The World Series of Poker® is thrilled to announce the return of the WSOP Circuit (WSOP-C), following an 18-month hiatus. The popular regional poker tour will return for its 17th season on Thanksgiving Day–Thursday, Nov. 25 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee, NC immediately following the conclusion of the 2021 World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas. Thirteen stops have been scheduled to date, with additional dates to be announced in the coming weeks.

The prestigious $1million freeroll will return featuring a new qualification format this season, refocused to make every event a pathway to win a highly coveted WSOP gold bracelet. Beginning with the Cherokee Circuit Event, any official gold ring winners, from either the live or online circuit events through July 2022, will qualify for the new invitation-only “Tournament of Champions” event during the 2022 World Series of Poker tournament in Las Vegas. 2022 online or live bracelet winners will also be eligible to compete in the new signature event.

“It’s been too long, so it’s great to see the Circuit hitting the road once again,” said Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the World Series of Poker, Ty Stewart. “The WSOP-C is one of our most important initiatives, allowing regional players to experience big-time poker and providing grinders a platform to earn a living. We’re pumped up about the new ‘Tournament of Champions’ format where all our winders will come together for one event. Just win and you’re in!”

While many venues will be familiar during the 2021-22 season, new stops have already been added, including:

• Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park, Pompano Beach, FL
• Turning Stone Resort & Casino, Verona, NY
• Deerfoot Inn and Casino, Calgary, Alberta Canada

The Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles will be WSOP-C’s second stop beginning on Thursday, Dec. 9 with the tour continuing virtually non-stop until the season-culminating stop at Harrah’s New Orleans on Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Most WSOP-C stops will begin on Thursdays, with the four-day Main Events beginning on the second Friday of the tournament. Each stop is encouraged to add Seniors and Ladies events, where the winners will qualify to participate in the “Tournament of Champions” in Las Vegas. WSOP-C events will be played using a Big Blind Ante format, offering the same expanded starting chips unveiled for the 2019-20 season. WSOP-C stops will feature standardized tournament structures and payouts, ensuring players traveling to multiple stops will be treated in a consistent manner at each event, barring any regulatory or local law differences. All stops will release their series’ event schedules upon approval by their local regulatory body, with the guarantee that every stop will offer at least a dozen official gold ring events starting at a $250 buy-in level and will include a $1,700 Main Event.

2022 WSOP Online Circuit events on WSOP.COM will be scheduled monthly following the year-end Championship with a $250,000 freeroll scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 28.

WSOP-C schedules are subject to change and the WSOP reserves the right to make changes to all events related to the WSOP-C at any time. Please visit WSOP.com/2021/circuit for the latest news and information related to these events. Additional information on individual circuit events, including event schedules and structure sheets, can be found on each respective property’s websites or by visiting www.WSOP.com

*The WSOP-C Events and “Tournament of Champions” event are subject change, with tournament rules and restrictions to be determined. The timing, number and location of events are subject to change and all applicable gaming regulations. Additional information regarding international and online circuit events will be released at a later date.

WORLD SERIES OF POKER 2021-2022 CIRCUIT TOUR SCHEDULE

**More stops are expected to be added as the season progresses**