https://www.wsop.com/news/2023/Jul/1...-PARADISE.html

Thoughts?

Ostensibly an attempt to leverage the WSOP brand and the idea of "bracelets" to try to create a PCA clone.

Time frame collides with Wynn's WPT World Championship stuff.

Given the choice between the two, it's easy for me to stay stateside and fire an event or two at Wynn, which is a first class venue.

Summer WSOP is a unique spectacle, but I do think all the WSOP-adjacent stuff like WSOP-C, WSOP-E, online bracelets, and this new WSOP-P are cheap cash grabs that dilute the prestige of the brand. Since Americans can't play on GG, I suppose we're not the target audience though. Packages will be a carrot to rake the foreign market.

I agree. Cash grab and the more they do it, the less prestigious the brand becomes. I honestly doubt the turnout will be all that great but they’ll try to spin it into giving it the appearance of success.

That being said, Caesar’s Diamond members and above get three or four free nights at that venue every year. So maybe some people will decide to take advantage of that perk and head out there.

I think they’re diluting the brand at this point, though.

Yeah, clearly a shot across the bow at the WPT. Gives me the impression the WSOP views the WPT as a real threat from a brand standpoint.

I’m sure the WSOP event will be successful (or at least it will be advertised as being successful). But my understanding is the WPT event will be even bigger and better than last year. My hope is this pushes the WSOP to step up its game instead of just trying to crowd out the competition by holding competing events. Monopolies are not a good thing and the WSOP’s stranglehold on the live poker landscape has not been the best thing possible for the market over the last decade. There is tons of room for improvement in the product, and I wish the WSOP would invest in that instead of protecting its turf.

On the other hand . . .

If the best MTT players are at the Wynn, then a bracelet from a softer field is pretty enticing to those of us who covet one. Plus, Atlantis is LV with an ocean. I'm in and likely playing the $5K "main" plus a few other bracelet events.

I imagine a lot of GG players will be going to Atlantis, as that is the sponsor. It seems like that series is primarily targeting those who play high rollers, even with the inclusion of a lower buy-in event. I will be very curious to see the turnout for that event in particular. People who play high rollers can afford the extra cost of going to the Bahamas, but IMO Atlantis is not the same as Vegas with an ocean. In some ways it’s better (like weather-wise). But I’ve looked into trips in the past for the PCA and it seems pretty pricey.

That being said, it may be attractive to those coming from Europe who don’t want to deal with the hassle and cost of the extra 5 hours flight. On the other hand, it will be that much further for players coming from Asia, and of course much further for people who live restively close to Vegas. There are a lot of factors here.

Anyhow, good luck!

All good points, but I'm in a VERY fortunate situation where I binked a WSOP circuit event and am free-rolling with Uncle Sam's $$$ until 12/31. So, while airfare and a room may be pricey, better they get it vs. the IRS. I also kinda like the appeal of attending the first ever event. Will definitely provide an update or TR in LVL.

Thanks for the luck - I hope it lasts.

Anyone tried to book a room through the WSOP website? I'm getting a 14-day minimum stay requirement which is nuts.

It let me choose a smaller window in regards to check in/check out dates. (I know the first event is on December 3rd, but it let's you choose December 2nd as the earliest check-in date. I just tested it to see if I got the same 14-day minimum requirement that you did).

Yep, same as me. I want to stay in the Cove and that tower is not available on 12/2. If you put in 12/3 it requires a minimum of 11 nights for ANY room.

Yeah I see that now, when I try putting December 3rd as the check-in date. Minimum stay of 11 nights required. That's really wack tbh. I see that there's 1,000 satellite packages that are awarding 11-night stay along with buy-in to the Main Event, but you'd think those hotel stays would be done separate from their reservation system. Weird that they're not allowing non satellite winners a chance to stay at the hotel if it's for less than the 11-night span of the series.

If anyone is looking for a room for 5 nights during this series DM me.

I gave up and booked at the Hotel Rui. Closer walk to the convention center than the Cove is anyways & it is adults only all inclusive.

Interesting promotion on ClubGG at the moment. $30k (3 packages being given away) to one person (you bring 2 friends). To enter you get chips based on how many players you refer. So far it looks like roughly 10 players have made referrals.

I was always find these kind of promotions interesting. A set prizepool with the entry fees uncapped. I am thinking about taking a swing at it but obviously there is a chance that suddenly last minute players start signing people up left and right.

I guess the optimal strategy is to wait until the last second and see if the number of players entered is low?

With the day1 online events now being instigated, I wonder how those greedy f**ks will deduct from the guaranteed prizepool... Will still be attending though, but playing live, not online on GG.

Question : does anyone know if it is easy to get your hands on/withdraw easily $USD??? Or, if not, buy-in directly with a credit card (without fees)???

Looks like these are the options to buy-in:

Players are welcome to use the following buy-in methods at WSOP Paradise:

Bank Wire: Please complete a front money application directly with Atlantis.

Cash Desk with Atlantis chips at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas

E-Wallet via payment partner Luxon Pay.

Online through the GGPoker lobby.

For all further questions or general support, please contact: paradise@wsop.com

https://www.wsop.com/2023/paradise/

So looks like I'll just take $USD and buy chips in the casino.

Thx friend

As will I ; it also appears that atm machines dispense $USD.

Good articles on how the guarantees aren't as high as they seem due to GG taking some out for online qualifiers hotel/food, etc.

https://www.poker.org/trouble-in-par...d-prize-pools/

https://www.vegasslotsonline.com/new...at-your-lunch/

https://www.vegasslotsonline.com/new...as-guarantees/

Seems shady

Does anyone have a good explanation for OnLive? Event 1 the mystery bounty is listed as an OnLive event but has no details. Some flights are 30 minutes some are 20 and one is 15. Make sense that the 30 is fully live and the others are online? So strange.

Post deleted

So here is what WSOP Paradise said:

“OnLive is GGPoker's term for tournaments that feature online day 1s. There are also live day 1s and the opportunity to play the tournament out in full as a live event.

Best wishes,
WSOP Paradise Team”

I’m taking my wife and we are looking forward to the trip. Poker will be part of my activities but man I’m not playing in the Main because of the sh*t GG is pulling. Also not staying at Atlantis for basically the same reason.

If we set the over/under at 1.5 times this event is held, I so far like the under.

Going to down to play a few events. I've never player poker outside the US.

Will there be cash games? How does it work for playing the online events? Is it through the Nevada WSOP site?

Hey guys,

if anyone is looking for a hotel room from 3rd to 14th december (or dates within that) at the Atlantis, feel free to message me.
I got a spare hotel room that I won't need (won 2 packages) and would give it to you for way better rates. first come first serve

Is Event 1 "OnLive"? No, right? Event 2?