The second leg of the WSOP Online 2023 bracelet series for US players is in full throttle. Having kicked off on September 10, this online festival spans two months, featuring a total of 33 online bracelets, with events unfolding almost daily.
The series is open to New Jersey and Nevada players sharing the same player pool on the WSOP.com platform powered by 888poker.
This marks the second time the operator has organized online bracelet events for US online poker this year. The previous series ran concurrently with the live WSOP 2023 events during the summer and raked in over $20 million across 20 tournaments, averaging an impressive $1 million per event.
2023 WSOP Online Bracelet Events Second Leg Stats
- Bracelet Events Ran So Far: 13
- Total Prize Pool Generated: $3,866,036
- Avg Prize Pool – $297,387
- Total First-Place Prizes: $947,416
- Total Entries: 5061
- Avg Entries: 389
- Total Rake Collected: $357,540
- Bracelet Events Remaining: 18
Last verified: August 2023
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Where is Michigan in the WSOP Shared Liquidity Pool?
As anticipated, the current online-exclusive series has witnessed a more subdued turnout. With nearly half the series completed, 13 bracelet events have already concluded. A cursory glance at the tournament lobby indicates participation levels considerably below the norm.
This prompts a pertinent question: Why has Michigan, despite officially entering the multi-state online poker compact last year, not yet joined WSOP’s existing shared liquidity network? PokerStars stands out as the sole operator to have capitalized on this development, while competitors like WSOP and BetMGM have yet to follow suit.
The absence of WSOP MI from the current NJ-NV player pool is a significant factor in the diminished traffic, and consequently, the tournament prize pools have seen a notable decrease.
However, once WSOP MI finally integrates into the existing network, we can anticipate a surge in player numbers and a substantial uptick in tournament prize pools. Until then, it is prudent to expect tame turnouts.
Subdued Start to WSOP Domestic Online Series
So far, only one event has surpassed the half-million-dollar mark in prize money, with most events hovering in the range of $250,000 to $350,000 in prize pools. This is a significant drop from the summer online series, where prize pools routinely reached three times these amounts.
However, this comparison is not entirely equitable. The summer period traditionally sees a surge in traffic, while September often witnesses a dip in US online poker markets, especially for the WSOP, which typically draws thousands of domestic and international players to Nevada for the live series. A similar trend was also observed in the previous year.
Collectively, these 13 bracelet events have generated nearly $4 million in prize money, averaging almost $300,000 per event, with a total of 5,061 entrants.
WSOP 2023 Online Bracelet Series Turnout in NJ/NV
| Event | Buy-In | No. of Entrants | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $400 | 838 | $301,680 |
| 2 | $2,000 | 184 | $340,400 |
| 3 | $3,200 | 134 | $407,360 |
| 4 | $1,000 | 217 | $195,300 |
| 5 | $500 | 516 | $232,200 |
| 6 | $888 | 492 | $393,600 |
| 7 | $5,300 | 101 | $505,000 |
| 8 | $500 | 513 | $230,850 |
| 9 | $600 | 353 | $190,620 |
| 10 | $2,500 | 105 | $241,500 |
| 11 | $365 | 892 | $292,576 |
| 12 | $1,500 | 230 | $316,250 |
| 13 | $500 | 486 | $218,700 |
The series kicked off with a $400 buy-in event known as the Kickoff, attracting 838 entries and creating a prize pool just north of $300,000. This was followed by another No-Limit Hold’em event with a $2000 buy-in, garnering 184 entries and a prize pool of $340,400.
A High Roller event featuring a $3200 buy-in drew 134 entries, amassing a prize pool of $407,360 — the second-largest to date. The $365 buy-in NLH Monster Stack event saw the highest participation so far, with 892 entries contributing to a prize pool of $292,576.
Although the numbers may pale in comparison to the summer online bracelets, they are an improvement from the previous year. For example, the $400 buy-in Kickoff event on the opening day saw an 11% increase in participation, the $3200 High Roller experienced an 8% uptick, and the $5300 High Roller boasted nearly a 20% increase compared to 2022.
WSOP Online Bracelet Events 2022 vs 2023
| Event | 2020 | 2023 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| $400 NLHE Kick-Off | $271,800 | $301,680 | 10.99% |
| $3200 High Roller | $376,960 | $407,360 | 8.06% |
| $1000 PLO 6-Max | $245,700 | $195,300 | -20.51% |
| $500 NLH Deepstack | $231,750 | $232,200 | 0.19% |
| $5300 High Roller | $425,000 | $505,000 | 18.82% |
| $500 NLH 6-Max | $252,450 | $230,850 | -8.56% |
The series has also witnessed familiar faces triumphing in the events. Notable winners include Kristen Foxen, who clinched Event #6: NLH Crazy 8’s for a payout of $92,142; Toby Lewis, who secured victory in the $2500 NLH Freezeout for nearly $60k; and Calvin Anderson, who seized two bracelets, earning a combined payout of almost $200k.
Representing the BetMGM Poker US network as its ambassador, Michael Gagliano emerged victorious in Event #8: NLH 6-max with a $500 buy-in, claiming a first-place prize of $54k.
The series is set to run until October 17, with 18 additional bracelet events still on the agenda. Additionally, WSOP has plans to host online bracelet events in Michigan and Pennsylvania, scheduled for October 15. However, these events will be more limited, with only one event slated for each state on that day.