Coverage of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event will officially return to ESPN beginning in July 2026, representing the first time in five years that the sports media network obtained rights to broadcast the tournament’s $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship.
WSOP and ESPN reached a new multi-year agreement on March 26, having first began airing the WSOP Main Event in 1987 and up until the brand eventually partnered with CBS Sports in 2021 to provide exclusive coverage.
“The World Series of Poker is a global phenomenon that transcends the gaming category, and our goal is to bring it to the widest possible audience,” WSOP CEO Ty Stewart said.
“Returning to ESPN – the home of our most iconic moments since 1987 – allows us to showcase the human drama of the Main Event like never before. With our new ownership’s commitment to growth, this is the perfect time to bring the 'World Championship' back to the biggest stage in sports.”
In October 2024, Caesars Entertainment closed on a $500m sale of the intellectual property rights for WSOP to NSUS Group, but retained rights to host the WSOP live tournament series at its Las Vegas casinos through 2044.
WSOP will look to enhance coverage of its $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship by collaborating with Omaha Productions, which currently helps air the Monday Night Football “ManningCast” on ESPN.
The network’s VP of Programming & Acquisitions, Ashley O’Connor, also spoke on the new agreement, having said, “We’re proud to welcome the World Series of Poker back to ESPN.
“Poker is filled with unexpected storylines, and nobody is better equipped to showcase the stories that unfold throughout a tournament more than ESPN. Bringing the WSOP back reflects our continued commitment to delivering premium competition and that connects with fans in new and exciting ways.”
ESPN coverage of the WSOP Main Event will begin on July 2 with Day 1A of the final tournament and run through July 13, prior to the remaining participants returning on August 3 to decide who is crowned champion.
Playtika, which currently operates the WSOP mobile application, unveiled a new collaboration with the NFL on December 1, introducing themed features from the professional football league within the online platform.
The WSOP mobile application introduced its first-ever blackjack game mode on March 11, featuring the Power Power Jackpot main side bet and a new in-game blackjack dealer character, Sofia
