WSOP to Drive Online Traffic to Record Heights

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Tuesday, May 30th, 2017 | Written by Lucy Brown

Leaving the poker community amazed, the World Series of Poker announced that for the 2017 season its poker site called WSOP.com would be hosting three different online bracelet tournaments in Nevada this summer. While some people at the time expressed their belief that this sounded like an over-ambitious endeavor, based upon past performances, there is great reason to think that the state’s only viable online poker site will definitely exceed expectations this summer.

Furthermore, the Caesars Interactive Entertainment owned World Series of Poker has decided to allow its internet bracelet events to be played exclusively online this year, rather than requiring the players to play the final part of the tournament live at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Explaining the rationale behinds its decision, WSOP.com Head of Online Poker Bill Rini, stated:

“We’ve received feedback going both ways on this. Some players love the fact that they can come down to the Rio and face their opponents across the felt and others have said that they prefer to finish play online. We decided to try the all online format this year and, as we always do, listen to the feedback from the poker community.”

Low Roller

There is every chance that this year’s low roller, Event #8: $300 + $33 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em game scheduled for June 3rd, could draw in the biggest poker crowd in Nevada online history. A new event, the price is the lowest that the World Series of Poker has ever offered in a bracelet event, although the live Event #19 with a $365 buy-in hits a close second.

Event #8 is one of only three online tournaments that has a guarantee, with a minimum prize pool of $333,333. In order to reach this level, there has to be a minimum of 1,112 entrants, and based on history, this shouldn’t be hard to achieve. After all, data indicates that it is similar to the 25 Seat Scramble both in terms of its price, and the guarantee attached to it. Over the past two years, this $200 satellite has awarded 25 seats through to the $10,000 Main Event, and both years has managed to draw around 1,500 entries. There are a few things that may negatively affect Event #8’s ultimate appeal, though,, including it being so early in the series, and its relatively high entry fee.

Mid Roller

The first $950 + $50 online bracelet event in 2015 attracted around 905 players to create a $859,750 prize pool, with entries subsequently soaring in 2016 to hit 1,247. During the second year, however, the tournament had a reentry format, making it unlikely that this year’s Event #71: $1,000 WSOP.com Online Bracelet No-Limit Hold’em will be able to match the former’s numbers. Still, people believe that a new precedent could be set as it starts at 2:00 PM and allows a four hour late registration period.

High Roller

It is difficult to guess whether Event #61: $3,333 WSOP.com Online High Roller No-Limit Hold’em will do well, as there have not been any events held at this price since online poker became live in 2013. The closest thing that can be used in comparison was the $1,000 6-Max event on PokerStars that took place in New Jersey, which barely made it past the $100,000 guarantee by gaining a $109,250 prize pool.

Still, some people believe that the High Roller has the potential to draw the largest prize pool ever recorded in the history of online poker in Nevada. One mitigating circumstance is that it begins on July 1st, which is typically when excitement surrounding the WSOP reaches its peak. Furthermore, there is only one more event starting on that particular day, which is one that will predominantly appeal to a more recreational based section of gamers. On the down side, while $3,000 is not too high a figure for online poker tournaments, that number is more likely to appeal to live players than to their online counterparts. This means that there is genuinely no way to guess Event #61’s potential success.

Summary

With the addition of two extra online poker bracelet at this year’s World Series of Poker, the games has definitely been shaken up a bit, but truly, only time will tell how positive an impact it will have on the Series when it gets underway in Las Vegas on Tuesday, May 30th. In the meantime, when asked his opinion why the World Series of Poker has decided to go with three official online bracelets this year, Bill Rini explained:

“At the WSOP we feel an obligation to find new ways to grow the game of poker. Online poker had been a great way to introduce players to the game and ultimately have them come participate in the WSOP. With online poker today, particularly in the United States, we felt we should get behind this variant of poker and re-affirm our belief and commitment in it as a true test of poker. Upping our number of online only events, with a low, mid and high buy-in range, we believe accomplishes our obligation in a smart way. And with this being the third year we’ve offered online WSOP bracelet events, three events seemed like a perfect fit.”