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World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is an annual series of poker tournaments and the most prominent poker festival in the world.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is an annual series of poker tournaments and the most prominent poker festival in the world. It dates to 1970 and awards a bracelet and cash prize to the winner of each event. The Main Event is its best-known tournament and is considered the championship event of poker.

History

The WSOP began in 1970 as a single invitational tournament organized by Benny Binion. It grew into a large annual festival of poker events and has been sponsored by Caesars Entertainment since 2004.

Format and awards

The series includes many poker tournaments across different variants and buy-in levels. Winners receive prize money and a bracelet, which is the signature trophy of the WSOP.

Main Event

The WSOP Main Event is the best-known tournament in the series and has a buy-in of US$10,000. Its winner is treated as the world champion of poker.

Venue

The WSOP is held annually in Paradise, Nevada, in the Las Vegas area. The event has been associated with several Las Vegas venues over time.

Key facts

  • WSOP stands for World Series of Poker.
  • It began in 1970 at Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas.
  • The series is held annually in Paradise, Nevada.
  • Each event winner receives a WSOP bracelet and a cash prize.
  • The Main Event is the most prestigious tournament in the series.
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Canadian context

Canadian poker players regularly compete in WSOP events, and the series is widely covered by Canadian sports and entertainment media as a major international poker championship.

Frequently asked questions

What does WSOP stand for?
WSOP stands for World Series of Poker.
When is the WSOP 2024?
The 2024 WSOP ran as a summer series, with its Main Event winner crowned in July 2024; the series is held annually over several weeks.
Where is the WSOP held?
The WSOP is held annually in Paradise, Nevada, in the Las Vegas area.
Who won the WSOP Main Event 2023?
Daniel Weinman won the 2023 WSOP Main Event.
How much is the WSOP Main Event buy-in?
The WSOP Main Event buy-in is US$10,000.
What is the WSOP bracelet?
The WSOP bracelet is the trophy awarded to winners of WSOP events and is regarded as poker’s most coveted prize.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series_of_Poker
    Supports: WSOP acronym, annual series, 1970 origin, Paradise/Nevada location, bracelet award, Main Event prestige
  2. World Series of Poker — https://www.wsop.com/about/
    Supports: Official description of WSOP as a major poker brand and the Main Event as the featured event
  3. World Series of Poker — https://www.wsop.com/
    Supports: Official characterization of the WSOP bracelet as a symbol of poker greatness
  4. Poker Players Alliance — https://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/world-series-of-poker-history/
    Supports: WSOP history, annual series, Main Event, and 2024 winner note
  5. 888poker — https://www.888poker.com/magazine/poker-world/wsop-tournament-series-outline
    Supports: Main Event buy-in and bracelet award context