The 2023 World Series of Poker Satellites
WSOP 2023 Satellites
It won’t be long until the WSOP is upon us again, and thousands of people will be making their annual pilgrimage to the Las Vegas desert to play in the biggest tournament series in the world. There’s no doubt that the Main Event is the pinnacle of poker tournaments, and after nearly breaking the record last year, many people think we’ll have the biggest Main Event ever in 2023.
If you don’t have a spare $10,000 to take part in this potentially record-breaking tournament, there are other ways you can enter. One of the most popular ways to qualify for the WSOP is through a satellite, so read on if you want to enter the world’s biggest poker tournament for a fraction of the cost.
What is a satellite?
A satellite is a tournament where a player can win entry into a larger tournament instead of cash. These tournaments allow players the chance to play large buy-in tournaments for a small investment. Famously, the winner of the 2003 Main Event, Chris Moneymaker, managed to win his seat into the Main Event from a $39 satellite!
Satellites can come in multiple tiers. Some satellites give you an entry into the tournament you wish to play, like the Main Event. These are Tier 1 satellites, as you only need to win one to enter your target tournament. There are also satellites where you can win a seat in a Tier 1 satellite called Tier 2s. Again, there can be multiple different tiers, culminating in an entry to the main tournament.
The more tiers there are, the cheaper the buy-in will be, but the more tournaments you have to win before you win your entry to your target tournament. However, most Tier 4/Tier 5 satellites cost less than $1 to enter, so firing off multiple entries to these in the hope that you get a lucky run won’t break the bank.
Currently, only WSOP.com is offering satellites to this year’s Main Event, but we’re sure as we get closer to the summer, multiple US-facing sites will give you a chance to satellite your way into the Main Event. Let’s take a look at what’s currently on offer.
WSOP.com
As the online poker site of the World Series of Poker, you’d expect WSOP.com to be offering plenty of ways to win your seat to the Main Event. While they’re currently only offering one way to take down a Main Event seat, we’re sure that they will ramp up their promotions as we get closer to the big day.
The site is currently offering a promotion where every player who deposits with the deposit code MAIN2023 will receive an entry to an exclusive freeroll, played on February 28th. The top prize in this freeroll is a seat in the 2023 WSOP Main Event, so you won’t want to miss this one! The code is valid from the 1st-26th of February, and the tournament will start at 5pm PT on February 28th.
Live Satellites
If you’re already making the trip to Vegas this summer, you can win your way into a number of different events by playing one of the live satellites offered at the WSOP. These live satellites either payout in tournament credit or with a seat directly into one of the events on this year’s WSOP schedule.
There are many different kinds of live satellites available to play at the 2023 WSOP, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Let’s take a look at what they’re offering.
No Limit Hold’em Mega Satellites
These tournaments will be running throughout early July and give players the chance to win $10,000 in tournament credit which can then be used to enter the Main Event.
| TIME | DATES | BUY-IN | PRIZES | FORMAT |
| 08:00 | July 2-7 | $145 | Multiples of $1,100 entries into 1pm Mega | Turbo |
| 08:00 | July 3-8 | $1100 | Multiples of $10,000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit | Turbo |
| 10:00 | July 2-7 | $580 | Multiples of $10,000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit | Regular |
| 13:00 | July 2-7 | $1100 | Multiples of $10,000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit | Regular |
| 14:00 | July 2-7 | $250 | Multiples of $2,175 entries into 7pm Mega | Turbo |
| 16:00 | July 2-7 | $580 | Multiples of $10,000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit | Regular |
| 19:00 | July 2-7 | $2175 | Multiples of $10,000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit | Regular |
Daily Mega Satellites
Throughout the WSOP there will be satellites that offer players tournament buy-in credit which can be used to buy-in to WSOP events, Mega Satellites, and Daily Deep Stacks.
| TIME | DATES | BUY-IN | PRIZES | FORMAT |
| 15:00 | May 30-July 14 | $240 | Multiples of $2000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit | Regular |
| 19:00 | May 30-July 14 | $580 | Multiples of $5000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit | Regular |
| 19:00 | May 30-July 14 | $1100 | Multiples of $10,000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit | Regular |
| 22:00 | May 30-July 14 | $135 | Multiples of $1000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit | Regular |
Specialty Event Mega Satellites
If you want to win your way directly into one of the bigger buy-in WSOP events, these Specialty Mega Satellites let you qualify by playing the same variant that you’re trying to qualify for.
| DATE | BUY-IN | FORMAT | SATELLITE EVENT |
| May 31, 2023 | $580 | Mixed No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha | Event #6: $5000 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em; Pot-Limit Omaha |
| June 2, 2023 | $1,100 | Dealers Choice | Event #10: $10000 Dealers Choice Championship |
| June 3, 2023 | $580 | No-Limit Hold’em | Event #12: $5,000 Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em |
| June 4, 2023 | $1,100 | Seven Card Stud | Event #14: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship |
| June 7, 2023 | $1,100 | Limit Hold’em | Event #22: $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship |
| June 9, 2023 | $1,100 | Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better | Event #25: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship |
| June 12, 2023 | $1,100 | Razz | Event #33: $10,000 Razz Championship |
| June 13, 2023 | $1,100 | No-Limit Hold’em | Event #35: $10000 Secret Bounty No-Limit Hold’em |
| June 14, 2023 | $1,100 | 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball | Event #38: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship |
| June 20, 2023 | $1,100 | Pot-Limit Omaha | Event #50: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship |
| June 22, 2023 | $1,100 | H.O.R.S.E. | Event #54: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship |
| June 26, 2023 | $1,100 | Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better | Event #63: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship |
| June 27, 2023 | $580 | No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed | Event #65: $5,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em |
| June 28, 2023 | $1,100 | No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw | Event #69: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship |
| June 30, 2023 | $1,100 | No-Limit Hold’em (Super Turbo) | Event #72: $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em |
| July 1, 2023 | $1,100 | Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Split 8 or Better | Event #75: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship |
| July 13, 2023 | $1,100 | No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed | Event #90: $10,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Championship |
| July 15, 2023 | $1,100 | Short Deck No-Limit Hold’em | Event #93: $10,000 Short Deck No-Limit Hold’em |
| July 16, 2023 | $580 | No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Handed | Event #94: $5,000 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em |
Mystery Millions Mega Satellites
If you want the chance to win the million dollar bounty on offer in this tournament, you’ll have to act fast, as the tournament is one of the earliest in the WSOP schedule. Satellites are running over the first few days of the WSOP, where you can win $1000 entries to the event.
