The World Series of Poker Circuit officially gets underway today at Harrah’s Pompano Beach, kicking off 13 days of tournament poker that will draw players from across the country and around the world.
The 2026 stop includes 18 individual events, from single-day satellites and lower-entry tournaments through the marquee Main Event — a $1,700 buy-in tournament with a $1 million prize pool guarantee. The Main Event itself doesn’t begin until the final days of the series, with the series running through February 9.
For poker players, the WSOP Circuit stops are the accessible version of the World Series — the same brand and format as the Las Vegas summer series, but with smaller buy-ins and a more regional player pool. A first-place finish at any Circuit event earns a gold ring (the Circuit’s equivalent of the WSOP bracelet) and significant prize money.
For Pompano Beach as a city, the WSOP Circuit is a meaningful economic event. Out-of-town players fill hotels, eat at local restaurants, and generally inject activity into an otherwise quiet stretch of January and early February. Harrah’s has been hosting the event for years and has the infrastructure for it.
Spectators are welcome in most tournament areas. If you’ve never watched serious poker being played at volume, it’s a more interesting spectator experience than you might expect.
