The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Guide and Updates

Just as last year, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) will be jointly hosted by two venues, after the success of Bally’s and Paris casinos in 2022. While Paris remains as it is, Bally’s has since undergone something of a makeover, having been transformed into the Horseshoe Las Vegas in time for the festivities.

With the Thunderdome ever-present, the TV cameras will descend on the two venues, with most of the final table coverage you see on CBS Sports – who have retained the broadcast rights – coming from the Horseshoe. Just like in 2022, Paris will host the majority of the Day 1’s, with the iconic Paris Ballroom once again inspiring players of all levels inside one of the best poker rooms in the world to play in.

With over 150,000 square feet available between Paris and the Horseshoe Las Vegas, over 600 poker tables will play host to the action, with organisers expecting a record attendance in 2023.

HORSESHOE LAS VEGAS HOTEL

Changing its name from the MGM Grand Hotel to Bally’s in 1986, the building initially built in 1973 has been part of the Caesars’ Entertainment empire for half a century and has changed look too, with the iconic ‘Horseshoe’ branding prevalent throughout the new grounds.

PARIS LAS VEGAS

Paris Las Vegas opened on September 1, 1999 as part of the growth of Bally’s Las Vegas. There were originally plans for a full-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower, though this was soon scrapped after discovering that it would interfere with the nearby Harry Reid Airport. So instead, they settled on a 1:2 scale model to go alongside their 3:2 scale L’Arc de Triomphe. Even with the scaled-down models, Paris Las Vegas is a must-see for any visitors to Sin City.

World Series of Poker (WSOP)

2023 SCHEDULE

This year’s WSOP schedule will have 95 live bracelet events to match last year and a 34-event online series that will run simultaneously. However, if you’re planning on playing the online series, it can only be accessed on WSOP.com if you’re in Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or Michigan. This represents a growth of four states from just one in 2022.

WIN YOUR WAY INTO THE MAIN EVENT

The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is going a very special year of events, as there is a unique prize on offer. Last year’s turnout of 197,626 entrants from over 100 countries saw a record-breaking $347.9 million in prize pools paid out. In particular, the WSOP Main Event, which costs $10,000 to play and last year saw Norwegian player Espen Jorstad win the top prize of $10 million.

Anyone who enters this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event will go into a draw to win entry back into ‘The Main’ for ‘life’ – or to be precise 30 years. The prize, which will only become activated if the 2006 record attendance of 8,773 is broken, is non-transferrable, but as long as you live to see them, is effectively worth $300,000 – 30 times the entry fee. The winning player will be drawn from the total entries on Saturday, July 8.

“With the momentum generated from the WSOP’s debut on the Las Vegas Strip last year, we expect a record-breaking WSOP and World Championship at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas in 2023,” said the WSOP’s Executive Director and Senior Vice-President, Ty Stewart. “If the Main Event is on your bucket list, this is the year to get to Vegas.”

World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2023 MAIN EVENT DATES

The Main Event will begin as the series itself starts to near its end, with Day 1a taking place on beginning on Monday July 3 and the final day of the Final Table playing down to a new world champion on Monday July 17 inside the Thunderdome as the Horseshoe Las Vegas.

There are four starting Day 1 flights, each of which will be played over the first four consecutive days of the Main Event, starting at 12 pm, with five 2-hour levels comprising each Day 1. Each player starts with 60,000 chips, and the blinds start at 100/200 with a 200 chip BB ante.

Players who reach Day 2 from flights 1a, 1b and 1c will play on the fifth day of action, Day 2abc. Players who progress from Day 1d will play on Day 2d before all the remaining players converge on Day 3, which takes place on Sunday, July 9. There is only one day off scheduled for the day preceding the final table of nine players.

Players have the opportunity to register for the tournament until the end of the second level on either Day 2abc or Day 2d and the WSOP Main Event final table will be played over two days, July 16 and 17 with the winner being crowned on July 17.

2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) MAIN EVENT:

Check out our 2023 WSOP Main Event page for more information on poker’s most-famous tournament.

2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit & Exciting Events

Just like in 2022, anyone who has already won a WSOP circuit ring or WSOP bracelet in the 2022/23 season, as well as anyone who wins in Las Vegas, will be eligible for entry into the 2023 Tournament of Champions, which will be played at the resumption of the series. This invitation only event has an amazing $1 million prize pool and last year was one of the highlights of the series.

The 2023 WSOP’s Tournament of Champions has moved to the start of the series this year, taking place between May 31 and June 2. The $1,000,000 freeroll is limited to WSOP Circuit ring winners at a live event or during a WSOP.com/WSOP.ca/GGPoker.net online circuit from July 20, 2022 to May 22, 2023, as well as winners from WSOP Online 2022 (WSOP.com/WSOP.ca/GGPoker.net) and WSOP Europe 2022. Registration for the 2023 Tournament of Champions opens on Tuesday, May 30 at 9:00 a.m., with any 2023 bracelet winners only eligible for the 2024 tournament.

