Exclusive: WSOP 2025 Main Event Player Demographics: The Numbers May Surprise You

The 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event may have missed out on a third consecutive record-breaking year, but it proved once again why it remains poker’s most celebrated and anticipated tournament.

9,735 individual players spent $10,000 to play the WSOP 2025 Main Event, creating a staggering $90.5 million in prize money. It ended up being the third-largest Main Event of all time.

While the number of entries is already well known, what’s far more revealing is who showed up — and from where.

Heading into this year’s series, it was widely expected that international turnout would decline. Canada, in particular, was expected to be affected by Trump’s aggressive tariffs and pointed remarks toward Canada. Many predicted that such rhetoric — combined with a stronger US dollar and rising travel costs — would dampen international attendance.

On the other hand, it was expected that more Americans would turnout, especially given the Main Event’s continued prestige, its stable $10 million top prize, and recent boosts to poker’s domestic visibility.

But the numbers tell a different story.

US, UK & Canada See a Decline

The most surprising demographic shift came from the US, which saw its Main Event entries drop from 6,742 in 2024 to 5,978 in 2025, a decline of 764 players, or over 11%. The US still dominated the Main Event field, making up 61.4% of all players this year, but that figure is down from 66.9% a year earlier. As expected, the UK and Canada also saw fewer players.

• USA: 6,742 in 2014 → 5,978 in 2025 (down 11.3%)
• UK: 518 in 2014 → 388 in 2025 (down 25%)
• Canada: 476 in 2024 → 421 in 2025 (down 11.5%)

Together, these three countries accounted for nearly 950 fewer entries compared to last year, one of the main reasons behind the overall dip in participation.

Non-English Speaking Countries See Notable Growth

However, what is surprising is that the growth in participation from other international countries, particularly in continental Europe and Asia, regions that were not necessarily expected to offset any decline.

• France: 292 entries in 2025, up from 222 in 2024 — a 31.5% increase
• Brazil: 189 in 2025, up from 147 in 2024 — a 28.5% increase
• Spain: 141 in 2025 (not in the 2024 top 10), signaling a growing presence
• Japan: 217 in 2025, up from 158 — a 37% increase
• China: 177 in 2025 — new to the top 10
• Germany: 173 in 2025, up from 135 — a 28% increase

Note: While this appears to be a sharp rise for Germany, it is important to consider that nationality was determined by passport in 2025, whereas residency was used in 2024. For most countries, this distinction makes little difference, including Germany, where nationality and residency tend to closely align. However, Austria is an exception, as many professional players reside there for tax reasons but hold citizenship elsewhere. This may explain why Austria, despite a consistent presence in previous years, dropped out of the top 10 in 2025.

In total, 103 countries were represented in 2025 (down from 108 in 2024), but participation from key non-English speaking regions grew.

WSOP Main Event Top 10 Countries

Country	2024 Entries	2025 Entries	Change
USA	6742 (66.7%)	5978 (61.4%)	Down
Canada	476 (4.7%)	421 (4.3%)	Down
UK	518 (5.1%)	388 (3.9%)	Down
France	222 (2.2%)	292 (3.0%)	Up
Japan	158 (1.6%)	217 (2.2%)	Up
Brazil	147 (1.5%)	189 (1.9%)	Up
China	NA	177 (1.8%)	New in Top 10
Germany	135 (1.3%)	173 (1.7%)	*Up
Spain	NA	141 (1.4%)	New in Top 10
Israel	111 (1.1%)	124 (1.3%)	Up
Rest of the World	1603 (15.8%)	1635 (16.8%)	Up

*Germany saw an increase in participation, though it is worth noting that many German players now reside in Austria for tax reasons.

US State-by-State Breakdown Shows Widespread Decline

Participation declined in all major US states. California once again sent the most players to the WSOP Main Event—959 this year, though down from 1,110 in 2024. Other poker hotbeds like Nevada, Florida, and Texas also saw slight declines.

New York dropped to 370 entries, while New Jersey, Illinois, and Arizona remained in the mix with consistent showings. Interestingly, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts dropped out of the top 10 US states in 2025, replaced by Washington and Ohio.

However, when measured as a share of the US field, Nevada, Florida, and Texas each saw a slight increase. For example, Nevada’s share rose from 11.8% to 12.9%, Florida grew from 9.8% to 10.2%, and Texas ticked up from 7.8% to 8.0%.

WSOP Main Event US Participation by States

Female Participation Ticks Up — But Still Lags Behind

Despite an overall decline in Main Event entries this year, female participation saw a modest increase. In 2025, 369 women took part in the WSOP Main Event, up slightly from 358 in 2024. While women still represent a small portion of the field, traditionally hovering between 3% and 5% over the past two decades, any upward movement is worth noting in a game long dominated by men.

However, interpreting this year’s gender data comes with a caveat. A total of 922 players were listed as “undefined” in terms of gender, a data point that was not tracked in 2024. If we exclude that group and look only at players with a confirmed male or female designation, then women made up a little over 4% of the field (369 out of 8,813), slightly higher than what the raw numbers might initially suggest.

Still, progress remains slow. As poker writer Jennifer Newell has pointed out, many women who play poker prefer to spread their bankroll across multiple lower buy-in events rather than committing $10,000 to a single high-variance tournament. The Main Event also spans multiple days, often requiring a full two-week commitment for those who run deep, a barrier that can be more difficult for women, particularly those balancing family responsibilities.

It is also worth noting that WSOP does not publicly release gender breakdowns for most events, so we cannot assess whether this trend is consistent across the series. However, there are signs of growth elsewhere, most notably in the Ladies Championship, which saw a record-breaking 1,368 entries in 2025. That surge may signal a broader increase in female engagement at the series, even if the Main Event numbers remain relatively stagnant.

Age Diversity

Another interesting statistic is that this year’s Main Event featured one of the oldest players in the tournament’s 55-year history: 95-year-old Thomas Giandomenico, born in August 1929. It is a rare sight to see players of this age compete in what is not only poker’s most prestigious tournament, but also one of its most grueling. Remarkably, this isn’t a record — in 2023, 100-year-old Eugene Calden made headlines as the oldest known participant to register for the Main Event.

On the younger end, the tournament’s youngest entrant was just 21, born in July 2004, barely clearing the minimum age requirement. In a fun twist of generational contrast, this player was born after Chris Moneymaker’s historic 2003 victory, the moment widely credited for igniting the poker boom.

The 2025 WSOP Main Event may not have broken records, but it reinforced all the reasons why it remains the pinnacle of competitive poker. While macro factors such as travel costs, global economic uncertainty, or scheduling logistics may have slightly dampened attendance, the WSOP Main Event shows no signs of losing its shine.

The tournament resumes for Day 6 with approximately 200 players still in contention. American players make up around 47% of the remaining field, while the rest hail from outside the US, with France and Japan emerging as the most represented countries after the host nation. All remaining players are guaranteed at least $60,000, while those who reach the final table will lock up a minimum of $1 million. The champion will be crowned on July 16, taking home the coveted bracelet and a $10 million payday.