Poker’s biggest festival has confirmed several big tournaments that will take place between May 31st and July 20th this year as the World Series of Poker moves to Bally’s and Paris in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas.
With some exciting events returning, poker players of all levels will be dreaming of playing their way to a famous WSOP bracelet victory and claiming gold this summer. The 53rd World Series of Poker will be the latest and perhaps greatest staging of the world-famous poker series, as a new era at Bally’s and Paris begins in style.
When Does the 2022 WSOP Main Event Take Place?
“We’re ready to welcome players from all over the world.”
This year, the action takes place at Bally’s and Paris, with Bally’s soon to be renamed the Horseshoe, and all the big ‘Shuffle Up and Deal’ calls will be given by the WSOP’s inaugural Master of Ceremonies, Vince Vaughn. The Hollywood movie star is expected to ‘open the show’ on May 31st, with the WSOP Main Event clearly likely to benefit from his incredible celebrity pull.
“This year is particularly historic for the WSOP with its move to the heart of the Las Vegas Strip,” Ty Stewart, the WSOP’s Executive Director, said. [It will] 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. The schedule is jam-packed with first-class events and we expect this to be the biggest and most anticipated WSOP yet.”
Stewart is on the money there. With poker having emerged from COVID-19 arguably stronger than ever, the appetite for live poker is huge, as the Borgata found out only this past weekend. With the $10,000-entry WSOP Main Event World Championship returning, everyone is anticipating even more entrants in the world’s biggest freeroll than the 6,650 who took part in 2021. This year’s Main Event takes place across the Independence Day holiday, with the first Day 1 flight taking place on July 3rd and the legendary nine-handed final table playing out on July 15th and 16th.
New Events on the Schedule
There are several new events on the schedule this year, with the opening weekend seeing a bumper $5 million guaranteed in the event named ‘The Housewarming’, which will welcome players to Bally’s and Paris. With a buy-in of just $500, the event is expected to produce one of the largest field sizes in the history of the WSOP. Last year, the Reunion saw almost 13,000 entrants and that number could be broken, with no COVID-19 restrictions in place. Yes, you read that correctly, this year, players will NOT have to provide vaccination documents, so an even bigger field than usual will be expected across the board.
One of the most popular new event formats in recent years has been Bounty events, and the $1,000-entry ‘Million Dollar Bounty’ event is sure to thrill players old and new. With a mystery bounty of up to $1 million available for players who advance to Day 2 and knocks someone out, it’s a tournament that could change the lives of players who don’t even reach the final table.
The first ever Tournament of Champions will conclude the 2022 World Series of Poker, with the $1 million freeroll tournament only open to players who have won one of the 88 WSOP bracelets on offer or taken down a WSOP circuit event on route to the festival. It’s sure to provide a bumper turnout in WSOPC events on the lead-up to the WSOP proper and will give regional superstars the chance for the ultimate return on zero investment as the new calling card of poker fame is up for grabs.
The $1,000-entry ‘Flip and Go’ event took place on GG Poker as part of the summer WSOP Online Series last year, but on June 12th, it will take place in person at Bally’s and Paris, with each player all-in pre-flop on from the first hand until a finish, with every player dealt three cards and choosing two. Whoever wins through their first table will make the money, where the tournament then will play to a finish as a normal event would do.
Classic Events Make a Welcome Return
There are some classic events making a welcome return to the action, with every Friday and Saturday featuring events such as the Millionaire Maker, Monster Stack, Colossus and The Closer, each of which often attract thousands of recreational ‘weekend warriors’. Each look set to give out prizepools in the millions and offer huge value to players who might never play for as much money the rest of the year.
While there are dozens of events offering great value for money, others are all about the prestige, including the $100,000-entry High Roller Bounty event starting on the opening day, May 31st. Each player has a $25,000 bounty on their heads, and the attraction is likely to be one of the biggest draws of the summer. Scheduling it at the kick-off of the series is sure to bring in the big names early.
The $25,000-entry Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship begins on June 2nd, and will have a strict cap at 64 players, which could well see only the best of the best take part. Some of those names will be looking to play the $1,979 buy-in Poker Hall of Fame Bounty event seven weeks later on July 10th, with all surviving Hall of Fame members invited to freeroll into the $1,979 No-Limit Hold’em tournament which is open to anyone if they pay the $1,979 fee. Every ‘Hall of Famer’ that takes part will have a bounty on their head which corresponds to the year in which they were inducted.
There are a number of mid-stakes events taking place, with the usual Ladies Event, Seniors Event, Super Seniors Event and plenty of other hugely popular regular events on the bill. With more $2,000-entry and $3,000-entry events than ever before, there is also a $777-entry Lucky Seven’s event that is scheduled for July 10th to 12th and has a guaranteed top prize of $777,777.
