2.”

The Countdown Begins As the 2023-2024 WSOP Circuit Schedule Released

Posted on July 4, 2023July 2, 2023 by Kelley N.

The calendar for the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) for the years 2023 and 2024 has been revealed, and it is sure to pique the interest of poker players everywhere. They are in for a ten-month poker marathon with 25 exciting stops that will have them on the edge of their seats.

The high-stakes fun begins on July 19 at the stunning Choctaw Casino and Resort in Durant, Oklahoma. The poker room which is like a hidden treasure in the middle of the United States is the ideal spot to begin your ascent to the highest levels of poker supremacy.

The winners of each stop along the circuit will get priceless Circuit ring trophies as a tribute to their poker expertise. However, the fun and excitement do not stop there! The 2024 WSOP Tournament of Champions will be the grand finale of poker’s most prestigious tournament.

Taking Competitive Poker to the Next Level

Imagine this: there is a freeroll poker tournament with a prize pool of $1 million, and the best poker players in the world are competing for the title of champion.

The history of poker is about to be rewritten. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has been breaking records left and right, and now the WSOP Circuit is getting set to do the same. The 19th season promises to be the most spectacular ever as the poker craze reaches new heights. Get ready to see some unbelievable exploits and epic battles!

Planning to Attend?

The 19th of July to the 20th of May will be a time of nonstop activity, fellowship, and great memories in the world of poker. So, what’s the plan? No need to panic just yet, even if we do not know the final timetables. These dates are provided for your convenience so that you may more easily organize your vacation arrangements.

Place	Team
July 19 – 30, 2023	Choctaw Durant (Dallas/Oklahoma)
August 3 – 14, 2023	Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)
August 10 – 21, 2023	Graton Casino – Northern California
August 17 – 28, 2023	Hard Rock (Tulsa)
September 7 – 18, 2023	Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Omaha/Iowa)
September 28 – October 9, 2023	Thunder Valley Casino (Northern California)
October 5 – 16, 2023	Horseshoe Hammond (Chicago)
October 12 – 23, 2023	Isle of Capri (Pompano Beach, Florida)
October 25 – November 6, 2023	Choctaw Durant (Dallas/Oklahoma)
November 2 – 13, 2023	Harvey’s Lake Tahoe (Nevada)
November 9 – 20, 2023	Grand Victoria Casino (Chicago, IL)
November 23 – December 4, 2023	Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)
January 3 – 14, 2024	Choctaw Durant (Dallas/Oklahoma)
January 11 – 22, 2024	Thunder Valley Casino (Northern California)
January 18 – 29, 2024	Horseshoe/Tunica (MS)
February 1 – 12, 2024	Isle of Capri (Pompano Beach, Florida)
February 15 – 26, 2024	Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)
February 29 – March 11, 2024	Horseshoe Hammond (Chicago)
March 7 – 18, 2024	Hard Rock (Tulsa)
March 14 – 25, 2024	Turning Stone Resort Casino (Verona, NY)
March 21 – April 1, 2024	Horseshoe Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV)
April 4 – 15, 2024	Grand Victoria Casino (Chicago, IL)
April 18 – 29, 2024	Horseshoe Tunica (MS)
May 2 – 13, 2024	Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)
May 9 – 20, 2024	Caesars Southern Indiana (Elizabeth, IN)

Strong Start for 2023 Tournament Poker Season

Posted on January 4, 2023January 2, 2023 by Kelley N.

It may feel like the 2022 poker tournament season just wrapped up a few weeks ago, but those in the poker world are already moving on to other things. We are entering the year 2023 with a new crop of tournaments and some interesting variations on the standard fare.

Borgata’s Offering

The poker tournament schedule for the year 2023 got off to a rousing start at the Borgata in Atlantic City. There are $1,000,000 in guaranteed bounties for the $2000 ($200 juice) Mystery Bounty tournament known as “The Return.” On Monday, January 2, the action began with Day 1A, and later that day, at seven o’clock in the evening, Day 1B began its portion of the tournament.

