GGPoker has awarded $425,000 in bonuses through its WSOP Paradise parlay offer, pokerfuse has learned. The parlay awarded extra prizes to those who had deep runs at both WSOP 2023 and WSOP Paradise.
The Cash prize winner list reads like a who’s who of poker legends: Erik Seidel, Isaac Haxton, Adrián Mateos Díaz, Joshua Arieh, and Daniel Shak won $25k bonuses for reaching at least three final tables.
Dozens of players claimed $5000 bonuses. Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth and David Williams were among the prize winners. These were awarded to anyone who notched up at least ten cashes across both festivals.
Over 60 players have reaped the benefits of this promotion, a collaborative effort between WSOP and GGPoker officials, introduced just weeks before the commencement of WSOP’s inaugural event in the Caribbean. GGPoker told pokerfuse that the total number of players receiving bonuses could increase in the coming weeks as players review their results and reach out to them.
- Or get up to $100 worth of rewards
- Available in many regulated markets
- Great MTT schedule including WSOP events
Extra Prizes for Paradise Cashes
The WSOP Paradise Parlay promotion sought to attract successful players from WSOP 2023 to the Bahamas by offering free bonus money for achieving one of three scenarios:
- 10 cashes for $5000
- 3 Final Tables for $25,000
- 2 Bracelets for $100,000
However, players had to fulfill specific conditions before claiming the bonus money. First, players were required to secure at least one cash in the 2023 WSOP live series in Las Vegas and the 2023 WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas. Second, it was clarified that the prizes could not be combined, and if a player attained a higher prize, the difference would be added to their initial bonus.
Third, the offer was only tied to WSOP 2023 live bracelet events. It excluded any cashes in WSOP 2023 online bracelet events or ongoing WSOP Europe events.
GGPoker confirmed that none of the bonus money would be deducted from prize pools, and the platform would cover the payouts from its own pocket. The promotion was launched to influence players to choose the Bahamas stop over the WPT Wynn at Las Vegas, which was overlapping with the WSOP winter series.
Out of $425,000, $125,000 was allocated as $25,000 bonuses to five players who achieved a combined total of three final table appearances in both WSOP Las Vegas and WSOP Paradise.
The recipients of the $25,000 bonuses: Erik Seidel, Isaac Haxton, Adrián Mateos Díaz, Joshua Arieh, and Daniel Shak.
A further 60 players claimed a $5000 bonus, amounting to $300,000, for notching up ten cashes at both festivals. Among the notable players to claim the $5000 bonus include Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, David Williams, Koray Aldemir, and Chris Brewer.
Notably, both Arieh and Shak also made a total of ten cashes across both WSOP festivals. However, as the parlay prizes cannot be aggregated, they were only granted a $25,000 award. However, none of the players fulfilled the prerequisite of securing two bracelets, which would have entitled them to a $100,000 reward.
The operator says that the prizes were credited to the player’s GGPoker account within 24 hours following verification. Players without a GGPoker account have the option to request the funds to be added to the WSOP’s newly launched WSOP+ app.
Bahamas Stop Considered a Success
The first-ever WSOP Paradise concluded successfully, distributing over $70 million in prize money across 15 bracelet events. The Main Event, boasting $15 million in guarantees, attracted precisely enough participants to surpass its target. A total of 3010 entrants joined through four live flights and multiple online Day 1s on GGPoker, resulting in a prize pool of $15,050,000.
Officials have hinted at the potential for WSOP Paradise to become a recurring winter destination in the Bahamas, with the second edition expected for late 2024. However, it remains uncertain whether a similar parlay promotion will be offered.
According to GGPoker, additional unique promotions, developed in collaboration with the WSOP, are currently in the works and planned for the future.
A spokesperson for GGPoker told Poker Industry PRO that, while specific details cannot be disclosed at this time, “GGPoker plans to continue to work very closely with WSOP into the future,” promising the introduction of more innovative promotions designed to resonate with poker players.
A day after WSOP Paradise ended, WSOP officials unveiled the dates for WSOP 2024, scheduled to run from May 28 to July 17, 2024. The $10,000 Main Event will occur from July 3 to 17, featuring four starting flights.
Three additional events have been officially confirmed, including the return of Mystery Millions for its second appearance. The signature events, Millionaire Maker and Senior’s Championship have also been confirmed, although specific dates for these events are yet to be announced.