Online Bracelets, Daily Deepstacks and WSOP Europe
There aren’t just 88 WSOP bracelets taking place in the halls of Bally’s and Paris. WSOP Online events take place each Sunday and the schedule features ‘Double Up Bracelet Days’ on June 5th, July 10th and 17th. The WSOP Online schedule features events such as The BIG $500, the Lucky Sevens $7,777 High Roller and the $1,000 Online Championship, with several other freezeout events added into the mix this year to satisfy all types.
At Bally’s itself, the Daily Deepstacks tournaments that typified the atmosphere of the Rio during its 17-year stint as host return, with events taking place at 2 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m. on most days. Those events will be hosted by the stunning Paris Ballroom, which will also welcome players who want to play satellites and cash games too.
Finally, WSOP Europe is back too, although we don’t know the full schedule for that event series just yet. Returning to King’s Casino in Rozvadov, on the Czech Republic/German border, the series will run from October 12th to November 3rd. With 15 WSOP bracelet events including the WSOPE Main Event and a spectacular €50,000-entry High Roller event, the Autumn festival is sure to provide plenty of drama.
Frequently Asked Questions
With both Bally’s and Paris hosting the 20022 WSOP, it could be the biggest ever World Series. Between the dual venues, there is over 200,000 square feet to be filled with poker tables, seats and of course players. With buy-ins ranging from $400 up to $250,000, the televised events on PokerGO and CBS Sports will be staged at the Bally’s Event Center, with the two main buildings sharing a parking garage.
With no masks required and CDC guidelines the only restriction on players, proof of vaccination will NOT currently be required. With online registration in effect, players will be able to use the Bravo Poker Live site to book their seats and can also head to the Champagne Ballroom in the Le Centre Des Conventions at Paris Las Vegas too.
Most on-foot registrations will be processed at the Champagne Ballroom and they open from business on May 31st at 9:00 a.m., staying open 24 hours a day until the 17th July. Satellites are already running on the WSOP and will do so throughout the 2022 WSOP too.
Here’s the full schedule of events as they are currently billed:
2022 World Series of Poker Event Schedule |
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| Event | Date | Entry Fee | WSOP Event Details |
| 1 | May 31-June 1 | $500 | Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em |
| 2 | May 31-June 2 | $100,000 | High Roller Bounty NLH ($25k Bounties) |
| 3 | June 1-4 | $2,500 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em |
| 4 | June 1-4 | $1,500 | Dealers Choice 6-Handed |
| 5 | June 2-7 | $500 | The Housewarming NLH ($5m Gtd) |
| 6 | June 2-4 | $25,000 | Heads-Up NLH Championship (64-Player Max) |
| 7 | June 3-5 | $1,500 | Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better |
| 8 | June 4-6 | $25,000 | High Roller No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed |
| 9 | June 4-6 | $1,500 | Seven Card Stud |
| 10 | June 5-7 | $10,000 | Dealers Choice 6-Handed Championship |
| 11 | June 6-7 | $600 | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack |
| 12 | June 6-8 | $50,000 | High Roller No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed |
| 13 | June 6-8 | $1,500 | Limit Hold’em |
| 14 | June 7-9 | $1,500 | 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em |
| 15 | June 7-10 | $10,000 | Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship |
| 16 | June 8-11 | $3,000 | No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed |
| 17 | June 8-10 | $2,500 | Limit Mixed Triple Draw Lowball (A-5,2-7,Badugi) |
| 18 | June 9-10 | $1,000 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em |
| 19 | June 9-12 | $25,000 | High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha |
| 20 | June 9-11 | $1,500 | Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw |
| 21 | June 10-14 | $1,500 | Monster Stack No-Limit Hold’em |
| 22 | June 10-12 | $10,000 | Seven Card Stud Championship |
| 23 | June 11-13 | $3,000 | 6-Handed Limit Hold’em |
| 24 | June 12-13 | $1,000 | GGPoker Flip & Go No-Limit Hold’em |
| 25 | June 12-13 | $800 | No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack |
| 26 | June 12-14 | $10,000 | Limit Hold’em Championship |
