WSOP Paradise Guide

WSOP Paradise has now concluded for 2023! 15 bracelets where given away and $51,000,000 was guaranteed in prize money.

By all accounts the debut series from GGPoker and the WSOP was a huge success, and surely will be repeated at the end of 2024?

The opening WSOP Paradise 2023 event marked the largest poker gathering ever hosted in the Bahamas, and not a single event has fallen short of its guarantees. The Main Event surpassed its ambitious $15 million guarantee, drawing over 3000 entrants and contributing to a total series prize pool that has now surpassed the $70 million mark.

This buoyant turnout showed that there is still a huge appetite for live poker, especially as the Paradise series went up against other prestigious live events in Las Vegas and Europe at the same time!

The WSOP also took the opportunity to announce 2024 live dates for the World Series of Poker that takes place each summer in Vegas. For 2024 these dates will be May 28 to July 17.

What is WSOP Paradise?

WSOP Paradise is a live poker event from the World Series of Poker and its international partner GGPoker. The event is a brand new series, which took place in the Bahamas at the Atlantis Casino between December 3 to December 14. Prizes include 15 gold WSOP bracelets and $51,000,000 in guaranteed prize money.

WSOP Paradise Series Overview

WSOP Paradise is a brand new series organized by the WSOP and its online partner, GGPoker. The inaugural edition took place on Paradise Island in the Bahamas at the Atlantis Resort, spanning December 3 to 14.

The series is officially a part of the World Series of Poker, which means that players in the Bahamas will get to compete for real bracelets. 15 were given away at the debut series!

WSOP Paradise, just like the original live series in Las Vegas, has been designed to cater to players of all types. For those who belong to the recreational category, there were tournaments with buy-ins as low as $1000. On the other side of the spectrum are a few high-roller events with high five and even six-figure buy-ins.

The WSOP Paradise 2023 Main Event has been priced so that it is within everyone’s reach, with a price tag of $5000. Additionally, GGPoker sent least 1000 players to the Bahamas via different satellites, promotions, and competitions, making it possible to get involved at a serious discount or even for free.

WSOP Paradise Schedule 2023

The 2023 WSOP Paradise full schedule has been released. 15 events make up the schedule with a combined guarantee of $51 million. The series was so popular that in the end over $70 million in prize money was paid out.

The Main Event had a buy-in of $5000, with tournament guarantees at $15,000,000, which means the organizers expect at least 3000 entries. In the end the event attracted 3,010 players creating a prize pool of $15,050,000.

WSOP Paradise: 4 Must-Know Facts

1. The debut schedule featured an innovative event, Mystery Millions, adopting GGPoker’s new OnLive format, blending online play with in-person competition.
2. Main Event guaranteed met!
3. Total series guarantees exceeded. Over $70 million in prize money given away breaking the $50,000 guarantee.
4. Two of the 15 bracelets will be played online on GGPoker’s platform, expanding opportunities to win from home.
5. GGPoker qualified 1,000 players for WSOP Paradise through online satellites, including a $10,000 Main Event package and 200 $35,000 High Roller packages.
6. WSOP.com is offering a Cash Games Countdown promotion that allowed players to secure packages for WSOP Paradise.

2023 WSOP Paradise: Full Schedule

Past Online Qualifiers 2023

International and US players: GGPoker to Qualify 1,000 Players to WSOP Paradise

The online satellites for WSOP Paradise will kick off later this month across three platforms,

1. The international GGPoker platform
2. The social app ClubGG
3. WSOP USA sites in Michigan, New Jersey, Nevada, and Pennsylvania.

Participants who successfully navigate these online qualifiers will garner an exclusive $10,000 Main Event package that covers buy-in, 11-night hotel accommodation, and a buffet lunch every day.

In addition to the Main Event package, GGPoker plans to give away 200 $35,000 High Roller packages. This High Roller package features a seat to the $25,000 GGMillion$ event, accompanied by accommodation and the added perk of complimentary buffet service.

GGPoker previously qualified 774 players for the record-breaking WSOP 2023 Main Event hosted in Las Vegas this past summer. If they manage to send 1,000 players to The Bahamas, the summer record will be well and truly broken.

Road to Paradise: Starts October 1 on GGPoker

A new promotion giving away packages to WSOP Paradise stats on October 1, 2023. Players on GGPoker can win packages to play in the WSOP Paradise event this December.

Online qualifiers run round the clock, with buy-ins starting as low as $15 and progressively increasing to $150, $1200, and ultimately culminating in the coveted Main Event package valued at $10,000.

“We are beyond excited to offer poker players from around the world the chance to win an incredible package to play at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas. It’s not just a poker event; it’s a dream vacation, and I can’t wait to see who will emerge as the lucky winners,” GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu said via press release.

