The Future of the World Series of Poker

With the 2008 World Series of Poker now less than three months away, it is time to speculate what the future holds for this largest of all poker tournaments.

Certainly the WSOP managers seems to have settled at around 55 events a year, at least a $10,000 tournament for each major game. They also seem committed to having bracelets within the grasp of as many players as they can, with the low end buy-in of $1,500 or just a win in a $165 single table satellite.

Each year the tournament structures are reconsidered and improved. So the questions arises:
"What could they do next?"

How about moving the WSOP away from the Rio in Las Vegas.

We know the Series will be at the Rio this year (2008) and next (2009), those plans are in the books and the convention space has been set aside, but what about after that.

Well the Rio is one of several properties that many investment onlookers feel may well be sold off by the new owners of Harrah's Entertainment. There is always talk that WSOP staff want the tournament on the Las Vegas Strip, if only to keep more of the cash game action in the room. Most night during the summer WSOP months the "big games" have moved from the Rio back to Bellagio and other strip properties.

So what are the rumors about the location for the 2010 World Series of Poker:

a) Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip, using lots of convention space;

b) Multiple properties on the strip, all centrally located. This would allowed the really huge registrants events to run more smoothly with multiple Days Ones, as needed;

c) Rotate the WORLD Series of Poker internationally with the first complete WSOP schedule outside of the USA being held in 2011 in Spain.