Editing World Series of Poker (section)

==History==
[[File:MossBeckyBinionPearson.jpg|thumb|right|[[Johnny Moss]], Becky Binion, and [[Puggy Pearson]] at the [[1974 World Series of Poker]].]]
The idea of a World Series of Poker began in 1969 with an event called the [[1969 Texas Gamblers Reunion|Texas Gamblers Reunion]].<ref name="WSOP History">{{Cite web |title=WSOP History |url=http://www.wsop.com/wsop/history.asp |access-date=July 22, 2017 |website=World Series of Poker |publisher=Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc.}}</ref>  It was an invitational event sponsored by Tom Moore of [[Castle Hills, Texas]], and held at the Holiday Hotel and Casino in [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]].<ref name="WSOP History" /> This inaugural event was won by [[Crandell Addington]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruddock |first=Steve |date=2014-07-14 |title=Great Moments in Poker History: The 1969 Gaming Fraternity Convention |url=https://nodepositpoker.co.uk/1968-1969-gaming-fraternity-convention/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=No Deposit Poker |language=en-US}}</ref> The set of tournaments that the World Series of Poker (WSOP) would evolve into was the brainchild of [[Las Vegas]] casino owner and poker player [[Benny Binion]]. In 1970, the first WSOP at [[Binion's Horseshoe]] took place as a series of cash games that included [[five-card stud]], [[rank of hands (poker)#Deuce-to-seven|deuce to seven]] [[lowball (poker)|low-ball draw]], [[razz (poker)|razz]], [[seven-card stud]], and [[Texas hold 'em]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lucchesi |first=Ryan  |date=June 4, 2008 |title=WSOP: History -- 1970 Recap The Grand Old Man of Poker Voted the First World Champion |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/4323-wsop-history-1970-recap |access-date=May 9, 2019 |website=CardPlayer.com}}</ref> The format for the Main Event as a freeze-out Texas hold 'em game came the next year.  The winner in 1970, [[Johnny Moss]], was elected by his peers as the first "World Champion of Poker" and received a silver cup as a prize.<ref name="WSOP History" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KdMMJTytBs4C&dq=1970,+Johnny+Moss&pg=PA34 |title=52 Greatest Moments World Series of Poker |date=2006 |publisher=Cornhole Book |isbn=978-0-9787446-9-4 |language=en}}</ref>

===Acquisition by Harrah's===
In 2004, [[Caesars Entertainment Corporation|Harrah's Entertainment]] (now Caesars Entertainment) purchased Binion's Horseshoe, retained the rights to the Horseshoe and World Series of Poker brands, sold the hotel and casino to [[MTR Gaming Group]], and announced that the 2005 Series events would be held at the Harrah's-owned [[Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino|Rio Hotel and Casino]], located just off the [[Las Vegas Strip]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2004-01-23 |title=Harrah's to Buy, Reopen Horseshoe |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jan-23-fi-rup23.9-story.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="WSOP History" /> Since 2004 the official sponsor of the World Series of Poker has been the Caesars Entertainment Corporation. The final two days of the 2005 WSOP Main Event were held downtown at what is now the MTR-operated "Binion's" in celebration of the [[centennial]] of the founding of Las Vegas.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=June 2, 2014 |title=THE LONGEST GOODBYE: LOOKING BACK AT THE 2005 WSOP |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2014/Jun/4774/THE-LONGEST-GOODBYE-LOOKING-BACK-AT-THE-2005-WSOP.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=www.wsop.com}}</ref> The WSOP added a made-for-television $2 million "freeroll" invitational [[World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions|Tournament of Champions]] (TOC) event first won by [[Annie Duke]] as a "winner-take-all" event.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duke |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Duke |date=2019-09-06 |title=I Won $2Million At A Poker Tournament No One Thought I Deserved To Be At |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/annie-duke-poker_uk_5d7210d5e4b06d55b97183e3 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}</ref>

