Fresh COVID-19 Cases Could Block Plans For 2021 Live WSOP Festival

With a fresh wave of travel bans and lockdowns now being enforced in certain parts of the world, a number of countries are imposing another lockdown. The live poker scene is once again set to be impacted in early 2021.

While many countries have implemented a vaccine rollout, it won’t completely wipe out the virus. In fact, a new strain of COVID-19 is already beginning to wreak havoc in some countries, presenting new risks.

This is bad news for players and fans of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) as the current situation might mean there will be no WSOP live festival in Vegas this summer, mimicking last year’s scenario.

After the conclusion of the hybrid 2020 WSOP Main Event, organizers have remained tightlipped as to whether or not a 2021 live festival will be held at the Rio. What they promised instead was that there would be a Circuit Series Online event taking place throughout the year.

No WSOP This Summer?

President Joe Biden’s victory may be positive news for the US poker industry in general both live and online, but he can do very little at this moment when it comes to getting the live poker scene back to its usual vibrant, busy state.

The President might ultimately reinstate the 2011 Wire Act opinion, which will benefit online poker and will also get live poker back up and running, however if mass gatherings such as a WSOP festival is pushed this summer, players may be required to first get the COVID-19 jab.

Additionally, the Rio will also need to implement major changes within the venue to comply with health guidelines and protocols. And both of these will involve lengthy processes which could eventually block all plans to hold a WSOP event in May.

If a WSOP live festival can’t be held during the summer, can it be held at a later date? Well, October seems to be the ideal month. By this time, things could be easing off, as what we’ve experienced in 2020, when the pandemic went out of control beginning March and then cleared up later in the year.

But with the current situation, there’s a high chance that there won’t be any WSOP taking place in 2021.

An online WSOP festival could take place, just like what happened in 2020. For now, the best we can do is to lower our expectations, and just wait for updates and announcements from the WSOP, whilst you waiting why not try some of our excellent real money poker sites which we have carefully chosen.