WSOP 2022 Schedule Released – 88 Bracelet Events

The 53rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) has made its announcement on the daily event schedule to take place in 2022. As the longest-running, richest, and most prestigious poker series, it stands out as one of the highlights of the poker year even for those of us who typically prefer online poker sites. This year's Series begins May 31 and proceeds through July 20.

For the 53rd installment, a few changes have been introduced. No longer running at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino, it will now take place in two separate venues adjacent to each other on the Las Vegas Strip. Not only that, but the COVID-19 rules that were brought about for the 2021 series – and that aggravated large numbers of players – have changed for the 2022 event.

Doubtless, this will see a much freer and more enjoyable tournament series take place for all. What’s more, players attending the event can look forward to the appearance of actor-comedian-poker player Vince Vaughn who has been named Master of Ceremonies for the 2022 WSOP. The series is also scheduled to bring some fan favorites back, such as the return of the Millionaire Maker and the Colossus. Not only that, but various new features will be present at the 2022 WSOP, including the $1,000 Buy-In Million Dollar Bounty and the Tournament of Champions. Join us for a closer look at this year’s 53rd World Series of Poker.

New Venues Following 2019 Sale of Rio All-Suite

It was in September 2019 that Caesars announced it had finished a deal to sell the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino for $516.3 million. The venue passed into the hands of Imperial Companies although Caesars maintained is operation of the property for a period of two years following that sale. And while it was noted that the retention of the WSOP annual event was a factor for keeping control of the property (with the option to extend that control further after the 2-year period), it seems like Caesars and Imperial were not able to come up with a deal to prolong this.

The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Former Host of the WSOP

Therefore, without the Rio being able to provide a venue for the WSOP, it was decided that 2022’s event will take place on the Las Vegas Strip instead. Two establishments will play host to the series, which are Bally’s (soon to be renamed the Horseshoe) and Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. The first ever World Series of Poker was held in the original Binion's Horseshoe back in 1970 although there's no ownership connection between the soon-to-be Horseshoe on the Strip and the current Binion's Gambling Hall in downtown Las Vegas.

WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart

The doors will open on Tuesday, May 31, and the 2022 festivities will continue running through to Wednesday, July 20. Speaking on the 17th occasion that he will be presiding over the WSOP, Executive Director Ty Stewart noted:

This year is particularly historic for the WSOP with its move to the heart of the Las Vegas Strip and debut in the best facilities we’ve ever had. We’re ready to welcome players from all over the world to our housewarming party at Bally’s, soon-to-be Horseshoe, and Paris.

Of course, because the Series will have at its disposal the entire convention space of both the Paris and Bally’s establishments, there is much more room to maneuver than in previous years. Over 150,000 square feet will fit 600 poker tables, making the largest tournament capacity to ever be associated with WSOP.

Details of the 2022 WSOP Events

The 53rd coming of the WSOP will feature top-quality events, and it is expected (and undoubtedly hoped) that it will be the biggest and most anticipated one yet. The Paris Las Vegas establishment will play host to the main cage while the TV set staging will be placed inside the Event Center at Bally’s. These two casinos are connected together and provide a shared parking garage space.

Anyone questioning the new locations for the WSOP event will likely feel different if they get involved in The Housewarming. This features a $500 buy-in and a guaranteed prize pool of $5 million, and it occurs on the opening weekend of the event.

In previous years, this has generated some of the largest player pools in history. At last year’s opening weekend event, dubbed the Reunion, a total of 12,973 entries were recorded. The year 2022 is expected to bring even more than this thanks to the return to the usual summer timeframe.

In total, there will be a whole jam-packed calendar of 88 bracelet tournaments to experience with buy-ins ranging from $400 through to $250,000. CBS Sports will provide coverage of the WSOP for a second time, offering daily streaming via PokerGo. A total of 18 separate bracelet events will be broadcast this way, with a minimum of 15 hours of coverage being devoted to the Main Event.

Reduced hotel room rates at both Bally’s and Paris, as well as all other Caesars Entertainment resorts within Vegas, are available to WSOP bracelet event entrants. All you need to do when booking is reference the code WSOP22.

$10,000 Main Event

As always, the highlight of the WSOP summer series is the Main Event, a $10,000-buyin NL Hold'em tournament considered the most envied annual championship in the entire world of poker. In 2021, there were 6,650 entrants participating in such from worldwide locations even though it all occurred during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2022 Main Event will return to its standard timeframe around Independence Day although it actually begins the day before on Sunday, July 3. There will be four separate starting flights on consecutive days through Wednesday, July 6. Play will continue on to the final table, which will occur on Wednesday, July 15 and Thursday, July 16.

