WPT® World Championship 2025 at Wynn Las Vegas: Full Festival Preview

Festival Overview: Dates, Venue, and Scale

The WPT® World Championship festival runs from 2 to 22 December 2025 at Wynn Las Vegas.

Across those three weeks you get 78 tournaments and satellites in one room.

Buy-ins range from about $600 up to $25,800. The core volume sits in the $800 to $3,000 band, which is where most live regulars build their schedules.

At least 20 milestone satellites appear on the schedule. These start from around $200 and feed into the WPT® Prime Championship, the $10,400 World Championship, the $3,000 events, and even the $25,800 High Rollers.

The venue matters as much as the schedule. Wynn offers a modern room, deep staff, and strong service culture.

You get good dealers, clear floor rulings, and a comfortable setup from morning to late night.

So, what type of player is this festival built for?

The festival serves everyone from $600 recreational players through to $25K regulars.

The heartbeat of the series sits with mid and upper mid stakes grinders who want big fields, large side guarantees, and a wide choice of formats on one property.

Main events are of course the WPT® World Championship and WPT® Prime Championship, two tournaments that serve as the glue of the festival.

Prime brings the huge fields and reachable buy in. The $10,400 Championship carries the prestige and TV coverage.

WPT® World Championship Main Event

Schedule

The key structural promise is clear. You get a deep stack, slow levels, and room to play post flop across several days.

There is no posted prize pool guarantee for 2025. 

WPT® dropped the headline guarantee in 2024 after the $40M guarantee miss in 2023.

Even so, the 2024 event still drew 2,392 entries and a $23,441,600 prize pool, which keeps it among the largest $10K live events in the world.

What is the buy in and structure of the $10,400 Championship?

You pay $10,400 to enter, receive 100,000 chips, and play long, TV grade levels with a big blind ante. The event runs three starting flights from 13–15 December and plays down to a final table filmed on 21 December.

WPT® Prime Championship

WPT® World Championship dealer button and chips ready for action.

Schedule

Prime has become the true mass market pillar.

In 2023 the WPT® Prime Championship drew 10,512 entries.

In 2024 it came in at 9,670 entries, a small drop but still a massive field.

For a $1,100 event, this is an elite live experience. The prize pool and field size give recs and mid stakes players a real shot at six figure scores.

New events and returning favourites in 2025

2025 leans into more mid stakes volume, with a stronger PLO presence and extra one day majors.

New Highlights

$1,600 PLO Mystery Bounty – $500,000 GTD

• Dates: 7–8 December
  This event combines PLO with the mystery bounty format and a half million guarantee.
  It gives PLO regulars the same sweat NLH players enjoy in large bounty fields.

$1,600 NLH – $1,000,000 GTD (single start)

• Dates: 12–13 December
  One starting day and a clean seven figure guarantee.
  Perfect for players who want a clear one shot major outside the main.

$1,100 NLH – $2,000,000 GTD

• Dates: 16–19 December
  This sits right between the usual $800 and $1,600 tier.
  The $2M guarantee gives serious regs a big field to chase after the Prime Championship.

These events fill the $1,100–$1,600 gap with real headliners, not just more small-field side events. They give travelling players more meaningful shots without jumping straight to $3,000.

What is new in the 2025 WPT® World Championship festival?

The biggest shifts are a $1,600 PLO Mystery Bounty with $500K GTD, a standalone $1,600 NLH $1M GTD, and a new $1,100 NLH $2M GTD.

They aim squarely at mid stakes players who want sizeable prize pools and variety, not just a single main event bullet.

Returning Big Fields

Several proven events come back on the 2025 schedule.

$800 Opening Event – $1,000,000 GTD

Dates for this one are 2–6 December. This is a notch in the schedule that will set the tone for the festival and draws in early arrivals.

$1,600 NLH – $1,000,000 GTD

Early run for this will begin 5–7 December, with the second run late in the series around 20–22 December. Two $1,600 millionaires bookend the festival, which helps anyone who cannot stay for the full three weeks.

$3,000 NLH – $3,000,000 GTD

Dates will be 18–20 December. This is the headline mid to upper mid stakes side event and should attract a strong mixed field of recs and pros.

$25,800 NLH High Rollers

Two editions on 17–18 December and 18–19 December. These offer nosebleed action for the high roller group staying on property.

Most of these events already posted seven-figure prize pools in 2022–2024, so 2025 feels like a refined schedule, rather than a first time experiment.

