World Series of Poker#Main Event

File:MossBeckyBinionPearson.jpg, Becky Binion, and Puggy Pearson at the 1974 World Series of Poker.]]

The idea of a World Series of Poker began in 1969 with an event called the Texas Gamblers Reunion.{{Cite web |title=WSOP History |url=http://www.wsop.com/wsop/history.asp |access-date=July 22, 2017 |website=World Series of Poker |publisher=Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc.}} It was an invitational event sponsored by Tom Moore of Castle Hills, Texas, and held at the Holiday Hotel and Casino in Reno. This inaugural event was won by Crandell Addington.{{Cite web |last=Ruddock |first=Steve |date=2014-07-14 |title=Great Moments in Poker History: The 1969 Gaming Fraternity Convention |url=https://nodepositpoker.co.uk/1968-1969-gaming-fraternity-convention/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=No Deposit Poker |language=en-US}} The set of tournaments that the World Series of Poker (WSOP) would evolve into was the brainchild of Las Vegas casino owner and poker player Benny Binion. In 1970, the first WSOP at Binion's Horseshoe took place as a series of cash games that included five-card stud, deuce to seven low-ball draw, razz, seven-card stud, and Texas hold 'em.{{Cite web |last=Lucchesi |first=Ryan |date=June 4, 2008 |title=WSOP: History -- 1970 Recap The Grand Old Man of Poker Voted the First World Champion |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/4323-wsop-history-1970-recap |access-date=May 9, 2019 |website=CardPlayer.com}} The format for the Main Event as a freeze-out Texas hold 'em game came the next year. The winner in 1970, Johnny Moss, was elected by his peers as the first "World Champion of Poker" and received a silver cup as a prize.{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KdMMJTytBs4C&dq=1970,+Johnny+Moss&pg=PA34 |title=52 Greatest Moments World Series of Poker |date=2006 |publisher=Cornhole Book |isbn=978-0-9787446-9-4 |language=en}}

In 2004, Harrah's Entertainment (now Caesars Entertainment) purchased Binion's Horseshoe, retained the rights to the Horseshoe and World Series of Poker brands, sold the hotel and casino to MTR Gaming Group, and announced that the 2005 Series events would be held at the Harrah's-owned Rio Hotel and Casino, located just off the Las Vegas Strip.{{Cite web |date=2004-01-23 |title=Harrah's to Buy, Reopen Horseshoe |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-23-fi-rup23.9-story.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Since 2004 the official sponsor of the World Series of Poker has been the Caesars Entertainment Corporation. The final two days of the 2005 WSOP Main Event were held downtown at what is now the MTR-operated "Binion's" in celebration of the centennial of the founding of Las Vegas.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=June 2, 2014 |title=THE LONGEST GOODBYE: LOOKING BACK AT THE 2005 WSOP |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2014/Jun/4774/THE-LONGEST-GOODBYE-LOOKING-BACK-AT-THE-2005-WSOP.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.wsop.com}} The WSOP added a made-for-television $2 million "freeroll" invitational Tournament of Champions (TOC) event first won by Annie Duke as a "winner-take-all" event.{{Cite web |last=Duke |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Duke |date=2019-09-06 |title=I Won $2Million At A Poker Tournament No One Thought I Deserved To Be At |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/annie-duke-poker_uk_5d7210d5e4b06d55b97183e3 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}

{{Main|World Series of Poker Circuit}}

Starting in 2005, the WSOP began the World Series of Poker Circuit, a satellite series held at Harrah's-owned properties in the United States.{{Cite web |last=Carlton |first=Jimmy |date=2018-02-01 |title=World Series of Poker Circuit founding father helps Potawatomi host tour event |url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/world-series-of-poker-circuit-potawatomi |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=OnMilwaukee}} In addition to the $10,000 buy-in tournament at each site, qualifying players became eligible for a revamped Tournament of Champions. The 2005 TOC, made up of the top twenty qualifying players at each circuit event, along with the final table from the 2005 Main Event, and the winners of nine or more bracelets (Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, and Phil Hellmuth) would participate in the revamped TOC at Caesars Palace. Mike Matusow won the first prize of $1 million (US), and all the players at the final table were guaranteed a minimum of $25,000 for the eighth and ninth-place finishers.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=November 9, 2005 |title=Mike Matusow wins 2005 Tournament of Champions |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2005/Nov/542/Mike-Matusow-wins-2005-Tournament-of-Champions.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=World Series of Poker}}{{Cite web |title=World Series of Poker - WSOP Tournament of Champions 2005, Tournament of Champions - No Limit Hold'em: Hendon Mob Poker Database |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14994 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

During a break in the final table of the 2005 Main Event on July 16, Harrah's announced that eleven properties — including the recently added Bally's and Caesar's properties — would host 2005–06 WSOP Circuit events that started on August 11 in Tunica, Mississippi. One event that was scheduled for Biloxi, Mississippi, was canceled after the Grand Casino Biloxi, which was scheduled to host the event, suffered major damage from Hurricane Katrina. The Rio also hosted the 2006 World Series of Poker, which began on June 25 with satellite events and formally began the day after with the annual Casino Employee event, won in 2006 by Chris Gros. 2006 featured the Tournament of Champions on June 25 and 26, won by Mike Sexton.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=June 28, 2006 |title=A Most Deserving Victory! Mike Sexton Wins Third-Annual Tournament of Champions |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2006/Jun/575/A-Most-Deserving-Victory--Mike-Sexton-Wins-Third-Annual-Tournament-of-Champions.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=World Series of Poker}} Various events led up to the Main Event, which was held from July 28 until August 10. The first prize of $12 million was awarded to Jamie Gold.{{Cite web |title=37th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2006, No Limit Texas Hold'em - World Championship Event: Hendon Mob Poker Database |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=15849 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

{{Main|World Series of Poker Europe}}

The World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) is the first expansion of the World Series of Poker in series history. In September 2007, the first WSOP championship events outside of Las Vegas, complete with bracelets, were held.{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2007 |title=Harrah's Set to Launch World Series of Poker Europe |url=http://www.igamingbusiness.com/article-detail.php?articleID%3D12961 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930055513/http://www.igamingbusiness.com/article-detail.php?articleID=12961 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Gaming Business}} The inaugural WSOPE consisted of three events held in London from September 6–17, 2007. The main event, a £10,000 buy-in no-limit hold 'em tournament, was won by Norwegian online prodigy Annette Obrestad on the day before her 19th birthday. This made her the youngest person ever to win a WSOP bracelet, a record that cannot be broken in the Las Vegas WSOP under current laws because the minimum legal age for casino gaming in Nevada is 21. Obrestad could play in the WSOPE because the minimum age for casino gaming in the United Kingdom is 18. While no definitive plans have been announced, WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack has indicated that in the next one to three years that other venues may start holding WSOP events.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} Two locations that have been mentioned as possible expansion sites are Egypt and South Africa,{{Cite web |last=Bumbach |first=Mike |date=June 28, 2007 |title=World Series of Poker ups the ante, expands event to Europe - USATODAY.com |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/poker/2007-06-28-poker-europe_N.htm |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=USA Today}} and the World Series of Poker Africa was ultimately launched in South Africa in 2010. However, it is currently treated as a WSOP Circuit event, with no bracelets awarded. The next expansion of the WSOP that included bracelet events was ultimately to Australia.{{Cite press release |title=WSOP Announces Partnership With Crown for April 2013 Event in Melbourne, Australia |date=April 30, 2012 |publisher=World Series of Poker |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2012/May/3761/WSOP-ANNOUNCES-PARTNERSHIP-WITH-CROWN-FOR-APRIL-2013-EVENT-IN-MELBOURNE-AUSTRALIA.html |access-date=May 10, 2012}}

The WSOPE moved from London to Cannes, France, in 2011. At that time, the buy-ins and payouts changed from being fixed in pounds to euros.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=October 12, 2011 |title=WSOP NEWS: AUSTRALIAN-PRO-ANDREW-HINRICHSEN-WINS-GOLD-BRACELET-AT-CANNES |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2011/Oct/3555/AUSTRALIAN-PRO-ANDREW-HINRICHSEN-WINS-GOLD-BRACELET-AT-CANNES.html |access-date=2020-04-19 |website=World Series of Poker}} The event moved again in 2013, this time to the Paris suburb of Enghien-les-Bains.{{Cite press release |title=WSOP Europe on the Move |date=December 26, 2012 |publisher=World Series of Poker |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2012/Dec/4143/WSOP-EUROPE-ON-THE-MOVE.html |access-date=January 6, 2013}}

From 2013 to 2017 the WSOPE was held only in odd-numbered years, with the newly launched World Series of Poker Asia Pacific (WSOP APAC) conducted in even-numbered years.{{Cite press release |title=WSOP Announces Change to International Event Format |date=November 25, 2013 |publisher=Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2013/Nov/4651/WSOP-ANNOUNCES-CHANGE-TO-INTERNATIONAL-EVENT-FORMAT.html |access-date=June 7, 2014}} WSOPE has been held annually since 2017.

