Every year, the debate around the value of WSOP bracelets resurfaces, and this year is no exception. Just recently, our premium news, data, and analytics platform, Poker Industry PRO, reported that the number of bracelet events this year has surged to an all-time high of 245, reigniting discussions over whether too many bracelet events are diluting the value of poker’s most coveted non-monetary prize.
Looking back at the WSOP’s early history, bracelets were not always part of the equation. In 1970, the very first WSOP champion was determined by a vote among the players. It was not until 1976 that bracelets were awarded to event winners, and since then, they have become synonymous with success in the poker world.
However, in recent years, the number of bracelet events has skyrocketed. In 2004, there were just 33 bracelet events. By 2014, that number had more than doubled to 76, and it grew to 106 in 2019. Fast forward to today, and we are looking looking at a staggering 245 bracelet events on the schedule.
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A significant driver behind this increase is the proliferation of online events. What began in 2015 with a single online bracelet tournament has expanded into a global phenomenon, with these events being hosted across various US states, the international dot-com market (hosted on the GGPoker platform), and most recently, an expansion into the Ontario online poker market. Indeed, of the 245 bracelets up for grabs this year, 115 will be awarded online — a shift that was accelerated by the pandemic in 2020.
With this rapid growth comes a critical question: Is the prestige of winning a WSOP bracelet being diminished by the overwhelming number of online events?
The recent cancellation of a $5300 WSOP Online bracelet, due to failing to meet the minimum entry requirement, has further fueled this debate, with many questioning whether WSOP’s expansion has gone too far.
WSOP Bracelets: Live vs Online Since 2015
| Live | Online | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 78 | 1 | 79 |
| 2016 | 69 | 1 | 70 |
| 2017 | 83 | 3 | 86 |
| 2018 | 85 | 4 | 89 |
| 2019 | 97 | 9 | 106 |
| 2020 | 1 | 85 | 86 |
| 2021 | 104 | 85 | 189 |
| 2022 | 104 | 110 | 214 |
| 2023 | 125 | 110 | 235 |
| 2024 | 130 | 115 | 245 |
Bracelet Events on the Rise
The pandemic-era online boom undeniably changed the poker landscape, especially for WSOP. Prior to 2020, the number of online bracelet events was modest. But the cancellation of the live WSOP series n 2020 due to Covid-19 and the shift to online platforms like GGPoker led to an explosion of online bracelets.
In 2020 alone, 31 online bracelet events were held in the US, with GGPoker running a concurrent 54-event international series. The success of these online events paved the way for more, with online bracelet offerings becoming a permanent fixture in the WSOP calendar.
In addition to online bracelets running alongside the live series, the WSOP has also established a full-fledged online poker tournament series each fall, as we are seeing now}. As the WSOP expanded into new markets, like Pennsylvania and Michigan, the number of online bracelet events has continued to rise. In 2022, Ontario joined the fold, with GGPoker.ca offering online bracelet events through its partnership with WSOP.
This rapid expansion has led to an unprecedented increase in the total number of bracelets. Since 2020, a staggering 505 bracelets have been scheduled for online events (including the ongoing 37 in the US), while 464 live bracelets were slated during the same period.
However, it is not just the online bracelet count that is growing. WSOP continues to introduce more live bracelet events as well. Last year, 15 new bracelets were added with the launch of the WSOP Paradise stop in the The Bahamas, in addition to the existing Las Vegas and European editions. Live bracelet counts have increased modestly each year, in part due to the resurgence of live poker post-pandemic which is understandable.
Still, the growth in live bracelets is relatively modest compared to the explosive rise of online events.
Players Question Online Bracelet Prestige
No doubt, the proliferation of WSOP online bracelet events has made it easier for players to participate, especially those who may not have the means or time to travel to live series locations. But this explosion of online events has sparked concern among some poker players who feel that the once rare and prestigious WSOP bracelet is now too easily obtainable.
The issue is particularly pronounced in smaller, ring-fenced markets like Pennsylvania and Ontario, where online bracelet events feature much smaller fields than their live counterparts. While winning a bracelet in Las Vegas can mean outlasting thousands of players, in these ring-fenced markets, a player might only have to defeat a few hundred opponents to claim the same prize.
Some have suggested that these online events should offer a watch or trophy instead of a bracelet.
Yet, others believe the expansion of online bracelets is a positive development. For recreational players, the dream of winning a WSOP bracelet has never been more alive. Players who might never have had the chance to travel to a live event now have the opportunity to compete from the comfort of their homes. And despite the increased number of events, winning a bracelet — whether online or live — is still an impressive achievement that requires skill, patience, and some luck.
Finding the Right Balance
The debate over the prestige of WSOP bracelets will likely continue as online events grow in popularity. Ultimately, the question of whether the WSOP bracelet has lost its prestige is not one with a clear answer. The poker world is evolving, and the WSOP has adapted to meet the needs of a growing, global player base.
While some traditionalists may long for the days when a WSOP bracelet was only awarded in live events, others see the expansion as a positive shift. The rise of online bracelet events has made poker’s most prestigious prize more accessible, keeping the dream alive for many.
Looking ahead, WSOP’s future under GGPoker’s ownership could bring changes to the structure of bracelet events, particularly online. It is possible that starting next year, the WSOP may reduce the scope of its online bracelet series for US poker players in the fall or scale back the number of events.
The recent cancellation of the $5200 online bracelet event should serve as a good lesson. It signals that even as WSOP expands, there is a limit to how far growth can go before it begins to dilute the very thing that makes a gold bracelet prestigious. Striking the right balance will be key to ensuring that these coveted trophies remain both accessible and valuable for years to come.