===2005 expansion – WSOP Circuit===
{{Main|World Series of Poker Circuit}}
Starting in 2005, the WSOP began the [[World Series of Poker Circuit]], a satellite series held at Harrah's-owned properties in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carlton |first=Jimmy |date=2018-02-01 |title=World Series of Poker Circuit founding father helps Potawatomi host tour event |url=https://onmilwaukee.com/articles/world-series-of-poker-circuit-potawatomi |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=OnMilwaukee}}</ref> In addition to the $10,000 buy-in tournament at each site, qualifying players became eligible for a revamped [[World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions|Tournament of Champions]]. The 2005 TOC, made up of the top twenty qualifying players at each circuit event, along with the final table from the 2005 Main Event, and the winners of nine or more bracelets (Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, and Phil Hellmuth) would participate in the revamped TOC at [[Caesars Palace]]. [[Mike Matusow]] won the first prize of $1 million (US), and all the players at the final table were guaranteed a minimum of $25,000 for the eighth and ninth-place finishers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=November 9, 2005 |title=Mike Matusow wins 2005 Tournament of Champions |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2005/Nov/542/Mike-Matusow-wins-2005-Tournament-of-Champions.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=World Series of Poker}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=World Series of Poker - WSOP Tournament of Champions 2005, Tournament of Champions - No Limit Hold'em: Hendon Mob Poker Database |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14994 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=[[The Hendon Mob Poker Database]] |language=en}}</ref>

During a break in the final table of the 2005 Main Event on July 16, Harrah's announced that eleven properties — including the recently added Bally's and Caesar's properties — would host 2005–06 WSOP Circuit events that started on August 11 in [[Tunica Resorts, Mississippi|Tunica]], [[Mississippi]].  One event that was scheduled for [[Biloxi, Mississippi|Biloxi]], Mississippi, was canceled after the [[Grand Casino Biloxi]], which was scheduled to host the event, suffered major damage from [[Hurricane Katrina]]. The Rio also hosted the [[2006 World Series of Poker]], which began on June 25 with satellite events and formally began the day after with the annual Casino Employee event, won in 2006 by [[Chris Gros]]. 2006 featured the Tournament of Champions on June 25 and 26, won by [[Mike Sexton]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=June 28, 2006 |title=A Most Deserving Victory! Mike Sexton Wins Third-Annual Tournament of Champions |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2006/Jun/575/A-Most-Deserving-Victory--Mike-Sexton-Wins-Third-Annual-Tournament-of-Champions.html |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=World Series of Poker}}</ref> Various events led up to the Main Event, which was held from July 28 until August 10. The first prize of $12 million was awarded to [[Jamie Gold]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=37th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2006, No Limit Texas Hold'em - World Championship Event: Hendon Mob Poker Database |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=15849 |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=[[The Hendon Mob Poker Database]] |language=en}}</ref>