{{Main|World Series of Poker Africa}}

In 2010, the WSOP expanded overseas once again, only this time to Gauteng, South Africa.{{Cite web |last=Huett |first=Wes |date=May 9, 2010 |title=WSOP expands reach |url=https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/columns/2010/05/09/wsop-expands-reach/42532944007/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Peoria Journal Star |language=en-US}} Although the 2010 event was part of the WSOP Circuit, winners did not earn a gold ring or standing for the WSOP Circuit National Championship, both of which were common for other circuit events.{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Dan |date=October 27, 2010 |title=Historic WSOP Africa Kicks Off |url=http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/historic-wsop-africa-kicks-off-16388/ |access-date=February 22, 2012 |website=Poker News Daily}} This policy changed in 2012.{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2012 |title=Emerald Casino and Resort to Host 2nd Annual WSOP Africa February 21–26 |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2012/Feb/3688/EMERALD-CASINO-AND-RESORT-TO-HOST-2ND-ANNUAL-WSOP-AFRICA-FEBRUARY-21-26.html |access-date=February 22, 2012 |website=World Series of Poker}} The WSOPA did not occur in 2011 but would come back in 2012.{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=2012-03-01 |title=Recapping the 2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Africa |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2012/03/recapping-the-2012-world-series-of-poker-circuit-africa-12119.htm |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}

{{Main|World Series of Poker Asia Pacific}}

On April 30, 2012, the WSOP and Australian casino Crown Melbourne jointly announced the creation of the World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC). The first edition of the event was held at Crown's Melbourne Casino from April 4–15, 2013 and featured five bracelet events in the series.

In 2015, the WSOP International Circuit was launched, with rounds in Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa. The winners of each tournament join the WSOP Circuit winners to play the WSOP Global Casino Championship.{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2016 |title=WSOP Finalizes Details for 2016 Global Casino Championship |url=https://contents.pokerstake.com/articles/wsop-finalizes-details-for-2016-global-casino-championship-592112/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=PokerStake |language=en-US}} The International Circuit has expanded to 13 tournaments for the 2017/18 season.{{Cite web |last=Collson |first=Brett |date=July 16, 2017 |title=WSOP International Circuit Schedule Announced for 2017-18 |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2017/07/wsop-poker-2017-2018-schedule-international-circuit-28531.htm |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Pokernews |language=en}}

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions on live poker events, there was a heavy focus on online events for 2020 and 2021, with dedicated online series during both years.{{Cite magazine |last=Taddeo |first=Frankie |date=June 9, 2020 |title=Sports Gambling Today: World Series of Poker Goes Virtual |url=https://www.si.com/betting/2020/06/09/world-series-poker-virtual |access-date=2022-11-22 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}

In 2023, the WSOP expanded to Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas.{{Cite web |last=Eidissen |first=Erik |date=2023-07-17 |title=THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER® LAUNCHES WSOP PARADISE |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2023/Jul/13916/THE-WORLD-SERIES-OF-POKER--LAUNCHES-WSOP-PARADISE.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Play Online Poker with World Series of Poker}}

File:20080404-Vegas-Binionstable-WSOP.jpg poker table signed by WSOP Champions and other professional players after the casino hosted its final WSOP.]]

The winner of each event receives a World Series of Poker bracelet and a monetary prize based on the number of entrants and buy-in amounts. Over the years, the tournament has grown in both the number of events and in the number of participants. Each year, the WSOP culminates with the $10,000 no-limit hold'em "Main Event," which, since 2004, has attracted entrants numbering in the thousands. The victor receives a multi-million dollar cash prize and a bracelet, which has become the most coveted award a poker player can win.{{Cite web |date=July 28, 2006 |title=Poker's glory is about the bracelet, not the money |url=http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2006/jul/28/pokers-glory-is-about-the-bracelet-not-the-money/?printer=1/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422062532/http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2006/jul/28/pokers-glory-is-about-the-bracelet-not-the-money/?printer=1%2F |archive-date=April 22, 2009 |access-date=January 18, 2009 |website=Albuquerque Tribune |agency=Associated Press}} The winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event is considered to be the World Champion of Poker.{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2006 |title=Harrah's Entertainm. : Final Table Set at World Series of Poker Main Event; Nine to Compete at Rio for $12 Million and Title of World Champion {{!}} MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/HARRAH-S-ENTMT-12901/news/Harrah-s-Entertainm-Final-Table-Set-at-World-Series-of-Poker-Main-Event-Nine-to-Compete-at-Rio-f-226189/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=MarketScreener |language=en}}

Since 1971, all WSOP events have been tournaments with cash prizes. In 1973, a five-card stud event was added. Since then, new events have been added and removed.{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=October 21, 2010 |title=History in Spades: Defunct Bracelet Events from the WSOP |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2010/10/history-in-spades-defunct-bracelet-events-from-the-wsop-9161.htm |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Pokernews |language=en}} Since 1976, a bracelet has been awarded to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP; later on, the winners of events before 1976 were retroactively given bracelets.{{Cite web |title=WSOP Bracelet Winners |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/bracelet-winners-by-year/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=World Series of Poker}}

The tournament grew slowly for over a decade, reaching 52 participants in 1982. In the early 1980s, satellite tournaments were introduced, allowing people to win their way into the various events. By 1987, there were over 2,100 entrants in the entire series. At the 2006 World Series of Poker, there were 45 events, covering the majority of poker variants. Participation in the Main Event peaked that year, with 8,773 players.{{Cite web |date=May 30, 2002 |title=World Series of Poker History – WSOP Primer – Background, Timeline and Facts about the World Series of Poker |url=http://poker.about.com/od/tournaments/a/wsophistory.htm |access-date=April 9, 2010 |publisher=Poker.about.com |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215122/http://poker.about.com/od/tournaments/a/wsophistory.htm |url-status=dead }}

The number of participants in the WSOP grew every year from 2000 until 2006. Following 2006, new online gambling legislation restricted the number of online qualifiers to the event. 2007 was the first dip in numbers in the 21st century while in 2008 more people participated than the previous year.{{Cite web |last=Haney |first=Jeff |date=2008-05-09 |title=Bringing players back into game |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/09/bringing-players-back-game/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Las Vegas Sun |language=en}} In 2000, there were 4,780 entrants in the various events, but in 2005, the number rose to over 23,000 players. In the main event alone, the number of participants grew from 839 in 2003 to 8,773 in 2006, and has hovered between 6,300 and 7,200 entrants in the eleven years since.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |title=World Series of Poker: A Brief History |url=http://www.wsop.com/history/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=World Series of Poker}} Phil Hellmuth has won the most bracelets with 17 followed by Phil Ivey with 11 bracelets. Crandell Addington is the only player to place in the top ten of the World Series of Poker Main Event eight times, albeit in earlier years with small fields compared to modern times. Four players have won the Main Event multiple times: Johnny Moss (1970, 1971, and 1974), Doyle Brunson (1976 and 1977), Stu Ungar (1980, 1981, and 1997) and Johnny Chan (1987 and 1988). Bracelet winners who first achieved fame in other fields include French actor/singer Patrick Bruel (in 1998), Danish soccer player Jan Vang Sørensen (in 2002), American actress Jennifer Tilly (in 2005), and American musician/record producer Steve Albini (in 2018 and 2022). In recent years, there have been non-bracelet events at the WSOP; two of the most notable are the "World Series of Rock Paper Scissors" and "Ante Up for Africa."

Currently, Texas hold 'em, Omaha hold 'em and Seven-card stud and their lowball variants are played. H.O.R.S.E. has been played in the past and returned in 2006. Also, S.H.O.E. has been played in the past, and returned in 2007. Other events played in the past include Chinese poker, Five card stud, and many others. Like most tournaments, the sponsoring casino takes an entry fee (a percentage between 6% and 10%, depending on the buy-in) and distributes the rest, hence the prize money increasing with more players. In 2024, entry fees across all events range from $300 to $250,000, the latter being for the Super High Roller event. The Main Event, which is the highlight of the entire WSOP festival, has a buy-in of $10,000.{{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Botfeld |title=The World Series of Poker FAQs: Your 2024 WSOP Questions Answered|url=https://www.casino.org/blog/wsop-faqs/ |access-date=24 May 2024 |work=Casino.org |date=8 March 2024 |language=en}} In the 2005 Main Event, US$52,818,610 in prize money was distributed among 560 players, with US$7.5 million as the first prize. The 2006 Main Event, won by Jamie Gold, was the largest single poker tournament by prize pool or by entrant numbers in history; Gold pocketed US$12 million for his victory.{{Cite web |date=2006-08-11 |title=Gold rush: Bluff nets Gold $12 million WSOP win |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=2546574 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |agency=Associated Press}} In July 2010, it was announced that the winner of the 2010 Main Event would receive just under US$9 million.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=November 17, 2010 |title=HABS AND HAB NOTS: JONATHAN DUHAMEL WINS 2010 WSOP MAIN EVENT CHAMPIONSHIP |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2010/Nov/3150/HABS-AND-HAB-NOTS-JONATHAN-DUHAMEL-WINS-2010-WSOP-MAIN-EVENT-CHAMPIONSHIP.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=World Series of Poker}} The 2023 Main Event took the record for entries, first-place prize, and prize pool.{{Cite web |last=Duckworth |first=Tim |date=July 9, 2023 |title=WSOP Main Event To Award $12,100,000; Largest 1st Prize Ever |url=https://www.pgt.com/news/wsop-record-top-prize |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=PokerGO Tour |language=en}} The 2024 Main Event set a record for entries and prize pool.{{cite web | last=Grimes | first=Prince J. | title=Here's how much money the 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event winners are taking home | website=For The Win |publisher=USA Today| date=2024-07-09 | url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2024/07/world-series-poker-main-event-winner-money-2024 | access-date=2024-11-15}}{{cite web | title=World Series of Poker draws record-breaking field for 2024 Main Event | website=KSNV | date=2024-07-09 | url=https://news3lv.com/newsletter-daily/world-series-of-poker-draws-record-breaking-field-for-2024-main-event | access-date=2024-11-15}}

