WSOP 101: Series finalizes schedule, announces improved registration and payout efforts
After weeks of releasing several events at a time, the World Series of Poker schedule was finalized on Feb. 27. The series calls for a record 87 live and 14 online gold bracelet events.
The 51st annual series runs at the Rio in Las Vegas from May 26 to July 15, now with a total of 101 tournaments. Along with announcing the final schedule, WSOP officials announced new registration and payout processes.
“There is no doubt we need to do a better job of getting people in their seats and playing poker faster,” WSOP executive director Ty Stewart said. “We’ve looked closely at several areas in the off-season and are dedicating new resources – technology, equipment, and people – to aid in these efforts in 2020.
“These changes, in conjunction with better informing guests of the required documents needed to register, make us optimistic it can lead to noticeable improvement.”
A complete 2020 WSOP schedule of events follows this article.
Plans show WSOP growth continues
In announcing so many events, there are more opportunities than ever to win a gold bracelet. That goes for the events at the Rio, but also online for players in Nevada and New Jersey.
The WSOP has seen record turnouts in recent years. That now includes breaking events into differing categories to reach players at different price points.
It’s evident series organizers are attempting to accommodate even more growth. The series now offers four basic price points for differing levels of players:
- Low – These are events like the Big 50 and Colossus, which feature buy-ins $1,000 or below. They’re geared toward average Joe players looking to play on a weekend and have a shot at a big score.
- Medium – These are more traditional WSOP events in the $1,500, $3,000, and even $5,000 range. The series has even announced a $1,500 buy-in tournament leaderboard this year.
- High – These are the $10,000 “championship” events that feature some of the game’s best players.
- High Roller – The WSOP has added even more events in this category this year, with nine events in total. Dubbed the “High Roller Series” with a dedicated leaderboard, players will need to budget $625,000 to play them all.
Discussion of the summer activities had plenty of players discussing the event on Twitter on Thursday.
Can you guys “for the love of god” mark witch tourneys will be played 10 handed.
— Ronnie Ellis (@Rondog219) February 27, 2020
@Joeingram1
The meme for @WSOP 2020
Will be replacing the phone charger guys with Corona Virus masks 😷— Doug (@Ggg2016ggg) February 27, 2020
Seeking solutions to registration and payout issues
Along with the schedule, WSOP officials released some new plans to hopefully make the process easier this summer. Here’s a look at what’s planned.
Improving registration
The main registration area remains in the Tropical Ballroom. More stations will be added to the main cage and VIP cage.
This office opens May 26 and will remain open 24 hours a day through July 14. Players need a valid picture identification, a Caesars Rewards card, and payment to enter events. Methods to pay for buy-ins include:
- Cash
- Credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express)
- wire transfers
- Cashier’s checks made out to the participant or Rio
- Rio gaming chips
- Rio tournament buy-in chips
- Tournament buy-in credit
The payout process
The payout office will be located next door to registration in the Palma Ballroom (previously the Media Center). Anyone collecting funds will head here to be processed.
International players are required to bring an additional form of identification. This must show a residential address, such as a signed lease agreement, a utility bill, or a mobile phone bill.
Players can request the payment method of their choice including:
- Cash
- Wire transfer
- Casino chips
- Check
- Personal Tournament Account – Those who opened a Bravo tournament buy-in account can direct funds back to their account.
Kiosks to print seat assignments
The WSOP hopes greater use of technology this year will make the entire process easier. Players can print seat cards at 20 kiosks located throughout the Rio.
This method only works, however for players utilizing online/mobile registration. The system allows players to select their events and fund them in advance. Players must go through an in-person ID verification. Anyone using a kiosk will need to have a Caesars Rewards card.
Register online
Players are encouraged to utilize the online/mobile registration process. This reserves a seat for an event and allows a player to register and pay online.
The WSOP uses BravoPokerLive.com for this process. To register online, players need one visit to the main cage in the Tropical or Belize Ballroom for identification.
Verified players can then simply pick events online, utilize the self-service kiosks to print seat cards, and go directly to their table.
