PREVIEW: WSOP Officials Outline What to Expect When Action Kicks Off Next Week
With the World Series of Poker only days away, on Thursday series officials offered a look into what players can expect in a news conference and facilities tour.
The series kicks off on May 31 and runs through July 20 with 87 bracelet events as well as numerous other online bracelet tournaments as well. Organizers noted that the series will boast more space and poker tables than any previous series.
Efforts at adding more dealers have also been successful, ensuring there should be enough personnel to handle a large turnout. Management is expecting a record turnout this year as the series moves from the Rio to Bally’s and Paris on the Strip.
WSOP Executive Director Jack Effel and Vice President Ty Stewart outlined what to expect from the new surroundings and this year’s festival.
“All across America, it’s graduation season and we plan on making this summer one heck of a graduation party for the World Series of Poker,” Stewart said. “Being here on the Las Vegas Strip, across two resorts no less, it’s a key milestone for this event and for poker overall. After 52 years we’re finally a headliner baby, and I think Wayne Newton is the only one who’s been doing it longer. I hope every player does feel some pride in what we’ve achieved.
“There were certainly a lot of naysayers who thought in the mid-2000s that poker would just fizzle out. The growth of this event has been nothing short of astounding.”
A look at the new WSOP venues
This year marks the first time the WSOP has been held on the Strip. The news conference offered some details on what players can expect when they make their way to the annual poker festival.
This year, the Champagne Ballroom serves as the place to register throughout the series. There are 16 cages, an increase from the Rio, as well as 10 VIP windows. Online qualifiers will also verify their seat in this area.
Participants can wire funds for WSOP events or place money on account when they arrive as well. After setting up an account at the Main Cage, players can then register online or via mobile device through BravoPokerLive. Players also collect winnings at the Main Cage in the Champagne Ballroom.
All players need a Caesars Rewards card as well and those can be obtained near the Champagne room as well. Players can fund their online account as well in the Champagne Ballroom.
♠♠♠ Click here for a more in-depth WSOP preview. Additional online bracelet events are also planned at WSOP.com and here’s a complete look at that schedule as well. For a complete guide to other summer Las Vegas tournaments, click here. ♠♠♠
The Paris Ballroom offers 88,000 square feet with more than 300 poker tables and hosts all Day 1s for events less than $10,000. The venue also hosts Daily Deepstacks, satellites, live action, and the Kings Lounge, which features 14 tables.
The Bally’s Grand Ballroom houses 187 tables and hosts all Day 2s (under $10,000) as well as the re-entry cages. The Bally’s Event Center features 87 tables and is designated for all final tables. That includes the CBS Sports/PokerGO “mothership” set and five feature tables.
In total, the facilities now feature 160,000 square feet for poker and another 40,000 square feet of auxiliary space for managing the series. That’s the largest space ever available for the series.
That includes even more space for spectators as well, to be known as the “Horseshoe.” Bally’s is rebranding as Horseshoe Las Vegas this year.
Some final tables in the past didn’t feature any fanfare or areas for fans to watch. Tournament organizers worked to change that this year.
“We want the spectators,” Stewart said. “We have the space for the spectators to walk around and see things. COVID was tough with everybody, but this year there are no restrictions and we hope the spectators come on down and see people win this unthinkable money and these legends. Everyone’s welcome.”
Bigger. Brighter. Better.
The 2022 WSOP starts in 25 days for the very first time on the Las Vegas Strip at @ParisVegas and @Ballysvegas
Watch WSOP on @PokerGO pic.twitter.com/Oho7gVHprA— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) May 6, 2022
Parking issues addressed
Organizers hoped to quell any concerns about parking at Bally’s and Paris. They noted that the properties have 8,000 parking spaces, twice what was available at the Rio.
Of course, parking isn’t free as at the series’ previous location. Those at the Caesars Rewards platinum level or higher qualify for free parking.
Players with a Caesars Rewards Visa, available on site, also qualify for free parking. Rideshare and monorail travel is also available for players staying at other properties.
Some major expectations
In 2021, the pandemic caused the series to move to the fall. Travel restrictions, mask mandates, and vaccine requirements also suppressed turnout.
