September 27, 2024 Marija D
WPT is hosting a massive $5 million freeroll tournament at the Wynn Las Vegas in December.
WPT’s CEO, Adam Pliska, expressed excitement about the launch, stating, “Our return to Wynn Las Vegas this December is equipped with another monumental investment into the development and growth of not only the WPT World Championship but the poker industry as a whole. In celebration of the launch of ClubWPT Gold, we’re aiming for another first for the poker world with the largest freeroll ever offered.”
ClubWPT Gold represents an updated approach to online poker, utilizing a sweepstakes-based platform to operate legally across most of the U.S. players will have access to two types of virtual currency: Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins. Gold Coins, which hold no real-world value, are used in free-to-play social poker events, while Sweeps Coins can be redeemed for cash or prizes, offering an engaging poker experience without breaking gambling laws.
While ClubWPT Gold won’t officially launch until early 2025, players can already pre- for the platform. The site, similar in design to competitors like Global Poker, will offer numerous opportunities for players to participate in tournaments and contests, with real-money prizes on the line. This model has grown in popularity in recent years, providing poker enthusiasts with an alternative to traditional online gambling, which remains restricted in many U.S. states.
Ahead of its full launch, ClubWPT Gold is hosting a $5 million freeroll event at the Wynn Las Vegas from December 13 to 15, during the annual WPT World Championship series. The freeroll will guarantee a $1 million prize for the first-place winner, making it one of the largest free-entry poker tournaments ever offered. Additionally, 100 players will receive seats worth $10,400 in the WPT World Championship, and the remaining prize pool will be distributed among other participants, bringing the total guarantee to $5 million.
To gain entry into the freeroll, players must sign up for a ClubWPT Gold . The platform plans to give away 2,000 “Golden ports,” which will serve as entries into the event, through various online promotions and raffles. Although the complete prize breakdown for the tournament hasn’t been fully disclosed, the tournament promises to be a major draw for poker fans.
Pliska emphasized the importance of this investment in WPT’s continued growth, noting, “In celebration of the launch of ClubWPT Gold, we’re aiming for another first for the poker world with the largest freeroll ever offered.”
Since its inception over a decade ago, ClubWPT has operated as a subscription-based platform where s pay a monthly fee to compete in tournaments with cash prizes and other rewards, such as seats to WPT events. ClubWPT Gold will build upon this model while introducing the dual-currency system that has become a staple in sweepstakes poker. This approach allows s to engage in both free and prize-driven gameplay without violating gambling regulations.
Brett Calapp, one of the original creators of ClubWPT, recently reflected on the platform’s evolution. He explained, “The fundamental concept of Club WPT was that we wanted to create a safe environment that had caps on risk. It was a business model that took into that this sort of poker was not for everybody, but could find its place in the poker ecosystem.” This concept of balancing entertainment with a competitive “prize effect” remains central to the new ClubWPT Gold.
Source:
WPT making big push into sweepstakes poker space with ClubWPT Gold – sbcamericas.com, September 26, 2024.