2007 WSOP Main Event

[pmayjr]

Seattle's thread in the Esoteric section about giving up poker reminded me of something I wanted you guys to speculate on.

With the anti-internet gambling legislation that passed last year, and shut down most of the poker sites: How many entries will there be in this year's main event?

If you guys didn't realize this, I'd say at least a half or 2/3's of last year's entries into the main event were through intrnet qualifiers and satellites. With that not being an option for most players this year, how many will actually pony up the 10K needed to get in, or get in through other satellites?

There were almost 9,000 entrants last year. In 2004 when Greg "the Fossilman" Raymer won it, there were 2,500 entrants. I'm gonna go with slightly more than that. I'll go just about 3,000 entrants this year.

What do you guys think? Too high? Too low?

[timmgirvan]

I read somewhere that they are expecting 15,000 entrants for 2007! Tie that in with PPV on ESPN and they'll get the people. There was also some political rumor that the internet rules would be amended...probably with a little govt. handle

[pmayjr]

Timm,
If that amendment happens, then I agree with 15k. If no amendment, THEN NO CHANCE! All those people that qualified on satellites through the net will be lost this year.

I think pokers sites with U.S. Govt regulation would be good. Then those sites wouldn't have to run out of Barbados, and Costa Rica.

[hi_im_god]

people used to qualify all year long through the internet. some americans may have already qualified before the ban went into effect so there will still be a few going that route.

there is near zero chance of there being any amendments to what was passed last year. charles rangle introduced a bill but even he admits it is going nowhere. even if it were repealed tomorrow there would be far fewer entrants than the last 2 years just based on the fact that months have gone past with no american qualifying.

i'd say 3000 is a good guess.

[timmgirvan]

If the total is under 10,000 I don't see a PPV situation playing out!

[hi_im_god]

i think the ppv audience for 3000 entrants is the same as 15,000 entrants. i don't think anyone is going to think "not enough amateurs, i'm not buying the package".

my question is why anyone wants to buy a live broadcast of paint drying. it's not like they'll be showing hole cards on a live broadcast.

he raised. everyone folded. next hand. he raised. one guy called. there was a flop. he bet. the other guy folded. i'm so glad i got to see that live.

the tv popularity of hold'em exploded with the innovation of the "peek" mini cams. all the shows you watch are heavily edited and broadcast weeks or months after the actual event.

i'll be mowing my lawn next week. anyone interested in watching that on my webcam send me $1 and a pm. who knows? i could hit a rock.

[Charismatic1]

Most sites, even the ones servicing American customers like PStars and Full Tilt, are still offering tons and tons of satellites into the Main Event of this WSOP. However, unlike the past years in the online era, the sites are not directly entering the players into the Main Event. Harrah's has stated they are not taking any entries from third parties. Rather, the sites are simply giving the players who win a "seat" in the satellites $11k or $12k into their money accounts. The number of online "qualifiers" will be the same as last year most likely. However, because people have to actually pay the $10k that they received, many will choose to just keep the money. With that in mind, the field should be around the figures of Hachem's 2005 tourney. The satellite system at The Rio is going to be so much better than it was last year when I was there, so the prelim tourneys might actually have more players.

[ALostTexan]

Probably around 3,000 entrants is a perfect guess. I think that the WSOP is yet another victim of this legislation...