All those concerns seem to be a thing of the past this year, however. Effel is expecting a massive turnout this year as players who may not have attended last year return for the action.
“What makes the World Series of Poker different and special is the history,” Stewart said. “And we expect this to be the biggest World Series of Poker of all time.”
Those traveling from another country are reminded of a few requirements. International players need to bring an additional form of identification that shows a residential address, such as a signed lease agreement, a utility bill, or a mobile phone bill.
Foreign players from non-tax treaty countries are also subject to up to 30% tax withholding. Here’s the complete schedule for this year’s WSOP.
2022 World Series of Poker
Date Time Event Tournament Buy-in Starting chips Re-entry
May 31, 2022 9am Registration Opens, Live Action & Satellites Begin - - -
May 31, 2022 11am 1 Casino Employees No Limit Hold'em (2 day event) $500 25,000 1
May 31, 2022 3pm 2 High Roller Bounty No Limit Hold’em (every player is a $25K bounty) (8-Handed) (3 day event) $100,000 600,000 1
June 1, 2022 11am 3 Freezeout No Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $2,500 35,000 0
June 1, 2022 3pm 4 Dealers Choice 6-Handed (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 1
June 2, 2022 10am 5A The Housewarming No Limit Hold'em $5,000,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool (6 day event) (Payouts every flight) $500 50,000 1/flight
June 2, 2022 3pm 6 Heads Up No Limit Hold'em Championship - (64 player max) (3 day event) $25,000 150,000 0
June 3, 2022 10am 5B The Housewarming No Limit Hold'em Flight B $500 50,000 1/flight
June 3, 2022 3pm 7 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 0
June 4, 2022 10am 5C The Housewarming No Limit Hold'em Flight C $500 50,000 1/flight
June 4, 2022 1pm 8 High Roller No Limit Hold’em 8-Handed (3 day event) $25,000 150,000 1
June 4, 2022 3pm 9 Seven Card Stud (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 0
June 5, 2022 10am 5D The Housewarming No Limit Hold'em Flight D $500 50,000 1/flight
June 5, 2022 3pm 10 Dealers Choice 6-Handed Championship (3 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
June 6, 2022 11am 11 No Limit Hold’em Deepstack (2 day event) $600 30,000 1
June 6, 2022 1pm 12 High Roller No Limit Hold'em 8-Handed (3 day event) $50,000 300,000 1
June 6, 2022 3pm 13 Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 0
June 7, 2022 11am 14 6-Handed No Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 1
June 7, 2022 3pm 15 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (4 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
June 8, 2022 11am 16 No-Limit Holdem (4 day event) $3,000 40,000 1
June 8, 2022 3pm 17 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball (Limit) (A-5, 2-7, Badugi) (3 day event) $2,500 35,000 1
June 9, 2022 11am 18 Freezeout No-Limit Holdem (2 day event) $1,000 20,000 0
June 9, 2022 1pm 19 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) (4 day Event) $25,000 150,000 2
June 9, 2022 3pm 20 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 1
June 10, 2022 10am 21A MONSTER STACK No Limit Hold'em Flight A (players who are eliminated in flight A may re-enter into flight B) (5 day event) $1,500 50,000 Bust A Play B
June 10, 2022 3pm 22 Seven Card Stud Championship (3 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
June 11, 2022 10am 21B MONSTER STACK No Limit Hold'em Flight B $1,500 50,000 0
June 11, 2022 3pm 23 6-Handed Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $3,000 40,000 0
June 12, 2022 11am 24 FLIP & GO No Limit Hold’em Presented by GG Poker - Flight A (2 day event) $1,000 20,000 unlimited
June 12, 2022 1pm 25 No Limit Hold’em Deepstack (2 day event) $800 40,000 1
June 12, 2022 3pm 26 Limit Hold'em Championship (3 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
June 13, 2022 11am 27 Shootout No Limit Hold'em (2,000 player max) (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 0