Road to Paradise package winners receive:

• WSOP Paradise Main Event entry
• Up to 10-nights accommodation at the Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, the Bahamas
• A daily free lunch buffet, and a special GGMerch gift.
  • Early winners will receive a bonus 11th night.

Important extras to note:

• The WSOP Paradise Packages do not include travel.
• Players are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and any other expenses or incidentals.
• WSOP Paradise Packages are non-transferable, cannot be exchanged and have no cash value.
• Package winners who do not wish to participate in the live event will forfeit the full package value.

Paradise Crew: October 1 to 27

Running on ClubGG, Paradise Crew is a super simple promotion aimed at sending a team of 3 players to the Bahamas this December.

All players need to do is:

• Share a link via the ClubGG app to friends
• Get the friend to sign up to ClubGG with Standard or Platinum membership — this automatically qualifiers the original player to an exclusive Paradise Crew Event tournament.
  • The winner of the Paradise Crew Event tournament can take themselves and two other people to the WSOP Paradise in December.
• Refer more people to the app, get a bigger starting stack.

US Players: WSOP Cash Games Countdown: October 3 to 24

Running in Michigan and New Jersey & Nevada the Cash Game countdown returns for US players on the WSOP platform.

Players can opt in to the promotion, play their favorite cash games, and earn at least 100 Wagering Points for a chance to win a WSOP Paradise Package. The package includes a travel stipend, 5-night hotel stay, and entry into the $5,300 buy-in Main Event. Earn up to 4 entries into this drawing, 1 entry for every 100 Wagering Points earned.

• Players must opt-in during the promotional period
  • This includes opting in to receive WSOP communications
• Players can earn wagering points via cash games
• Earn at least 100 Wagering Points before midnight on October 24 to be in with a chance of winning a WSOP Paradise package.
• A random drawing for the Paradise package takes place on October 26

The WSOP Paradise package includes:

• A $750 Travel Stipend that will be added to their WSOP.com bankroll within 7 days.
• 5-night Hotel stay in the Bahamas
• Entry into the $5,300 buy-in WSOP Paradise Main Event
• NOTE: Players who win this package are responsible for booking their own flights.

Ontario Players: GGPoker’s Millionaire Maker in Paradise

GGPoker Ontario has revealed the 2023 WSOP Online series schedule for players in Ontario. The series will run concurrently with WSOP Online from August 20 to October 2. Ontario online poker players get 8 chances at WSOP bracelets this year, with tournament guarantees ranging from C$100K to C$500K.

Notably, Ontarians will also have a chance to compete for their seat in the final stage of the $2,013 Millionaire Maker in Paradise event, one of the tournaments on the brand new 2023 WSOP Paradise schedule, which will play out live in The Bahamas in December.

The Millionaire Maker in Paradise is a unique event that WSOP has made available on WSOP NJ/NV and GGPoker international and Ontario platforms, designed in two stages. It has a buy-in of C$2,023 (USD $1500) and a guarantee of C$6.7 million (USD $5 million).

The first phase will take place entirely online. On the global platform, the tournament will play down to 100 players, while in NJ/NV and Ontario, the event will halt when there are just nine players remaining.

These 118 will meet in the Bahamas in December at the debut of WSOP Paradise, where they will get VIP accommodation at the Atlantis Resort and free lunch for ten days, allowing for an epic conclusion to this unique tournament.

Daily satellites are already underway on GGPoker Ontario.

US Players: WSOP NJ + NV, WSOP Paradise Package Satellites: Every Sunday in September

For players in New Jersey and Nevada, WSOP has launched Paradise Package Satellites that will run every Sunday in September.

On Sundays, players on WSOP NJ and WSOP NV can win a $7,500 WSOP Paradise Package, including a travel stipend, a 5-night hotel stay, and Main Event entry.

US Players: WSOP Cash Games Countdown: August 9 to August 29

In a strategic move to attract a substantial turnout for this inaugural poker extravaganza in the beautiful Bahamas, WSOP.com has unveiled an innovative approach.

The Cash Games Countdown, is the latest WSOP Paradise promotion aimed at players based in New Jersey, Nevada, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, giving players a chance to win their way to the WSOP Paradise this December. The promotion runs from August 8 to August 29, 2023.

The main WSOP Paradise package includes coveted entry into the WSOP Paradise Main Event, boasting a notable buy-in of $5000. Players will also be put up in a luxurious hotel for five nights and stay at a top hotel. A generous travel allowance of $750 is also included in the package.

WSOP Paradise: Cash Games Countdown Overview

• Cash Games Countdown is available for US players in New Jersey, Nevada, Michigan, and Pennsylvania
• The promotion runs from August 8 to August 29.
• Players must earn a minimum of 100 APPs (or Wagering Points), which translates to a single entry into a random drawing to win a package.

