The WSOP: Everything You Need to Know

Posted on by Alyssa Jennings

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the most prestigious and iconic poker tournament series in the world. For decades, it has drawn thousands of players—from amateurs chasing a dream to elite professionals battling for millions. Winning a WSOP bracelet is widely considered the ultimate achievement in the game.

Whether you’re thinking of entering, following the action, or just curious, here’s everything you need to know about the WSOP, from its history to how to play in it.

What Is the WSOP?

The World Series of Poker is an annual series of poker tournaments held in Las Vegas, Nevada. It consists of Master Poker Indoesia dozens of events across various poker formats and buy-ins, with each event awarding a coveted WSOP gold bracelet to the winner.

The highlight is the WSOP Main Event, a $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament known for producing life-changing payouts and poker legends.

A Brief History of the WSOP

  • 1970: The WSOP was founded by Benny Binion at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas.

  • 2003: Chris Moneymaker’s shocking win as an online qualifier sparked a global poker boom, now known as the Moneymaker Effect.

  • 2005–Present: The series moved to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, and more recently to Horseshoe Las Vegas (formerly Bally’s).

  • 2020–2021: Due to the pandemic, WSOP events were held online and via hybrid formats.

  • Today: The WSOP includes dozens of events, international spin-offs, and online bracelet tournaments via GGPoker and WSOP.com.

WSOP Bracelet Events

Each WSOP event awards a bracelet—poker’s version of a championship ring. Events vary by:

  • Format: No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Stud, Razz, and mixed games like HORSE

  • Buy-in levels: Ranging from as low as $400 (like the “Colossus”) to over $250,000 for high-roller events

  • Player types: Some events are open to all; others are reserved for seniors, women, or casino employees

Winning a bracelet is not just about the money—it’s about joining poker’s elite.

The WSOP Main Event

The Main Event is the crown jewel of the WSOP. It is:

  • A $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament

  • Open to anyone over the legal gambling age

  • A multi-day tournament that can last over a week

  • The event that made legends like Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, and Daniel Negreanu household names

The Main Event champion becomes the World Champion of Poker, with first-place prizes often exceeding $8 million.

How to Qualify for the WSOP

You don’t need $10,000 in cash to enter the Main Event. You can qualify through:

  • Online satellites on WSOP.com (in the U.S.) or GGPoker (internationally)

  • Live qualifiers held at casinos around the world

  • Winning entry through partner promotions and package giveaways

Many players—like Chris Moneymaker in 2003—have parlayed small online buy-ins into Main Event glory.