If you’re dreaming of playing in the 2026 World Series of Poker Main Event, one of the best paths this spring isn’t online—it’s live on the Las Vegas Strip.
Outside of GGPoker’s satellite tournaments, few opportunities rival the new promotion unveiled by Horseshoe Las Vegas. The iconic venue—co-host of the World Series of Poker—is awarding 25 players with seats to the $10,000 WSOP Main Event this summer.
News of the giveaway surfaced via a post from poker pro Allen Kessler, adding extra buzz to an already highly anticipated series. Players also learned during the official schedule announcement that the Main Event kicks off July 2, playing down to the final nine competitors by July 15. Those finalists will reconvene later to crown poker’s next world champion—following in the footsteps of Michael Mizrachi.
And yes, that next champion could very well emerge from the cash-game tables at Horseshoe over the coming months.
How to Secure Your WSOP Main Event Seat
The promotion runs from March 1 through May 24, just ahead of the 2026 WSOP. To qualify, players must log at least 100 hours in live cash games at Horseshoe, a flagship property of Caesars Entertainment.
Those who hit the 100-hour mark earn entry into a special $20 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament on May 25 at 11 a.m. Each qualified player will start with 20,000 chips.
There’s added incentive for those willing to grind even more:
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125 hours played: 25,000 starting chips
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150+ hours played: 30,000 starting chips
The prize pool is substantial. The top 25 finishers will receive free entry into the 2026 WSOP Main Event. Players finishing 26th through 125th will earn a $1,000 WSOP ticket, while those placing 126th through 225th will walk away with a $550 Mini-Mystery Bounty seat.
In total, Horseshoe Las Vegas is distributing $400,000 worth of WSOP entries—rewarding dedicated cash-game players with a legitimate shot at poker’s most prestigious title.
For those ready to put in the hours, the road to the world championship might just begin at the Horseshoe tables.