On June 2, 2011, the World Series of Poker and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté announced plans for an officially sanctioned special fundraising event, known as The Big One for One Drop, starting on July 1, 2012, with a record US$1 million entry fee.{{Cite press release |title=WSOP Announces $1 Million Buy-In Tournament in Conjunction with One Drop |date=June 2, 2011 |publisher=World Series of Poker |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2011/Jun/3337/WSOP-ANNOUNCES-1-MILLION-BUY-IN-TOURNAMENT-IN-CONJUNCTION-WITH-ONE-DROP.html |access-date=November 10, 2011}} 11% of the money (more precisely, $111,111 from each buy-in) went to Laliberté's charity, the One Drop Foundation, and the WSOP waived its normal 10% rake of the entry fees. At the time of the original announcement, 15 of the maximum 48 seats had been taken. By early December 2011, the field size had increased to 22, the minimum required for an official bracelet tournament.{{Cite news |date=December 5, 2011 |title=22 players commit to $1M buy-in tourney |work=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/poker/story/_/id/7319776/22-players-commit-1m-buy-world-series-poker-tourney |access-date=December 8, 2011}} Among those who committed early to the event were Johnny Chan, Daniel Negreanu, Jonathan Duhamel, Tom Dwan, Laliberté, billionaire businessman Phil Ruffin and Erik Seidel. On April 12, 2012, the WSOP announced that 30 players had committed to the tournament, which brought the first prize to $12.3 million, exceeding the record amount won by Jamie Gold. In the end, all 48 seats were filled, resulting in a first prize of $18.3 million.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=June 30, 2012 |title=The Biggest One—World's Most Spectacular Poker Extravaganza Starts Sunday |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2012/Jun/3911/THE-BIGGEST-ONE---WORLDS-MOST-SPECTACULAR-POKER-EXTRAVAGANZA-STARTS-SUNDAY.html |access-date=July 3, 2012 |website=World Series of Poker}} Poker professional Antonio Esfandiari won the event, also receiving a special platinum WSOP bracelet.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=July 3, 2012 |title=Antonio Esfandiari Pulls Off Amazing Trick by Winning One Drop |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2012/Jul/3926/ANTONIO-ESFANDIARI-PULLS-OFF-AMAZING-TRICK-BY-WINNING-ONE-DROP.html |access-date=July 4, 2012 |publisher=World Series of Poker}}

{{anchor|Millionaire Maker}} While the Main Event is the biggest - according to prize pool - event in the series; the Millionaire Maker ($1,500 buy-in) is next up top with its latest edition bearing a prize pool of $14,603,565.{{Cite web |first=Herbie |last=Teope |title=Prize Pool Announced |url=https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsop/2024-wsop/event-54-1500-millionaire-maker/chips.658395.htm |website=PokerNews |date=24 June 2024 |access-date=1 October 2024 |language=English}} Inaugurated in 2018 the tournament has ever since held a $1,000,000 guarantee for first place.{{Cite web |first=Matthew |last=Pitt |title=A Life Will Be Changed in the Millionaire Maker at the 2024 WSOP |url=https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsop/2024-wsop/event-54-1500-millionaire-maker/day1a/ |website=PokerNews |date=21 June 2024 |access-date=1 October 2024 |language=English}}{{Cite web |title=2024 WORLD SERIES OF POKER EVENT #54: $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER NO-LIMIT HOLD'EM |url=https://www.wsop.com/pdfs/structuresheets/structure_5504_23194.pdf |website=World Series of Poker |date=21 June 2024 |access-date=1 October 2024 |language=English}}

{{anchor|Gladiators of Poker}} In 2023, the World Series of Poker introduced a $300 no-limit hold 'em bracelet event called Gladiators of Poker, its lowest-priced event.{{cite news |last=Schoen |first=David |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Why the WSOP created a less expensive $300 buy-in event |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/why-the-wsop-created-a-less-expensive-300-buy-in-event-2789959/ |access-date=2 October 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241002023541/https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/why-the-wsop-created-a-less-expensive-300-buy-in-event-2789959/ |archive-date=2 October 2024 |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal}} The event has a guaranteed $3 million prize pool and attracted over 23,000 players in its inaugural year.{{Cite web |first=Matthew |last=Pitt |title=Get Ready for Battle with the $300 Gladiators of Poker |url=https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsop/2024-wsop/event-20-300-gladiators-of-poker/chips.635573.htm |website=PokerNews |date=6 June 2024 |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=English}}{{Cite web |first=Kirk |last=Brown |title=Step into the Arena for Event #18: $300 Gladiators of Poker |url=https://www.pokernews.com/tours/wsop/2023-wsop/event-18-gladiators-of-poker/day1a/?rsort=1 |website=PokerNews |date=7 June 2023 |access-date=31 August 2024 |language=English}}

==Main Event==

{{Main|List of World Series of Poker Main Event champions}}

File:WSOPGalleryofChampions.jpg

Since 1972, the Main Event of the WSOP has been the $10,000 buy-in no-limit Texas Hold 'em (NLHE) tournament (in 1971 the buy-in was $5,000 and the inaugural 1970 event was an invitational with winner determined by a vote from the players). Winners of the event not only get the largest prize of the tournament and a gold bracelet, but additionally their picture is placed in the Gallery of Champions at Binion's.{{Cite web |last=Cypra |first=Dan |date=2009-12-01 |title=Former World Series of Poker Home Binion's Closing Hotel |url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/former-world-series-of-poker-home-binions-closing-hotel-6761/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Poker News Daily |language=en-US}}

The winner of the Main Event has traditionally been given the unofficial title of World Champion. However, some believe that no-limit hold 'em is not the optimal structure for determining a champion poker player. In 2002, Daniel Negreanu argued that the Main Event should switch to pot-limit hold 'em, believing that pot-limit required a more complete set of poker skills than no-limit, although he admitted that such a change would likely never be made.{{Cite magazine |last=Negreanu |first=Daniel |author-link=Daniel Negreanu |date=May 10, 2002 |title=Should Pot-Limit or No-Limit Hold'em Crown our World Champion? |url=http://www.cardplayer.com/cardplayer-magazines/32-15-10/articles/12550-should-pot-limit-or-no-limit-hold-39-em-crown-our-world-champion |access-date=May 19, 2010 |magazine=Card Player}} However, after the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E./Poker Players Championship event was added, many of the game's top professionals, including Negreanu, have since stated that this tournament ultimately decides the world's best player. The $50,000 buy-in, being five times larger than the buy-in for the Main Event, has thus far tended to deter amateurs from playing in this event, and the variety of games played require a broader knowledge of poker. The first $50,000 event, conducted as a H.O.R.S.E. tournament, was won by Chip Reese in 2006. In 2010, the $50,000 event changed from H.O.R.S.E. to an "8-game" format, adding no-limit hold 'em, pot-limit Omaha, and 2–7 triple draw to the mix, and was rechristened The Poker Players Championship,{{Cite press release |title=2010 WSOP Schedule Is Announced |date=December 17, 2009 |publisher=World Series of Poker |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2009/Dec/2643/2010-WSOP-SCHEDULE-IS-ANNOUNCED.html |access-date=December 31, 2009}}{{Cite web |title=2010 World Series of Poker Structure Sheet, Event 2: The Poker Players Championship |url=http://www.wsop.com/pdfs/2010/10823-structure.pdf |access-date=February 2, 2010 |publisher=World Series of Poker}} with Michael Mizrachi winning the first edition of the revamped event.{{Cite news |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=June 2, 2010 |title=Mizrachi Wins Poker Players Championship |publisher=World Series of Poker |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2010/Jun/2818/Mizrachi-Wins-Poker-Players-Championship.html |access-date=June 2, 2010}} Since Reese's death in December 2007, the winner of this event receives the David 'Chip' Reese Memorial Trophy in addition to the bracelet and the prize money.{{cite web | last=Schoen | first=David | title=Poker superstar ends 'embarrassing' slump, wins 7th WSOP bracelet | website=Las Vegas Review-Journal | date=2024-06-28 | url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/poker-superstar-ends-embarrassing-slump-wins-7th-wsop-bracelet-video-3076699/ | access-date=2024-08-07}}

There have been many memorable moments during the main events, including Jack Straus's 1982 comeback win after discovering he had one $500 chip left when he thought he was out of the tournament. The end of the 1988 main event was featured in the movie Rounders. Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer, the winners in 2003 and 2004, both qualified for the main event through satellite tournaments at the PokerStars online card room. Jerry Yang, the winner in 2007, had only been playing poker for two years prior to his victory. He won his seat at a $225 satellite tournament at Pechanga Resort & Casino, in California. With the passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) of 2006 online poker sites have been barred from purchasing entrance directly for their users.