About 20% of players entered this way in 2019. The WSOP hopes to grow that to 80% to ease in-person registration congestion. Registration opens in April.
WSOP tournament account
Players can set up a WSOP tournament account for free. An account allows players to wire funds or put money on account when they arrive at the Rio.
After setup at the Main Cage in the Tropical Ballroom, players can register online or by mobile device with their funds. They can then print seat cards at a kiosk and avoid the need to use the registration line.
“The tournament account is a no-brainer for anyone who plays more than a couple WSOP events annually,” poker pro Daniel Negreanu notes. “Literally I went to the registration cage once to set it up, then utilized the self-serve kiosks the rest of the summer to register for any event I wanted to play. I was in and out of the kiosk in less than a minute and on my way to my seat.”
Belize Ballroom offers registration assistance
A dedicated ballroom will be set up in 2020 to assist players with registration problems. Players can’t register for an event in this room, but can receive assistance with any questions.
Big 50 special seating process
This opening $500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament features starting flights on May 28, 29, 30, and 31. The event will utilize a special process to expedite getting players to their seats as quickly as possible.
The plan will be detailed closer to the event, but will benefit those using the Bravo Poker Live online/mobile registration system. The goal is to avoid a lengthy wait on-site.
Get a Caesars Rewards card
Players competing in any event will also need a Caesars Rewards loyalty card. WSOP officials advise players who lose or forgot their card to request a reprint, and not a new one.
Caesars Rewards reprint kiosks will be available in the Rotunda area. This should allow for a smoother process to get a card, register for an event, and cash out a payout.
Complete WSOP 2020 schedule
| Starting Flight Dates | Event | Buy-in | Re-entries |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em | $1,000 | Freezeout |
| May 27 | Casino Employees Event No-Limit Hold’em | $500 | 1 |
| May 28 | Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| May 28, 29, 30, 31 | Big 50 | $500 | 1 per flight |
| May 29 | High Roller No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed | $25,000 | 1 |
| May 30 | Dealers Choice 6-Handed | $1,500 | 1 |
| May 31 | Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em | $25,000 | Freezeout |
| May 31 | WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold’em | $400 | 1 |
| June 1 | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack | $600 | 1 |
| June 1 | Mixed Limit Triple Draw Lowball | $2,500 | 1 |
| June 2 | Super Turbo Bounty NLH - $300 bounty/player | $1,000 | Freezeout |
| June 2 | Seven Card Stud | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 3 | 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | $1,500 | 1 |
| June 3 | Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 4 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 4 | H.O.R.S.E. | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 5-6 | Millionaire Maker | $1,500 | 1 per flight |
| June 5 | High Roller No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed | $50,000 | 1 |
| June 5 | Mixed: PLO Hi-Lo 8; Omaha Hi-Lo 8; Big 0 | $1,500 | 1 |
| June 6 | Seven Card Stud | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 7 | Forty Stack No-Limit Hold’em (40,000 starting chips) | $1,000 | 1 |
| June 7 | HORSE | $3,000 | Freezeout |
| June 7 | WSOP.com ONLINE PLO 7-Handed | $777 | 3 |
| June 8 | Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack 8-Handed | $600 | 1 |
| June 8 | Short Deck | $10,000 | 1 |
| June 9 | Super Turbo Bounty NLH ($500 bounties) | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 9 | HORSE | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 9 | WSOP.com ONLINE Freezeout Knockout Deepstack NLHE | $800 | Freezeout |
| June 10 | Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed | $1,000 | 1 |
| June 10 | No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw | $1,500 | 1 |
| June 11 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em | $2,500 | Freezeout |
| June 11 | Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 12-13 | Monster Stack | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 12 | Super Turbo Bounty NLH | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 12 | Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw | $1,500 | 1 |
| June 13 | Dealers Choice 6-Handed | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 14 | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack | $800 | 1 |
