Best WSOP Qualifier Poker Sites
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest poker tournament in the world held each year in Las Vegas, Nevada. The WSOP brings together the best poker players from many different countries for an intense competition that lasts for weeks. The WSOP was started in 1970 and has since become the most competitive live poker event. The WSOP has multiple rounds, with the winner of the main event usually taking home more than $7 million dollars. A few players every year win their seats in the WSOP through playing in a qualifier poker tournament. The best WSOP qualifier poker sites have low entry fees and accept players from many countries.
Best WSOP Qualifier Poker Websites
WSOP Qualifier Poker Basics
Playing in a WSOP qualifier poker tournament online has become a popular way for good players to win seats in expensive live circuit events. A seat in the WSOP is the ultimate prize for winning a qualifier tournament and these games are often very competitive. These tournaments usually have many players enter them because of their low entry fees and large prize packages.
A few players who have won the WSOP main event have been awarded their seats in the event by participating in a qualifier tournament. Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer, players who won the 2003 and 2004 main events, both won their seats by participating in online satellite tournaments. Jerry Yang, the main event winner in 2007, won his seat by participating in a live qualifier tournament held at a casino.
The passage of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 has complicated WSOP qualifier poker games. The law intends to ban online poker rooms from purchasing entrance to live circuit events directly for their customers. However, the UIGEA is not always enforced and many poker rooms still hold WSOP qualifier poker tournaments.
Attributes of a WSOP Qualifier Poker Site
Most of the sites that offer WSOP qualifier games are well-known, international poker rooms. The best WSOP qualifier poker sites allow players from a variety of countries. Players should keep in mind that some of the sites that offer qualifier tournaments do not accept players from the US. Only a handful of the largest poker rooms still accept US players because of laws against online gambling in the country. You will also want to make sure that the poker site also accepts your currency as payment for tournament entry fees.
Even though the prize packages are large, the best WSOP qualifier poker sites will not charge high fees to enter tournaments. An entry fee of around $200 is quite standard.
Players will also want to keep in mind that the poker variation played at most qualifier tournaments is Texas Hold' em. This is also the poker variation usually played at the main event at the WSOP.
Playing in a WSOP qualifier poker tournament is a good option for players who are competitive but can't afford the high buy-in amounts most live tournaments charge. The best WSOP qualifier poker sites will accept many countries and currencies and will offer large prize packages.