In the 2023 Main Event, a new record was set for entries and a first-place prize for the first time since 2006.{{Cite web |last=Fast |first=Erik |date=July 6, 203 |title=2023 World Series of Poker Main Event Breaks All-Time Field Size Record |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/28005-2023-world-series-of-poker-main-event-breaks-all-time-field-size-record |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=CardPlayer}}{{Cite web |last=Fast |first=Erik |date=July 8, 2023 |title=Largest World Series of Poker Main Event In History Smashes Record With 10,043 Entries |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/28009-largest-world-series-of-poker-main-event-in-history-smashes-record-with-10-043-entries |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=CardPlayer}} The 2024 WSOP Main Event set a new record for entries.{{cite web | last=Sofen | first=Jon | title=2024 WSOP Main Event Sets New Record Field of 10,112 Players | website=PokerNews | date=2024-07-08 | url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2024/07/2024-wsop-main-event-record-field-set-46472.htm | access-date=2024-08-07}}

These records do not include WSOP Europe or Asia Pacific Main Events.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=July 19, 2011 |title=Meet the 2011 November Nine! |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2011/Jul/3502/MEET-THE-2011-NOVEMBER-NINE.html |access-date=May 8, 2012 |website=World Series of Poker}}

• Most Main Event wins: {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Moss (3), {{flagicon|USA}} Stu Ungar (3){{Cite web |last=Cohen |first=Justin |date=July 13, 2022 |title=Most World Series of Poker Main-Event Wins |url=https://www.one37pm.com/sports/most-world-series-of-poker-main-event-wins |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=ONE37PM}}
• Most Main Event final tables: {{flagicon|USA}} Jesse Alto (7)
• Most Main Event money finishes: {{flagicon|USA}} Berry Johnston (10){{Cite web |last=Gonsalves |first=Amarylisa |date=March 31, 2022 |title=List Of All Berry Johnston's WSOP Bracelets |url=https://gutshotmagazine.com/list-of-all-berry-johnstons-wsop-bracelets/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Gut Shot Magazine |language=en-US}}
• Most Main Event wins in consecutive years: {{flagicon|USA}} Doyle Brunson (2), {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Chan (2), {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Moss (2), {{flagicon|USA}} Stu Ungar (2){{Cite web |date=2021-11-18 |title=Complete List of WSOP Main Event Winners and Champions |url=https://www.onlinegambling.com/news/list-wsop-main-event-champions-winners/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=OnlineGambling.com |language=en-US}}
• Most Main Event final tables in consecutive years: {{flagicon|USA}} Bob Hooks (4, 1973–1976), {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Moss (4, 1971–1974)
• Most Main Event money finishes in consecutive years: {{flagicon|USA}} Ronnie Bardah (5, 2010–2014){{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Don |date=July 11, 2014 |title=Bardah Sets New Main Event Record, Then Busts Cloutier |url=http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2014-wsop/main-event/chips.99377.htm |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=PokerNews.com}}
• Highest Main Event earnings: {{flagicon|USA}} Daniel Weinman ($12,100,000){{Cite web |last=Richards |first=Connor |date=2023-07-17 |title=Daniel Weinman Wins Record-Breaking 2023 WSOP Main Event for $12,100,000 |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2023/07/daniel-weinman-wins-2023-wsop-main-event-44142.htm |access-date=2023-07-17 |website=Pokernews |language=en-US}}
• Youngest Main Event winner: {{flagicon|USA}} Joe Cada ({{age in years and days|1987|11|18|2009|11|10}}){{Cite web |last=Seaton |first=Paul |date=July 7, 2017 |title=Joe Cada: The Kid Who Grew Up |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2017/07/joe-cada-the-kid-who-grew-up-28424.htm |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Pokernews |language=en}}
• Oldest Main Event winner: {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Moss ({{age in years and days|1907|5|14|1974|5|7}}){{Cite web |date=July 30, 2015 |title=William Wachter Is Oldest Player Ever To Cash In A WSOP Main Event |url=http://www.onlinepoker.net/poker-news/wsop-news/william-wachter-oldest-player-cash-wsop-main-event/26889 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.onlinepoker.net}}
• Most Main Event participations: {{flagicon|USA}} Howard Andrew (45, 1974–2018){{Cite web |last=Fast |first=Erik |date=January 14, 2021 |title=Poker Legend Howard 'Tahoe' Andrew Passes Away At Age of 86 |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/25619-poker-legend-howard-tahoe-andrew-passes-away-at-age-of-86 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=CardPlayer}}
• Oldest Main Event participant: {{flagicon|USA}} Eugene Calden (100 years, 2023){{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Terrance |date=2023-07-06 |title=Chris Moneymaker and Gene Calden kick off the final WSOP Main Event flight |url=https://www.poker.org/chris-moneymaker-and-gene-calden-kick-off-the-final-wsop-main-event-flight/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Poker.org |language=en-US}}

{{Main|Poker Hall of Fame}}

Since its inception in 1979, the WSOP Poker Hall of Fame has honored 42 individuals.{{Cite web |title=WSOP Poker Hall of Fame |url=http://www.wsop.com/pokerhalloffame/index.asp |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=World Series of Poker}} Selection criteria for players include having competed against acknowledged top competition, played for high stakes, and played consistently well to gain the respect of their peers. For non-players, selection is based on positive and lasting contributions to the overall growth and success of poker.

Since 2004, a Player of the Year (POY) award has been given to the player with the most points accumulated throughout the WSOP. As of 2019, fifteen different players have won the sixteen awards, with Daniel Negreanu as the only player to win the award more than once.{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2015 |title=The top 5 greatest WSOP doubles |url=https://www.pokerstrategy.com/news/world-of-poker/The-top-5-greatest-WSOP-doubles_92119/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=PokerStrategy.com}}

Only "open" events in which all players can participate count in the standings; this eliminates the Seniors, Ladies, and Casino Employee events.{{Cite web |title=Player of the Year |url=https://www.wsop.com/2023/poy/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=World Series of Poker}} Beginning with the 2006 World Series of Poker, the Main Event and the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. competition had no effect on the outcome of the winner of the Player of the Year award. In the 2008 World Series of Poker, the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event counted toward the Player of the Year award, but the Main Event did not. Since 2009, all open events, including the Main Event, count towards Player of the Year. The Player of the Year standings were based upon performance solely at the WSOP in Las Vegas up until 2010, but beginning in 2011 have also taken the World Series of Poker Europe into account, and starting in 2013 also include events in the World Series of Poker Asia Pacific. The 2011 WSOP Player of the Year organized by Bluff Magazine used a different scoring system which took into account field sizes and buy-in amounts when calculating points earned.{{Cite magazine |title=2011 World Series of Poker Player of the Year |url=http://www.bluffmagazine.com/wsop-poy/formula.asp |magazine=Bluff Magazine |access-date=May 8, 2012}} This scoring system has been used ever since.

Since 2016, the WSOP payout a bigger percentage of the field (15% instead of 10% until then).{{Cite web |last=Palansky |first=Seth |date=May 23, 2016 |title=WSOP News: WSOP Finalizes 2016 Schedule with 69 Events on Tap |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2016/May/7659/WSOP-FINALIZES-2016-SCHEDULE-WITH-69-EVENTS-ON-TAP.html |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=World Series of Poker}}

{{Main|World Series of Poker bracelet|World Series of Poker multiple bracelet winners}}

:Notes

{{reflist|group=Note|refs=

Hellmuth's second Main Event victory came at the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe.

Negreanu's Main Event victory came at the 2013 World Series of Poker Asia Pacific.

}}

Information correct as of December 23, 2023

Information correct as of June 19, 2025.

Since its inception, Stu Ungar and Johnny Moss are the only players to have won the Main Event three times. However, Moss's first victory came in a different format, as he was elected winner by vote of his fellow players at the conclusion of what was then a timed event. Moss, Ungar, Doyle Brunson, and Johnny Chan are the only people who have won the Main Event in consecutive years. Chan's second victory in 1988 was featured in the 1998 film Rounders.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-23 |title=10 great events in WSOP history: Johnny Chan traps a second world championship |url=https://paulphuapoker.com/johnny-chan-traps-wsop/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Paul Phua Poker |language=en}}

Phil Hellmuth holds multiple WSOP records including most bracelets, most WSOP cashes, and most WSOP final tables. He is also the only player to have won the Main Events of both the WSOP and WSOP Europe.{{Cite web |last=Wise |first=Gary |author-link=Gary Wise |date=2008-10-06 |title=Wise: Hellmuth's Legacy? |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/columns/story?columnist=wise_gary&id=3629313 |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Phil Hellmuth |url=http://www.wsop.com/players/playerprofile.asp?playerID=271 |access-date=October 21, 2012 |publisher=World Series of Poker}}

In recent years, the prize pool for the WSOP Main Event has become so large that the winner instantly becomes one of the top money winners of WSOP and even in tournament poker history. Before July 2012, the top seven players on the all-time WSOP Earnings list were Main Event champions from 2005 to 2011, among whom Jamie Gold topped those seven, he won the 2006 Main Event, which had then the biggest first prize for a single tournament, and still is the largest poker tournament by prize pool in history. However, the all-time leader is currently poker professional Daniel Negreanu, who has not won a Main Event, although he won the inaugural WSOP Asia Pacific Main Event in 2013. He is followed by professionals Antonio Esfandiari and Daniel Colman, both also yet to win a Main Event in Las Vegas.