Other Events

If you intend to involve yourself in the 2022 WSOP, either as participant or just spectator, then you can look forward to a wonderful set of tournaments other than just the Main Event. Here is a look at some of the most noteworthy (and in some cases new) components of this year's Series.

• The Record Breakers Return - Between June 11 and July 16, each Friday and Saturday of the 2022 WSOP will see the return of a flagship WSOP event. Therefore, you can look forward to participating in The Millionaire Maker, Monster Stack, Colossus and The Closer for your chance at the multi-million-dollar prize pools.
• NEW: $1,000 Buy-in Million Dollar Bounty - Between July 2 and 4, a mystery bounty of up to $1 million will be on offer. Originally announced for the 2020 series, this starts out as a regular tournament, and then beginning on day two, every player who knocks another individual out of the tourney will receive a mystery bounty with all bounty values being randomly drawn.
• NEW: Tournament of Champions - Taking place from July 18 to 20, the first ever Tournament of Champions will occur with a $1,000,000 free roll tournament being open to any of the 88 bracelet winners from the 2022 Series as well as gold ring winners from the 2021/2022 WSOP Circuit season. Talk about ultimate bragging rights!
• $100,000 High Roller Bounty No-Limit Hold’em Championship - On May 31, this high-stakes special will likely appeal to the elite of the poker world. Each player eliminated is worth an incredible $25,000 bounty reward alongside what may shape up to be one of the largest prize pools in the whole WSOP.
• $777 Lucky Sevens - Occurring on July 10 through to July 12, the buy-in for this is $777, as can be seen, and there is a $777,777 guaranteed win for a first place finish.
• WSOP.COM Online Bracelets - Yes, they’re back! The popular online bracelet events will be active every Sunday during the summer, and there will be three special Double Up Bracelet Days for you to involve yourself in. Those occur on June 5, July 10, and July 17.
• $25,000 Buy-In Heads Up No Limit Hold‘em Championship - June 2 is the day to watch out for with this one, which serves as the WSOP annual heads-up championship. With an increase to $25,000 and a cap of 64 players, it’s certain to draw only the elite to the tables.

COVID-19 Vaccination Status Rule Change

The global pandemic that shook 2020 and 2021 – and that is still floating around in 2022 – had quite the impact on the poker scene in general. Venues shut their doors for months at a time and a lot more gameplay was experienced online.

The 2020 WSOP series was postponed from its usual summertime period for several months initially despite the fact that it had initially sparked its own controversy when announced in December 2019. Players were told at that time that they could register late for the Main Event, running right into the second day. People weren’t happy about that fact, but that was swiftly forgotten about when uncertainties about it going ahead at all were brought to light.

Coronavirus Precautions Anger Players

Yet when the event returned for 2021, albeit later on in the year, there was more controversy attached to it. The rules of the event dictated that anyone who tested positive for COVID-19 while WSOP took place would automatically be disqualified and removed from play. That would also leave them without any possibility of obtaining a refund from the event or any type of pro-rated chip count payout. Of course, that rule infuriated many people, but it didn’t end there.

Additional rules laid out for the 2021 series stated that any person who had been in close proximity to someone who else who had tested positive for coronavirus could also be similarly disqualified and barred from the event. Those who refused to take part in health and safety screening relating to COVID-19 were also at risk of being turned away.

As the event drew closer though, even more rules and adjustments of rules were introduced by the WSOP. In an August update, the coronavirus policies stated that nobody would be able to enter any of the tournaments without providing proof of vaccination. A negative COVID-19 test would not be enough to suffice either – it had to be confirmation of a vaccination at least 14 days prior to the event. Players would not be required to wear a mask while seated at a poker table though.

Rules Relaxed for 2022

The 2022 WSOP event is doing things differently again. The tournaments will still follow local, state, and CDC guidelines relating to the pandemic that are in effect while it takes place. However, no vaccination requirement is needed to participate this year. That being said, players will still be required to follow CDC guidelines that are appropriate to them as individuals.

Playing WSOP and Additional Poker in the United States

If you want to get involved in this year’s event, then the WSOP.com platform in New Jersey and Nevada will be providing its own online bracelet events as well as offering satellites that will reward seats at the live WSOP series in Vegas.

Clearly, though, this solution is only relevant to people who will be located within one of the two states where WSOP.com is permitted to ply its trade. If you don't intend to head to Nevada or New Jersey, then your best bet is to attempt to win your WSOP seat in advance or simply create your own, personal “series” from the selection available at various offshore platforms.

Players across the United States, and indeed in other locations around the world, can look forward to winning a WSOP seat for much less in online satellites or bypass the overhyped World Series altogether and just play tournaments comfortably from home. Take a look at our guide to playing online poker in the USA in order to find out more.