The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has signed a multi-year agreement to return poker’s most prestigious event to ESPN.
From this year, ESPN will provide comprehensive coverage of the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship, better known as the WSOP Main Event, culminating in a three-night live finale in prime time on linear television in early August.
Broadcasting will begin on July 2 with Day 1A of the Main Event, with poker fans able to enjoy wall-to-wall coverage, with each tournament day receiving a minimum of six hours of programming. In total, ESPN platforms will feature approximately 100 hours of original programming per year.
In a return to a “cliffhanger” television format, once the tournament reaches the final table on July 13, play will be paused and the surviving finalists will reconvene 20 days later for a live, three-day televised finale airing August 3 – 5.
During the 20-day hiatus, ESPN will air specially curated prime-time episodes to build momentum and introduce the final table competitors to a global audience.
In 2021, the WSOP moved its domestic television rights from ESPN to CBS Sports Network.
By returning to ESPN, WSOP aims to elevate the broadcast to the standards of major league sports by engaging Omaha Productions, known for innovative hits such as Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli (the “ManningCast”) and Netflix’s Quarterback and Receiver.
“The World Series of Poker is a global phenomenon that transcends the gaming category, and our goal is to bring it to the widest possible audience,” said Ty Stewart, CEO of the WSOP. “Returning to ESPN – the home of our most iconic moments since 1987 – allows us to showcase the human drama of the Main Event like never before.
“With our new ownership’s commitment to growth, this is the perfect time to bring the ‘World Championship’ back to the biggest stage in sports.”
ESPN vice president of programming & acquisitions Ashley O’Connor commented: “We’re proud to welcome the World Series of Poker back to ESPN. Poker is filled with unexpected storylines, and nobody is better equipped to showcase the stories that unfold throughout a tournament more than ESPN.
“Bringing the WSOP back reflects our continued commitment to delivering premium competition and that connects with fans in new and exciting ways.”
In 2025, the flagship event in Las Vegas attracted 246,960 entrants and awarded more than $481 million in prize money – both all-time records for the series.
This year’s event will mark the second full year after Caesars Entertainment sold WSOP to NSUS, parent company of online poker giant GGPoker.
Caesars has a 20-year agreement to continue hosting the flagship summer WSOP series at its Las Vegas Strip properties, currently the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas.
International satellites to WSOP live events are hosted exclusively at GGPoker.