WSOP Circuit Online Champions Denied Their $5,000 WSOP Paradise Package

Winners of the online tournaments in the WSOP Circuit series have started being denied the $5,000 WSOP Paradise invitational package. Drake «Sweet4U» Kemper was the first to point this out on July 29. The American player won a ring in an online event but was denied the package for the festival in the Bahamas. Yet the World Series' promotional materials guarantee that every WSOP Circuit champion receives a Paradise package, with no exceptions implied for winners of online tournaments.

In the comments on Kemper's post, WSOP commentator Jeff Platt confirmed that WSOP Circuit Online champions would not receive Paradise packages this year. That explanation sparked a wave of criticism from players.

WSOP Online's support team explained the difference in approach by noting that the online tournaments and the live events belong to different companies. This follows from a reply published by 18-time WSOP Circuit ring holder Mike Cetera. The World Series is owned by NSUS, the parent company of GGPoker, whereas the rights to WSOP Online remain with Caesars Entertainment.

«Unfortunately, the package was not offered to our online players. WSOP is no longer part of Caesars Entertainment, and the World Series offers this prize only for its own platform. We don't have access to this package», — Cetera was told by the support team.

What's more, earlier this year the winners of GGPoker's WSOP Super Circuit Online Series received WSOP Paradise packages along with their rings. Even though that series serves the international market rather than the American pool, this fact only added to the confusion.

Since 2025, WSOP Circuit champions have been receiving a package to the World Series festival in the Bahamas, which included entry into the $2,500 WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty event. Previously, ring holders for many years received a seat in the exclusive Tournament of Champions freeroll. Only winners of the Circuit series or bracelet events could play in these events.

Following the widespread backlash, WSOP did ultimately confirm that WSOP Circuit online tournament champions would receive a WSOP Paradise package alongside the winners of live events.

The next WSOP Online Circuit series will run from August 6 to 17. It will feature 12 ring events with a total guarantee of over $1.4 million. WSOP Paradise starts in the Bahamas on December 3 and will run for two weeks.

📰 Subscribe to Pokerflow