The 2025 World Series of Poker is set for May 27 to July 16 at the Horseshoe and Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. This year’s WSOP brings 100 events, including the iconic $10,000 Main Event, and—maybe a bit surprisingly—it’s under new ownership for the first time in ages.
Players from all over are already plotting their summer, hoping to snag a gold bracelet or maybe just take a shot at a life-changing score.
Worried about the pricey buy-ins? There are tons of satellite options, so you don’t have to break the bank. You can actually qualify for as little as $1 through step-satellites or even for free via special freeroll qualifiers.
Online routes are especially accessible these days, with some packages clocking in at $12,000—that’s Main Event entry plus travel, all sorted.
The schedule’s packed with something for every kind of poker player. There are affordable daily tournaments, high-roller events, and everything in between.
With the series just weeks away, figuring out the qualification paths and event structure is key. Who knows, maybe you’ll turn a small buy-in into a huge payday.
WSOP 2025 Schedule Overview
The 2025 World Series of Poker runs from May 27 through July 16 at the Horseshoe and Paris in Las Vegas. This is the 56th annual series, offering a wild mix of events with different buy-ins and poker formats.
It’s designed to welcome everyone, from casual players to the most serious pros.
Key Dates and Main Events
WSOP 2025 kicks off on Tuesday, May 27, and wraps up on Wednesday, July 16. Today, June 3, 2025, has two new tournaments starting:
- Event #16: $600 Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack (June 3-5)
- Event #17: $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em (June 3-6)
The Main Event, as always, is the crown jewel—thousands of players from all over will be gunning for it. There are also plenty of championship events in different poker variants scattered across the seven-week run.
Buy-ins go from $500 and $1,000 all the way up to $50,000+. There’s really something for both the weekend warriors and the high-stakes crushers.
Daily Tournaments and Cash Games
Outside of the bracelet events, WSOP 2025 has loads of daily tournaments with smaller buy-ins. These satellites are a great shot at winning your way into bigger events for a fraction of the price.
Cash games run nonstop at both the Horseshoe and Paris poker rooms. You’ll find:
- No-Limit Texas Hold’em
- Pot-Limit Omaha
- Mixed Games
- High-Stakes Tables
Blinds start at $1/$3 for beginners, but if you’ve got the bankroll, the sky’s the limit. Daily deep stack tournaments with buy-ins from $150 to $400 run alongside the main events, giving players even more chances to play.
Notable Live Event Locations
The main WSOP festival is in Las Vegas, but the WSOP Circuit brings action to other spots too:
- Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)
- Choctaw Durant (Oklahoma) – January 6-20, 2025
- Graton Casino (Bay Area, California)
These regional stops have smaller buy-ins but still give out those coveted WSOP Circuit rings. International locations are also in the mix, so the series really is a global affair.
Each venue has its own vibe but sticks to WSOP’s pro standards. Players can even qualify for the Main Event via satellites at these spots.
Full List of 2025 WSOP Events
The 2025 WSOP offers a packed schedule of tournaments running May 27 through July 16 at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. You’ll find all sorts of poker variants, with buy-ins ranging from affordable to nosebleed.
Texas Hold’em and No-Limit Tournaments
No-Limit Hold’em is still the heart of the WSOP, with tons of events. The $10,000 Main Event, usually in early July, draws players from every corner of the globe.
On June 3, Event #17: $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em kicks off and runs through June 6. It’s a solid mid-range option for those looking for a bigger prize pool.
A bunch of deepstack tournaments offer larger starting stacks, so you get more play for your money. Hold’em buy-ins go from $400 to $50,000 for the top-tier events.
There are bounty tournaments, where knocking someone out earns you cash, and turbo events with faster blinds—perfect if you don’t have days to spare.
Omaha and Mixed Game Schedule
Pot-Limit Omaha fans can jump into Event #16: $600 PLO Deepstack, running June 3-5. It’s a solid entry point if you want to try the four-card action.
The schedule also has PLO Hi-Lo events, where you can scoop half the pot for the lowest hand. These split-pot games attract specialists who know how to play both ends.
Mixed games like H.O.R.S.E. and 8-Game Mix pop up throughout the series. They’ll test your skills across several poker formats, so be ready for a challenge.
Omaha championship events usually have $10,000 buy-ins and bring out the best in the world.
High Roller and Special Events
WSOP 2025 has a handful of high roller tournaments with buy-ins at $25,000, $50,000, and $100,000. These always draw the big names and plenty of deep-pocketed amateurs.
The $1,000 Ladies Championship is still a highlight, celebrating women in poker. There are also seniors events for players 50 and up.
Tag team tournaments let players join forces and swap in and out on a single stack. It’s a fun twist you don’t see every day.
Online bracelet events on WSOP.com mean you can chase gold from home if you can’t make it to Vegas.
How to Qualify: Satellites and Online Qualifiers
Getting into the WSOP 2025 is way more doable than you might think. Multiple paths are open—live satellites at casinos, online qualifiers, and even freerolls that cost nothing at all.
Live Satellite Tournaments
Live satellites will be running at a bunch of casinos across the US leading up to the WSOP. The Horseshoe and Paris start daily satellites about a month before the series, with buy-ins from $125 to $1,100.
Regional Caesars properties will also run satellites, so you don’t have to be in Vegas to have a shot. These packages often cover travel and hotel, not just your seat.