| 27 | June 13-15 | $1,500 | Shootout No-Limit Hold’em |
| 28 | June 13-15 | $50,000 | High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha |
| 29 | June 13-14 | $1,500 | No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw |
| 30 | June 14-16 | $1,000 | Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed |
| 31 | June 14-16 | $10,000 | Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship |
| 32 | June 15-17 | $1,500 | H.O.R.S.E. |
| 33 | June 15-16 | $3,000 | 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em |
| 34 | June 16-18 | $1,500 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em |
| 35 | June 16-18 | $2,500 | Mixed Big Bet Event |
| 36 | June 16-18 | $1,500 | Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo |
| 37 | June 17-21 | $1,500 | Millionaire Maker No-Limit Hold’em |
| 38 | June 17-19 | $10,000 | No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship |
| 39 | June 18-21 | $3,000 | 6-Handed Pot-Limit Omaha |
| 40 | June 18-20 | $10,000 | Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Championship |
| 41 | Jun-19 | $1,000 | Super Turbo Bounty NLH ($300 Bounties) |
| 42 | June 19-21 | $100,000 | High Roller No-Limit Hold’em |
| 43 | June 20-21 | $500 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em |
| 44 | June 20-23 | $10,000 | H.O.R.S.E. Championship |
| 45 | June 21-23 | $1,500 | Pot-Limit Omaha |
| 46 | June 21-24 | $5,000 | 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em |
| 47 | June 22-26 | $1,000 | Seniors No-Limit Hold’em (50+) |
| 48 | June 22-24 | $1,500 | Eight-Game Mix 6-Handed |
| 49 | June 23-25 | $2,000 | No-Limit Hold’em |
| 50 | June 23-25 | $250,000 | Super High Roller No-Limit Hold’em |
| 51 | June 24-27 | $400 | Colossus No-Limit Hold’em* |
| 52 | June 24-26 | $2,500 | Nine-Game Mix 6-Handed |
| 53 | June 25-26 | $5,000 | Mixed NLH/PLO |
| 54 | June 26-28 | $500 | Salute to Warriors USO Charity NLH |
| 55 | June 26-27 | $1,000/Team | Tag Team No-Limit Hold’em |
| 56 | June 26-30 | $50,000 | Poker Players Championship |
| 57 | June 27-30 | $600 | Deepstack Championship No-Limit Hold’em |
| 58 | June 27-29 | $1,500 | Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better |
| 59 | June 28-July 1 | $1,000 | Super Seniors No-Limit Hold’em (60+) |
| 60 | June 28-30 | $10,000 | Short Deck No-Limit Hold’em |
| 61 | June 29-July 2 | $1,000 | Ladies No-Limit Hold’em Championship |
| 62 | Jun-29 | $1,500 | Super Turbo Bounty ($500) No-Limit Hold’em |
| 63 | June 29-July 2 | $10,000 | Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Championship |
| 64 | June 30-July 1 | $600 | Pot-Limit Omaha Deepstack |
| 65 | June 30-July 2 | $3,000 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em |
| 66 | July 1-3 | $1,000 | Mini Main Event |
| 67 | July 1-2 | $10,000 | Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold’em ($3k Bounties) |
| 68 | July 2-5 | $1,000 | Million Dollar Bounty NLH (Top Bounty is $1 Million) |
| 69 | July 2-5 | $10,000 | Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship |
| 70 | July 3-16 | $10,000 | Main Event |
| 71 | July 7-11 | $1,111 | One More for One Drop No-Limit Hold’em |
| 72 | July 7-9 | $1,500 | Mixed PLO Hi-Lo/”Big O”/Omaha Hi-Lo |
| 73 | July 8-10 | $1,500 | Razz |
| 74 | July 9-11 | $1,500 | Bounty Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed ($500 Bounties) |
| 75 | July 10-14 | $777 | Lucky 7’s NLH 7-Handed ($777,777 Gtd 1st Place) |
| 76 | July 10-11 | $1,979 | Poker Hall of Fame Bounty NLH (HOF Bounties) |
| 77 | July 11-13 | $1,500 | Mixed No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha |
| 78 | July 11-13 | $2,500 | No-Limit Hold’em |
| 79 | July 12-14 | $10,000 | Razz Championship |
| 80 | July 13-14 | $600 | Mixed Pot-Limit Omaha/No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack |
| 81 | July 13-15 | $5,000 | Freezeout No-Limit Hold’em 8-Handed |
| 82 | July 14-15 | $800 | 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Deepstack |
| 83 | July 14-16 | $50,000 | High Roller No-Limit Hold’em |
| 84 | July 14-16 | $3,000 | H.O.R.S.E. |
| 85 | July 15-17 | $1,500 | The Closer No-Limit Hold’em* |
| 86 | July 15-17 | $10,000 | 6-Handed No-Limit Hold’em Championship |
| 87 | July 16-17 | $5,000 | 8-Handed No-Limit Hold’em |
| 88 | Jul-17 | $1,000 | Super Turbo No-Limit Hold’em |
| July 18-20 | Freeroll | Tournament of Champions (Invite Only) | |