As exciting as that event was, it was really a warmup for the real thing. A $5,000 buy-in Championship Event with some unusual stipulations will take place on Wednesday at the Borgata. The total prize pool for the tournament is $3 million, and the winner is certain to receive at least $1 million.

From January 4-24, 2023, King’s Casino in Rozvadov will play host to twelve tournaments as part of the World Series of Poker International Circuit. Simultaneously, an event on the WSOP Circuit is being held in the United States, with players making the trip to Oklahoma’s Choctaw Casino Resort.

PokerGO

The PokerGO Cup 2023 will begin on January 11 at the PokerGO Studios in Las Vegas. The eight-part “High Roller” tournament series culminates on January 19 with the $50,000 Championship Event, which will be broadcast online.

PokerStars

The Bahamas will host the second annual PokerStars Players’ Championship for the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. The 46-event festival kicks off on January 22 at the Baha Mar Resort and Casino in Nassau. The $25,000 Poker Players’ Championship (PSPC) is only one of several tournaments, including bounty and High Roller events.

What About the EPT and WPT?

The World Poker Tour and the European Poker Tour, two of the biggest tournament poker circuits, will not get off until later in 2023. Out of the two, the EPT is the one that will be making its maiden trip to a new venue first.

Beginning on February 15 at the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile, the European Poker Tour (EPT) will host a series of tournaments with buy-ins of €5,000 for the Main Event, €10,000 for the High Roller, €50,000 for the Super High Roller, and €3,000 for the Mystery Bounty. The final match of the tournament will be held on February 26.

Justin Bonomo Becomes Biggest Winner in Poker

Posted on July 19, 2018July 19, 2018 by Kelley N.

There are plenty of multi-millionaires in the poker world, and Justin Bonomo has just topped the list. His total lifetime winnings now amount to $43 million placing him just ahead of Daniel Negreanu, who has earned $39 million over his career. Other top earners include Erik Seidel ($34 million), Fedor Holz ($32 million), Antonio Esfandiari ($27 million) and Phil Ivey ($26 million).

Charity Tournament Pushes Bonomo Over Record

The win that pushed Bonomo ahead of Negreanu was the impressive $10 million prize he earned after coming first in the Big One for One Drop poker tournament in Las Vegas. The tournament is played in support of the One Drop charity, which ensures that impoverished communities have sustainable access to clean water. Over the years, the organisation has helped to improve the lives of over a million people across West Africa, Mexico, Haiti and South America.

The buy-in for the tournament is a steep $1 million, $80 000 of which is donated to One Drop while the rest goes to the prize pool. At this year’s Big One for One Drop, over $2 million was raised for the worthy cause.

This is the second One Drop tournament of the year. Just last week, the $1111 buy-in tournament raised an additional $525 000 for the charity. So, just over $2.7 million has been raised in support of this wonderful charity that looks after the lives of those in need.

A Very Good Year for Bonomo

Bonomo’s winnings this year have mostly contributed to his record-breaking earnings. So far, in 2018, he has won $25 million, including a $4.8 million windfall at a high roller tournament in Macau and a $5 million win in Las Vegas. With 24 cashes over the course of the year, he has averaged $1.03 million per win – and, since we’re only halfway through the year, his cashes amount to almost $126 000 every day.

While he has earned the most so far, this number is not an indication of Bonomo’s total worth. The figure only considers his winnings and neglects to include his buy-ins. So, it still remains to be seen who is actually the richest player in the poker world.

Bonomo is just 32 years old, so he has plenty of time to keep climbing the ranks. Daniel Negreanu, who is second on the All-Time Money List, is 42 years old while Erik Seidel, who is third, is 58. If Bonomo continues to earn at this rate, he will certainly go down in history as one of the most successful poker players.

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Tag: WSOP