Some of the other highlights of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) include Badugi and Big O events, which are represented on the schedule by their own events in 2023 for the first time. Having only been part of Mixed Big Bet or Mixed Omaha tournaments before, both are sure to attract a whole new player pool in 2023 with each event costing $1,500 to play.

Others that are unmissable events to watch or play include the $1,000-entry Mystery Millions, which takes place from May 31 to June 5. A truly memorable event in 2022, it’s the $1,000 Million Dollar Bounty but renamed as Mystery Millions but with a guaranteed first place and guaranteed $1,000,000 top bounty. Players who eliminate another player will draw tickets for up to $1 million from Day 2 onwards.

Elsewhere, there is already a lot of hype around the $300 buy-In Gladiators of Poker event, which has an amazing $3,000,000 guaranteed prize pool and is sure to welcome the ‘Weekend Warriors for which the World Series of Poker is so famed.

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Satellite Tournaments

Satellite tournaments are organized into various tiers, each offering distinct opportunities for players. In Tier 1 satellites, winning a single tournament grants entry into the desired target tournament, such as the prestigious Main Event.  Tier 2, provides a chance to win a seat in a Tier 1 satellite. This tiered structure can extend further, with multiple tiers leading up to participation in the main tournament.

The presence of additional tiers offers players a cost-effective path to the target tournament, although it requires winning multiple tournaments along the way. It’s worth noting that Tier 4 and Tier 5 satellites often have entry fees below $1, enabling players to enter multiple times without incurring significant expenses, increasing the chances of a fortunate streak.

At present, WSOP.com exclusively provides satellite tournaments for this year’s Main Event. However, as the summer approaches, it is highly likely that numerous US-facing platforms will also offer opportunities for players to satellite their way into the Main Event.

See the full list of tournaments you can register for and earn your way to the Main Event at our WSOP Satellites page

World Series of Poker (WSOP) Registration for 2023

If you’re interested in playing an event at this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP), you can register for events either in-person or online. US players will just need to bring their ID, whereas non-US players will need to bring their ID and a formal proof of address (such as a bank statement or utility bill).

The main registration area is located in the Champagne Ballroom, near the front end of the Paris Convention Center. Opening from Tuesday, May 31 at 9:00am, it will remain open 24 hours a day, non-stop through July 20 as players can register for events at any time of the day or night.

Guests are required to present valid picture identification, along with their Caesars Rewards card and payment to enter events. Loyalty Card: All players are required to have a Caesars Rewards loyalty card to enter World Series of Poker (WSOP) events. To obtain a card for new players, or to request a reprint of your card if you have previously signed up for one, players can visit the Player Services area in the Champagne Ballroom or visit one of the card reprint kiosks. A valid picture identification such as a state-issued driver license or a country-issued passport is required for a Caesars Rewards card.

It is important to note, players who lost or forgot to bring their physical Caesars Rewards card with them to the World Series of Poker (WSOP), should request a re-print of their card and not a new card. Caesars Rewards re-print kiosks will also be available in the Champagne Ballroom, allowing those a quick way to get a physical card when that’s the only need they have.

ONLINE REGISTRATION FOR 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP)

This year, online registration is once again handled by WSOP vendor Bravo Poker Live. Beating the queues by registering online, you’ll need to play attention to the deadlines that apply for bracelet events. These are easy to follow and make sense for each tournament, with three easy ways you can pay for your event entry online:

• Wire Transfer – This method can be used for all buy-in levels, but you must register at least 14 days before the start of the tournament to be eligible to use it.
• Credit Card – This option is only available for buy-ins of $10,000 and under. The accepted card types are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and Diners Club. Your card will need verification before it can be used, but you can use it until the end of the series once you’ve done so.
• ACH – This method can only be used for buy-ins of under $10,000.
  Pre-registration is already available, so if you’re looking to head down to the WSOP this year, why not save yourself the headache and register online.

World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2023 CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS

Although in many walks of life, COVID-19 or Coronavirus is not having the same effect as in recent years, there is still a risk of infection and illness. The WSOP has no special rules or restrictions in place in 2023, so will follow local, state, and CDC guidelines that are in already in place at the time of the WSOP taking place.

There is also no vaccination requirement to play in this year’s WSOP, but players are expected to follow the CDC safety guidelines at all times. At the time of writing, the Nevada state guidelines do not require masks to be worn indoors, though it is still an option for players who wish to do so, and many top players still do so, including Isaac Haxton among others.

THE 2023 WORLD SERIES OF POKER EUROPE (WSOPE)

The World Series of Poker is expected once again to return to King’s Casino in Rozvadov on the border between Czech Republic and Germany. The town has been the host of the WSOPE since 2017, and the partnership looks stronger than ever, so expect a schedule to be announced later in the year.

Last year, the WSOPE featured 15 bracelet events between October 13 and November, including the €10,000 WSOP Europe Main Event. More details are likely to be released after the summer series has concluded.