The WSOP Circuit is heading to the iconic Commerce Casino in Los Angeles next month.
The opening ‘shuffle up and deal’ is May 10 with the $550K GTD $600 entry tournament, and the schedule offers something for everyone, with the $1,700 buy-in main event starting May 16.
But it was the announcement that the Tournament of Champions would bring the curtain down in LA that made all the news, with players expecting it be in Las Vegas in the summer and not happy with the extra expenses involved.
PokerOrg sat down with WSOP Vice-President Jack Effel at the Commerce to get the scoop on the origins of the WSOP Circuit, their vision for the partnership with the Commerce, and the decision to hold the 2024 Tournament of Champions there.
What is the origin story behind the development of the WSOP Circuit events?
Jack Effel: Harrah’s purchased the World Series of Poker in 2003, and that following spring we had the idea to create the WSOP circuit. We dreamed of taking the WSOP out on the road to the people and creating a grassroots tour. We did it for the players who had never made it to Vegas or been exposed to the World Series of Poker.
To this day, it's been a model that has worked for us to bring poker to the people. We love creating a festival of events where people can come together and have a chance to win some significant sums of money. It can even be life-changing money for some. That’s exciting for us at the WSOP.
Were you involved from the start of its conception?
JE: I was part of a group in the early days that assembled what we now know as the Circuit. That job led to bigger jobs, more responsibilities, and eventually overseeing the operations for the WSOP in Las Vegas.
There was a crazy growth period for poker in 2003 as the Chris Moneymaker boom had exploded the interest in the game.
JE: It was. Moneymaker won his main event in 2003 with 800 and some odd entries. Then Greg Raymer followed it up with three times as many with 2,400 entries. That’s when we created the WSOP-C events in 2005. That year, we had 5,619 entries in the Main Event, the year that Joe Hachem won.
Are you excited about the WSOP-C coming to Los Angeles and the Commerce Casino and Hotel?
JE: It's kind of come full circle for me. Growing up in Texas, two places stuck out for playing poker: Vegas for the WSOP and Los Angeles for the Commerce.
Many players first came to Vegas in the early days to play cards, but the competition was tough. Legends were battling there: Chip Reese, Johnny Chan, and Doyle Brunson. Many people didn't want to play with them or all the seasoned pros. Instead, they chose to come out and play at the Commerce in LA.
We’re excited to bring the WSOP Circuit to the Commerce Casino, an iconic brand. When you think of the Commerce, this place has been a consistent paradise for poker.
I love the fact that they're going through a bit of a renaissance and a rebirth at the moment. They’ve been remodeling the place and have a new High Limit room. They even have a beautiful new live-streaming studio.
I like the direction of the current management here. I’ve seen the vision they’ve shared for the future of poker at the Commerce Casino, and I’ve loved how well they've handled the WSOP brand.
We've always tried to stay as a players event, no matter where the World Series of Poker has gone in the world. First and foremost, we value the player more than anything, and we believe in keeping the WSOP special. We love seeing people succeed. We believe in trying to make dreams come true and be a part of those dreams because they’re our dreams, too.
Can you talk us through the decision to play the Tournament of Champions as the last event on this stop?
JE: I think the long-term plan is to build something that can withstand the test of time. That's what the World Series of Poker is all about. It's about creating memorable moments people look forward to and block off their calendars to participate in. They will come to Los Angeles to play cards at the Commerce next month, and they can try to build their bankroll right before heading out to Las Vegas.
There's been some pushback from players about moving the TOC to the Commerce and the expenses involved in LA before traveling to Vegas. What message do you have to send to those players?
JE: The players find the expenses to go to many places across the US where we hold the WSOP-C. It’s not that we just threw something at them at the last minute, but that you must go to LA.
We’ve invested in the TOC event in LA so that the players can come and play in their freeroll. They won their entry into the TOC event and the prize money that came along with it. It’s not like they're a loser in the total sum game. Yes, you have to buy your plane ticket to LA vs. Vegas. But we’ve only had the TOC three out of twelve times in Vegas.
The one thing that is probably a shocker is that it came two months before the [summer] WSOP. We’ve been working on this deal for almost a year; if we could have announced it six months ago, we would have 100%.
I think if folks really want to play, hopefully, they can plan to come to California for a few days, visit Hollywood, enjoy the sun, play the TOC, and hopefully come out victorious with the bracelet.
Live poker has boomed since COVID. How did you feel when last year's Main Event became the largest of all time?
JE: It was a lot of fun to see Dan Weinman take home the largest first prize we’ve ever had and all the other record-breaking events we held. I should add that GGPoker has been a great partner. They send a lot of people to the Main Event. GGPoker is elevating the quantity of the online events to make them more attractive to players. They run lots of qualifiers and even have online bracelet events. They’re just doing so many great things to grow poker worldwide.
PokerOrg had a blast covering the WSOP from the start last year. It’s an extraordinary experience for any player who travels to compete in one or all of the events.
JE: We agree. It's like going to Disneyland, the enjoyment of everyone getting to come and ride all the rides and experiencing something very special. In turn, our team at the WSOP gets to experience other people's experiences, which last a lifetime.
The WSOP series is not just a bunch of poker tournaments. A big part of it is the journey, getting there, and the whole experience of it. Then there’s the aftermath. Did you come out unscathed? Did you come out with some money? Do you win a bracelet? What are your stories? The best part is that everything plays into this narrative of the opportunity to become a World Series of Poker champion. That's what it’s all about.
Check out the full schedule for the 2024 WSOP and get more information on the final Circuit stop of the season at Commerce Casino. The Commerce is currently running a promotion for players to win the chance to join the Poker Pro Team and earn a $10,000 seat for the WSOP Las Vegas Main Event. PokerOrg is the official media partner for the WSOP Circuit and you can get the latest Instant reporting from Grand Victoria where the main event is currently playing.