| TIME | DATES | BUY-IN | PRIZES |
| 12:00 | May 31-June 2 | $135 | Multiples of $1000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit |
| 16:00 | May 31-June 2 | $240 | Multiples of $1000 paid in Tournament Buy-In Credit |
High Roller Satellites
If you want a chance to play for some serious money, you can win your way into the biggest buy-in tournaments at the WSOP through these satellites. If you’re lucky enough to win, you’ll be rubbing elbows with some of poker’s elite! However, these satellites aren’t cheap, so make sure you’re properly rolled before you sit down to play.
| Date | Time | Buy-in | Satellite Event |
| May 30, 2023 | 11:00 | $2,700 | Event #2: $25,000 High Roller Six Handed No-Limit Hold’em |
| June 1, 2023 | 18:00 | $2,700 | Event #8: $25,000 Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship |
| June 5, 2023 | 18:00 | $2,700 | Event #16: $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em |
| June 8, 2023 | 15:00 | $625 | Multiples of $5,300 entries into 6pm Mega |
| June 8, 2023 | 18:00 | $5,300 | Event #23: $50,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em |
| June 11, 2023 | 12:00 | $125 | Multiples of $850 entries into 2pm Mega |
| June 11, 2023 | 15:00 | $850 | Multiples of $7,500 entries into 6pm Mega |
| June 11, 2023 | 18:00 | $7,500 | Event #29: $100,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em |
| June 15, 2023 | 15:00 | $2,750 | Multiples of $25,350 entries into 6pm Mega |
| June 15, 2023 | 18:00 | $25,350 | Event #40: $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold’em |
| July 9, 2023 | 18:00 | $2,700 | Event #80: $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E. |
| July 11, 2023 | 15:00 | $625 | Multiples of $5,300 entries into 6pm Mega |
| July 11, 2023 | 18:00 | $5,300 | Event #84: $50,000 HIGH ROLLER No-Limit Hold’em |
Poker Players Championship Satellites
Many players believe that the $50K PPC is the most prestigious event at the WSOP, outside of the Main Event. If you want the chance to take home a huge first-place prize and the Chip Reese trophy, you can win your way into the event through these satellites.
| TIME | DATES | BUY-IN | PRIZES |
| 15:00 | June 16-June 17 | $625 | Multiples of $5300 entries into 6pm Mega |
| 18:00 | June 16-June 17 | $5300 | Entry to Event #43: $50,000 Poker Players Championship |
PLO Satellites
If you’re tired of the No Limit Hold’em supremacy at the WSOP and want to play some more of the great game of Pot Limit Omaha, you can satellite into the two PLO High Rollers.
| TIME | DATES | BUY-IN | PRIZES |
| 15:00 | June 24 | $320 | Multiples of $2700 entries into 6pm Mega |
| 18:00 | June 24 | $2700 | Entry to Event #57: $25,000 High Roller Pot Limit Omaha |
| 15:00 | June 29 | $625 | Multiples of $5300 entries into 6pm Mega |
| 18:00 | June 29 | $5300 | Entry to Event #71: $50,000 High Roller Pot Limit Omaha |
Summary
When it comes to tournaments like the Main Event, not everyone can afford to spend $10,000 in the hope of winning it big. This is why satellites are so popular; they give everyone a chance to play in these world-famous tournaments, no matter how small their bankroll is. If you’re good enough or lucky enough, you can earn your seat at the Main Event for just a few bucks!
WSOP Satellite FAQs
If you cash in a WSOP event, you will be required to pay taxes on those winnings if they’re over a certain amount. However, depending on your country of residence, you may be able to claim some of those taxes back by filling in some tax recovery forms.
When you play a WSOP satellite, you’re playing to win a seat in one of the events at the Series. Once registration has ended, you will be able to see how many seats are available to be won. For example, if there are ten seats available, the tournament will play down until only ten people are left. Once they reach this number, the tournament ends, and each player is awarded a seat – no matter how small/big their stack size is.
You can qualify for WSOP events by playing a satellite online or in a casino.
The exact length of an event will vary depending on the specific one you play. For example, some are over in a day, whereas others, like the Main Event, would take you nine days of play if you were to win.
The estimated value of the average gold WSOP bracelet is somewhere between $3000 and $5000. The Main Event bracelets are often worth considerably more as they’re created by high-end designers and loaded with precious stones.
A WSOP satellite is a tournament where the prizes you can win are seats to World Series events. You can play WSOP satellites online (depending on the poker room) and in some casinos in Las Vegas.
The entry fee for the Main Event is $10,000.
This year the World Series is being hosted by two casinos – Paris Las Vegas and the Horseshoe Las Vegas Hotel!