===2007 expansion – WSOP Europe===
{{Main|World Series of Poker Europe}}
The '''World Series of Poker Europe''' (WSOPE) is the first expansion of the World Series of Poker in series history. In September 2007, the first WSOP championship events outside of Las Vegas, complete with [[World Series of Poker bracelet|bracelets]], were held.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 27, 2007 |title=Harrah's Set to Launch World Series of Poker Europe |url=http://www.igamingbusiness.com/article-detail.php?articleID%3D12961 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930055513/http://www.igamingbusiness.com/article-detail.php?articleID=12961 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=June 27, 2015 |website=Gaming Business}}</ref>  The inaugural WSOPE consisted of three events held in [[London]] from September 6–17, 2007. The main event, a [[pound sterling|£]]10,000 buy-in no-limit hold 'em tournament, was won by [[Norway|Norwegian]] online prodigy [[Annette Obrestad]] on the day before her 19th birthday. This made her the youngest person ever to win a WSOP bracelet, a record that cannot be broken in the Las Vegas WSOP under current laws because the minimum legal age for casino gaming in [[Nevada]] is 21. Obrestad could play in the WSOPE because the minimum age for casino gaming in the United Kingdom is 18. While no definitive plans have been announced, WSOP Commissioner [[Jeffrey Pollack]] has indicated that in the next one to three years that other venues may start holding WSOP events.{{Citation needed|date=October 2007}} Two locations that have been mentioned as possible expansion sites are Egypt and South Africa,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bumbach |first=Mike |date=June 28, 2007 |title=World Series of Poker ups the ante, expands event to Europe - USATODAY.com |url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/poker/2007-06-28-poker-europe_N.htm |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=USA Today}}</ref> and the [[World Series of Poker Africa]] was ultimately launched in South Africa in 2010. However, it is currently treated as a WSOP Circuit event, with no bracelets awarded. The next expansion of the WSOP that included bracelet events was ultimately to [[#World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific|Australia]].<ref name="WSOP APAC">{{Cite press release |title=WSOP Announces Partnership With Crown for April 2013 Event in Melbourne, Australia |date=April 30, 2012 |publisher=World Series of Poker |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2012/May/3761/WSOP-ANNOUNCES-PARTNERSHIP-WITH-CROWN-FOR-APRIL-2013-EVENT-IN-MELBOURNE-AUSTRALIA.html |access-date=May 10, 2012}}</ref>

The WSOPE moved from London to [[Cannes]], France, in 2011. At that time, the buy-ins and payouts changed from being fixed in pounds to [[euro]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dalla |first=Nolan |date=October 12, 2011 |title=WSOP NEWS: AUSTRALIAN-PRO-ANDREW-HINRICHSEN-WINS-GOLD-BRACELET-AT-CANNES |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2011/Oct/3555/AUSTRALIAN-PRO-ANDREW-HINRICHSEN-WINS-GOLD-BRACELET-AT-CANNES.html |access-date=2020-04-19 |website=World Series of Poker}}</ref> The event moved again in 2013, this time to the [[Paris]] suburb of [[Enghien-les-Bains]].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=WSOP Europe on the Move |date=December 26, 2012 |publisher=World Series of Poker |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2012/Dec/4143/WSOP-EUROPE-ON-THE-MOVE.html |access-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref>

From 2013 to 2017 the WSOPE was held only in odd-numbered years, with the newly launched World Series of Poker Asia Pacific (WSOP APAC) conducted in even-numbered years.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=WSOP Announces Change to International Event Format |date=November 25, 2013 |publisher=Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2013/Nov/4651/WSOP-ANNOUNCES-CHANGE-TO-INTERNATIONAL-EVENT-FORMAT.html |access-date=June 7, 2014}}</ref> WSOPE has been held annually since 2017.

===2010 expansion – WSOP Africa===
{{Main|World Series of Poker Africa}}
In 2010, the WSOP expanded overseas once again, only this time to [[Gauteng]], [[South Africa]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Huett |first=Wes |date=May 9, 2010 |title=WSOP expands reach |url=https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/columns/2010/05/09/wsop-expands-reach/42532944007/ |access-date=2023-02-13 |website=Peoria Journal Star |language=en-US}}</ref> Although the 2010 event was part of the WSOP Circuit, winners did not earn a gold ring or standing for the WSOP Circuit National Championship, both of which were common for other circuit events.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Katz |first=Dan |date=October 27, 2010 |title=Historic WSOP Africa Kicks Off |url=http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/historic-wsop-africa-kicks-off-16388/ |access-date=February 22, 2012 |website=Poker News Daily}}</ref>  This policy changed in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 19, 2012 |title=Emerald Casino and Resort to Host 2nd Annual WSOP Africa February 21–26 |url=http://www.wsop.com/news/2012/Feb/3688/EMERALD-CASINO-AND-RESORT-TO-HOST-2ND-ANNUAL-WSOP-AFRICA-FEBRUARY-21-26.html |access-date=February 22, 2012 |website=World Series of Poker}}</ref>  The WSOPA did not occur in 2011 but would come back in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |date=2012-03-01 |title=Recapping the 2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Africa |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2012/03/recapping-the-2012-world-series-of-poker-circuit-africa-12119.htm |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref>

