From his humble origins in a smoked casino in Las Vegas in the 1970s, the World Series of Poker became one of the biggest attractions of the game. The opportunity to compete for a gold bracelet is on each list of serious poker player buckets, just like a chance to sit with some of the biggest stars of the game.
These stars were created in the early 2000s, when the poker exploded in the dominant current. The WSOP television cover found its way to ESPN, where the narration and the narration focused on the characters and the personalities. Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu and Chris Moneymaker, among others, quickly found the fame.
At the same time, Hole Card’s camera gave fans access to the game like never before, allowing them to look from their favorite players. What would Gus Hansen do in front of an all-in on the river? Viewers could watch and follow the drama, living by proxy through the best of the game.
Now, while players go to Las Vegas for the WSOP 2025, the next evolution of the poker narration is here.
After decades of WSOP restricting video coverage inside the tournament strings during the game – due to concerns about collusion or potential game regulatory offenses – the tournament organizers have finally adopted social media and the commitment of fans in real time which he creates for those who follow at home. Anyone who has a phone inside the tournament area now has the capacity to produce content and create moments that have never been seen before.
In the past, major events have been blogged online, read only by fans of hardcore poker and above all forgotten. But the media is now allowed to pull key hands and at dramatic moments with their phones and pushing them back via social media platforms instantly. Dozens of all-in bets, bad rhythms and disagreements at the table are published online every day. The content for which poker fans are hungry are at hand for the next seven weeks.
Some of these videos even become viral and reach occasional poker fans – and new potential poker players – who can discover excitement around poker for the first time.
It is a new border for the World Series of Poker. New personalities are born every day. And the stories that come from these events only grow the game faster. I am delighted to see what the series brings.
The 56th edition of the World Series of Poker offers 100 gold bracelet events at the Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas on the strip. The series takes place until July 16.