Too few dealers at the WSOP 2021 – vaccination premium as an incentive

The long wait ends. The best poker players in the world at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) im Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino for high cash prizes and the coveted bracelets. There are also other online tournaments. A big spectacle was planned last year, but the tournament had to be canceled due to the Corona pandemic. This should now be made up for. For the players, however, there are conditions for participation and those responsible find it difficult to find dealers why tables could remain empty.

Great tradition

The WSOP has a long history. For the first time in 1970, the tournament was only played with seven players. The tournament grew year after year. The special thing about the WSOP is that amateurs can qualify for it. In 2003, Chris Moneymaker, who qualified through PokerStars and finally played the king of the WSOP, won completely surprisingly. In addition to money, there is a bracelet to be won. This bracelet has the shape of a watch and is made of gold. In addition to the high financial value, this bracelet includes an enormous ideal value for players. Finally, it proves that the player prevailed against hundreds of others.

Europeans take part

It has long been unclear whether Europeans will be possible this year to take part in the tournament. But those responsible now announced that this would be the case under strict requirements. The participants have the condition that they must be completely vaccinated. It is not enough to present a negative corona test. However, in addition to the vaccination, a negative test result must also be presented. There are a variety of registrations, but after the announcement, players have also signed off from the tournament.

Online offers for selected US citizens

In addition to the WSOP, American players have other ways to win one of the coveted bracelets. People from New Jersey and Nevada are allowed to take part in tournaments online. Until the end of the tournament, there is another tournament every Sunday with a prize money of $ 250,000. This offer is aimed solely at people from the states mentioned. All remaining players are excluded and accordingly cannot participate.

Premium for unvaccinated dealers

The organizers announced that they have problems finding dealers. It is still unclear how this is related to the regulation that all participants must be vaccinated. In order to accelerate the search for dealers, those responsible have awarded a premium for unvaccinated dealers. The premium is $ 250. In addition, all vaccinated dealers take part in a competition with a pot of $ 5,000. This should ensure that tables do not remain vacant. As a further option, the poker rooms in the casinos Ballys and Flamingo were closed and the dealers there were deducted to the WSOP. However, the vaccination campaign suggests that the previous options are not sufficient.

Permanent problems?

The current problems could affect the scene in the long term. During Corona, numerous dealers have given up their jobs. This is quite understandable because the casino staff was not allowed to work and therefore there were no financial income. The dealers should also obtain low salaries. They live in particular from the drinking money, but they also failed to fail during the crisis.