Players aren’t limited to just one entry; they have the chance to accumulate up to four entries, significantly enhancing their odds of being selected for the grand prize. The culmination of the promotion will take place on August 30, when the random drawing to determine the lucky recipient of the WSOP Paradise package will be conducted.

The winner of this draw will be granted an all-inclusive package, encompassing the $5000 Main Event entry, a travel stipend amounting to $750, and an indulgent five-night hotel stay, creating an experience that goes beyond the realm of poker tournaments.

Big Expectations for the New WSOP Paradise Series

Many players say summer in Vegas is the best time of year. We hope that will only be rivaled by winter in paradise.

The 2023 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas broke numerous records, especially in terms of attendance. Among other things, it hosted the largest-ever Main Event in poker history with 10,043 players, which awarded the winner $12.1 million.

WSOP Paradise represented an ambitious but logical attempt to build upon that momentum and keep the players engaged. With $50,000,000 and 15 more bracelets up for grabs, there was plenty for poker players to get excited about.

GGPoker is not just the largest poker site in existence. It also has the voice of Daniel Negreanu, probably the best-known poker player in the world. All these factors helped make WSOP Paradise a big success. Negreanu brought back his daily vlogs (as he does during the summer series) plus GG’s new poker show Game of Gold had a reunion after Paradise wrapped.

Talking about WSOP Paradise ahead of the series, Ty Stewart, WSOP’s SVP & Executive Director, said:

“We have the strongest online partner in the world, and they are set to send a record number of qualifiers to a live tournament. Atlantis also has a great legacy in poker, and we believe this combination of partners can deliver poker’s most powerful new franchise for years to come. Many players say summer in Vegas is the best time of year. We hope that will only be rivaled by winter in paradise.”

WSOP+ App to Debut in Paradise

The WSOP+ app made its debut at WSOP Paradise. The app helps to streamline the live poker experience & speed up registration & gameplay processes.

The main features of the WSOP+ app include:

• Real-Time WSOP Information
• WSOP Push Notifications
• Live Tournament Clock
• Tournament Registration
• The WSOP+ app will give you access to a live tournament clock of all WSOP events running at the time
  • Including remaining players
  • The current level
  • Prize pool distribution

The success of the WSOP+ app in Paradise will likely determine how Series proceeds with the app moving forward. Will we see it at the WSOP 2024 in Vegas next summer?

History: Atlantis and Poker

It’s going to be an absolutely amazing experience, the best of poker at one of the world’s most luxurious resorts

The Atlantis Resort has been an iconic landmark on Paradise Island since the late ’60s. Now the property has been renovated, and sister properties have opened in Dubai and China.

But what about Atlantis and its links to the poker world? Well, probably in the poker community, Atlantis has been known as the home for PokerStars’ iconic event, the PokerStars’ Caribbean Adventure (PCA). For the best part of sixteen years, the PCA would take place annually in January at the Atlantis Resort and attract hundreds of poker players from around the world whilst paying out millions of dollars in prizes.

In 2023, PokerStars moved venues and is now affiliated with the Baha Mar resort in the Bahamas. The Baha Mar used to be the home to partypoker’s Caribbean Poker Party — which has not run as a live event since it moved online in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With PokerStars giving up its ties to Atlantis, it has been open for hosting other high-profile live poker events, allowing WSOP and GGPoker to swoop in with their WSOP Paradise event.

Multimillion Dollar Renovations

Since 2022, Atlantis has been undergoing multimillion-dollar renovations to combat arguments that the venue was tired and in need of an overhaul.

Upgrades include:

• Renovated guest rooms
• Michelin Star Dining
• Plus a reimagined Atlantis Casino

“Atlantis’ 25th anniversary launches a new chapter for the resort, unveiling a multimillion-dollar transformation of the Atlantis Casino complemented by renovated guestrooms at The Royal and Michelin star chef dining experiences in time for the WSOP Paradise event,” said Joe Brunini, Chief Gaming & Customer Development Officer Atlantis Paradise Island, the Bahamas. “We are excited to welcome the WSOP Paradise this winter and look forward to hosting the debut of this premiere tournament series for players and their fans.”

“It’s going to be an absolutely amazing experience, the best of poker at one of the world’s most luxurious resorts,” said GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu via press release.

The December Poker Operator Battle

The WSOP Paradise was not the only prestigious live poker event to be running in December 2023, leaving poker players in quite the conundrum. Do they head to the Bahamas to play in the WSOP Paradise or head to the Wynn for the WPT World Championship Festival or to the European Poker Tour Prague stop laid on by PokerStars.

