New Date set for return of major poker event to Atlantic City

Since the World Series of Poker main event was first broadcast in 1987 on ESPN Television, the popularity of poker grew during the 1990s. As a result of the growing popularity, more people were going to casinos to play poker, and an entire generation of people came of age viewing this as the premier casino card game.

The World Series of Poker has been synonymous with Caesars Entertainment and Harrah's Casinos for decades. From 2005 to 2020, WSOP hosted annual events at Harrah's Resorts in Atlantic City.

But WSOP and WPT (World Poker Tour) saw a decrease in popularity and mainstream interest over the last 20 years. In 2008, almost 3.5 million viewers watched the WSOP Main Event; ten years later, viewership averages have dropped to 615,000.

After a five-year absence from Atlantic City, WSOP returned to Harrah's in 2025. The resurgence of the World Series of Poker, thanks in part to a new TV and Streaming agreement with ESPN. Now we have confirmation that AC will continue to be a stop on the WSOP Circuit.

When Is WSOP Making Their Next Stop In Atlantic City?

According to a press release from Caesars Entertainment, the next World Series of Poker Circuit stop will be at Harrah’s Resort this summer with a guaranteed $1.5 million prize pool. Harrah's Senior Vice President and General Manager Joe Giunta gave the following statement:

“We’re proud to welcome a World Series of Poker Circuit stop to Harrah’s Resort. It’s a natural fit for us and speaks to the strength of our gaming experiences. There’s nothing like the energy these events bring, from seasoned players to guests just looking to be a part of the action, and we’re excited to see it come to life across the entire resort.”

The WSOP-C event will be hosted at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City from Thursday, August 13th, through Monday, August 24th. The calendar year schedule for the World Series of Poker runs from January through December, leading up to WSOP Paradise in Nassau, Bahamas in December 2026.

One of the top destinations for all levels Poker Players in the Northeast for decades was Atlantic City. Numerous high-rollers and celebrities used to play poker in Atlantic City, a who's who list that includes Frank Sinatra, Michael Jordan, and Garth Brooks.

In the 21st century, new Poker Rooms have opened in the Philadelphia area, and states like Delaware developing new casino properties has attracted people away from Atlantic City. The good news is that having WSOP returning to AC for the second straight year shows that they value Atlantic City as part of their annual schedule moving forward.