June 13, 2022 1pm 28 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha (3 day event) $50,000 300,000 2
June 13, 2022 3pm 29 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 2
June 14, 2022 11am 30 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed (3 day event) $1,000 20,000 2
June 14, 2022 3pm 31 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship (3 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
June 15, 2022 11am 32 H.O.R.S.E. (Limit Hold'em; Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Razz; Seven Card Stud; Seven Card Hi-Lo 8 or Better) (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 0
June 15, 2022 3pm 33 6-Handed No Limit Hold’em (2 day event) $3,000 40,000 1
June 16, 2022 11am 34 Freezeout No-Limit Holdem (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 0
June 16, 2022 1pm 35 Mixed Big Bet Event - NLHE, PLO, 2-7 NL, NL 5 Card Draw, Big O, PLO Hi-Lo, 2-7 Pot-Limit Triple Draw (3 day event) $2,500 35,000 2
June 16, 2022 3pm 36 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 0
June 17, 2022 10am 37A MILLIONAIRE MAKER No Limit Hold’em Flight A - $1,000,000 Guaranteed for 1st Place (5 day event) $1,500 25,000 1/flight
June 17, 2022 3pm 38 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship (3 day event) $10,000 60,000 1
June 18, 2022 10am 37B MILLIONAIRE MAKER No Limit Hold'em Flight B $1,500 25,000 1/flight
June 18, 2022 1pm 39 6-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha (4 day event) $3,000 40,000 2
June 18, 2022 3pm 40 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (3 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
June 19, 2022 11am 41 Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) (every player is a $300 bounty) (1 day event) $1,000 20,000 0
June 19, 2022 3pm 42 High Roller No Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $100,000 600,000 1
June 20, 2022 11am 43 Freezeout No-Limit Holdem (2 day event) $500 25,000 0
June 20, 2022 3pm 44 H.O.R.S.E. Championship (Limit Hold'em; Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, Razz, Seven Card Stud, Seven Card Hi-Lo 8 or Better) (4 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
June 21, 2022 11am 45 Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 2
June 21, 2022 3pm 46 6-Handed No Limit Hold’em (4 day event) $5,000 50,000 1
June 22, 2022 10am 47A Seniors No Limit Hold’em Championship (Must be 50 years of age or older) Flight A (5 day event) $1,000 20,000 1 / flight
June 22, 2022 3pm 48 Eight Game Mix 6-Handed (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 1
June 23, 2022 10am 47B Seniors No Limit Hold’em Championship Flight B $1,000 20,000 1 / flight
June 23, 2022 1pm 49 No-Limit Holdem (3 day event) $2,000 30,000 1
June 23, 2022 3pm 50 Super High Roller No Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $250,000 1,500,000 1
June 24, 2022 10am 51A COLOSSUS No Limit Hold’em Flight A (Payouts each flight) (4 day event) $400 40,000 1 / flight
June 24, 2022 3pm 52 Nine Game Mix 6-Handed (3 day event) $2,500 35,000 1
June 25, 2022 10am 51B COLOSSUS No Limit Hold’em Flight B (Payouts each flight) $400 40,000 1 / flight
June 25, 2022 3pm 53 Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) (2 day event) $5,000 50,000 2
June 26, 2022 11am 54 Salute to Warriors - No Limit Hold’em Proceeds to be donated to the USO and other Veteran Organizations (3 day event) $500 50,000 1
June 26, 2022 1pm 55 TAG TEAM No Limit Hold'em (2 person team, each team must register together) (3 day event) $1,000/Team 20,000 0
June 26, 2022 3pm 56 Poker Players Championship 6-Handed (5 day event) $50,000 300,000 0
June 27, 2022 11am 57 Deepstack Championship No Limit Hold'em (4 day event) $600 30,000 1
June 27, 2022 3pm 58 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (8-Handed) (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 2
June 28, 2022 10am 59 Super Seniors No Limit Hold’em (Must be 60 years of age or older) (4 day event) $1,000 20,000 1
June 28, 2022 3pm 60 Short Deck No Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $10,000 60,000 1