PLO, Mixed Games, and High Rollers

The WPT® World Championship festival has moved away from being a pure NLH stop.
If you play PLO or mixed games, Wynn now sits near the top of the December options.

PLO and 5 Card PLO

$1,600 PLO Mystery Bounty $500K GTD and Extra PLO and 5 Card PLO events across the schedule. These PLO editions will give four card and five card enthusiasts and specialists alike a real festival buzz rather than a single token event.

Mixed Games Programme

Mixed game players get a structured line up with real guarantees, including:

Big O, OE, Mixed Triple Draw, and 2–7 Mixed formats on other days

High Roller Action

For the high rollers, they'll be able to access two $25,800 NLH High Rollers, with both being two day events respectively. Also, there will be at least one $10,500 NLH 8 Max late in the series

If you want to play PLO, mix, and high roller NLH in one trip, it is hard to find a denser December schedule.

Satellites and how to qualify for the big events

Satellites tie the festival together for mid stakes and WPT® Global players. In 2025, there are many ways to qualify. They turn one $1,100 live bullet or a small online package into a full Wynn schedule.

Live Milestone Satellites at Wynn

There are more than 20 milestone satellites, with buy ins starting from $200. They use the milestone format, where you reach a chip target rather than a fixed finish place.

Into the WPT® Prime Championship

• Example: $200 Milestone Satellite on 8 December
• About 50 seats into the Prime Championship

Into the $10,400 World Championship

• Multiple $1,100 Milestone Satellites from 9–15 December
• Each expected to award 25–100 seats into the Championship flights

Into the $3,000 NLH and $3,000 6 Max

• $400 Milestone Satellites on several days
• Each handing out 5–10 seats into the target events

Into the $25,800 High Roller

• A $3,000 Milestone Satellite on 16 December
• Aimed at regulars who want to take a structured shot at the nosebleed tier

The Wynn ballroom prepared with WPT® tables for massive championship fields.

Promotions and extra value at Wynn: Mystery Quest, raffles, and party

WPT® is no longer trying to win December purely through one massive guarantee.
The festival leans into direct value for mid stakes players through Mystery Quest and a huge raffle.

Mystery Quest 2025 and second chance raffle

Mystery Quest replaces the 2024 $5M freeroll.
Instead of one giant free event, WPT® spreads $1,500,000 in Mystery Bounty envelopes across the festival.

Headline prizes include:

• A luxury SUV
• A trip to Costa Rica
• A possible mini horse, depending on community voting

On top of that, Mystery Quest includes a $500,000 second chance raffle open to everyone who plays the promotion.

The raffle headline prize is a $100,000 WPT® Ambassadorship, split as:

• $50,000 salary
• $50,000 poker bankroll

Other raffle prizes include seats into the $10,400 World Championship and the $1,100 Prime Championship.

What extra value do I get from Mystery Quest and the raffle?

If you play the mid stakes festival in volume, you gain free shots at life changing non cash prizes, a six figure ambassadorship, and extra main event seats.

That value sits on top of the regular guarantees and makes mid stakes participation more rewarding than a simple min cash.

Players Party and On Site Experience

The Players Party runs on 12 December at Odyssey Noir at Area 15 in Las Vegas.

Invites go to players with a buy in receipt for:

• The WPT® Prime Championship
• The Ladies Championship
• The World Championship Main Event

Expect a real party, with music, entertainment, and a deep player and staff mix. This is where a lot of off table networking and staking conversation happens.

Between the party, the Wynn setup, and Las Vegas itself, you get a full festival with plenty to do away from the tables.

Side-by-side: WPT® Wynn vs WSOP Paradise vs EPT Prague (2025)

From a distance, December looks crowded.

Up close, each live poker festival targets a slightly different player group.

The decision week for most players is around 10–15 December, when all three stops are active. A high roller or fully backed pro might split the month between two locations.

Most bankrolls will need to choose one main base.

How does WPT® compare to WSOP Paradise and EPT Prague in 2025?

WPT® Wynn offers the deepest mid stakes festival, the widest PLO and mixed game menu, and a major $10K in Las Vegas.

WSOP Paradise leans into huge high roller guarantees and bracelet volume.

EPT Prague suits Europe based players who want Euro fields, lower travel costs, and the classic EPT structure.

Attendance trends and what guarantees really mean in 2025

The last three years tell a clear story about guarantees and turnout. For example, here are the WPT® World Championship Main Event turnout stats for the past few years.

