2019 WSOP Looks To Keep Up With The Times With Its Offerings

Throughout the decades, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) has remained one of the most highly-anticipated poker festivals each year.

Looking back to where it all started in the 1970s, the series has grown exponentially over the years, evolving with the many different changes in the industry.

The 2019 WSOP has kick-started at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas to celebrate 50 years of unparalleled dominance in the tournament scene. From 13 players competing in the WSOP Main Event back in 1973, the number of entries has ballooned to thousands, with the prize pool reaching millions.

The poker industry continuously evolves, and WSOP’s growth is primarily attributed to its willingness to adapt to the changes. The brand recently introduced major changes to the tour, including adding more starting chips with deeper structures. These changes are highly evident in this year’s schedule which features a record 89 bracelet events, along with plenty of re-entry options.

While some players have expressed disappointment over the brand’s recent moves, the company’s top brass has come out in defense of the changes, saying players should consider the whole picture. The current format and structure has made it possible for WSOP to put out as many events as possible to cater to their diverse customer base.

Seth Palansky, Vice President, Corporate Communications for Caesars Entertainment admits reentry was never an option during the early years of the WSOP as structures were much shallower and the value just wasn’t there, compared to the modern game.

In recent years, one of the company’s aims has been to offer something for players in every level and income, some of whom have to travel from far-away countries just to play one or a few events at the festival.

Keeping the Balance Right

Freezeouts still dominate the 2019 WSOP schedule, despite the presence of more reentry options. Around 46% of the schedule follows a freezeout format, including 41 events. Palansky said they have no plans to abandon the purity of freezeout, which gives players only one shot at claiming victory.

One form of reentry structure that’s in demand is single reentry which is perfect for casual players who show up in the series to play in a few specific events. Palansky said their decision to add special one-off events is basically driven by player feedback. The unlimited reentry structure only accounts for 7% of the schedule, (five live and one online event), which Palansky considers just the “right mix“.

Moving forward, the WSOP will continue to be open to doing things in many different ways, and reach as many players as possible.