June 29, 2022 11am 61 Ladies No Limit Hold’em Championship (4 day event) (Event Entry is $10K; Ladies Discounted Price is $1K) $10,000 men/$1,000 ladies 20,000 1
June 29, 2022 1pm 62 Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) (every player is a $500 bounty) (1 day event) $1,500 25,000 0
June 29, 2022 3pm 63 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship (8-Handed) (4 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
June 30, 2022 11am 64 Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (8-Handed) (2 day event) $600 30,000 2
June 30, 2022 3pm 65 Freezeout No Limit Hold'em (3 day event) $3,000 40,000 0
July 1, 2022 11am 66 Mini Main Event No Limit Hold’em (freezeout) (3 day event) $1,000 60,000 0
July 1, 2022 3pm 67 Super Turbo Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) (every player is a $3,000 bounty) (2 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
July 2, 2022 Main Event Satellite Days July 2 - 7
July 2, 2022 12pm 68A Million Dollar Bounty No Limit Hold'em - Payouts begin on Day one - Bounties begin on Day 2 - Top bounty guranteed $1,000,000 $1,000 40,000 1/flight
July 2, 2022 3pm 69 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship (4 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
July 3, 2022 11am 70A MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1A $10,000 60,000 0
July 3, 2022 12pm 68B Million Dollar Bounty No Limit Hold'em - Flight B $1,000 40,000 1/flight
July 4, 2022 11am 70B MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1B $10,000 60,000 0
July 4, 2022 12pm 68C Million Dollar Bounty No Limit Hold'em - Flight C $1,000 40,000 1/flight
July 4, 2022 7pm 68D Million Dollar Bounty No Limit Hold'em - Flight D - Turbo 15 minute levels $1,000 40,000 1/flight
July 5, 2022 11am 70C MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1C $10,000 60,000 0
July 6, 2022 11am 70D MAIN EVENT No Limit Hold'em World Championship - Day 1D $10,000 60,000 0
July 7, 2022 11am MAIN EVENT - Day 2AB (combine all surviving players 1A + 1B)
July 7, 2022 12pm 71A One More for One Drop No Limit Hold'em Flight A (5 day event) $1,000 + $111 40,000 unlimited
July 7, 2022 3pm 72 Mixed: Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Omaha Hi Lo 8 or Better; "Big O" (5 Card PLO Hi-Lo 8) (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 2
July 8, 2022 11am MAIN EVENT - Day 2CD (For all surviving 1C + 1D players)
July 8, 2022 12pm 71B One More for One Drop No Limit Hold'em Flight B $1,000 + $111 40,000 unlimited
July 8, 2022 3pm 73 Razz (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 0
July 9, 2022 11am MAIN EVENT - Day 3 (combine all fields into one for first time)
July 9, 2022 12pm 71C One More for One Drop No Limit Hold'em Flight C $1,000 + $111 40,000 unlimited
July 9, 2022 3pm 74 BOUNTY Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed (every player is a $500 bounty) (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 2
July 10, 2022 11am MAIN EVENT - Day 4
July 10, 2022 12pm 75A Lucky 7's No Limit Hold'em 7-Handed Flight A $777,777 Guaranteed 1st place - (5 day event) (Payouts every flight) $777 40,000 unlimited
July 10, 2022 3pm 76 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty No Limit Hold'em (freezeout) (every Hall of Famer is a bounty) (2 day event) $1,979 30,000 unlimited
July 11, 2022 11am MAIN EVENT - Day 5
July 11, 2022 12pm 75B Lucky 7's No Limit Hold'em 7-Handed Flight B $777 40,000 unlimited
July 11, 2022 1pm 77 Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha (8-Handed) (3 day event) $1,500 25,000 2
July 11, 2022 3pm 78 No Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $2,500 35,000 1
July 12, 2022 11am MAIN EVENT - Day 6
July 12, 2022 12pm 75C Lucky 7's No Limit Hold'em 7-Handed Flight C $777 40,000 unlimited
July 12, 2022 3pm 79 Razz Championship (3 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
July 13, 2022 11am MAIN EVENT - Plays down to 9 players
July 13, 2022 12pm 80 Mixed No Limit Hold'em; Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (8-Handed) (2 day event) $600 30,000 2