Despite the three festivals contending with each other, boasting massive guarantees of more than $100 million, each is witnessing an overwhelming response from players.

There is overlap between most of these big three live poker events, which we felt would push poker players to, most likely, pick just one event to play in due to the distance between locations. That was not the case. In some instances players split their time between Paradise and the WPT c.f. Phil Hellmuth and in over in Europe the EPT Prague was setting records for attendance and prize pools.

Major Live Events Results

Direct Flights Around the World to Nassau, Bahamas

For poker players wanting to travel to Atlantis, hopping on a flight is really your only option. Direct flights run from London, UK, as well as from a host of cities in the US, Canada, Panama, and other Caribbean islands regularly.

Travelers will need to fly into the capital of the Bahamas, Nassau, to head overland to Paradise Island and the Atlantis Resort.

Thanks to Flight Connections, we can easily see what cities these direct flights leave from. Here we have picked out the top 22 most popular paths to the Bahamas, departing from the UK, the US, and Canada.

1. London, UK
2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
3. Miami, Florida, US
4. Tampa, Florida, US
5. Orlando, Florida, US
6. Boston, Mass, US
7. New York (all airports), New York, US
8. Atlanta, Georgia, US
9. Washington, Maryland, US
10. Chicago, Illinois, US
11. Seattle, Washington, US
12. Los Angeles, California, US
13. Denver, Colorado, US
14. Dallas, Texas, US
15. Austin, Texas, US
16. Houston, Texas, US
17. San Antonio, Texas, US
18. Charlotte, North Carolina, US
19. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
20. Calgary, Alberta, Canada
21. Montreal, Quebec, Canada
22. Toronto, Ontario, Canada

For European travelers, most routes will require a layover. Common routes include going through transit in the UK or flying directly to a US city such as Fort Lauderdale and then connecting to Nassau from there.

WSOP Paradise FAQ

Can I win gold bracelets at WSOP Paradise 2023?

Yes, players at WSOP Paradise will compete for real WSOP gold bracelets. There will be at least 15 bracelet-awarding tournaments in December, with buy-ins ranging from $1000 to $100,000.

When does WSOP Paradise take place?

WSOP Paradise takes place December 3 – 14, 2023.

Where will WSOP Paradise 2023 be held?

The WSOP Paradise 2023 tournaments will be played at Atlantis Casino on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.

Can I qualify online for WSOP Paradise?

Yes, you can qualify for WSOP Paradise online at GGPoker via different satellite tournaments and other promotions set up by the operator. Over on WSOP, players in New Jersey can play Sunday Satellites to win a Paradise Package.

Will there be a WSOP Paradise Main Event?

Yes, of course. The Main Event features a buy-in of $5,000 and a guaranteed prize pool of $15,000,000.

WSOP, and who else runs WSOP Paradise?

The WSOP Paradise live event is run by the World Series of Poker and its international partner GGPoker.

Has Atlantis undergone renovations in 2023?

Yes, to celebrate its 25th year of operators, the much loved Atlantis Resort has undergone a multimillion-dollar facelift in recent years.

Can I fly direct to the Bahamas?

If you are traveling from central US hubs, London, UK, then yes. Three direct flights also run from Montreal, Toronto, and Calgary, AB, Canada.

Will Daniel Negreanu be at the WSOP Paradise event in December?

As GGPoker and the WSOP are using Daniel Negreanu as their poster boy for the event, it is highly likely he will be attending the event in December.

Do I have to ear GG merch if I win a package?

Yes. The terms and conditions state that anyone who plays in the Main Event via Qualifying routes, must wear a GGPoker patch and can choose from any of the other GG-branded clothing received.

What if I am unable to attend WSOP Paradise but have won a package? Can I get T$ instead?

If you cannot attend WSOP Paradise, you will forfeit the hotel package and tournament fee and receive T$5,000.

What does the Road to Paradise package entail?

Road to Paradise package winners receive:

• WSOP Paradise Main Event entry
• Up to 10-nights accommodation at the Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, the Bahamas
• A daily free lunch buffet, and a special GGMerch gift.
  • Early winners will receive a bonus 11th night.

I have won Main Event entry but cannot attend. Can I sell my WSOP Paradise Main Event package?

No, all 2023 WSOP Paradise Main Event packages or tickets won at GGPoker are non-transferable.

What happens if I win more than one 2023 WSOP Paradise Main Event package?

If a players wins multiple WSOP Packages they will receive T$5,000 per win.

What is an OnLive tournament?

OnLive tournaments are an hybrid of online and live tournaments. OnLive flights send qualifying players who pass the Online Day 1 directly to the ITM stage at the live venue. For WSOP Paradise, every OnLive qualifier will win a hotel stay automatically along with a daily lunch.