===2013 expansion – WSOP Asia Pacific===
{{Main|World Series of Poker Asia Pacific}}
On April 30, 2012, the WSOP and Australian casino [[Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex|Crown Melbourne]] jointly announced the creation of the World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific (WSOP APAC). The first edition of the event was held at Crown's [[Melbourne]] Casino from April 4–15, 2013 and featured five bracelet events in the series.<ref name="WSOP APAC" />

===2015 expansion – WSOP International Circuit===
In 2015, the WSOP International Circuit was launched, with rounds in Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Africa. The winners of each tournament join the WSOP Circuit winners to play the WSOP Global Casino Championship.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2016 |title=WSOP Finalizes Details for 2016 Global Casino Championship |url=https://contents.pokerstake.com/articles/wsop-finalizes-details-for-2016-global-casino-championship-592112/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=PokerStake |language=en-US}}</ref> The International Circuit has expanded to 13 tournaments for the 2017/18 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collson |first=Brett |date=July 16, 2017 |title=WSOP International Circuit Schedule Announced for 2017-18 |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2017/07/wsop-poker-2017-2018-schedule-international-circuit-28531.htm |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=Pokernews |language=en}}</ref>

===2020 expansion – WSOP Online===
Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and subsequent [[Impact_of_the_COVID-19_pandemic_on_sports#Poker|restrictions]] on live poker events, there was a heavy focus on online events for 2020 and 2021, with dedicated online series during both years.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Taddeo |first=Frankie |date=June 9, 2020 |title=Sports Gambling Today: World Series of Poker Goes Virtual |url=https://www.si.com/betting/2020/06/09/world-series-poker-virtual |access-date=2022-11-22 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref>

===2023 expansion – WSOP Paradise===
In 2023, the WSOP expanded to Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas.<ref name="i795">{{Cite web |last=Eidissen |first=Erik |date=2023-07-17 |title=THE WORLD SERIES OF POKER® LAUNCHES WSOP PARADISE |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2023/Jul/13916/THE-WORLD-SERIES-OF-POKER--LAUNCHES-WSOP-PARADISE.html |access-date=2024-08-07 |website=Play Online Poker with World Series of Poker}}</ref>