July 13, 2022 3pm 81 Freezeout No Limit Hold’em 8-Handed (3 day event) $5,000 50,000 0
July 14, 2022 11am MAIN EVENT - Day Off
July 14, 2022 12pm 82 8-Handed No Limit Hold’em Deepstack (2 day event) $800 40,000 1
July 14, 2022 1pm 83 HIGH ROLLER No Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $50,000 300,000 1
July 14, 2022 3pm 84 H.O.R.S.E. (Limit Hold'em; Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better; Razz; Seven Card Stud; Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better) (3 day event) $3,000 40,000 0
July 15, 2022 TBD MAIN EVENT - Final Table
July 15, 2022 12pm 85A The Closer - No Limit Hold’em Flight A (payouts each flight) (3 day event) $1,500 50,000 1 / flight
July 15, 2022 3pm 86 6-Handed No Limit Hold'em Championship (3 day event) $10,000 60,000 0
July 16, 2022 TBD MAIN EVENT - Final Table
July 16, 2022 12pm 85B The Closer - No Limit Hold’em Flight B (payouts each flight) $1,500 50,000 1 / flight
July 16, 2022 3pm 87 8-Handed No Limit Hold'em (2 day event) $5,000 50,000 1
July 17, 2022 11am 88 Super Turbo No Limit Hold'em (1 day event) $1,000 20,000 1
July 18, 2022 11am 89 Tournanent of Champions Day 1 $0
July 19, 2022 11am Tournanent of Champions Day 2 $0
July 20, 2022 TBD Tournanent of Champions Day 3 $0
Plenty of online action ahead at WSOP.com
Once again, online poker is playing a major role in the action this summer. Despite Michigan’s recent addition to the country’s online poker interstate compact, Stewart and Effel don’t expect the state to be included in the WSOP.com’s All America Poker Network this summer.
That includes New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware as of now. Michigan and Pennsylvania will also offer online bracelet events in those markets as well. Numerous satellites, qualifiers, and freerolls will run daily. The platform is offering a total of 14 bracelet events across all markets.
“We do always encourage those who want to play online and live,” Eiffel noted. “The Internet is good (at the venues), so there should be no issues with making a live sports bet, playing online poker, and playing in the live bracelet events all at the same time.”
Here’s a complete look at the online events.
2022 WSOP online bracelet events
Date Tournament Buy-in States
Sunday, June 5 High Roller Freezeout $5,300 NV, NJ
Sunday, June 5 Big $500 $500 NV, NJ, PA, MI
Sunday, June 12 Ultra Deepstack $400 NV, NJ, PA, MI
Sunday, June 19 PLO 6-Max $1,000 NV, NJ
Sunday, June 19 PLO 6-Max $500 PA, MI
Sunday, June 26 Online Deepstack Championship $600 NV, NJ, PA, MI
Tuesday, June 28 Turbo Deepstack $500 NV, NJ
Sunday, July 3 NLH Deepstack $500 NV, NJ, PA, MI
Sunday, July 10 Lucky 7s High Roller $7,777 NV, NJ
Sunday, July 10 Online Bracelet Championship $1,000 NV, NJ, PA, MI
Tuesday, July 12 High Roller $3,200 NV, NJ
Saturday, July 16 Lucky 7s Second Chance $777 NV, NJ, PA, MI
Sunday, July 17 High Roller Freezeout Encore $5,300 NV, NJ
Sunday, July 17 Summer Saver $500 NV, NJ, PA, MI
Player of the Year
Along with updates on the venues, the WSOP also released details on this year’s Player of the Year race. The annual competition includes 97 bracelet events, 83 live and 14 online.
The standings exclude only the casino employees, seniors, super seniors, ladies and tag team events. The POY earns a trophy and a free seat in next year’s $10,000 Main Event. A banner of each winner is also displayed each year during the WSOP.
Last year, Josh Arieh earned the honor after scoring two bracelets and three more final table appearances. Phil Hellmuth finished second in the race with Daniel Negreanu coming in third. Negreanu is ready for the action to begin and will once again be vlogging throughout the series.
The WSOP starts in 5 days.
Are you ready for this???https://t.co/x3jy8GE04R
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) May 26, 2022
USPoker coverage
Look for plenty of coverage throughout this summer’s events. USPoker will offer twice-weekly updates as well as features on winners and other players throughout the festival.
On Monday, look for USPoker’s annual look at some players to watch this summer.