| June 14 | Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) | $1,500 | 1 |
| June 14 | WSOP.com ONLINE 8-Handed NLH Turbo Deepstack | $500 | 1 |
| June 15 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em | $500 | Freezeout |
| June 15 | No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw | $10,000 | 1 |
| June 16 | 8-Handed Mixed NLH/PLO Deepstack | $600 | 1 |
| June 16 | Razz | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 17 | Ladies Championship | $1,000 (ladies) $10,000 (men) | 1 |
| June 17 | Shootout No-Limit Hold’em | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 17 | High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed | $25,000 | 1 |
| June 18 | Seniors Championship (age 50 and up) | $1,000 | 1 |
| June 18 | No-Limit Hold'em | $3,000 | Freezeout |
| June 18 | Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 19-20 | Double Stack | $1,000 | 1 per flight |
| June 19 | Nine-Game Mix (6-Handed) | $2,500 | 1 |
| June 20 | Pot-Limit Omaha | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 21 | 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack | $800 | 1 |
| June 21 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em | $5,000 | Freezeout |
| June 21 | WSOP.com ONLINE Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em | $500 | Freezeout |
| June 22 | Super Seniors (age 60 and over) | $1,000 | 1 per flight |
| June 22 | Tag Team (two-person teams) | $1,000 per team | Freezeout |
| June 22 | Poker Players Championship | $50,000 | Freezeout |
| June 23 | Deepstack Championship No-Limit Hold’em | $600 | 1 |
| June 23 | Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (8-Handed) | $1,500 | 1 |
| June 24-25 | Colossus | $400 | 1 per flight |
| June 24 | Razz | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 25 | No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $5,000 | 1 |
| June 26-27 | Crazy Eights | $888 | 1 per flight |
| June 26 | Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 27 | Super High Roller No-Limit Hold’em | $250,000 | 1 |
| June 27 | Limit Hold’em | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 28 | Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold’em ($1 million in bounty guarantees; $250,000 max bounty) | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| June 28 | Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 28 | WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold’em Championship | $1,000 | 1 |
| June 29 | Mini Main Event | $1,000 | Freezeout |
| June 29 | 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 29 | WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold’em | $500 | 1 |
| June 30 | FINAL 500 Salute to Warriors No-Limit Hold’em | $500 | 1 |
| June 30 | Limit Hold’em | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| June 30 | WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed | $1,500 | 1 |
| July 1, 2, 3 | Main Event | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| July 1 | WSOP.com ONLINE High Roller NLH 8-Handed | $3,200 | 1 |
| July 2 | WSOP.com Online NLHE Super High Roller | $10,000 | Freezeout |
| July 3 | WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold’em | $400 | 1 |
| July 4-6 | Little One for ONE DROP No-Limit Hold’em | $1,000 + $111 | Unlimited |
| July 4 | WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold’em Turbo Deepstack | $500 | 1 |
| July 5 | Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $3,000 | Freezeout |
| July 5 | WSOP.com ONLINE 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | $600 | 1 |
| July 6 | Mixed No-Limit Hold’em; Pot-Limit Omaha (8-hand) | $5,000 | 1 |
| July 7 | Bounty No-Limit Hold’em ($500 bounties) | $1,500 | Freezeout |
| July 7 | High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha | $50,000 | 1 |
| July 8 | Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha ($500 bounties) | $1,500 | 1 |
| July 8 | No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $3,000 | 1 |
| July 9 | Fifty Stack No-Limit Hold’em | $1,500 | 1 |
| July 9 | Mixed No-Limit Hold’em/PLO (8-Handed) | $1,500 | 1 |
| July 9 | High Roller No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed | $50,000 | 1 |
| July 10-11 | The Closer | $1,500 | 1 per flight |
| July 10 | Pot Limit Omaha 6-Handed | $3,000 | 1 |
| July 11 | High Roller No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed | $100,000 | 1 |
| July 12 | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack | $800 | 1 |
| July 12 | Eight Game Mix (6-Handed) | $1,500 | 1 |
| July 12 | WSOP.com ONLINE Summer Saver No-Limit Hold’em | $500 | 1 |
| July 13 | Super Turbo No-Limit Hold’em | $1,000 | 1 |
| July 13 | Mixed Big Bet | $2,500 | 1 |
| July 14 | No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed | $5,000 | 1 |
Photo courtesy WSOP/Hayley Hochstettler