Welcome to the 2012 World Series Of Poker

What started out with just six players in 1970 has turned into the game’s grandest spectacle, with more than 75,000 entrants competing for more than $192,000,000 in prize money in front of ESPN cameras for poker’s most prized possession – a WSOP bracelet. 2012 marks the 43rd annual World Series of Poker (WSOP), a collection of now 61 distinct tournaments in all variations of poker, with buy-ins ranging from $500 to $1,000,000 per event. An astounding 480 poker tables are set up in 125,000 square feet of ballroom space at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas where poker players from more than 105 different nations converge in the annual “Woodstock for Poker.”
In addition, 24-hour cash games, single-table and mega-satellite daily tournaments, as well as thrice-daily No Limit Hold’em tournaments priced as low as $135 occur non-stop throughout in the Rio Convention Center at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Learn more on how you can become the next WSOP player to walk away with nearly $9 million and a Vegas story to make the cast of The Hangover jealous.

There are several ways to register for a WSOP event. The most common way to register for an event is to simply show up while the WSOP is in progress on-site at the Rio Convention Center registration desk within days/hours of the start of your event, and proceed to buy-in using cash or live casino chips. (Note: credit cards are NOT an accepted form of payment). Make sure to bring government-issued photo I.D. as well as your Caesars Entertainment Total Rewards card to register for a WSOP event. If you don’t have a Total Rewards card, don’t fret, you can get one in 5 minutes at the TR counter next to registration.

The WSOP does not accept third-party registrants. Registration is open 24 hours a day from May 27 until July 10. If the WSOP registration desk is closed, the Rio Main Cage in the Casino will always accept registration for WSOP events. Players looking to play cash games, satellites or daily non-bracelet events may still buy-in at the Rio Convention Center registration desk. The WSOP also accepts pre-registration for any bracelet event up to 14 days prior to the start of an event, as this ensures your seat will be reserved regardless if an event is sold out. Bank wire transfers and cashiers checks may be utilized as payment for pre-registrants.

One of the great things about the World Series of Poker is that the company that owns the event is Caesars Entertainment, the same company that operates many of Las Vegas’ premier hotel resorts. As such, the entire Caesars Entertainment team (formerly Harrah’s Entertainment) works together to offer poker players great rates and special accommodations for those playing in the WSOP.

Jun 5Event #12: Heads Up No-Limit Hold’em – (512 player max) $10,000
Jun 8Event #17: Pot-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $10,000
Jun 16Event #32: H.O.R.S.E. (3 day event) $10,000
Jun 21Event #39: Pot-Limit Omaha (3 day event) $10,000
Jun 24Event #45: The Poker Player’s Championship (5 day event) $50,000
Jul 1Event #55: The Big One for One Drop – No-Limit Hold’em (3 day event) $1,000,000
Jul 3Event #57: No-Limit Hold’em / Six Handed (3 day event) $10,000
Jul 5Event #60: 2-7 Draw Lowball (No-Limit) (3 day event) $10,000
Jul 7Event #61: No-Limit Hold’em Championship $10,000

LIVE SATELLITES AT THE RIO DURING THE WSOP
During the 2012 WSOP at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, there are multiple, daily tournaments in which you can enter, where if successful, your award will be tournament chips good for use in any of the 61 WSOP gold bracelet events.

All of these satellite tournaments take place inside the Pavilion Ballroom in the Rio Convention Center area. You can register for these events directly at the cage located in the Pavilion.

Beginning May 27, 2012 and continuing through July 9, players have the option to compete in single-table satellites, mega-satellites and turbo-mega satellites.

What is the right satellite for you? It depends. The most affordable ones are mega-satellites where more players participate and more chances to win seats to a gold bracelet event are available. If you are short on time, a single-table satellite or turbo satellite is right for you. Single table satellites feature only one table of players. Win that table and you win the seat. It’s that simple. Turbo satellites feature quicker blind levels, thus speeding up the tournament.