Poker Writer
The month of December is poised to be a massive poker month, with three major series competing simultaneously. The WSOP, WPT, and EPT will all vie for entries from the poker world with high-profile events.
Ever since the WSOP planted its premier winter series, WSOP Paradise, in December 2023, there has been a lot of infighting within poker about which winter series is the best. Which one is the best to attend as a player? What are the pros and cons of each series?
WSOP Paradise
WSOP Paradise takes place at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas from December 6-19.
Pros
- Chance to win a WSOP Bracelet.
- In a warm, tropical location.
- Chance to play in events with huge prize pools.
- Several of the most prominent players in poker will be in attendance.
Cons
- Expensive resort location.
- Air travel required and restrictive government rules on bringing cash in and out of The Bahamas.
- Not a good series for those on a budget. Only one event below $5,000.
Wynn WPT World Championship
Then Wynn WPT World Championship will run at the Wynn Las Vegas from Decemeber 2-22.
Pros
- Accessible and familiar Las Vegas location.
- Full schedule with over 50 events, spanning three weeks.
- Wide variety of mixed games. HORSE, TORSE, PLO, Omaha-8, BIG O all offered as tournaments.
- Wide range of buy-ins.
Cons
- Same location as Wynn summer series, could reduce feeling of being “special”.
- Fewer headline-grabbing events.
EPT Prague
A long-standing European Poker Tour (EPT) December tradition. This stop has been running every year since 2007 at the Hilton Hotel Prague. This year’s dates are December 3-14.
Pros
- A wide range of events with many buy-ins.
- Familiar venue for players, great location in Prague.
- Removed from the quarreling between WPT and WSOP. A lower-key event with less potential for drama.
Cons
- Far away for North American players.
- Colder location. Nice during Christmas time, but still significantly colder than Vegas or The Bahamas.
- Out of the headlines could also be a con. Less attention for big results.
See the full schedule here (offsite link).
Does Event Overlap Force Innovation?
Most opinions in the poker world regarding these major events, all taking place simultaneously, are negative. The typical view is that the events cannibalize each other. Players must choose where they would rather play.
But poker pro Faraz Jaka held a different view that he expressed on X:
Unpopular opinion:
It’s good that WSOP & WPT overlap in December…..
The overlap forces both companies to spend more than the current market supports… which means they have to grow the market. When things get hard, creativity shows up in ways it doesn’t when everything is easy.
Jaka’s top point was that it forces innovation and experimentation. The brands must try new things to get players to come to their event.
This can be seen at WSOP Paradise, as the WSOP is attempting to corner the high-roller market for The Bahamas series with the ambitious, record-breaking $60 million guarantee in the Super Main Event.
WSOP Paradise also changed the Tournament of Champions by bringing it to The Bahamas. Players who win a WSOP bracelet or circuit ring will now get a ‘Ticket to Paradise’ and entry into the opening Mystery Bounty event of the series. This was done to get more circuit-level players to the archipelago rather than only the deep-pocket $25K buy-in players.
Image Credits (left to right): Ken Lund via Wikimedia (license), Rick Josey via Pexels, VitVit via Wikimedia (license)
