GOLD RUSH: WSOP Bracelet Hunting Shifts Online This Summer with 85 Events
World Series of Poker events will continue this summer, but tournaments will be held online. The annual series in Las Vegas was postponed to the fall, but players can still win bracelets this summer at WSOP.com and GGPoker.
The announcement of the new “WSOP Online” comes as players remain at home with tournament poker on ice. The poker festival spans two months and kicks off July 1 with 85 bracelets up for grabs.
“It wouldn’t be summer without WSOP,” series executive director Ty Stewart said. “While we are thrilled to be reopening our venues and optimistic about future offline events, we couldn’t be more excited about deepening our relationship with GGPoker and watching some history unfold online this summer.”
The US schedule includes a total of 31 events including a $100,000 Online Bracelet Series Leaderboard.
A look at the WSOP.com summer online schedule
WSOP Online events are a far cry from the festival Benny Binion founded in downtown Las Vegas in 1970. However, the series offers a chance for the bracelet hunting to continue until live poker returns.
The news of the series comes after online poker operators have achieved record turnouts in recents months. That goes for US operators as well where it’s legal to play in:
WSOP.com is in a unique spot in the US, operating the country’s only shared liquidity pool among New Jersey, Nevada, and also in Delaware with 888poker. However, this series will only include players on the WSOP.com platform in New Jersey and Nevada.
The series has scheduled one bracelet event a day throughout the month of July for US players. Satellites to bracelet events start as low as $1. More July promotions are also planned including multiple reload bonuses. Here’s a look at the complete US schedule:
2020 WSOP Online Series (WSOP.com)
| Event | Date | Time (PT) | Game | Buy-In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 1 (W) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Kick-Off | $500 |
| 2 | July 2 (Th) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed Deepstack | $1,000 |
| 3 | July 3 (F) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em | $400 |
| 4 | July 4 (Sa) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Super Turbo | $500 |
| 5 | July 5 (Su) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Freezeout | $1,000 |
| 6 | July 6 (M) | 3 p.m. | PLO8 6-Handed | $600 |
| 7 | July 7 (Tu) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Knockout Deepstack | $800 |
| 8 | July 8 (W) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Freezeout | $500 |
| 9 | July 9 (Th) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 6-Max | $1,000 |
| 10 | July 10 (F) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em MonsterStack | $600 |
| 11 | July 11 (Sa) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Turbo Deepstack 6-Handed | $500 |
| 12 | July 12 (Su) | 3 p.m. | The BIG 500 No Limit Hold'em | $500 |
| 13 | July 13 (M) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em High Roller Freezeout | $1,500 |
| 14 | July 14 (Tu) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em High Roller | $3,200 |
| 15 | July 15 (W) | 3 p.m. | PLO 8-Max HR | $1,000 |
| 16 | July 16 (Th) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Turbo | $500 |
| 17 | July 17 (F) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'emÊ | $777 |
| 18 | July 18 (Sa) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed Turbo DeepStack | $1,000 |
| 19 | July 19 (Su) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em | $400 |
| 20 | July 20 (M) | 3 p.m. | PLO 6-Handed | $500 |
| 21 | July 21 (Tu) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $777 |
| 22 | July 22 (W) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Turbo Deepstack | $500 |
| 23 | July 23 (Th) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Knockout | $500 |
| 24 | July 24 (F) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed | $400 |
| 25 | July 25 (Sa) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Summer Saver | $500 |
| 26 | July 26 (Su) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Grande Finale | $500 |
| 27 | July 27 (M) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Freezeout | $400 |
| 28 | July 28 (Tu) | 3 p.m. | Omaha 8 6-Max | $1,000 |
| 29 | July 29 (W) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Turbo Deepstack 6-Handed | $600 |
| 30 | July 30 (Th) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Seniors Event | $500 |
| 31 | July 31 (F) | 3 p.m. | No Limit Hold'em Championship | $1,000 |
Bracelet action also includes GGPoker for players around the world
The new online series comes after announcing an unprecedented partnership with GGPoker for the recent Super Online Circuit Series.
That series awarded 18 championship rings and smashed the $102 million guarantee, awarding almost $135 million. The events brought 485,851 entries including a Main Event of almost 10,000 entries and the winner taking home $1.2 million.
The GG part of the WSOP Online kicks off on July 19 and runs through Sept. 6. The series marks the first time players outside the US have been able to compete for WSOP bracelets online.
“With over $100 million in guarantees during the WSOPC Super Series in May and more than $134 million in awarded prizes, it’s clear that GGPoker and the WSOP make a good pair,” GG head of poker operations Steve Preiss said.
The GGPoker schedule hasn’t been released yet, but WSOP officials promised a similar look as the Super Series. The schedule will similarly have numerous buy-in levels and game formats catering to a wide range of players and bankrolls.
Media coverage planned similar to live WSOP
Along with offerings on both sites, WSOP officials promise significant media coverage for fans. Poker Central has been a partner in recent years, streaming live coverage on the PokerGO app.
The network has planned “significant original content” around the series utilizing its Las Vegas-based studio. That includes live streams, highlight packages, and program episodes earmarked for traditional television distribution.
“We’re excited to create bracelet events that the worldwide poker community will embrace, as well as innovative programming with PokerGo,” Preiss added.
Poker Central will also offer virtual “bracelet ceremonies” and interviews with winners. USPoker will also be providing our own coverage of the series with regular updates.
“There’s nothing in the world like winning a WSOP bracelet,” GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu said. “Bringing this experience online will open the door for a new generation of poker players to feel the rush of competing for the game’s biggest prize.”
Las Vegas WSOP dates remain unknown at this point, VPN concerns for online events
There has been no update since the announcement in April about the traditional Vegas WSOP. Officials moved the series to the fall, but there’s no date or schedule confirmed yet.
“No update on dates,” Stewart told USPoker on Monday. “We’re still optimistic an offline WSOP is viable in late fall, but as card rooms around the country just start to open we are actively monitoring conditions for multi-table tournaments.”
After announcing the series, some on Twitter expressed concerns about using VPNs to play on GGPoker or WSOP.com.
Finally get to VPN into America to play online poker
— Max Silver (@max_silver) June 6, 2020
Stewart hoped to circumvent this scenario and felt the sites were ready to tackle the issue. Many will be watching as events play out.
“We’re very excited about the online festival and having an aggressive partner to service the international players,” Stewart said. “Also one that is committed to compliance and not going to look the other way for VPN usage and participation from inside the US.
“Given what we saw for the circuit, it’s surely going to be one of the largest online series of all time and we file that under the header of good for poker.”