WSOP Sold: NSUS Group Buys The WSOP for $500 Million
On August 1, Caesars Entertainment announced that they have agreed to sell the iconic World Series of Poker (WSOP) brand to NSUS Group Inc., the operator of the worlds largest online poker room, GGPoker.
In a press release, Caesars Entertainment specified that the deal is valued at $500 million, which includes “$250 million in cash and a $250 million promissory note due five years after the transaction’s closing date.”
What’s in Store for the WSOP?
The news that Caesars Entertainment has sold the World Series of Poker (WSOP) came as a surprise, as the esteemed brand has been growing year on year.
WSOP Events Per Year
| Year | WSOP | WSOP Online | WSOP Europe | WSOP Paradise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 99 | 74 | 15 | 0 |
| 2022 | 118 | 78 | 15 | 0 |
| 2023 | 129 | 65 | 15 | 15 |
The WSOP 2024 has been breaking records in prize pools and entries, with 136 events and over $480 million in buy-ins, generating roughly $42.1 million in rake.
GGPoker has been supporting the WSOP since 2020, bringing online players the global WSOP Online and WSOP Circuit Online events. One reason for the growth in the WSOP’s popularity is presumably GGPoker’s hard work and passion for supporting the event.
With the expected takeover by NSUS Group Inc., the WSOP is anticipated to become bigger and better than ever. We are excited to see what the future holds for this legendary event.
Plans to Expand the WSOP Worldwide
Following the announcement, Michael Kim, CEO of NSUS Group Inc., shared his ambitious plans for the future of the WSOP.
“We will leverage GGPoker’s cutting-edge technology and industry expertise to create an exciting future for WSOP, ensuring players have an increasingly improved, safe, and seamless poker experience.”
“Under the new leadership, NSUS intends to expand WSOP worldwide, positioning it at the forefront of poker’s growth.”
The WSOP already has a great history of expansion, most recently hosting WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas. We expect to see many exciting new locations announced under the new ownership.
Caesars Will Still Be Involved
Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital, expressed his enthusiasm for this transition following the announcement.
“We can’t wait to see what NSUS has in store for growing the WSOP’s legacy in poker, and we look forward to continuing to deliver an unmatched and familiar experience to poker players going forward.”
The WSOP’s flagship live tournament series will continue to be held at Caesars casinos in Las Vegas for the next 20 years, indicating that Caesars Entertainment will remain heavily involved with the WSOP.
Additionally, Caesars locations will receive “preferential rights” for hosting live WSOP Circuit events, ensuring their continued partnership with the WSOP brand.