The list below includes the WSOP Europe and WSOP Asia-Pacific, but excludes WSOP Circuit events and other non-bracelet events. The results are updated through the 2014 WSOP APAC.

At present, women make up around 5% of the field in all the events at the annual WSOP tournament.{{Cite web |title=Women WSOP - Women World Series of Poker History |url=https://www.pokerwebsites.com/women/wsop/ |access-date=2019-06-21 |language=en-US}} Vanessa Selbst, Barbara Enright, Nani Dollison and Kristen Bicknell all have won three WSOP bracelets.{{Cite web |title=WSOP {{!}} Players{{!}} Stats |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/stats/ |access-date=2019-11-06 |website=www.wsop.com}}

In 2015, Kelly Minkin finished in 29th place in the Main Event earning the "Last Woman Standing".{{Cite web |last=Rinkema |first=Remko |date=2018-07-10 |title=Kelly Minkin's Vision: Winning the WSOP Main Event |url=https://www.pokercentral.com/articles/kellys-vision-winning-the-wsop-main-event/ |access-date=2019-11-06 |website=Poker Central |language=en-US}}

In the 2007 World Series of Poker, Maria Ho was the last woman remaining in the Championship Event, placing 38th out of 6,358 players and earning a $237,865 payday.{{cite web | title=Last woman standing at the WSOP | website=Tuscaloosa News | date=2007-09-28 | url=https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2007/09/28/johnny-kampis-maria-ho-last-woman-standing-at-the-wsop/27727377007/ | access-date=2024-09-07}} She repeated this accomplishment in 2014, when she came in 77th place out of 6,683 players. Her 27th place "Last Woman Standing" finish at the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event along with a 2017 6th place final table finish makes Maria the only player to ever hold the title Last Woman Standing four times over and at both the WSOP and WSOPE Main Events.{{Cite web |title=Maria Ho's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=39790 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database Poker Database |language=en}}

In 1995, Barbara Enright became the only woman to make the Final Table of the World Series of Poker, finishing in fifth place.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-25 |title=WSOP History: Barbara Enright strikes a blow |url=https://paulphuapoker.com/barbara-enright-wsop/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Paul Phua Poker |language=en}} She also finished in the money of the Main Event in 2005.{{Cite web |title=36th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2005, No Limit Texas Hold'em - World Championship Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14015 |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} An Ambassador of Poker League of Nations, Barbara is the first woman to win two WSOP bracelets, the first woman to win three bracelets, and the first woman to win an open event at the World Series of Poker. Barbara is also the first woman to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, and the Senior Poker Hall of Fame, making her the only poker player to be in all three poker halls of fame.{{cite web | title=List Of All Poker Hall Of Fame Inductees | website=Gutshot Magazine | date=2024-07-15 | url=https://gutshotmagazine.com/list-of-all-poker-hall-of-fame-inductees/ | access-date=2024-11-15}}

{{Main|List of World Series of Poker ladies champions}}

In 1977, the first ladies-only event was introduced in the form of $100 buy-in Stud Poker Tournament.{{cite web | last=Chaffin | first=Sean | title=History of the WSOP Ladies Championship from Beginning to the Current Day! | website=888 Poker Online | date=2024-10-24 | url=https://www.888poker.com/magazine/history-wsop-ladies-poker-championship | access-date=2024-11-15}} Jackie McDaniels won that event to become the first ladies champion. She won one of the smallest prizes ($5,580) in WSOP history.{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Shane |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M3uqJMAB-qsC&q=1977%2520jackie%2520mcdaniels%2520first%2520ladies&pg=PT55 |title=Championship Table |publisher=Cardoza Publishing |isbn=9781580424691|via=Google Books |language=en |access-date=2023-02-12}} By 2007, the popularity of the Ladies Event had grown to the point that it became the first ladies-only event to have a prize pool greater than $1,000,000. Seven card stud was the game for the event's first two decades, but it was replaced by Texas hold 'em in 2001.

The earliest filming of the World Series was a special produced by Binion's Horseshoe in 1973 and narrated by Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder.{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2010 |title=All In: Addicted to ESPN's World Series of Poker |url=https://www.bendsource.com/news/all-in-addicted-to-espns-world-series-of-poker-2136326 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=The Source Weekly - Bend |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lucchesi |first=Ryan |date=June 7, 2008 |title=WSOP: History -- 1973 Recap |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/4352-wsop-history-1973-recap |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=CardPlayer}} CBS began covering the World Series in the late 1970s.{{cite web | last=Bengel | first=Chris | title=World Series of Poker: PokerGO reaches multi-year television agreement with CBS Sports | website=CBSSports.com | date=2019-05-29 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/wsop/news/world-series-of-poker-pokergo-reaches-multi-year-television-agreement-with-cbs-sports/ | access-date=2024-11-15}}

In the early 1980s, the event was again broadcast as specials. In the late 1980s, the World Series returned to television as ESPN took over broadcasting.{{cite web | last=Harris | first=Martin | title=History of the World Series of Poker Main Event: 1980-1989 | website=PokerNews | date=2017-07-04 | url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2017/07/history-of-the-world-series-of-poker-main-event-1980-1989-28389.htm | access-date=2024-11-15}} Initially, coverage only consisted of just a single one-hour taped-delay broadcast of the Main Event.

ESPN Classic currently airs many of the old broadcasts from the mid-1990s and beyond. Since no "pocket cam" existed, very few hole cards were actually shown to television viewers. Generally, ESPN used poker-playing actors such as Dick Van Patten, Vince Van Patten, and Gabe Kaplan, with either the tournament director (usually Jim Albrecht) or a poker professional, of which one was Phil Hellmuth, joining the team. Unlike today's coverage, ESPN featured no pre-taped interviews or profiles on the players. In addition, the commentators were generally on the casino floor itself.

From 1999 to 2001, the World Series of Poker was broadcast by The Discovery Channel. These hour-long programs presented more of an overview or recap of the WSOP as opposed to broadcasting an actual live event with play-by-play analysis and color commentary. The Discovery Channel's broadcast also featured final table players interviews interlaced throughout the show. ESPN would resume coverage the following year.

ESPN's coverage in 2002 was typical of their coverage in the 1990s (recorded in video, little or no post-production commentary or player profiles, no card cams). However, the final table broadcast was expanded over two one-hour episodes. The 2002 WSOP was the first with the "sneak peek" (later called the pocket cam, or hole cam).{{cn|date=November 2024}}

In 2003, Fred Christenson secured the long-term rights acquisition for ESPN,{{Cite book |last1=Shales |first1=T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SkYN5eMreOUC&pg=PT352 |title=Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN |last2=Miller |first2=J.A. |publisher=Little, Brown |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-316-12576-5|via=Google Books |page=352 |access-date=2024-11-15}} and the channel expanded their coverage to new heights with their coverage of the WSOP. They included coverage of the entire tournament, with a "Featured Table". At this table, the viewers could see the player's hole cards and subsequent strategy. The action was also broadcast as if live, though on tape-delay. 2003 was the first year that the broadcast covered action preceding the final table. Since then, ESPN has greatly expanded its coverage to include many of the preliminary events of the WSOP, especially Texas Hold 'Em. Also, their coverage of the main event now typically includes at least one hour program on each day. For the first two years of its existence, ESPN was broadcasting one hour programs of the "circuit" events that the WSOP has at various Harrah's-owned casinos, but ESPN did not renew these events. ESPN's coverage now includes many of the trappings of sports coverage, such as lighter segments (called "The Nuts") and interviews. ESPN's coverage has been largely driven by Matt Maranz, Executive Producer for the WSOP telecasts.{{Cite web |date=2008-12-04 |title=Bluff: A first-ever look behind the scenes with ESPN at the WSOP |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/columns/story?columnist=bluff_magazine&id=3744246 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} Maranz previously worked on ESPN's football pre-game show, and has also produced taped segments for NBC's Olympic coverage.

