WSOP ADDS SIX ADDITIONAL STOPS

TO 2016-2017 WSOP INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT SCHEDULE

 Also, Bally’s Event February in Las Vegas Moved to Rio Due to Scheduling Conflict 

LAS VEGAS – November 14, 2016 – While the thirteenth season of the WSOP Circuit is off to a great start both domestically and internationally, it was always the WSOP’s intent to add events to the growing international calendar. 

Indeed the recently completed stop in Brazil was added and featured the largest ever WSOP-branded event outside the United States when 2,981 entrants participated in the opening event. 

Now, six additional stops are confirmed to be part of this season’s Circuit International schedule. 

They are:

• Sydney, Australia – November 22-December 12, 2016 – The Star, Sydney
• Marrakech, Morocco – January 14-22, 2017 – Casino de Marrakech
• Campione, Italy – March 6–20, 2017 – Casino Campione D’Italia
• Cannes, France – April 17-24, 2017 – Casino Barriere Cannes le Croisette
• Estoril, Portugal – May 1-7, 2017 – Casino Estoril
• Brussels, Belgium – May 19-28, 2017 – Grand Casino Brussels VIAGE
  

Additionally, one additional stop may be added to round out the 2016-17 International schedule.  If all events planned do come to fruition, the WSOP International Circuit will reach its previously announced target of 14 stops for the season. 

The entire schedule for the WSOP International Circuit is as follows: 

WORLD SERIES OF POKER 2016-2017 CIRCUIT INTERNATIONAL TOUR SCHEDULE 

“We are very pleased to add these additional stops to the WSOP Circuit,” said WSOP Director Gregory Chochon, who leads the WSOP’s international expansion plans.  “We have been very judicious on which locales and casinos we will work with and believe we have found terrific partners in each of these markets to help bring the WSOP brand to a local and regional audience.” 

Like the domestic circuit, the International track will feature two qualifiers per stop for the WSOP Global Casino Championship.  A Main Event winner and the Casino Champion will each win automatic entry into the season-culminating event, in addition to the gold WSOP Circuit ring and prize money from that event.  The International and Domestic tours collide in the season-culminating Global Casino Championship in the summer of 2017.  There are no “at-large” qualifications on the International stops. 

Speaking of the domestic circuit, one recent change has been made.  The announced Circuit event at Bally’s Las Vegas scheduled for February 23 to March 6 has seen both a change of venue and dates. 

The event will now be hosted at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas (the home of the WSOP) and the dates of the event are now scheduled from February 16-27, 2017.  The remaining 21 stops on the 2016-17 WSOP Circuit are still taking place as previously announced.  The entire schedule can be seen here: http://www.wsop.com/schedule/wsopcircuit.asp 

Players can qualify for the 2016/17 Global Casino Championship several ways (a.) win a Circuit Main Event at any domestic or international stop (b.) win a “Casino Championship,” which is defined as the player at each stop who accumulates the most points throughout the 12-event gold ring schedule at any domestic or international stop (c.) be one of the top 50 cumulative point earners over the entire season who hasn’t otherwise qualified (Domestic tour only).  Each of these projected 122 players will receive a “free roll” seat into the culminating event. 

Another way to enter the 2016-17 Global Casino Championship during the Circuit Season is to win any official “ring event”. Anyone who doesn’t otherwise qualify for entry due to an automatic invite or cumulative standings will be eligible to buy-in to the WSOP Global Casino Championship for $10,000. Likewise, the top 100 ranked players from the previous year’s WSOP Player of the Year, may also buy in for $10,000 (thus the 2016 WSOP POY Standings in this case). Every penny of all additional $10,000 buy-ins will be added to the $1 million the WSOP is putting into the prize pool. 

Circuit schedules are subject to change.  Stops may be added or removed. For more information on individual circuit events, including event schedules and structure sheets, can be found at each property website or by visiting www.WSOP.com *The WSOP Circuit Events and culminating championship are subject to tournament rules and restrictions to be released at a later date. The timing, number and location of events are subject to change and all applicable gaming regulations. 

ABOUT THE WSOP CIRCUIT

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Events are a series of poker tournaments hosted throughout the United States and throughout the world beginning in early August each year, and culminating the following Summer with a $1,000,000 Global Casino Championship where the victor earns a WSOP gold bracelet as well.  WSOP Circuit Events are designed to give the recreational and amateur player an opportunity to participate in the WSOP experience at a more affordable price point and with less of a time commitment than the traditional WSOP in Las Vegas.  Each stop typically features 12 official events in 12 days, including a $1,675 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Main Event. Official WSOP Circuit events range in buy-in from $365-$5,300 and award a prestigious WSOP gold ring to each victor.  These poker tournaments are designed to reach a winner within two playing days, with some events even structured to complete in one day.  In 2016-17, the WSOP Circuit domestic season consists of 22 stops all tied together by a cumulative points system that awards points based on finish in individual events.  A season-ending WSOP Global Casino Championship is held each Summer. The winner of each stop’s Main Event (the only four-day structured event) gains automatic entry into the season-ending WSOP Global Casino Championship, as does each stop’s Casino Champion – the person who accumulates the most points throughout the 12 official events at a stop.  Two players at each stop earn automatic entries into the season-ending championship, with the remaining players being made up of at large qualifiers whom have accumulated the most points throughout the Circuit season. Players who finish within the top ten percent of the field are typically awarded prize money on an escalating scale until there is one player who has captured all the chips.  That victor wins the largest share of the prize pool, a WSOP Circuit gold ring and points toward the Global Casino Championship qualification. The WSOP Circuit Events are a regional and international offshoot of the longest-running, largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, dating back 46 years to 1970 – the famous World Series of Poker. This marks the thirteenth year the WSOP Circuit Events have been held.  They were initially established by Caesars Entertainment (then Harrah’s Entertainment) after its purchase of the WSOP brand in 2004 as a way to bring the WSOP experience to Caesars-owned properties throughout the U.S. In the inaugural season (2004-05), the WSOP Circuit featured five stops – Atlantic City, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, San Diego and New Orleans. Now, with 22 stops domestically, the WSOP Circuit visits 12 U.S. states and cumulatively features more entrants than the Las Vegas version of the WSOP.  Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc., (CIE) owns the WSOP and the WSOP Circuit Events.  Visit us at http://www.wsop.com/2016/Circuit/ or www.twitter.com/wsop