The 56th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) officially begins on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, bringing a record-breaking lineup of 100 live bracelet events to the Horseshoe and Paris casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. Running through July 16, this highly anticipated poker festival draws thousands of players worldwide, ranging from professionals to ambitious amateurs eager to compete for coveted WSOP gold.

A historic schedule and exciting opening events:

For the first time in WSOP history, the tournament schedule includes 100 bracelet events, highlighting the expansive and diverse nature of the series. The opening day will feature the popular $1,000 Mystery Millions event, which offers players a chance to win a $1 million bounty, not only for the tournament champion but also for one lucky knockout bounty winner. This multi-flight no-limit hold’em event has quickly become a fan favorite, with the previous year awarding multiple seven-figure bounties and a $1 million first prize.

Alongside Mystery Millions, other notable tournaments early in the series include the $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship, the $10,000 Mystery Bounty No-Limit Hold’em, and the $25,000 High Roller PLO/NLH Mix. These high-stakes events attract some of the world’s top poker talent, adding to the summer’s thrilling atmosphere.

According to Poker News, the highlight of the summer, the $10,000 WSOP Main Event, is set to begin on Wednesday, July 2, with four starting flights spread over the first several days. Registration remains open until the midpoint of Day 2D on July 7. The final table will be contested over two days, July 15 and 16, culminating in the crowning of a new world champion.

The 2025 WSOP is the first under the ownership of NSUS Group Inc., which acquired the prestigious brand from Caesars Entertainment in a $500 million deal following last year’s tournament. Caesars will continue to host the live events at its Las Vegas properties for the next two decades, maintaining the series’ strong connection to the city.

Reflecting on a record-breaking 2024 WSOP:

Last year’s WSOP was historic, with over 10,000 entrants competing in the Main Event, generating a prize pool exceeding $94 million. Jonathan Tamayo emerged victorious, taking home a $10 million payday and etching his name into poker history.

The 2024 series saw an impressive $438 million awarded in live event prizes across 99 live and 30 online bracelet events. Notable players made headlines, including Scott Seiver, who captured three bracelets in a single series and claimed the WSOP Player of the Year title. Other legends like Nick Schulman, Robert Mizrachi, and Calvin Anderson also secured significant victories.

Sixteen players earned individual prizes of $1 million or more in 2024, with seven surpassing the $2 million mark. These milestones set a high standard and created exciting storylines leading into the 2025 series.

The 2025 WSOP schedule introduces six new events, including the innovative ‘Battle of the Ages’—a $1,000 buy-in no-limit hold ’em tournament featuring two separate flights divided by age groups (50 and over, and under 50), merging to crown one winner.

Other additions emphasize non-hold’em formats such as a $3,000 T.O.R.S.E event, replacing limit hold ’em with 2-7 triple draw in the traditional mixed game lineup. High rollers will see a fresh $100,000 pot-limit Omaha event and a $25,000 half no-limit hold ’em/half pot-limit Omaha high roller.

After player feedback, the $1,500 pot-limit Omaha Double Board Bomb Pot event will now feature bomb pots on every hand, increasing the excitement and pace.

Technology and rule updates enhance player experience:

One of the major advancements this year is the WSOP+ app, returning to Las Vegas after its debut at WSOP Paradise. This mobile application, available on iOS and Android, enables players to pre-register for events, access schedules, view chip counts, and monitor prize pools in real time. It supports multiple payment options, including ACH, credit cards, PayPal, Luxon Pay, and pre-funded accounts, streamlining tournament entry and enhancing the overall experience.

Additionally, WSOP has updated the official rules to restrict electronic device use in the later stages of tournaments, aiming to protect game integrity and maintain fairness for all competitors.

With 100 live events spanning buy-ins from as low as $300 to as high as $250,000, the WSOP caters to nearly every player type. Forty-nine events have entry fees at or below $1,500, while 30 events are set at $10,000 or more. Thirteen high-roller events require buy-ins of $25,000 and above, including three six-figure buy-ins.

Theoretically, entering every bracelet event would cost over $1 million, reflecting the scale and prestige of this world-class poker series.

PokerGO will provide extensive live streaming coverage of more than 25 events, starting May 31 and continuing through the Main Event’s conclusion on July 16. Coverage includes a wide range of buy-ins and game types, featuring key high rollers and the prestigious Poker Players Championship.

Live broadcasts are accessible via multiple platforms, including web browsers, mobile devices, Apple TV, Roku, and more. Select content will also be available on PokerGO’s YouTube channel.