Coverage would increase in 2004 and 2005 to include preliminary events from the WSOP, in addition to the "Main Event".{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2004 |title=2004 World Series of Poker Final Event to Begin on Saturday, May 22nd |url=https://www.poker-king.com/poker-king-articles.php?article=46 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Poker-King}}{{Cite web |last=Ordine |first=Bill |date=July 30, 2005 |title=At poker table, ESPN has all bets covered |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2005-07-30-0507300148-story.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Baltimore Sun}} ESPN has expanded poker to all-new levels, especially with their coverage of the 2006 WSOP, including providing the entire final table of the 2006 Main Event via pay-per-view airing.{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Andrew |date=2006-06-09 |title=WSOP's new deal with ESPN includes PPV of final table |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=2476712 |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In 2008, ESPN experimented with the idea of a delayed final table. This idea presented greater sponsorship opportunities and notoriety, culminating in a recap of the Main Event and the conclusion of the 2008 Main Event final table.{{Cite web |date=May 1, 2008 |title=World Series of Poker Main Event Final Table Delayed Until November |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2008/May/2007/World-Series-of-Poker-Main-Event-Final-Table-Delayed-Until-November.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=World Series of Poker}} In 2009, ESPN announced they would again move the final table to November 2009.{{Cite web |date=August 21, 2020 |title=WSOP 2009 November Nine Ready for Main Event Glory |url=https://www.pokerlistings.com/wsop-2009-november-nine-set-for-main-event-glory-42767 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=PokerListings |language=en}} The WSOP also decided there would be no rebuy events in 2009. The decision was reached because of complaints that rebuy events provided an unfair advantage to professionals with no limitation on how much money they can spend for an event.{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Tom |date=2009-03-10 |title=Details on New WSOP Tournament Structure with Triple Stacks |url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/details-on-new-wsop-tournament-structure-with-triple-stacks-1453/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Poker News Daily |language=en-US}} There were 57 bracelet events that year.{{Cite web |title=2009 World Series of Poker Tournament Schedule |url=https://www.wsop.com/tournaments/schedule/?groupID=607 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=World Series of Poker}} The 2010 WSOP had the same number of bracelet events as in 2009, again with no rebuy events.{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2009 |title=2010 World Series of Poker Schedule Is Announced |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2009/Dec/2643/2010-WSOP-SCHEDULE-IS-ANNOUNCED.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=World Series of Poker}}

With 58 bracelet events and no rebuy events, the 2011 WSOP featured unprecedented "nearly live" coverage, with broadcasts being delayed by much smaller amounts of time while still satisfying Nevada Gaming Commission regulators. Caesars Entertainment, via WSOP.com, streamed final-table coverage of all bracelet events on a 5-minute delay, although without pocket cams. The ESPN family of networks aired 36 hours of Main Event coverage leading up to the November Nine on a 30-minute delay, showing the hole cards of all players who voluntarily entered the pot once the hand ended. The Main Event final table was broadcast on a 15-minute delay with the same policy regarding hole cards. The first day of the final table was aired on ESPN2 and the final day on ESPN, with both days also streamed on ESPN3 and WSOP.com. ESPN continued to have coverage of the WSOP in 2012.{{cite web | last=Collson | first=Brett | title=ESPN Unveils Schedule for 2012 World Series of Poker Television Coverage | website=PokerNews | date=2012-05-08 | url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2012/05/espn-unveils-schedule-for-2012-world-series-of-poker-12610.htm | access-date=2024-11-15}}

POKER PROductions has produced the World Series of Poker Europe since 2008 and World Series of Poker since 2011. Former pro turned executive producer Mori Eskandani's team pioneered the live broadcast format seen at the WSOP since 2011. POKER PROductions has filmed WSOP bracelet final tables and the WSOP Main Event for PokerGO, a subscription video on demand service. PokerGO has had exclusive WSOP broadcast rights since 2017, with shared coverage of select events appearing on PokerGO.

Starting in 2021, CBS Sports Network became the official television home of the World Series of Poker through a multi-year deal reached with PokerGO.{{Cite web |last=Bengal |first=Chris |date=2021-04-19 |title=World Series of Poker: PokerGO reaches multi-year television agreement with CBS Sports |url=https://www.cbssports.com/wsop/news/world-series-of-poker-pokergo-reaches-multi-year-television-agreement-with-cbs-sports/ |access-date=2021-10-02 |website=CBS Sports |language=en-US}} Per the terms of the new deal, CBS Sports was set to broadcast 15 hours of WSOP Main Event coverage plus 36 additional hours from select gold bracelet events.{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=April 19, 2021 |title=World Series of Poker (WSOP) Leaving ESPN for CBS Sports |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2021/04/wsop-leaving-espn-for-cbs-sports-39000.htm |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Pokernews |language=en}} In an interview for Card Player Magazine, PokerGO President Mori Eskandani mentioned longtime WSOP broadcasters Lon McEachern and Norman Chad would be back in the booth, along with Ali Nejad, David Tuchman, and Jeff Platt.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title=PokerGO President Mori Eskandani Discusses 2021 WSOP Streaming Plans |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/26245-pokergo-president-mori-eskandani-discusses-2021-wsop-streaming-plans |access-date=2021-10-02 |website=Card Player|language=en-US}}

Live broadcast coverage of the 2021 WSOP moved exclusively to PokerGO.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-01 |title=Watch The World Series Of Poker On PokerGO |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/26207-watch-the-world-series-of-poker-on-pokergo |access-date=2021-10-02 |website=Card Player|language=en-US}} PokerGO's 2021 WSOP live streaming coverage began on Monday, October 4, and would include 36 days of live broadcasts from more than 20 unique events as part of the 52nd annual WSOP.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Donnie |date=2021-09-09 |title=PokerGO® Releases Exclusive Live Streaming Schedule for 2021 World Series of Poker |url=https://www.pokergonews.com/articles/pokergo-releases-exclusive-live-streaming-schedule-for-2021-world-series-of-poker/ |access-date=2021-10-02 |website=PokerGO News |language=en-US}} As part of PokerGO's live coverage of the 2021 WSOP, and for the first time ever, live streaming of the WSOP Main Event moved to the PokerGO platform and would be broadcast from start to finish.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Donnie |date=2021-11-02 |title=Daily Live Coverage of the 2021 WSOP Main Event Starts Thursday Exclusively On PokerGO® |url=https://www.pgt.com/news/daily-live-coverage-of-the-2021-wsop-main-event-starts-thursday-exclusively-on-pokergo |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=PokerGO Tour}}

