It’s almost that time of year again! The 43rd annual World Series of Poker begins Sunday, May 27th with the last tournament starting Monday, July 9th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Each year thousands of poker players risk their bankrolls for a chance to win over $190,000,000 in available prize money. Some risk it all for the winner’s bracelets that adorn the wrists of legends like Phil Helmuth, Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey and the respect that comes with a WSOP bracelet.
The Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino (owned by Caesars) is hosting the tournament again this year. 480 poker tables fill the 125,000 square foot ballroom along with cameras from ESPN to capture the all-in action. Buy-ins for each tournament range from a direct buy-in of $500 to $1,000,000 while some players won seats at the many WSOP circuit events held all over the country through out the year. There are some US friendly poker sites offering WSOP satellites, like Lock Poker. Of course all the non-US poker sites like PokerStars also offer WSOP seats for winning online tournaments.
The most well-known of the events is the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event. It begins Saturday, July 7th and runs until the final table of nine players is determined. Since 2008, play of the final table has been delayed until November, earning the players the nickname of the November Nine. Due to the 2012 Presidential Election, play this year will begin on October 28th. Will it now be call the October 9?
Several variations of poker are played during the World Series of Poker, the most common being No-Limit Hold’em. Other events being offered this year are Heads Up No-Limit, Pot Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E, Limt Hold’em, 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball (limit), amongst many others. Visit the World Series of Poker official page for a full event schedule.
WSOP is sponsored by Caesars Entertainment, formerly Harrah’s Entertainment. Event players can contact any of their Las Vegas hotel resorts for special room rates and accommodations during the WSOP. Registration opens May 27 with pre-registration available 14 days prior to any bracelet event. Players who bust or are waiting for an event to begin can also take advantage of the numerous cash games and non WSOP events that will run during that time.