The World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet is a coveted prize for players around the globe. For many, it is the pinnacle of achievement in the poker world.
However, over the years, WSOP has dramatically expanded the number of bracelets it awards each year. For instance, back in 2003, there were just 36 gold bracelet events and last year that number grew to a record 235.
This growth is attributed in part to the introduction of online bracelet events, which have made it possible for players from many parts of the world to compete for WSOP gold from their own homes.
While online bracelets offer greater accessibility and convenience for players around the world, there is concern that their proliferation (along with the expansion of the number of bracelets awarded at live events each year) might be diluting the significance of the WSOP gold bracelet.
Take the Pennsylvania online poker market as an example. As a ring-fenced market not part of the multi-state online poker compact, it presents a unique challenge. The WSOP hosts a Pennsylvania-only online bracelet series there, but these events frequently experience lower turnouts and smaller prize pools compared to those in shared liquidity states like New Jersey, Nevada, and Michigan, which benefit from the combined player pool.
This discrepancy prompts a critical question: Will the WSOP reconsider its online bracelet offerings in Pennsylvania due to the lower participation and prize pools compared to states with shared liquidity?
WSOP Online Bracelets: PA vs Shared Liquidity States
Since the launch of WSOP in Pennsylvania in 2021, nearly 40 online bracelet events have been hosted in the state. Unfortunately, these events have averaged just 234 entries and generated average prize pools of approximately $115,000.
WSOP PA Online Bracelets History (2021 – 2024)
| Year | No. of Bracelets Offered | Prize Pools Generated | Total Entrants | Avg Prize Pool | Avg Entrants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 9* | $1,386,070 | 2563 | $173,259 | 320 |
| 2022 | 14 | $1,323,174 | 2650 | $94,512 | 189 |
| 2023 | 8 | $874,440 | 1892 | $109,305 | 237 |
| 2024 | 7 | $652,050 | 1540 | $93,150 | 220 |
| Total | 38 | $4,235,734 | 8645 | $114,479 | 234 |
Note: *In 2021, nine online bracelets were scheduled, however, one was canceled due to technical issues.
In contrast, online bracelet events in shared liquidity states benefit from the significantly larger player pool, with some events even producing prize pools of around $1 million.
Specifically, during the same period the shared liquidity network (NJ, NV and now MI) sees average prize pools of $634,000 — nearly six times larger — and a turnout of about 900 entries — nearly four times more.
WSOP NJ/NV/MI Online Bracelet Series History (2021 – 2024)
| Year | No. of Bracelets Offered | Prize Pools Generated | Total Entrants | Avg Prize Pool | Avg Entrants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 43 | $26,469,527 | 34,843 | $615,570 | 810 |
| 2022 | 46 | $23,640,246 | 30,304 | $513,918 | 659 |
| 2023 | 53 | $28,761,166 | 43,620 | $542,664 | 823 |
| 2024 | 30* | $30,197,830 | 44,699 | $1,006,594 | 1490 |
| Total | 172 | $109,068,769 | 153,466 | $634,121 | 892 |
Note: *In 2024, WSOP MI merged with WSOP NV/NJ. Also, the second leg of online bracelet series has not yet run.
This difference raises concerns about the prestige of the gold bracelet. If the bracelet events in Pennsylvania consistently result in much smaller prize pools and lower turnouts, the value of winning such a bracelet could be seen as diminished compared to those awarded in states with larger, combined player pools.
While winning a bracelet in Pennsylvania might be “easier,” it risks undermining the events’ prestigious status.
For another comparison, consider Ontario, which has a similar ring-fenced player pool and population size. GGPoker, a long-time partner and soon-to-be new owner of WSOP, operates and hosts an online bracelet series in Ontario once a year. This year’s series, which started August 18, features eight events with combined guarantees of CAD $2 million (approximately USD $1.45 million).
In Ontario, the turnout for WSOP online bracelet events is strong and the prize pools are healthy. This is largely because GGPoker Ontario boasts three times more player traffic than WSOP PA. The higher volume of player participation ensures that online bracelets in Ontario maintain their prestige and allure, making it a logical location for hosting these high-profile events.
But the same cannot be said for Pennsylvania.
PA Desperately Needs to Join Multi-State Online Poker Compact
One potential solution for WSOP to address the prestige issue in the Keystone State could be to reduce the number of online bracelets offered in PA, perhaps limiting it to just one or two events. This approach was seen during the second leg of the WSOP 2023 online series which ran during the fall, where 33 bracelet events were held across shared liquidity states, while Pennsylvania and Michigan (which was also ring-fenced at the time) each had only one bracelet event.
This would help maintain the prestige and appeal of WSOP’s gold bracelet events. However, this issue may become moot if Pennsylvania joins the multi-state online poker compact, potentially by next year ahead of the WSOP 2025.
If Pennsylvania were to merge with the existing shared liquidity network, there would no longer be a separate online bracelet series for PA, but rather a common series open to players from Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
So the next important question is what is the likelihood of Pennsylvania joining the multi-state online poker compact which would enable WSOP PA to merge with WSOP in New Jersey, Nevada, and Michigan.
HB 2078 Bill — Another Way for PA to Join MSIGA
Earlier this year, PA state Rep. George Dunbar introduced Bill HB 2078, which proposes that Pennsylvania join the multi-state online poker compact which ultimately led to the #GrowPApoker campaign. This compact, which includes states like Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware and West Virginia, (the latter two do not offer online poker) would allow Pennsylvania to merge its player pool with these states, potentially increasing turnout and prize pools for online bracelet events.
However, the bill is currently on hold with no significant progress since its introduction. There were hopes that including HB 2078 in a broader code bill could expedite its passage, but this has not occurred. The two main pathways for Pennsylvania to join MISGA involve either the signing of HB 2078 by Governor Josh Shapiro or an executive order from the governor instructing the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) to request membership in the compact.
While Governor Shapiro is believed to support the bill and might sign it into law, competing priorities, including the upcoming presidential election, may make an executive order a less likely option. This leaves Pennsylvania’s participation in the multi-state compact in a state of uncertainty.
Pokerfuse reached out to WSOP regarding their plans for online bracelet events in Pennsylvania, but no response has been received to date.