So entries dropped from the 2022 peak but stayed in elite territory in 2024, even without a headline number. Here are a couple of side event trends as well:

$1,600 Mystery Bounty

WPT® Prime Championship

These numbers show that the market is not in straight line growth. Players have more choices than ever in December, and the pool now splits across three major stops.

For 2025, there is an early positive sign. The $1,600 Mystery Bounty on 7 December drew 1,583 entries and a $2.28M prize pool. That suggests mid stakes appetite at Wynn remains strong, especially when the format and dates fall into place.

What about WSOP Paradise guarantees?

WSOP Paradise ran a $25,000 Super Main Event with a $50M guarantee in 2024, which ended with a small overlay. In 2025, the guarantee rises to $60M and the full festival guarantees hit $75M. 

That shows WSOP is still willing to push big headline numbers even after a shortfall.

What does this mean for you as a mid stakes player?

WPT® has moved away from chasing records on a single guarantee and now spreads value across side guarantees and promos. WSOP is still hunting for record prize pools at the top end. 

Your best trip depends less on pure headline numbers and more on which structure and side schedule fit your bankroll.

Is attendance going up or down, and should I care?

Raw entries peaked in 2022, dipped in 2023 and 2024, and now sit in a more stable range across several stops. You should care less about whether a record falls and more about how many events offer strong guarantees and soft spots at your buy in.

Practical info: who can play, how to register, and what to expect at Wynn

This section matters for everyone who actually needs to stand in line and get a seat.

Who can play?

Players of age 21+ only, holding a valid government ID required for all registrations and payouts.

Registration

Registration opens four hours before each event and uses a standard freezeout per flight for the Championship, with full details on the official structure sheet. It is conducted at the Wynn Las Vegas Poker Room at Encore

Payment methods

Entry fees paid in cash or Wynn live casino chips. Hot tip for non US residents, plan ahead for currency exchange and bank limits.

Payouts

Winners get paid in Wynn casino chips, which you can then cash out or move chips into cash games.

ID and tax

Non US players face standard 30% withholding on net winnings above thresholds, unless covered by a tax treaty. Additionally, a W-2G is issued for net wins above $5,000. Make sure you bring a valid passport and any tax documentation you might need.

Rules

All standard events use big blind ante unless stated otherwise. Stalling and abuse of time extensions can bring penalties. Most importantly, strategy charts and training tools are not allowed in the tournament area.

Wynn Rewards

Players must be Wynn Rewards members to play. Ensure you sign up early to avoid last minute queues on your first event day. Standard Wynn tournament fees apply and are outlined on the official structure sheets

A little prep here saves a lot of stress. Sort your ID, rewards card, and bankroll plan before you land in Las Vegas.

WPT® World Championship trophies waiting for new winners at Wynn Las Vegas.

Who should choose WPT® Wynn over Prague or Paradise?

This is the core decision the article needs to help with.

Choose WPT® Wynn if:

• You want a full three week festival with a deep menu of mid stakes events.
• You value the Las Vegas setting and the Wynn experience.
• You like Mystery Bounty formats, strong PLO and mixed game coverage, and several $1K–$3K majors.
• You want extra value from Mystery Quest, raffles, and the Players Party, not just main event prize money.

Choose WSOP Paradise if:

• You are a high roller or backed pro targeting the $25,000 Super Main and Triton events.
• You benefit from WSOP and GGPoker package schemes and bracelet incentives.
• You want a pure bracelet chase in a resort setting and are ready for higher trip costs.

Choose EPT Prague if:

• You are Europe based and want lower flight costs and visa friction.
• You prefer Euro fields and the EPT brand.
• You like the mix of Eureka, EPT Main, and side events in the €1K–€5K range.

For many mid stakes and WPT® Global players, WPT® Wynn remains the most natural December choice. It gives a long, varied schedule at reachable buy ins, with PLO, mixed games, and strong side guarantees all under one roof.

Closing Thoughts

So, is the WPT® World Championship 2025 at Wynn Las Vegas still worth the trip?

Short answer, yes. 

The Main Event no longer posts a huge guarantee, but the schedule depth, side guarantees, Mystery Quest, and the overall Wynn experience combine into one of the best all round festival offers in live poker.

If you plan to go:

• Lock in online or live satellites early, especially for Prime and the $10,400 Championship.
• Build a schedule around the Prime Championship window (7–12 December) and the World Championship flights (13–15 December).
• Watch early 2025 field numbers to fine tune which side events you want to target.

You cannot play all three stops. You need one clear main base. 

For most serious recs and mid stakes grinders, Wynn is still the December home base that makes the most sense.