Definitely check with your local casino for dates and formats. Most satellites are pretty straightforward—make it to the final table, win your seat to the big show.
Online Satellites and Qualifier Options
Online satellites are probably the easiest way to qualify for WSOP 2025. WSOP.com is the main route for US players in regulated states like Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.
GGPoker is the go-to for international players, running satellites starting at just $1. You can work your way up through step tournaments if you’re patient.
Other sites—PokerStars, WPT Global, and the like—also run qualifiers, sometimes with travel and hotel included. Sundays are usually the best days for these, with bigger prize pools and more seats up for grabs.
If you’re serious, set up your account early and get used to the satellite formats. Schedules get busier as the series nears, with daily and weekly events.
Main Event Qualifiers and Freerolls
The $10,000 Main Event has the biggest satellite system of all. Based on past years, over 1,000 seats should be up for grabs via qualifiers in 2025.
WSOP.com and GGPoker will run “25 Seats Guaranteed” tournaments every Sunday starting in February. That’s a lot of golden tickets.
Freerolls are the dream—no buy-in at all. You’ll find these through first-time deposit promos, loyalty rewards, social media contests, and special WSOP promotions.
Some sites run special qualifiers like the “Road to Vegas” or “Sunday Million Main Event Special.” Buy-ins can be higher, but the odds are often better due to guaranteed seats.
Keep an eye on WSOP’s official channels for the latest on satellites and special qualifiers.
Player Experience and Tournament Tips
Playing the WSOP is about way more than just knowing the rules. You need mental stamina, a good strategy, and—let’s be honest—solid bankroll management. These can make the difference between busting out early and making a deep run.
Advice for Recreational and Tournament Players
If you’re a rec player, get comfortable in tournament settings before hitting the WSOP. Try local card rooms or smaller events to build up your confidence.
A lot of pros recommend arriving in Vegas a couple of days before your first event. It helps with the time zone, nerves, and just getting settled.
Rest is a big deal. These tournaments are marathons, and mistakes happen when you’re tired or tilted.
Take notes after each session—jot down hands, mistakes, anything you notice. It’s a bit nerdy, but it helps you get better.
Tournament regulars often have a pre-game routine—maybe some strategy review, meditation, or just a brisk walk. Whatever keeps your mind sharp.
Table Position, Bluffing, and Bet Sizing Strategies
Table position is huge at the WSOP. Early position (seats left of the blinds) means you should play tighter, while late position lets you open up and steal more pots.
Good players use position to control the action and read their opponents. As one pro put it, “Position is power in poker.”
Bluffing isn’t just about being gutsy. You need to read your opponents and pick your spots. The best bluffs tell a believable story; random bluffs usually end in disaster.
Bet sizing depends on your hand, the board, your opponent, and stack sizes. If you always bet the same amount, people catch on. Mix it up to keep them guessing.
Managing Tournament Dollars and Cashes
Bankroll management is everything. The usual advice is to have at least 100 buy-ins for your regular tournament level. For WSOP events, plan your schedule around your total budget, not just what you want to play.
Satellites are a great way to play bigger events for less. Plenty of players have spun $500 into a $10,000 Main Event seat this way.
Track all your expenses—buy-ins, re-entries, food, hotel, the works. Vegas isn’t cheap, and it’s easy to lose track.
If you cash, maybe set aside a chunk for living expenses. It’s tempting to fire it all back into the next tournament, but that’s not always wise.
Don’t forget about taxes. Non-US players might get hit with withholding, and US players have to track wins and losses for tax season.
Other Major Poker Events and Series in 2025
WSOP is the big one, but there are plenty of other top-tier poker events on the calendar for 2025. These series offer big prize pools, different formats, and something for everyone—whether you’re a seasoned pro or just love the game.
WPT and EPT Event Highlights
The World Poker Tour (WPT) keeps rolling in 2025. The WPT Championship at Wynn Las Vegas is set for December, with a $10,500 buy-in and an estimated $15 million prize pool.
The Five Diamond World Poker Classic is back at Bellagio in October, still one of the WPT’s most iconic stops.
PokerStars’ European Poker Tour (EPT) brings its flagship EPT Monte Carlo in April, with a €5,300 Main Event. EPT Barcelona follows in August, mixing poker with that Mediterranean vibe.
EPT Prague wraps up the year in December, drawing big international fields to the Czech capital. Each EPT stop packs in dozens of side events for all bankrolls.
Online Poker and International Series
PokerStars is rolling out its Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) in May 2025, right alongside the first WSOP events. With over 300 tournaments spread across three buy-in levels, there’s more than $100 million guaranteed—yeah, that’s a lot of zeroes.
GGPoker’s not sitting this one out either. Their Good Game Series lands in September 2025, and it’s packed with big guarantees and some pretty creative tournament formats for players all over the globe.
Triton Poker Series is still the go-to for high rollers. In 2025, they’ll stop in London, Montenegro, and Jeju, with buy-ins that can hit a jaw-dropping $250,000.
Meanwhile, the Asian Poker Tour is making moves, adding new stops in Vietnam and the Philippines. If you’re after international action but don’t want to break the bank, these events are looking like solid options.
And hey, online qualifiers and satellites are running all year on the major sites. That means, no matter your bankroll, there’s always a shot at getting into these big-name tournaments.