===Number of bracelet events per year===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! Year
! style="width:90px;"| [[1970 World Series of Poker|1970]]
! style="width:90px;"| [[1971 World Series of Poker|1971]]
! style="width:90px;"| [[1972 World Series of Poker|1972]]
! style="width:90px;"| [[1973 World Series of Poker|1973]]
! style="width:90px;"| [[1974 World Series of Poker|1974]]
! style="width:90px;"| [[1975 World Series of Poker|1975]]
! style="width:90px;"| [[1976 World Series of Poker|1976]]
! style="width:90px;"| [[1977 World Series of Poker|1977]]
! style="width:90px;"| [[1978 World Series of Poker|1978]]
! style="width:90px;"| [[1979 World Series of Poker|1979]]
|- style="height:4em;"
! Events
| 1<br /><small>(cash)</small>
| 5
| 2
| 8
| 6
| 5
| 8
| 13
| 11
| 12
|-
! Year
! [[1980 World Series of Poker|1980]]
! [[1981 World Series of Poker|1981]]
! [[1982 World Series of Poker|1982]]
! [[1983 World Series of Poker|1983]]
! [[1984 World Series of Poker|1984]]
! [[1985 World Series of Poker|1985]]
! [[1986 World Series of Poker|1986]]
! [[1987 World Series of Poker|1987]]
! [[1988 World Series of Poker|1988]]
! [[1989 World Series of Poker|1989]]
|- style="height:4em;"
! Events
| 12
| 13
| 14
| 14
| 14
| 14
| 12
| 12
| 12
| 14
|-
! Year
! [[1990 World Series of Poker|1990]]
! [[1991 World Series of Poker|1991]]
! [[1992 World Series of Poker|1992]]
! [[1993 World Series of Poker|1993]]
! [[1994 World Series of Poker|1994]]
! [[1995 World Series of Poker|1995]]
! [[1996 World Series of Poker|1996]]
! [[1997 World Series of Poker|1997]]
! [[1998 World Series of Poker|1998]]
! [[1999 World Series of Poker|1999]]
|- style="height:4em;"
! Events
| 15
| 18
| 20
| 21
| 22
| 24
| 24
| 21
| 21
| 16
|-
! Year
! [[2000 World Series of Poker|2000]]
! [[2001 World Series of Poker|2001]]
! [[2002 World Series of Poker|2002]]
! [[2003 World Series of Poker|2003]]
! [[2004 World Series of Poker|2004]]
! [[2005 World Series of Poker|2005]]
! [[2006 World Series of Poker|2006]]
! [[2007 World Series of Poker|2007]]
! [[2008 World Series of Poker|2008]]
! [[2009 World Series of Poker|2009]]
|- style="height:4em;"
! Events
| 25
| 26
| 35
| 36
| 33
| 43
| 45
| 55<br /><small>(+3 [[2007 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 55<br /><small>(+4 [[2008 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 57<br /><small>(+4 [[2009 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
|-
! Year
! [[2010 World Series of Poker|2010]]
! [[2011 World Series of Poker|2011]]
! [[2012 World Series of Poker|2012]]
! [[2013 World Series of Poker|2013]]
! [[2014 World Series of Poker|2014]]
! [[2015 World Series of Poker|2015]]
! [[2016 World Series of Poker|2016]]
! [[2017 World Series of Poker|2017]]
! [[2018 World Series of Poker|2018]]
! [[2019 World Series of Poker|2019]]
|- style="height:4em;"
! Events
| 57<br /><small>(+5 [[2010 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 58<br /><small>(+7 [[2011 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 61<br /><small>(+7 [[2012 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 62<br /><small>(+8 [[2013 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])<br />(+5 [[2013 World Series of Poker Asia Pacific|Asia Pac]])</small>
| 65<br /><small>(+10 [[2014 World Series of Poker Asia Pacific|Asia Pac]])</small>
| 68<br /><small>(+10 [[2015 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 69
| 74<br /><small>(+11 [[2017 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 78<br /><small>(+10 [[2018 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 90<br /><small>(+15 [[2019 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
|-
! Year
! [[2020 World Series of Poker|2020]]
! [[2021 World Series of Poker|2021]]
! [[2022 World Series of Poker|2022]]
! [[2023 World Series of Poker|2023]]
! [[2024 World Series of Poker|2024]]
! [[2025 World Series of Poker|2025]]
|- style="height:4em;"
! Events
| 1<br /><small>(+85 [[2020 World Series of Poker Online|Online]])</small>
| 99<br /><small>(+74 [[2021 World Series of Poker Online|Online]])<br />(+15 [[2021 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 118<br /><small>(+78 [[2022 World Series of Poker Online|Online]])<br />(+15 [[2022 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])</small>
| 129<br /><small>(+65 [[2023 World Series of Poker Online|Online]])<br />(+15 [[2023 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])<br />(+15 [[2023 World Series of Poker Paradise|Paradise]])</small>
| 136<br /><small>(+TBC [[2024 World Series of Poker Online|Online]])<br />(+15 [[2024 World Series of Poker Europe|Europe]])<br />(+15 [[2024 World Series of Poker Paradise|Paradise]])</small>
| TBC
|}