{{Incomplete list|date=November 2024}}

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}

• 1973 (special) – Jimmy Snyder{{Cite web |last=Pajich |first=Bob |date=January 29, 2013 |title=Men Of Action: Jimmy 'The Greek' Snyder - A Look At A Pioneer Sports Bettor |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/14892-men-of-action-jimmy-the-greek-snyder |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=CardPlayer}}
• 1978 (CBS) – Brent Musburger and Jimmy Snyder{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Martin |date=2022-07-11 |title=The WSOP's History With Game Shows, Spectator Sports & Reality TV |url=https://www.playusa.com/world-series-of-poker-main-event-history-television/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Play USA |language=en-US}}
• 1979 (CBS) – Frank Glieber and Jimmy Snyder
• 1981 (special) – Curt Gowdy{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Martin |date=July 4, 2017 |title=History of the World Series of Poker Main Event: 1980-1989 |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2017/07/history-of-the-world-series-of-poker-main-event-1980-1989-28389.htm |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=PokerNews |language=en}}
• 1983 (special) – Curt Gowdy{{Cite web |last=Keefer |first=Case |date=2019-06-13 |title=Fifty years after its birth, the World Series of Poker retains its restless spirit - Las Vegas Sun Newspaper |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/jun/13/fifty-years-after-its-birth-the-world-series-of-po/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Las Vegas Sun |language=en}}
• 1987 (special) – Ted Robinson{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
• 1988 (ESPN) – Chris Marlowe{{Cite web |last=Wise |first=Gary |date=2008-07-03 |title=Wise: Another five years |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/columns/story?columnist=wise_gary&id=3472402 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
• 1989 (ESPN) – Chris Marlowe{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Bernard |date=August 11, 2021 |title=A Conversation With Poker Hall Of Famer Jack Binion |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/cardplayer-poker-magazines/66468-global-poker-34-17/articles/24306-a-conversation-with-poker-hall-of-famer-jack-binion |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=CardPlayer}}
• 1990 (ESPN) – Chris Marlowe{{Cite web |last=Leonard |first=Jake |date=April 4, 2009 |title=ESPN Personalities You'd Love To Hate (Or Maybe Not): Part 2 |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/150660-espn-personalities-youd-love-to-hate-or-maybe-not-part-2 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Bleacher Report}}
• 1991 (ESPN) – Chris Marlowe
• 1992 (ESPN) – Chris Marlowe
• 1993 (ESPN) – Dick Van Patten and Jim Albrecht{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=June 23, 2015 |title=Entertainment Icon and Former WSOP Commentator Dick Van Patten Passes Away |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2015/06/former-wsop-commentator-dick-van-patten-passes-away-22026.htm |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Pokernews |language=en}}
• 1994 (ESPN) – Dick Van Patten and Jim Albrecht
• 1995 (ESPN) – Dick Van Patten and Jim Albrecht
• 1996 – No televised broadcast{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=October 28, 2010 |title=History in Spades: Revisiting the 1996 World Series of Poker Final Table |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2010/10/history-in-spade-revisiting-the-1996-world-series-of-poker-f-9228.htm |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=PokerNews |language=en}}
• 1997 (ESPN) – Gabe Kaplan and Jim Albrecht{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=2022-05-17 |title=25 Years Ago: Stu Ungar's Final Triumph |url=https://www.nolandalla.com/25-years-ago-stu-ungars-final-triumph/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Nolan Dalla |language=en-US}}
• 1998 (ESPN) – Vince Van Patten and Jim Albrecht{{Cite web |title=World Series of Poker 1998: Hand history with Scotty Nguyen |url=http://www.pokerplayer365.com/news/features-news/world-series-of-poker-1998-hand-history-with-scotty-nguyen/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=www.pokerplayer365.com}}
• 1999 (The Discovery Channel){{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=May 25, 2017 |title=88 Fun Facts about the World Series of Poker |url=https://www.888poker.com/magazine/live-events/88-wsop-fun-facts |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=888poker}}
• 2000 (The Discovery Channel)
• 2001 (The Discovery Channel)
• 2002 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern and Gabe Kaplan;{{Cite web |last=Beauregard |first=Steve |date=2014-11-27 |title=Lon McEachern – ESPN's WSOP Announcer and The Voice of Poker |url=https://gamboool.com/lon-mceachern-espns-wsop-announcer-and-the-voice-of-poker |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Gamboool |language=en-us}} (ESPN Latin America – Spanish) – Gabriela Hill{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
• 2003 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad;{{Cite web |last=Villano |first=Matt |date=2010-12-02 |title=Poker not just a game to broadcaster Lon McEachern |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/gaming/article/poker-not-just-a-game-to-broadcaster-lon-mceachern-3244067.php |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}} (ESPN Latin America – Spanish) – Gabriela Hill{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
• 2004 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad;{{Cite web |last=Greenstein |first=Teddy |date=July 15, 2005 |title=Chad rides wave of poker popularity |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2005-07-15-0507150296-story.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Chicago Tribune}} (ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America – Spanish) – Gabriela Hill{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
• 2005 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad;{{Cite web |last=Smyth |first=Daniel |date=August 26, 2021 |title=Lon McEachern and Norman Chad Back for WSOP on CBS Sports |url=https://www.cardschat.com/news/mceachern-and-chad-back-for-wsop-103352/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Cards Chat |language=en-US}} (ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America – Spanish) – Gabriela Hill and Andrés Agulla{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
• 2006 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad; Phil Gordon and Ali Nejad in Main Event Pay-Per-View;{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2006 |title=ESPN To Offer Live PPV Showing Of WSOP Main Event |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2006/06/21/Sports-Media/ESPN-To-Offer-Live-PPV-Showing-Of-WSOP-Main-Event.aspx |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}} (ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America – Spanish) – Gabriela Hill and Andrés Agulla
• 2007 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad; Phil Gordon and Ali Nejad in Main Event Pay-Per-View;{{Cite web |date=2007-06-28 |title=ESPN upgrades production for World Series of Poker PPV |url=https://www.sportsvideo.org/2007/06/28/espn-upgrades-production-for-world-series-of-poker-ppv/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Sports Video Group |language=en}} (ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America – Spanish) – Fernando Álvarez and Gabriela Hill{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
• 2008 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad; (ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America – Spanish) – Fernando Álvarez and Gabriela Hill{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
• 2009 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad; (ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America – Spanish) – Georgina Ruiz Sandoval and Fernando Álvarez{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
• 2010 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad; (ESPN3) – James Hartigan and Phil Hellmuth;{{Cite web |last=Cypra |first=Dan |date=2010-10-28 |title=More Room for Fans at 2010 WSOP Main Event Final Table |url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/more-room-for-fans-at-2010-wsop-main-event-final-table-16413/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Poker News Daily |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Slagter |first=Josh |date=2010-11-01 |title=ESPN crews work overtime to bring World Series of Poker final table to TV |url=https://www.mlive.com/deadmoney/2010/11/espn_crews_work_overtime_to_br.html |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=mlive.com |language=en}} (ESPN Deportes and ESPN Latin America – Spanish) – Georgina Ruiz Sandoval and Fernando Álvarez{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}
• 2011 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad and Kara Scott;{{Cite web |last=Hofheimer |first=Bill |date=2011-07-14 |title=Raising stakes for WSOP: 'Live' |url=https://www.espnfrontrow.com/2011/07/raising-stakes-for-wsop-live/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=ESPN Front Row |language=en-US}} (ESPN2 & 3 LIVE) Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, and David Tuchman{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Andrew |date=2011-05-04 |title=In a first, ESPN to broadcast same-day WSOP |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=6477409 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Andrew |date=2011-10-18 |title=ESPN to broadcast WSOP final table live |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/poker/post/_/id/141/world-series-poker-main-event-final-table-broadcast-nearly-live-espn-espn2-espn3com |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
• 2012 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, Antonio Esfandiari, Kara Scott, and Olivier Busquet{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Andrew |date=2012-05-04 |title=Two live final tables highlight WSOP coverage |url=https://www.espn.com/poker/story/_/id/7891468/espn-broadcast-wsop-main-event-big-one-one-drop-national-championship-part-2012-coverage |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2021 |title=The 25 Best Moments in Poker in 2012: 25-21 - Special Features |url=https://www.pokerlistings.com/the-25-best-moments-in-poker-in-2012-25-21-36056 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=PokerListings |language=en}}
• 2013 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, Antonio Esfandiari, Kara Scott, Marianela Pereyra, and Phil Hellmuth{{Cite web |last=Christie |first=Jennifer Cingari |date=2013-06-19 |title=ESPN to Present World Series of Poker Main Event |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2013/06/espn-to-present-world-series-of-poker-main-event-2/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}
• 2013 (ESPN Australia) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, Antonio Esfandiari and Lynn Gilmartin{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=July 24, 2013 |title=The WSOP on ESPN: Negreanu Highlights 2013 APAC Broadcast |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2013/07/the-wsop-on-espn-negreanu-highlights-2013-apac-broadcast-15979.htm |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=PokerNews |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2020-01-21 |title=Lynn Gilmartin, Anchor of the World Poker Tour®, Inducted into Australian Poker Hall of Fame |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200121005424/en/Lynn-Gilmartin-Anchor-of-the-World-Poker-Tour%C2%AE-Inducted-into-Australian-Poker-Hall-of-Fame |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Business Wire |language=en}}
• 2014 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, and Kara Scott{{Cite web |last=Fast |first=Erik |date=September 28, 2014 |title=2014 World Series of Poker Main Event ESPN TV Schedule |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/17849-2014-world-series-of-poker-main-event-espn-tv-schedule |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=Card Player}}{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Kara |date=October 9, 2016 |title=Team 888's Kara Scott Talks Poker & Broadcasting – Part 3 |url=https://www.888poker.com/magazine/ambassadors/kara-scott-on-poker-and-broadcasting-part-3 |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=888poker}}
• 2015 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, Antonio Esfandiari, Kara Scott, Daniel Negreanu, and Phil Hellmuth{{Cite web |last=Christie |first=Jennifer Cingari |date=2015-08-11 |title=ESPN Coverage of World Series of Poker Championships Begin August 18 |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2015/08/espn-coverage-of-world-series-of-poker-championships-begin-august-18/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=2015 WSOP Main Event Media Guide |url=https://www.wsop.com/promotions/files/2015%20WSOP%20Main%20Event%20Media%20Guide%20Final.pdf |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=World Series of Poker}}
• 2016 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, Antonio Esfandiari, Kara Scott, and Phil Laak{{Cite web |last=Christie |first=Jennifer Cingari |date=2016-08-25 |title=ESPN's Coverage of 2016 World Series of Poker Begins September 6 |url=https://espnpressroom.com/us/press-releases/2016/08/espns-coverage-2016-world-series-poker-begins-september-6/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=ESPN Press Room U.S. |language=en-US}}
• 2017 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, Antonio Esfandiari, Joe Stapleton, Phil Hellmuth, David Tuchman, and Kara Scott{{Cite web |date=June 2, 2017 |title=Poker Central names broadcast talent lineup and streaming schedule for WSOP coverage |url=https://www.pgt.com/news/poker-central-names-broadcast-talent-lineup-streaming-schedule-wsop-coverage |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=PGT}}
• 2018 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, and Antonio Esfandiari{{Cite web |last=Derbyshire |first=Martin |date=2018-06-27 |title=2018 World Series of Poker Main Event Viewing Guide |url=https://www.uspoker.com/blog/2018-wsop-main-event-viewing-guide/23588/ |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=US Poker |language=en-US}}
• 2019 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, Jamie Kerstetter, and Kara Scott{{Cite web |last=Shirley |first=Bart |date=2019-07-15 |title=WSOP Final Table Diary, Volume 1 - Why The Air Was Thick With All-Ins |url=https://www.uspoker.com/blog/wsop-final-table-diary-1/26797/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=US Poker |language=en-US}}
• 2020 (ESPN) – Lon McEachern, Jamie Kerstetter, and Jeff Platt{{Cite web |last=Newell |first=Jennifer |date=March 1, 2021 |title=ESPN Broadcast Wraps a Rough 2020 for WSOP |url=https://www.legaluspokersites.com/news/espn-broadcast-wraps-2020-wsop/24780/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Legal US Poker Sites}}
• 2021 (PokerGO/CBS Sports) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, Maria Ho, Jamie Kerstetter, Ali Nejad, and Jeff Platt{{Cite web |last=Duckworth |first=Tim |date=November 17, 2021 |title=Watch the 2021 WSOP Main Event Final Table Conclude on PokerGO.com at 6 p.m. ET |url=https://www.pgt.com/news/watch-the-2021-wsop-main-event-final-table-conclude-on-pokergo-com-at-6-p-m-et |access-date=2023-02-15 |website=PGT}}

