This is our third visit to the World Series of Poker (WSOP), but the first where we have played any bracelet events. Over time we have noticed a number of “glitches” that we would not have expected going into such a storied event. Today, we thought we would share some of them with you.
Many of the Dealers Are Brand New
This is not surprising if you really think about it. The WSOP is massive and requires hundreds of dealers to run smoothly. The Reunion tournament alone held 4,000 to 5,000 players on its largest days. That’s a lot of dealers. Several dealers sat down at my table and announced “this is my first day dealing, be patient with me.” Many proceeded to prove their novice status through misdeals, pots shoved the wrong way, and only a passing knowledge of the rules of the game.
Pro Tip: Do be patient. They are trying their best. Also, dealers get their reps in as the month goes on. Even the new dealers will be more skilled by the end of the month after hundreds of hours dealing at the WSOP.
The Lines Can Be Horrendous
This year we heard stories of players waiting six hours to register for a tournament. We were fortunate to spend only two hours in line to register for the Reunion on Day 2 of the WSOP. At most, there are 12 windows open to register at the WSOP, and at worst there can be only 3 or 4. This year things have been slowed further by the requirement that players prove their vaccination status before their initial buy-in. Once again, be patient.
Pro Tip: You can buy in to any tournament as early as you like. If you plan to play in one of the large tournaments, register a couple of days in advance, preferably early in the morning. The lines will be much shorter, and you can get back hours of your life.
You Don’t Need to Cash Out Immediately
Cash-out lines can be as bad as registration lines. For some reason, the process to turn your tournament-winning ticket into cash is long and multi-stepped. However, you can get your cash-out whenever you like. We recommend waiting for a slow morning after your event to turn that ticket back into cold hard cash. You have all month. No reason to wait with the other 200 people who just busted out after the money bubble at 1am.
Pro Tip: Did you know that you can register for your next tournament as you cash out of the last one? Two birds. One line.
The WSOP Needs a Weather Report
I don’t mean outside, either. Depending upon which room you are assigned, and where you are seated, you will spend your hours either sweltering or thinking that you have been stranded somewhere in Siberia. The Rio Convention Center is a large facility with variable air conditioning service. Be prepared for all weather conditions by layering up.
Pro Tip: Never come to play without a sweatshirt or jacket. However, if you somehow arrive in only shirtsleeves, the handy WSOP store will be happy to sell you a hoodie.
Bring Your Own Food
You will definitely want to pack in your own snacks and meals if at all possible. We were shocked last week when we paid over $19 to split a sandwich and a tiny bag of chips. When examining the receipt, we saw that we paid no less than $6.50 in tip, service charge, gratuity, and tax. Aren’t tip and gratuity the same thing? What?! Even if you are willing to pay usurious prices, the lines are long and everyone wants to eat at the same time. You will be much better off bringing food in your trusty backpack (which also holds your sweatshirt and phone charger).

Pro Tip: The Rio is a Pepsi facility. If you are a Coke person and failed to pack one in, you will need to cross the quarter-mile (at least) to the Smash Burger and hope that 37 other people didn’t beat you there.
Yes, too insane for this girl…. instead, I signed up for the WSOP online website. There are bracelet events, cash games, Sattelite events etc. if you are out of state, like I am, you will need a copy of your social security card, and a driver’s license with your current street address to get verified. I’ve been playing cash games at other local casinos poker rooms.
all great info!
Thanks Linda.
Nice to see fair food prices.
Why do people even go to Las Vegas?
Shitty Chinese goods mall with plastic overpriced food, horrendous humanity, pristine land that used to be a garden now owned and run by money hungry overweight capitalists that pay zero taxes and add nothing to society.
Have fun and try not to breath in too much stench!
ty, enjoyed reading
You could register and pay online for the WSOP live events and then just pick up your seat card at the front desk. Not sure if you can do that this year if you have to show vaccination status.
So, if you register and pay online they charge a 3% service fee + $3. Just not willing to pay an extra $15 to $30 bucks to go that way.
Has it been this way in previous years with the tip/gratuity/service charge for fast food? I have always packed my own food or went somewhere outside the Rio for dinner breaks.
I had never noticed it before, but then I don’t think I have eaten from the Cafe in previous years. Won’t be again, either.
I found out the hard way a few little idiosyncrasies about the registration process.
If you bring funding via a cashier’s check, they will only accept it during business hours so don’t try to avoid the lines by going after 5pm.
If you “pre-register” for an event wither in person at Tournament Registration windows or online via Bravo Live, when the event starts your stack is in play and you are blinded off if you are late. Players who register late get a full starting stack when they sit down.
IMO the best way to handle this if you are planning to play multiple events is to go to tournament registration and have them put money on your account. This is then linked to Bravo Live and you can use the app to register. Most importantly, when you do it this way, you only pay a $3 service fee for the registration. You do not also get hit with the 3% surcharge! You can register with the press of a button on the app, go to a kiosk and print your seat card and you’re done.
That process will work for the bracelet events and the other smaller daily events. You still have to wait in line to buy in for the SnGs
Thanks for the tips! We had two different people tell us that even if you wire money into the account, the 3% service charge applies when you go through Bravo. Of course 3 others (at the cashier) couldn’t answer the question. A this point, think we will stick with cash.
It can be deceiving if you don’t select the right option. After making your deposit at the Tournament Registration window, you will go to the Bravo Live app and log in. Make sure your Caesars Players Card is added to your profile. Then select World Series of Poker and then tap on Tournament Registration. That opens a browser window and you log in to Bravo Poker via web.
Scroll down and you will see all the WSOP tournaments and a Register Now button next to each. When you tap on that button, it will take you to a summary screen which shows an added Bravo Registration fee of 3% (looks like 3.05% actually).
However, below the summary of charges, there are three buttons. Online Banking, Credit/Debit Card, and TBIC. Here is where you tap on TBIC (Tournament Buy In Credit?). Once you do that, the 3% charge is replaced by a $3 charge. So for a $1000 tourney the grand total changed from $1030.50 to $1003.00
Sounds complicated but it is not.
Thanks for the tip!