The World Series of Poker is creating sweeping changes towards the remainder of its WSOP Circuit schedule amid concerns more than the spread of COVID-19.
Most notable is the addition of the On-line Super Circuit, a full festival of gold ring events provided through the WSOP/888 poker customers. The series – including a Primary Event with $200,000 guaranteed – will be accessible to online poker players in New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware beginning March 14.
Meanwhile, the ongoing live series at Difficult Rock Tulsa looks like it might be the final Circuit quit of the season. Most events in between now and the scheduled begin from the 2020 WSOP – including some that had been ongoing – have been suspended or canceled.
News of the changes came via a statement from WSOP.com Editor-in-Chief Seth Palansky late Friday evening.
The WSOP Online Super Circuit attributes $1.24 million in assured prize pools spread across 18 events in as many days. Buy-ins begin at $215, with a pair of $1,000 Higher Roller events in the top from the range. That flagship Primary Event – one of two having a six-figure assure – expenses $525 to enter.
There’s also a point of intrigue inside the eligibility requirements.
While Nevada and New Jersey have shared on-line ring (and bracelet) events to get a couple years, Delaware has historically been left out of the equation. The Online Super Circuit will mark the first time Delaware players on the 888 Poker client will be in a position to compete for a piece of WSOP jewelry from house.
With the great online news comes some bad news about reside poker.
Efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus have impacted nearly every international industry, obviously, such as gambling. Casinos in some parts from the world have already been shuttered, a trend that’s actively unfolding in the US as this story is becoming written.
As such, the WSOP has essentially cut the 2019-20 Circuit season brief. Three events that had been in progress are now suspended:
Harrah’s Atlantic City (March 5-16)
King’s Resort (March 5-23)
Bicycle Hotel & Casino (March 7-18)
While all three of those events are expected to resume at a later date, most from the remaining events in the 2019-20 season are indefinitely postponed. That list includes:
Bally’s Las Vegas (March 19-30)
Harrah’s Cherokee (April 8-20)
Casino Barriere Le Croisette (April 9-19)
There is no update regarding the planned quit at Horseshoe Council Bluffs in the tail end of March.
For now, the 2020 World Series of Poker is also “scheduled to be held as planned” at Rio Las Vegas.
The 51st Annual series is slated to be the largest in history too, with 101 bracelet events around the docket – such as a record 14 on-line.