{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

• 2022 (PokerGO/CBS Sports) – Lon McEachern, Norman Chad, and Jamie Kerstetter{{Cite web |last=Duckworth |first=Tim |date=May 5, 2022 |title= WATCH THE 2022 WSOP LIVE ON POKERGO |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2022/May/12593/WATCH-THE-2022-WSOP-LIVE-ON-POKERGO.html |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=WSOP}}
• 2023 (PokerGO/CBS Sports) – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad{{cite web | last=Sofen | first=Jon | title=PokerGO's 2023 WSOP Live-stream Schedule Covers Biggest Events and More | website=PokerNews | date=2023-04-14 | url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2023/04/2023-wsop-live-stream-schedule-pokergo-43383.htm | access-date=2024-11-15}}
• 2024 – Lon McEachern and Norman Chad (Main Event){{cite web | last=Ginsbach | first=Jay | title=WSOP 2024 Main Event Begins As Poker's Biggest Tournament And Series Continues | website=Forbes | date=2024-07-04 | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jayginsbach/2024/07/04/wsop-2024-main-event-begins-as-pokers-biggest-tournament-and-series-continues/ | access-date=2024-11-15}}

{{Div col end}}

The WSOP has corporate sponsors and licensed products which pay fees to market themselves as an official sponsors and/or licensees and exclusively use the WSOP insignia and cross-promote with their events.{{Cite web |title=World Series of Poker - Sponsors |url=https://www.wsop.com/2011/sponsors/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=World Series of Poker}} Besides the hosting casino and ESPN,{{Cite web |last=Raskin |first=Eric |date=May 22, 2013 |title=When We Held Kings |url=https://grantland.com/features/the-oral-history-2003-world-series-poker-which-chris-moneymaker-turned-39-25-million/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Grantland.com |language=en-US}} major sponsors have included Jack Links Beef Jerky,{{Cite web |date=November 4, 2010 |title=Jack Link's® Beef Jerky Continues as Presenting Sponsor of the World Series of Poker® Under New Multi-Year Pact |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jack-links-beef-jerky-continues-as-presenting-sponsor-of-the-world-series-of-poker-under-new-multi-year-pact-106717093.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Cision PR Newswire |language=en}} Miller Brewing's "Milwaukee's Best" brand of beers,{{Cite web |date=February 26, 2009 |title=Milwaukee's Best Light Dealt a Winning Hand as Official Beer Sponsor |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2009/Feb/2292/Milwaukees-Best-Light-Dealt-a-Winning-Hand-as-Official-Beer-Sponsor.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=World Series of Poker}} Pepsi's SoBe Adrenaline Rush energy drink (sponsors of the 2005 Tournament of Champions),{{Cite web |last=Rosen |first=Josh |date=November 4, 2005 |title=What A Rush! SoBe On As Sponsor Of WSOP Tourney Of Champs |url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2005/11/04/Sponsorships-Advertising-Marketing/What-A-Rush-Sobe-On-As-Sponsor-Of-WSOP-Tourney-Of-Champs.aspx |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Sports Business Journal |language=en}} Helene Curtis's Degree brand of anti-perspirant/deodorant,{{Cite web |date=2011-05-30 |title=WSOP take a relaxed approach to success |url=https://www.pokernewsreport.com/wsop-take-a-relaxed-approach-to-success-2537 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Poker News Report |language=en-US}} United States Playing Card's Bicycle Pro Cards, Bluff Magazine, GlaxoSmithKline/Bayer's Levitra erectile dysfunction medicine, and The Hershey Company.{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2007 |title=Hershey's, WSOP sign deal |url=https://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/hersheys-wsop-sign-deal-163985 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Casino City Times}} Licensees include Glu Mobile,{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=August 8, 2006 |title=Glu Goes All-In With Launch of World Series of Poker Texas Hold'em for Mobile Phones |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2006/Aug/622/Glu-Goes-All-In-With-Launch-of-World-Series-of-Poker-Texas-Holdem-for-Mobile-Phones.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=World Series of Poker}} Activision{{Cite web |date=August 28, 2006 |title=Card Player Joins with Activision for World Series of Poker Video Game |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/press/42-card-player-joins-with-activision-for-world-series-of-poker-video-game |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=CardPlayer}} (video games for different platforms such as Nintendo's GameCube, Microsoft's Xbox, Sony's PlayStation 2, and PC, featuring computer-generated versions of stars like Chris Ferguson), and products made by different companies ranging from chip sets, playing cards, hand-held games, and clothing like caps and shirts. The official playing cards are supplied by Copag Cards and chips are manufactured by Excalibur Electronics, Inc. which is based out of Miami, Florida and has been the main chip licensee since 2005.{{Cite web |last=Peckaitis |first=Tadas |date=2021-10-29 |title=Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About WSOP Chips And Cards |url=https://www.casino.org/blog/wsop-chips-and-cards/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Casino.org |language=en-US}}

In 2003 and 2004, DVD sets showcasing each year's WSOP Main Event were released by ESPN.{{Cite web |title=2003 WSOP |url=https://www.pokersource.com/reviews/dvds/2003-WSOP.asp |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Poker Source}}{{Cite web |last=Brevet |first=Brad |date=2005-08-02 |title=TV DVD REVIEW: 2004 World Series of Poker |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/506352-tv_dvd_review_2004_world_series_of_poker |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=ComingSoon.net |language=en-US}}

In 2005, a video game based on the tournament series, titled World Series of Poker, was released for several consoles and PC.{{Cite web |last=Roper |first=Chris |date=September 16, 2005 |title=World Series of Poker (GCN, PS2, Xbox) |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/09/17/world-series-of-poker-3 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis}} A sequel called World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions came out in 2006.{{Cite web |last=Navarro |first=Alex |date=December 8, 2006 |title=World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions Review (PC) |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/world-series-of-poker-tournament-of-champions-revi/1900-6162951/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive}} In 2007, World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets was released.{{Cite web |last=Haynes |first=Jeff |date=October 12, 2007 |title=World Series of Poker: Battle For The Bracelets Review (PS2, PS3, X360) |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/10/13/world-series-of-poker-2008-battle-for-the-bracelets-review-5 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis}} WSOP video poker machines now appear at some Harrah's casinos; the machines are standard video poker machines, but have a bonus feature which allows a player to play a modified game of Texas Hold 'em against the machine.{{Cite web |title=World Series of Poker |url=http://www.wms.com//game-detail.php?Themes=605 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007191641/http://www.wms.com/game-detail.php?Themes=605 |archive-date=October 7, 2007 |website=WMS.com |publisher=WMS Gaming}}

Beginning in 2007, Harrah's announced the creation of the World Series of Poker Academy, a poker school aimed at providing poker players with the skills needed to win a WSOP bracelet. The instructors for the academy include Annie Duke, Phil Hellmuth, Greg Raymer, Scott Fischman, Mark Kroon, Mark Seif, Alex Outhred, and former FBI interrogator Joe Navarro. Initial academies were launched in Tunica, Mississippi, Indiana, and Las Vegas.{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=February 15, 2007 |title=World Series Of Poker Academy Debuts With Noted World Champions As Instructors |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2007/Feb/166/World-Series-Of-Poker-Academy-Debuts-With-Noted-World-Champions-As-Instructors.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=World Series of Poker}}

In September 2009, Harrah's signed an agreement with Dragonfish, the B2B arm of 888 Holdings, to provide its online gaming services.{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2009 |title=888 Hits The Jackpot |url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/09/11/888-holding-harrah-markets-equities-deal.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=Forbes |language=en}} The offering went live in the UK later that year, allowing UK users to play for real money.{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Stephen A. |date=August 5, 2010 |title=Harrah's Now Offering Free Online Poker to U.S. Residents Search Harrah's Now Offering Free Online Poker to U.S. Residents |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/9538-harrah-s-now-offering-free-online-poker-to-u-s-residents |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=CardPlayer}} Real money online poker is available in the United States, but only in Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey.{{cite web | last=Schmidt | first=Sophia | title=Delaware and Nevada set to deal New Jersey into online poker games | website=Delaware First Media | date=2018-04-24 | url=https://www.delawarepublic.org/business/2018-04-24/delaware-and-nevada-set-to-deal-new-jersey-into-online-poker-games | access-date=2024-08-07}}

• Poker After Dark
• National Heads-Up Poker Championship
• High Stakes Poker

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.wsop.com/}}
• [http://www.titanpoker.com/tournaments/wsop/history-of-wsop.html An in depth history of the WSOP]

{{Major Poker Tournaments}}

{{Caesars Entertainment}}

{{1970s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}

{{1980s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}

{{1990s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}

{{2000s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}

{{2010s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}

{{2020s WSOP bracelet winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Series Of Poker}}

Category:1970 establishments in Nevada

Category:Harrah's Entertainment

Category:Poker in Las Vegas

Category:Television shows about poker

Category:Recurring events established in 1970

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